Vehicle Occupant Sensing Fusion for Accurate Restraint Control

The patent combines camera and radar sensors into a unified measurement system. The camera captures images for height measurement while the radar measures weight, and both data streams are integrated through a measurement module that fuses the measurements to produce accurate occupant classification results, resolving the contradiction by merging multiple sensor types to achieve high precision while managing complexity through integrated processing.

The patent creates a composite measurement system that integrates data from heterogeneous sensor types (camera and radar). The measurement module processes and fuses measurements from both sensors, creating a composite measurement output that leverages the strengths of each sensor type to achieve superior measurement precision compared to using either sensor alone.

The patent implements a feedback mechanism where the measurement module receives measurements from both camera and radar sensors, processes them through fusion algorithms, and generates reliable occupant classification results. The system uses confidence values from each sensor to weight the measurements appropriately, creating a feedback loop that improves reliability while managing complexity through intelligent data processing.

The measurement module serves multiple functions: it processes measurements from the camera sensor, processes measurements from the radar sensor, fuses these measurements, and generates the final occupant classification. This multi-functional design improves reliability by leveraging multiple sensors while managing complexity through a universal processing module that handles all sensor types.