Vehicle Seat Occupancy Detection with Dynamic Threshold Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing seat occupancy determination devices face inaccuracies due to unbalanced load detection caused by vehicle inclination or tilt, leading to incorrect determination of seat occupancy states, especially when the vehicle is inclined or tilted, which affects the reliability of distinguishing between adult passengers and child safety seats.
Innovation Solution
A seat occupancy determination device with a pair of sensors at the front and rear portions of the vehicle seat, coupled with an unbalanced load detection system that adjusts the threshold values based on vehicle acceleration, ensuring accurate load balance and precise occupancy state determination regardless of vehicle orientation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If load sensors are placed only at the rear portion of the cushion portion for cost reduction, then manufacturing cost is reduced, but measurement precision of load value deteriorates due to unbalanced load detection when vehicle is inclined or tilted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the parameter of threshold values dynamically based on vehicle acceleration and inclination angle. By adjusting the threshold values according to detected vehicle state parameters, the system compensates for unbalanced load distribution caused by inclination or tilt, maintaining accurate occupancy determination despite the simplified single-pair sensor configuration
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by detecting vehicle acceleration and inclination angle, then using this information to adjust the threshold values for occupancy determination. This closed-loop approach allows the system to adapt to changing vehicle conditions and maintain measurement accuracy without requiring additional sensors
2Device complexity
If threshold values are fixed for occupancy determination, then device complexity is reduced, but reliability of occupancy state determination deteriorates when vehicle is inclined or tilted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from static fixed threshold values to dynamic adjustable threshold values. The threshold values are modified in real-time based on vehicle acceleration and inclination angle detection, enabling the system to adapt to different vehicle orientations and maintain reliable occupancy determination across various driving conditions
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the parameter of threshold values based on detected vehicle state. By calculating adjusted threshold values that account for vehicle inclination and acceleration, the system maintains determination reliability without requiring complex additional hardware
3Measurement precision
If sensors are mounted at the center side of the vehicle for enhanced detection accuracy, then measurement precision is improved, but adaptability to different occupancy states (adult vs. child safety seat) deteriorates when vehicle is laterally inclined
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses feedback from vehicle acceleration and inclination sensors to dynamically adjust threshold values. This allows the system to maintain the ability to distinguish between different occupancy states (adult passenger vs. child safety seat) even when laterally inclined, by compensating for the shifted load distribution through adaptive threshold modification
Data Source
AI summary
A seat occupancy determination device configured to be provided at one of seating portions of a plural vehicle seats includes a pair of seat occupancy amount detection devices detecting a seat occupancy amount increasing and decreasing in response to a change of a load applied to each portion of the seating portion, a seat occupancy state determination device determining a seat occupancy state of the vehicle seat, an unbalanced load detection device detecting a degree of unbalance of the load applied to a right portion and a left portion of the seating portion, and a seat occupancy threshold value setting device setting a seat occupancy threshold value and correcting the seat occupancy threshold value in response to the degree of unbalance of the load applied to the right portion and the left portion of the seating portion based on a detected signal transmitted from the unbalanced load detection device.