Device for detecting seat occupancy in a motor vehicle

摘要

A device for detecting seat occupancy in a motor vehicle, especially for inhibiting airbag release when a seat is unoccupied, is provided. A seat occupancy sensor has a front sensing region and a rear sensing region, which can be evaluated separately. In this way, it is possible to determine whether the front seat passenger is in a sitting position close to the front seat edge of the seat cushion, which reduces the protective effect of the airbag. This can possibly be indicated visually or audibly. As a further measure, the inhibiting of an airbag release can be provided in the case of an incorrect sitting position. The seat occupancy sensor can be a resistive membrane pressure sensor.