US 11,726,651 B2
Vehicle occupant detection system
David W. Shank, Hersey, MI (US)
Assigned to UUSI, LLC, Reed City, MI (US)
Filed by UUSI, LLC, Reed City, MI (US)
Filed on Mar. 16, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/203,031.
Application 17/203,031 is a continuation in part of application No. 16/820,613, filed on Mar. 16, 2020, granted, now 11,216,175.
Application 16/820,613 is a continuation of application No. 14/028,941, filed on Sep. 17, 2013, granted, now 10,592,092, issued on Mar. 17, 2020.
Application 14/028,941 is a continuation of application No. 12/496,938, filed on Jul. 2, 2009, granted, now 9,046,967, issued on Jun. 2, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/990,406, filed on Mar. 16, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2021/0232283 A1, Jul. 29, 2021
Int. Cl. G06F 3/0488 (2022.01); G06F 3/0354 (2013.01); B60K 35/00 (2006.01); B60K 37/06 (2006.01); G06F 3/044 (2006.01); G06F 3/041 (2006.01); G06F 3/04886 (2022.01); G06F 3/04883 (2022.01)
CPC G06F 3/0488 (2013.01) [B60K 35/00 (2013.01); B60K 37/06 (2013.01); G06F 3/03547 (2013.01); G06F 3/0446 (2019.05); G06F 3/04166 (2019.05); G06F 3/04883 (2013.01); G06F 3/04886 (2013.01); B60K 2370/569 (2019.05); G06F 2203/04101 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An occupant detection system for a vehicle comprising:
a user interface comprising a touch sensitive input device adapted to be fixedly mounted to a vehicle and having a touch sensitive active surface;
at least one first sensor located in a seat back of a seat assembly of the vehicle and at least one second sensor located in a seat cushion of the seat assembly, the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor being operable to detect an occupant in the seat assembly;
a controller in communication with the user interface and the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor to receive sensor signals from the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor and user interface signals from the user interface, the controller being operable to monitor the at least one first sensor and the at least one second sensor and the user interface;
wherein the controller processes the sensor signals and the user interface signals and determines whether the seat assembly is one of unoccupied and occupied and characteristics of any occupant in the seat assembly if the seat assembly is occupied;
wherein the controller compares the sensor signals from the seat assembly and another seat assembly of the vehicle to provide a collective signal value having a greater magnitude than the sensor signal from one of the seat assembly and the another seat assembly for confirmation of an occupant in either one of the seat assembly and the another seat assembly;
wherein when the controller has determined the seat assembly is occupied, the controller sends a warning signal to the operator indicating that the vehicle has been exited while the seat assembly is occupied; and
wherein the controller communicates the determination that the seat assembly is occupied to at least one of a vehicle electronic controller and a remote device.