Importance

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Abstract

An apparatus which can accurately detect a state in a passenger compartment is provided. On the ceiling of a passenger compartment above the passenger seat, nine LEDs and three photodetectors are aimed downward, and infrared rays emitted from the LEDs are reflected by an object to be sensed and the reflected light beams are received by the photodetectors. A signal at a level corresponding to the distance to the object to be sensed is outputted from the photodetectors. A controller obtains a change with time in output of the photodetectors (i.e., motion speed from a differential value of the sensed distance, a displacement amount total from an integral value of the sensed distance, and a motion frequency), senses movement of the object to be sensed based thereon, determines whether the object to be sensed is a human, an animal, or other, and determines the kind of object. The controller then transmits a signal indicative of a result of the determination of the object to be sensed which is used to control how the vehicle's air bag is inflated.

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First Claim