System and method for classifying vehicle occupant

Abstract

A system and method for classifying a vehicle occupant is disclosed. A base is installed in each of leg frames of a seat of a vehicle. A cover is installed above the base to be spaced apart from the base. Two weight sensors are installed between the base and the cover to support the cover, and configured to measure a load transmitted to the cover by the weight of a vehicle occupant sitting in the seat. A control unit receives load values measured by the weight sensors, and determines whether the vehicle occupant sitting in the seat is an adult or a child based on the received load values. A shock absorption member is interposed between the weight sensors and the base. A stopper is interposed between the base and the cover in order to limit a downward movement range of the cover in a case of overload.

1 . A system for classifying a vehicle occupant, comprising:
 a base installed in each of leg frames of a seat of a vehicle;   a cover installed above the base to be spaced apart from the base with a predetermined distance;   a first weight sensor and a second weight sensor installed between the base and the cover to support the cover, and configured to measure a load transmitted to the cover by a weight of a vehicle occupant sitting in the seat; and   a control unit configured to receive load values measured by the first and second weight sensors, and determine whether the vehicle occupant sitting in the seat is an adult or a child based on the received load values.   
     
     
         2 . The system for classifying the vehicle occupant as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the first weight sensor and the second weight sensor is spaced with a predetermined distance in a longitudinal direction of the cover or the base. 
     
     
         3 . The system for classifying the vehicle occupant as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a first shock absorption member is interposed between the first weight sensor and the base and a second shock absorption member is interposed between the second weight sensor and the base. 
     
     
         4 . The system for classifying the vehicle occupant as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein at least a stopper is interposed between the base and the cover in order to limit a downward movement range of the cover in a case of overload. 
     
     
         5 . The system for classifying the vehicle occupant as set forth in  claim 4 , wherein a proximate end portion of the stopper is coupled to a lower portion of the cover and the a distal end portion of the stopper is penetrated into a buffer hole of the base, wherein the buffer hole is larger than the diameter of the stopper. 
     
     
         6 . The system for classifying the vehicle occupant as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the control unit calculates the weight of the vehicle occupant by multiplying a two-sensor measurement load value set with an optimal independent variable set (X 1   k , X 2   k ), where the optimal independent variable set (X 1   k , X 2   k ) is a variable set that, in experiments for various types of adult and child dummies, belongs to variable set within a range of a predetermined rational value, by which the two-sensor measurement load value set is multiplied, and maximizes a difference between a minimum weight value of the adult dummies and a maximum weight value of the child dummies. 
     
     
         7 . The system for classifying the vehicle occupant as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the range of the predetermined rational value is from “0” to “2.” 
     
     
         8 . The system for classifying the vehicle occupant as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the control unit compares the calculated weight value of the vehicle occupant with a threshold value, and classifies the vehicle occupant, where the threshold value is set to an average value of the minimum weight value of adult dummies and the maximum weight value of child dummies.