Apparatus for detecting the presence of an occupant in a motor vehicle

摘要

A motor vehicle control system (30) includes a pair of cameras (26,28) for producing first and second images of a passenger area. A distance processor (32) determines distances that a plurality of features in the first and second images are from the cameras (26,28) based on the amount that each feature is shifted between the first and second images. An analyzer (34) processes the distances and determine a size of an object on the seat. Additional analysis of the distance also may determine movement of the object and the rate of that movement. The distance information also can be used to recognize predefined patterns in the images and thus identify the object. A mechanism (54) utilizes the determined object characteristics in controlling operation of a device, such as deployment of an air bag (58).