Aisin Seiki Exhibit 1007
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`

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`Patent Application Publication Number: 09-127258A
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`Date of publication: May 16, 1997
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`Patent Application Number: 07-280600
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`Date of filing: October 27, 1995
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`
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`(54) [Title of the invention] Seating Detecting Apparatus
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`(57) [Abstract]
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`[Object] To provide a seating detecting apparatus which is inhibited from erroneously
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`determining that a human is seated in a case where an object is placed on a seat
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`[Means to solve] A seating detecting apparatus that is inhibited from erroneously
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`determining that a human is seated by vibration that is generated when an object is
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`placed on a seat cushion 4 may be provided because of a vibration detecting means 1
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`disposed at a seatback 4a of a seat 4 to determine presence or absence of a human in the
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`seat 4. In addition, in a case where the seating detecting apparatus is mounted to an
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`automobile equipped with an airbag so as to control the airbag, a system that prohibits
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`an operation of the airbag at a time of absence of the human or the human is seated in an
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`irregular sitting manner is achievable.
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`[Scope of the claims]
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`[Claim 1] A seating detecting apparatus characterized by comprising a vibration
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`detecting means provided at a seatback of a seat, a signal processing means processing
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`an output signal of the vibration detecting means, and a determining means determining
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`presence or absence of a human in the seat based on an output of the signal processing
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`means.
`
`[Claim 2] The seating detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
`
`determining means is configured to determine the presence of the human in the seat in a
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`case where a time period in which the output of the signal processing means exceeds a
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`predetermined seating signal threshold value continues for equal to or greater than a
`
`predetermined seating time threshold value.
`
`[Claim 3] The seating detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the
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`determining means is configured to determine the absence of the human in the seat in a
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`case where a time period in which the output of the signal processing means falls below
`
`a predetermined away signal threshold value continues for equal to or greater than a
`
`predetermined away time threshold value.
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`[Claim 4] The seating detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seat is
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`mounted at a vehicle including an automobile and an airplane equipped with an
`
`auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus that restrains and protects an occupant in the seat
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`1
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`by operating at a time of an accident, and the determining means is configured to output
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`a signal for permitting an operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus in a
`
`case where the determining means determines the presence of the human in the seat.
`
`[Claim 5] The seating detecting apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the seat is
`
`mounted at a vehicle including an automobile and an airplane equipped with an
`
`auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus that restrains and protects an occupant in the seat
`
`by operating at a time of an accident, and the determining means is configured to output
`
`a signal for prohibiting an operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus in a
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`case where the determining means determines the absence of the human in the seat.
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`[Claim 6] A seating detecting apparatus characterized by comprising a seat cushion
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`vibration detecting means provided at a seat cushion of a seat, a seat cushion signal
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`processing means processing an output signal of the seat cushion vibration detecting
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`means, a seatback vibration detecting means provided at a seatback of the seat, a
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`seatback signal processing means processing an output signal of the seatback vibration
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`detecting means, and a determining portion determining presence or absence of a human
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`in the seat based on an output of the seat cushion signal processing means and an output
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`of the seatback signal processing means.
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`[Claim 7] The seating detecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the
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`determining portion is configured to immediately determine the presence of the human
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`in the seat regardless of a duration time of the signal in a case where the output of the
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`seat cushion signal processing means exceeds a predetermined seat cushion seating
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`signal threshold value and the output of the seatback signal processing means exceeds a
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`predetermined seatback seating signal threshold value.
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`[Claim 8] The seating detecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the
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`determining portion is configured to include a seat cushion determining means
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`determining the presence or absence of the human in the seat based on the output signal
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`of the seat cushion signal processing means and a seatback determining means
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`determining the presence or absence of the human in the seat based on the output signal
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`of the seatback signal processing means.
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`[Claim 9] The seating detecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the
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`determining portion is configured to determine the presence of the human in the seat in
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`a case where the seat cushion determining means determines the presence of the human
`
`in the seat and the seatback determining means determines the presence of the human in
`
`the seat.
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`[Claim 10] The seating detecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the
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`determining portion is configured to maintain a last determination in a case where the
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`2
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`seat cushion determining means determines the presence of the human in the seat and
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`the seatback determining means determines the absence of the human in the seat.
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`[Claim 11] The seating detecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the
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`determining portion is configured to determine that one of or both of the seat cushion
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`vibration detecting means and the seatback vibration detecting means is abnormal in a
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`case where a state in which the seat cushion determining means determines the absence
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`of the human in the seat and the seatback determining means determines the presence of
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`the human in the seat continues for equal to or greater than an abnormality time
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`threshold value.
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`[Claim 12] The seating detecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the
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`determining portion is configured to determine the absence of the human in the seat in a
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`case where the seat cushion determining means determines the absence of the human in
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`the seat and the seatback determining means determines the absence of the human in the
`
`seat.
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`[Claim 13] The seating detecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the
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`determining portion is configured to determine that the human is seated in the seat with
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`a child’s auxiliary seat in a case where the seat cushion determining means determines
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`the absence of the human in the seat and the seatback determining means determines the
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`presence of the human in the seat.
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`[Claim 14] The seating detecting apparatus according to claim 8, wherein the
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`determining portion is configured to determine that the human is seated in an irregular
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`sitting manner in the seat in a case where the seat cushion determining means
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`determines the presence of the human in the seat and the seatback determining means
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`determines the absence of the human in the seat.
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`[Claim 15] The seating detecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the seat is
`
`mounted at a vehicle including an automobile and an airplane equipped with an
`
`auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus that restrains and protects an occupant in the seat
`
`by operating at a time of an accident, the determining means is configured to output a
`
`signal for permitting an operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus in a case
`
`where the determining means determines the presence of the human in the seat, and the
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`determining means is configured to output a signal for prohibiting the operation of the
`
`auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus in a case where the determining means determines
`
`the absence of the human in the seat.
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`[Claim 16] The seating detecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the seat is
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`mounted at a vehicle including an automobile and an airplane equipped with an
`
`auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus that restrains and protects an occupant in the seat
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`3
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`by operating at a time of an accident, and the determining means is configured to output
`
`a signal for permitting an operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus in a
`
`case where the determining means determines the presence of the human in the seat.
`
`[Claim 17] The seating detecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the seat is
`
`mounted at a vehicle including an automobile and an airplane equipped with an
`
`auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus that restrains and protects an occupant in the seat
`
`by operating at a time of an accident, and the determining means is configured to output
`
`a signal for prohibiting an operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus in a
`
`case where the determining means determines the absence of the human in the seat.
`
`[Claim 18] The seating detecting apparatus according to claim 6, wherein the seat is
`
`mounted at a vehicle including an automobile and an airplane equipped with an
`
`auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus that restrains and protects an occupant in the seat
`
`by operating at a time of an accident, and the determining means is configured to output
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`a signal to the auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus to inform the auxiliary occupant
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`restraint apparatus that the human is seated in the seat in an irregular sitting manner in a
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`case where the determining portion determines that the human is seated in the irregular
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`sitting manner in the seat.
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`[Detailed explanation of the invention]
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`[0001]
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`[Technical field of the invention] The present invention relates to a seating detecting
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`apparatus, more particularly, a seating detecting apparatus detecting presence or absence
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`of a human body in a seat. The present invention is usable for a system providing a
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`service such as information communication, for example, only at a time a human is
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`seated, for a sound control or an air-conditioning control in a cabin, for a grasp of
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`passengers at a transport system, for example, and for a control of an airbag apparatus
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`that inhibits a damage of an occupant by restraining the occupant at a time of an
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`accident of an automobile.
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`[0002]
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`[Prior art] A seating detecting apparatus in the aforementioned type is conventionally
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`configured as illustrated in Fig. 7. That is, the seating detecting apparatus includes a
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`piezoelectric element 1 including flexibility, a signal processing means 2, and a
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`determining means 3. The signal processing means 2 includes an amplifying means
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`2-a amplifying an output signal of the piezoelectric element 1, a filter 2-b filtering a
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`specific frequency component of an output of the amplifying means 2-a, and a
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`smoothing means 2-c smoothing an output signal from the filter 2-b.
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`[0003] In a case where a human is seated in a seat 4, the piezoelectric element 1
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`4
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`disposed below a top cloth of a seat cushion 4a of the seat 4 deforms to thereby generate
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`an electric voltage because of piezoelectric effect. The thus generated signal
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`represents a tentatively large signal by vibration at a time of seating. In a case where a
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`human body becomes quiet and stable, fine body movement vibrations appear due to
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`vibrations resulting from heartbeat and/or breathing of the human body. The output
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`signal is zero with the absence of the human body. In a case where an object is placed
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`on the seat 4, a tentatively large signal is generated at the instance the object is placed.
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`Nevertheless, the output signal becomes zero because the object does not have fine body
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`movement caused by heartbeat and/or breathing as in the human body. The
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`aforementioned output signal from the piezoelectric element 1 is amplified by the
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`amplifying means 2-a of the signal processing means 2, filtered to a necessary
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`frequency component by the filter 2-b, and smoothened by the smoothing means 2-c for
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`the determination of presence or absence of the human by the determining means 3.
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`[0004]
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`[Objects to be solved by the invention] Nevertheless, in the known seating detecting
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`apparatus, a large vibration is generated even when the object is placed on the seat and a
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`tentatively large signal is output from a vibration detecting device, which makes it
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`difficult to clearly distinguish the above signal from a signal generated when the human
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`is seated.
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`[0005] In addition, in the known seating detecting apparatus, vibration of the human
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`body is difficult to be obtained when a child’s auxiliary seat is utilized for putting a
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`child in the seat, which leads to difficulty in determination.
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`[0006] Further, in the known seating detecting apparatus employed to an automobile
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`equipped with an airbag apparatus as an auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus, the
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`presence of the human in the seat is determined even in a case where the human is
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`seated in an irregular sitting manner, for example, leaning forward, which raises an
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`issue that the airbag apparatus is activated in such the case.
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`[0007] Therefore, a first object of the present invention is to provide a seating
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`detecting apparatus that may perform a determination by clearly distinguishing between
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`a seating of a human and an object when the object is placed on the seat.
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`[0008] A second object of the present invention is to provide the seating detecting
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`apparatus that may securely detect presence of the human in the seat even when a
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`child’s auxiliary seat is placed on the seat.
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`[0009] A third object of the present invention is to provide the seating detecting
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`apparatus that may detect the human seated in the seat in an irregular sitting manner so
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`as to control an operation of an auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus in a case where
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`5
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`the seating detecting apparatus is used in an automobile where the auxiliary occupant
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`restraint apparatus is mounted. A fourth object of the present invention is to provide
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`the seating detecting apparatus that may immediately determine the presence of the
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`human in the seat in a case where the human is seated in the seat.
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`[0010]
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`[Means to solve the objects] In order to achieve the aforementioned first and second
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`objects, a seating detecting apparatus of the present invention includes a vibration
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`detecting means provided at a seatback of a seat, a signal processing means processing
`
`an output signal of the vibration detecting means, and a determining means determining
`
`presence or absence of a human in the seat based on an output of the signal processing
`
`means.
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`[0011] In addition, in order to achieve the aforementioned first and second objects,
`
`according to the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention, the determining
`
`means determines the presence of the human in the seat in a case where a time period in
`
`which the output of the signal processing means exceeds a predetermined seating signal
`
`threshold value continues for equal to or greater than a predetermined seating time
`
`threshold value.
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`[0012] Further, in order to achieve the aforementioned first and second objects,
`
`according to the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention, the determining
`
`means determines the absence of the human in the seat in a case where a time period in
`
`which the output of the signal processing means falls below a predetermined away
`
`signal threshold value continues for equal to or greater than a predetermined away time
`
`threshold value.
`
`[0013] Furthermore, in order to achieve the aforementioned third object, according to
`
`the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention, a signal for permitting an
`
`operation of an auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus is output in a case where the
`
`determining means determines the presence of the human in the seat.
`
`[0014] Furthermore, in order to achieve the aforementioned third object, according to
`
`the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention, a signal for prohibiting an
`
`operation of the auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus is output in a case where the
`
`determining means determines the absence of the human in the seat.
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`[0015] Furthermore, in order to achieve the aforementioned first object, the seating
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`detecting apparatus of the present invention includes a seat cushion vibration detecting
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`means provided at a seat cushion of a seat, a seat cushion signal processing means
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`processing an output signal of the seat cushion vibration detecting means, a seatback
`
`vibration detecting means provided at a seatback of the seat, a seatback signal
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`6
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`processing means processing an output signal of the seatback vibration detecting means,
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`and a determining portion determining presence or absence of a human in the seat based
`
`on an output of the seat cushion signal processing means and an output of the seatback
`
`signal processing means.
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`[0016] Furthermore, in order to achieve the aforementioned first, second and fourth
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`objects, according to the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention, the
`
`determining portion immediately determines the presence of the human in the seat
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`regardless of a duration time of the signal in a case where the output of the seat cushion
`
`signal processing means exceeds a predetermined seat cushion seating signal threshold
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`value and the output of the seatback signal processing means exceeds a predetermined
`
`seatback seating signal threshold value.
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`[0017] Furthermore, in order to achieve the aforementioned first and second objects,
`
`according to the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention, the determining
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`portion includes a seat cushion determining means determining the presence or absence
`
`of the human in the seat based on the output signal of the seat cushion signal processing
`
`means and a seatback determining means determining the presence or absence of the
`
`human in the seat based on the output signal of the seatback signal processing means.
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`[0018] Furthermore, in order to achieve the aforementioned first and second objects,
`
`according to the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention, the determining
`
`portion determines the presence of the human in the seat in a case where the seat
`
`cushion determining means determines the presence of the human in the seat and the
`
`seatback determining means determines the presence of the human in the seat.
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`[0019] Furthermore, in order to achieve the aforementioned first and second objects,
`
`according to the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention, the determining
`
`portion is configured to maintain a last determination in a case where the seat cushion
`
`determining means determines the presence of the human in the seat and the seatback
`
`determining means determines the absence of the human in the seat.
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`[0020] Furthermore, in order to achieve the aforementioned first object, according to
`
`the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention, the determining portion is
`
`configured to determine that one of or both of the seat cushion vibration detecting
`
`means and the seatback vibration detecting means is abnormal in a case where a state in
`
`which the seat cushion determining means determines the absence of the human in the
`
`seat and the seatback determining means determines the presence of the human in the
`
`seat continues for equal to or greater than an abnormality time threshold value.
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`[0021] Furthermore, in order to achieve the aforementioned first and second objects,
`
`according to the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention, the determining
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`portion is configured to determine the absence of the human in the seat in a case where
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`the seat cushion determining means determines the absence of the human in the seat and
`
`the seatback determining means determines the absence of the human in the seat.
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`[0022] Furthermore, in order to achieve the aforementioned second object, according
`
`to the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention, the determining portion is
`
`configured to determine that the human is seated in the seat with a child’s auxiliary seat
`
`in a case where the seat cushion determining means determines the absence of the
`
`human in the seat and the seatback determining means determines the presence of the
`
`human in the seat.
`
`[0023] Furthermore, in order to achieve the aforementioned first and second objects,
`
`according to the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention, the determining
`
`portion is configured to determine that the human is seated in an irregular sitting
`
`manner in the seat in a case where the seat cushion determining means determines the
`
`presence of the human in the seat and the seatback determining means determines the
`
`absence of the human in the seat.
`
`[0024] Furthermore, in order to achieve the aforementioned third object, according to
`
`the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention, the determining means is
`
`configured to output a signal for permitting an operation of the auxiliary occupant
`
`restraint apparatus in a case where the determining means determines the presence of
`
`the human in the seat.
`
`[0025] Furthermore, in order to achieve the aforementioned third object, according to
`
`the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention, the determining means is
`
`configured to output a signal for prohibiting the operation of the auxiliary occupant
`
`restraint apparatus in a case where the determining means determines the absence of the
`
`human in the seat.
`
`[0026] Furthermore, in order to achieve the aforementioned third object, according to
`
`the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention, the seat is mounted at a vehicle
`
`including an automobile and an airplane equipped with an auxiliary occupant restraint
`
`apparatus that restrains and protects an occupant in the seat by operating at a time of an
`
`accident, and the determining means is configured to output a signal to the auxiliary
`
`occupant restraint apparatus to inform the auxiliary occupant restraint apparatus that the
`
`human is seated in the seat in an irregular sitting manner in a case where the
`
`determining portion determines that the human is seated in the irregular sitting manner
`
`in the seat.
`
`[0027] The seating detecting apparatus of the present invention operates as follows
`
`by the construction described in claim 1.
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`[0028] That is, in a case where the human body is seated in the seat, vibration of the
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`human body is transmitted to the vibration detecting means provided at the seatback of
`
`the seat so that the vibration detecting means generates the signal depending on a
`
`magnitude of the vibration transmitted to the vibration detecting means. The
`
`aforementioned signal is output to the signal processing means so that the signal
`
`processing means processes the output of the vibration detecting means and outputs the
`
`resulting output to the determining means. The determining means determines the
`
`presence or absence of the human body in the seat based on the output of the signal
`
`processing means.
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`[0029] In the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention (claim 2), in a case
`
`where the human body is seated in the seat, the vibration of the human body is
`
`transmitted to the vibration detecting means provided at the seatback of the seat so that
`
`the vibration detecting means generates the signal depending on the magnitude of the
`
`vibration transmitted to the vibration detecting means. At this time, a large signal is
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`continuously transmitted to the vibration detecting means by a seating motion to the seat
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`when seating during a seating motion time period. The large signal as the output
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`signal is output for a relatively long time period accordingly. The aforementioned
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`signal is output to the signal processing means. The signal processing means
`
`processes the output of the vibration detecting means so as to output the resulting output
`
`to the determining means. The determining means determines the presence of the
`
`human in the seat in a case where the time period in which the magnitude of the output
`
`of the signal processing means is greater than the seating signal threshold value
`
`continues longer than the seating time threshold value.
`
`[0030]
`
` In the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention (claim 3), in a case
`
`where the human body is seated in the seat, the vibration of the human body is
`
`transmitted to the vibration detecting means provided at the seatback of the seat so that
`
`the vibration detecting means generates the signal depending on the magnitude of the
`
`vibration transmitted to the vibration detecting means. In a case where the human
`
`body becomes quiet and stable, fine vibration exists by heartbeat and/or breathing of the
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`human body. As long as the human body leans against the seatback, the vibration
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`detecting means generates a small output depending on the aforementioned fine
`
`vibration. At this time, a large signal is tentatively generated when the human
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`separates from the seat, however, the vibration detecting means is thereafter inhibited
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`from generating the signal because a vibration source is no more present. Such the
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`signal is output to the signal processing means so that the signal processing means
`
`processes the output of the vibration detecting means and outputs the resulting output to
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`the determining means. The determining means determines the absence of the human
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`in the seat in a case where the time period in which the magnitude of the output of the
`
`signal processing means is smaller than the away signal threshold value continues
`
`longer than the away time threshold value.
`
`[0031] In the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention (claim 4), in a case
`
`where the human body is seated in the seat, the vibration of the human body is
`
`transmitted to the vibration detecting means provided at the seatback of the seat so that
`
`the vibration detecting means generates the signal depending on the magnitude of the
`
`vibration transmitted to the vibration detecting means. The aforementioned signal is
`
`output to the signal processing means. The signal processing means processes the
`
`output of the vibration detecting means so as to output the resulting output to the
`
`determining means. The determining means determines the presence or absence of the
`
`human body in the seat based on the output of the signal processing means. In a case
`
`where the determining means determines the presence of the human in the seat, the
`
`determining means outputs the signal for permitting the operation of the auxiliary
`
`occupant restraint apparatus.
`
`[0032] In the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention (claim 5), in a case
`
`where the human body is seated in the seat, the vibration of the human body is
`
`transmitted to the vibration detecting means provided at the seatback of the seat so that
`
`the vibration detecting means generates the signal depending on the magnitude of the
`
`vibration transmitted to the vibration detecting means. The aforementioned signal is
`
`output to the signal processing means. The signal processing means processes the
`
`output of the vibration detecting means so as to output the resulting output to the
`
`determining means. The determining means determines the presence or absence of the
`
`human body in the seat based on the output of the signal processing means. In a case
`
`where the determining means determines the absence of the human in the seat, the
`
`determining means outputs the signal for prohibiting the operation of the auxiliary
`
`occupant restraint apparatus.
`
`[0033] The seating detecting apparatus of the present invention operates as follows
`
`by the construction described in claim 6.
`
`[0034] That is, in a case where the human body is seated in the seat, the vibration of
`
`the human body is transmitted to the seat cushion vibration detecting means provided at
`
`the seat cushion of the seat and to the seatback vibration detecting means provided at
`
`the seatback of the seat. The seat cushion vibration detecting means and the seatback
`
`vibration detecting means generate the signals depending on the magnitude of the
`
`vibration transmitted to each of the seat cushion vibration detecting means and the
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`seatback vibration detecting means. In the aforementioned signals, the output of the
`
`seat cushion vibration detecting means is output to the seat cushion signal processing
`
`means so that the seat cushion signal processing means processes the output of the seat
`
`cushion vibration detecting means and outputs the resulting output to the determining
`
`portion. Meanwhile, the output of the seatback vibration detecting means is output to
`
`the seatback signal processing means so that the seatback signal processing means
`
`processes the output of the seatback vibration detecting means and outputs the resulting
`
`output to the determining portion. The determining portion determines the presence or
`
`absence of the human body in the seat based on the output of the seat cushion signal
`
`processing means and the output of the seatback signal processing means.
`
`[0035] In the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention (claim 7), in a case
`
`where the human body is seated in the seat, the vibration of the human body is
`
`transmitted to the seat cushion vibration detecting means provided at the seat cushion of
`
`the seat and to the seatback vibration detecting means provided at the seatback of the
`
`seat. The seat cushion vibration detecting means and the seatback vibration detecting
`
`means generate the signals depending on the magnitude of the vibration transmitted to
`
`each of the seat cushion vibration detecting means and the seatback vibration detecting
`
`means. At this time, a large vibration caused by the seating motion relative to the seat
`
`when seating is continuously transmitted to both the seat cushion vibration detecting
`
`means and the seatback vibration detecting means during the seating motion time period.
`
`Thus, large signals as the output signals of the seat cushion vibration detecting means
`
`and the seatback vibration detecting means are output for a relatively long time period
`
`accordingly. In the aforementioned signals, the output of the seat cushion vibration
`
`detecting means is output to the seat cushion signal processing means so that the seat
`
`cushion signal processing means processes the output of the seat cushion vibration
`
`detecting means and outputs the resulting output to the determining portion.
`
`Meanwhile, the output of the seatback vibration detecting means is output to the
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`seatback signal processing means so that the seatback signal processing means
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`processes the output of the seatback vibration detecting means and outputs the resulting
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`output to the determining portion. The determining portion immediately determines
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`the presence of the human in the seat regardless of the duration time of each of the
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`output signals of the seat cushion vibration detecting means and the seatback vibration
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`detecting means in a case where the output signal of the seat cushion signal processing
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`means is greater than the seat cushion seating signal threshold value and the output
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`signal of the seatback signal processing means is greater than the seatback seating signal
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`threshold value.
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`11
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`Aisin Seiki Exhibit 1007
` Page 12
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`

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`[0036] In the seating detecting apparatus of the present invention (claim 8), in a case
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`where the human body is seated in the seat, the vibration of the human body is
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`transmitted to the seat cushion vibration detecting means provided at the seat cushion of
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`the seat and to the seatback vibration detecting means provided at the seatback of the
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`seat. The seat cushion vibration detecting means and the seatback vibration detecting
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`means generate the signals depending on the magnitude of the vibration transmitted to
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`each of the seat cushion vibration detecting means and the seatback vibration detecting