Importance

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Abstract

An inflatable passenger restraint system for use in an automotive vehicle having a passenger seat airbag and seat belt provides positive confirmation to the vehicle driver that the airbag is disabled when a light-weight child carrier seat is secured in the passenger seat using the seat belt. The system includes an occupant classification system such as a weight sensor and/or a non-contact occupancy sensor, and a seat belt buckle condition sensor for detecting whether the seat belt is fastened or unfastened. An airbag control module receives inputs from the occupant classification system and alternatively arms or disarms the passenger airbag in response thereto. An airbag condition indicator alerts the vehicle driver when the passenger seat airbag is disarmed because it is considered to be 'unoccupied' and the seat belt is fastened. Accordingly, when an infant carrier seat is secured in the passenger seat using the seat belt, and the infant seat and infant having a total weight too low to provide a 'seat occupied' input to the airbag control circuit, the airbag condition indicator provide the driver with positive confirmation that the airbag is disarmed.

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First Claim