Importance

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Abstract

Occupant position sensor system for a driver of the vehicle in which a sensor is arranged on or incorporated into a steering wheel assembly and provides an output signal which varies as a function of the distance between the sensor and the driver of the vehicle such that the position of the driver can be determined relative to a fixed point in the vehicle. The sensor can be arranged on a cover of the airbag module arranged in connection with the steering wheel assembly. The sensor may be, e.g., an ultrasonic transducer or a capacitance sensor. The sensor can be used in combination with an airbag deployment system including, in addition to the airbag in the airbag module, a crash sensor for determining that a crash requiring deployment of the airbag is required, and a control unit coupled to the sensor and crash sensor for controlling deployment of the airbag based on the determination that a crash requiring deployment of the airbag is required and the distance between the driver and the sensor. A steering wheel assembly, airbag module and occupant restraint system and deployment method including a sensor as described above are also disclosed.

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First Claim