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Method and system for controlling deployment of an airbag in which the position of an occupant to be protected by deployment of the airbag is determined, the probability that a crash requiring deployment of the airbag is occurring is assessed and deployment of the airbag enabled in consideration of

Method and system for controlling deployment of an airbag in which the position of an occupant to be protected by deployment of the airbag is determined, the probability that a crash requiring deployment of the airbag is occurring is assessed and deployment of the airbag enabled in consideration of the determined position of the occupant and the assessed probability that a crash is occurring. Deployment of the airbag may be enabled by analyzing the assessed probability relative to a pre-determined threshold whereby deployment of the airbag is enabled only when the assessed probability is greater than the threshold. The threshold may be adjusted based on the determined position of the occupant.

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1. A method for controlling deployment of an airbag, comprising the steps of:determining the position of an occupant to be protected by deployment of the airbag; assessing the probability that a crash requiring deployment of the airbag is occurring; enabling deployment of the airbag in consideration

1. A method for controlling deployment of an airbag, comprising the steps of:determining the position of an occupant to be protected by deployment of the airbag; assessing the probability that a crash requiring deployment of the airbag is occurring; enabling deployment of the airbag in consideration of the determined position of the occupant and the assessed probability that a crash is occurring, said deployment enabling step comprising the steps of analyzing the assessed probability relative to a pre-determined threshold and enabling deployment of the airbag is only when the assessed probability is greater than the threshold; and adjusting the threshold based on the determined position of the occupant. 2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the step of receiving waves from a space in a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant.3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the steps of transmitting waves to impact the occupant; receiving waves after impact with the occupant and measuring time between transmission and reception of the waves.4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the steps of obtaining images of a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant and analyzing the images.5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the steps of obtaining images of a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant, focusing the images onto optical arrays and analyzing the focused images.6. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the steps of moving a beam of radiation through a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant.7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the steps of transmitting ultrasonic waves to impact the occupant; receiving ultrasonic waves after reflection by the occupant and measuring time between transmission and reception of the waves.8. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the step of receiving infrared radiation from a space in a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant.9. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the steps of transmitting radar waves to impact the occupant; receiving radar waves after reflection by the occupant and measuring time between transmission and reception of the waves.10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the steps of obtaining three-dimensional images of a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant and analyzing the images.11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the step of arranging an electric field sensor operative in a seat occupied by the occupant.12. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the step of arranging a capacitance sensor operative in a seat occupied by the occupant.13. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of disabling deployment of the airbag when the determined position is too close to the airbag.14. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining the rate at which the airbag is inflated based on the determined position of the occupant.15. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of determining the time in which the airbag is deployed based on the determined position of the occupant.16. A method for controlling deployment of an airbag, comprising the steps of:determining the position of an occupant to be protected by deployment of the airbag; and adjusting a threshold used in a sensor algorithm based on the determined position of the occupant, the sensor algorithm enabling or suppressing deployment of the airbag. 17. The method of claim 16, further comprising the steps of:assessing the probability that a crash requiring deployment of the airbag is occurring; analyzing the assessed probability relative to the threshold; and enabling deployment of the airbag only when the assessed probability is greater than the threshold. 18. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the step of receiving waves from a space in a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant.19. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the steps of transmitting waves to impact the occupant; receiving waves after impact with the occupant and measuring time between transmission and reception of the waves.20. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the steps of obtaining images of a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant and analyzing the images.21. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the steps of obtaining images of a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant, focusing the images onto optical arrays and analyzing the focused images.22. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the step of moving a beam of radiation through a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant.23. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the steps of transmitting ultrasonic waves to impact the occupant; receiving ultrasonic waves after reflection by the occupant and measuring time between transmission and reception of the waves.24. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the step of receiving infrared radiation from a space in a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant.25. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the steps of transmitting radar waves to impact the occupant; receiving radar waves after reflection by the occupant and measuring time between transmission and reception of the waves.26. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the steps of obtaining three-dimensional images of a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant and analyzing the images.27. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the step of arranging an electric field sensor operative in a seat occupied by the occupant.28. The method of claim 16, wherein the step of determining the position of the occupant comprises the step of arranging a capacitance sensor operative in a seat occupied by the occupant.29. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of disabling deployment of the airbag when the determined position is too close to the airbag.30. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of determining the rate at which the airbag is inflated based on the determined position of the occupant.31. The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of determining the time in which the airbag is deployed based on the determined position of the occupant.32. A system for controlling deployment of an airbag, comprising:determining means for determining the position of an occupant to be protected by deployment of the airbag; sensor means for assessing the probability that a crash requiring deployment of the airbag is occurring; and circuit means coupled to said determining means, said sensor means and the airbag for enabling deployment of the airbag in consideration of the determined position of the occupant and the assessed probability that a crash is occurring, said circuit means being structured and arranged to analyze the assessed probability relative to a pre-determined threshold and enable deployment of the airbag only when the assessed probability is greater than the threshold, said circuit means being further arranged to adjust the threshold based on the determined position of the occupant. 33. The system of claim 32, wherein said determining means are arranged to receive waves from a space in a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant.34. The system of claim 32, wherein said determining means are arranged to transmit waves to impact the occupant, receive waves after impact with the occupant and measure the time between transmission and reception of the waves.35. The system of claim 32, wherein said determining means comprise means for obtaining images of a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant and analyzing the images.36. The system of claim 32, wherein said determining means comprise means for obtaining images of a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant, focusing the images onto optical arrays and analyzing the focused images.37. The system of claim 32, wherein said determining means comprise means for moving a beam of radiation through a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant.38. The system of claim 32, wherein said determining means comprise means for transmitting ultrasonic waves to impact the occupant, receiving ultrasonic waves after reflection by the occupant and measuring time between transmission and reception of the waves.39. The system of claim 32, wherein said determining means are arranged to receive infrared radiation from a space in a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant.40. The system of claim 32, wherein said determining means comprise means for transmitting radar waves to impact the occupant, receiving radar waves after reflection by the occupant and measuring time between transmission and reception of the waves.41. The system of claim 32, wherein said determining means comprise means for obtaining three-dimensional images of a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant and analyzing the images.42. The system of claim 32, wherein said determining means comprise an electric field sensor operative in a seat occupied by the occupant.43. The system of claim 32, wherein said determining means comprise a capacitance sensor operative in a scat occupied by the occupant.44. The system of claim 32, wherein said circuit means are arranged to disable deployment of the airbag when the determined position is too close to the airbag.45. The system of claim 32, wherein the airbag has an adjustable inflation rate, said circuit means are arranged to determine the rate at which the airbag is inflated based on the determined position of the occupant.46. The system of claim 32, wherein the airbag has an adjustable deployment time, said circuit means are arranged to determine the time in which the airbag is inflated based on the determined position of the occupant.47. A system for controlling deployment of an airbag, comprising:a crash sensor for providing information on a crash involving the vehicle; a position determining arrangement for determining the position of an occupant to be protected by deployment of the airbag; and a circuit coupled to the airbag, said crash sensor and said position determining arrangement and arranged to issue a deployment signal to the airbag to cause deployment of the airbag, said circuit being arranged to determine a deployment threshold which varies based on the determined position of the occupant and consider the deployment threshold value when deciding whether to issue the deployment signal. 48. The system of claim 47, wherein said circuit is arranged to assess the probability that a crash requiring deployment of the airbag is occurring, analyze the assessed probability relative to the threshold and enable deployment of the airbag only when the assessed probability is greater than the threshold.49. The system of claim 47, wherein said determining arrangement is arranged to receive waves from a space in a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant.50. The system of claim 47, wherein said determining arrangement is arranged to transmit waves to impact the occupant, receive waves after impact with the occupant and measure the time between transmission and reception of the waves.51. The system of claim 47, wherein said determining arrangement comprises means for obtaining images of a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant and analyzing the images.52. The system of claim 47, wherein said determining arrangement comprises means for obtaining images of a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant, focusing the images onto optical arrays and analyzing the focused images.53. The system of claim 47, wherein said determining arrangement arrangement comprises means for moving a beam of radiation through a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant.54. The system of claim 47, wherein said determining arrangement comprises means for transmitting ultrasonic waves to impact the occupant, receiving ultrasonic waves after reflection by the occupant and measuring time between transmission and reception of the waves.55. The system of claim 47, wherein said determining arrangement is arranged to receive infrared radiation from a space in a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant.56. The system of claim 47, wherein said determining arrangement comprises means for transmitting radar waves to impact the occupant, receiving radar waves after reflection by the occupant and measuring time between transmission and reception of the waves.57. The system of claim 47, wherein said determining arrangement comprises means for obtaining three-dimensional images of a passenger compartment of the vehicle occupied by the occupant and analyzing the images.58. The system of claim 47, wherein said determining arrangement comprises an electric field sensor operative in a seat occupied by the occupant.59. The system of claim 47, wherein said determining arrangement comprises a capacitance sensor operative in a seat occupied by the occupant.60. The system of claim 47, wherein said circuit is arranged to disable deployment of the airbag when the determined position is too close to the airbag.61. The system of claim 47, wherein the airbag has an adjustable inflation rate, said circuit being arranged to determine the rate at which the airbag is inflated based on the determined position of the occupant.62. The system of claim 47, wherein the airbag has an adjustable deployment time, said circuit being arranged to determine the time in which the airbag is inflated based on the determined position of the occupant.