Judgment lock for occupant detection air bag control

1. A vehicle passenger detection method for controlling sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) characterizing the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories;

(b) applying a characterization change parameter for limiting change in the characterization of the occupant from the one to another one of the at least two categories, the application being for a first time period; and

(c) altering the characterization change parameter after the first time period;

(d) determining first and second confidence parameters at first and second times, the first time different than the second time, the first confidence parameter a function of a first total number of judgments at the first time and the second confidence parameter a function of second total number of judgments at the second time;

wherein (a) comprises characterizing with a capacitive sensing system.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein (b) comprises applying a hysteresis to (a) for the first time period, and (c) comprises increasing an amount of time of the hysteresis.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein (b) comprises applying a characterization threshold and (c) comprises changing the characterization threshold so the one of the at least two categories is more inclusive.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(e) determining a confidence parameter different than the characterization change parameter;

wherein the first time period is a function of the confidence parameter.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(e) altering a different characterization change parameter after a second time period, the second time period overlapping and different than the first time period.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(e) resetting the characterization change parameter in response to no occupant characterization.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(e) controlling an air bag system in response to the characterization of (a).

8. A vehicle passenger detection method for controlling sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) characterizing the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories;

(b) applying a characterization change parameter for limiting change in the characterization of the occupant from the one to another one of the at least two categories, the application being for a first time period; and

(c) altering the characterization change parameter after the first time period;

(d) determining a confidence parameter different than the characterization change parameter;

wherein the first time period is a function of the confidence parameter and wherein (a) comprises characterizing with a capacitive sensing system;

wherein (d) comprises determining a ratio of occurrences of a first of the least two categories to a total number of judgments.

9. A vehicle passenger detection method for controlling sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) characterizing the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories;

(b) applying a characterization change parameter for limiting change in the characterization of the occupant from the one to another one of the at least two categories, the application being for a first time period; and

(c) altering the characterization change parameter after the first time period;

wherein (a) comprises characterizing with a capacitive sensing system, wherein (b) comprises applying a hysteresis to (a) for the first time period, and (c) comprises increasing an amount of time of the hysteresis;

further comprising:

(d) determining a ratio of occurrences of a first of the at least two categories to a total number of judgments in a second time period, the second time period longer than the first time period; and

(e) if the ratio indicates a high confidence, altering a characterization threshold parameter; and

(f) if the ratio indicates a low confidence:

(f 1 ) waiting for a third time period; and

(f 2 ) altering the characterization threshold parameter if the characterization of (a) is consistent during the third time period.

10. A vehicle passenger detection method for controlling sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) characterizing the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories;

(b) applying a characterization change parameter for limiting change in the characterization of the occupant from the one to another one of the at least two categories, the application being for a first time period; and

(c) altering the characterization change parameter after the first time period;

wherein (a) comprises characterizing with a capacitive sensing system;

further comprising:

(d) resetting the characterization change parameter in response to characterizing the occupant as a different one of the at least two categories consecutively for a current hysteresis time period.

11. A vehicle passenger detection system for controlling the sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the system comprising:

an occupant detection sensor adjacent the seating area, the occupant detection sensor comprising a capacitive sensing system; and

a control processor operatively connected with the occupant detection sensor, the control processor operative to characterize the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories, apply a characterization change parameter for limiting change in the characterization of the occupant from the one to another one of the at least two categories, the application being for a first time period, and alter the characterization change parameter after the first time period;

wherein the control processor is operable to determine a confidence parameter different than the characterization change parameter, the first time period being a function of the confidence parameter.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein the characterization change parameter comprises a hysteresis parameter.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein the characterization change parameter comprises a characterization threshold, the control processor operable to alter the characterization threshold so the one of the at least two categories is more inclusive.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein the control processor is operable to alter a different characterization change parameter after a second time period, the second time period overlapping and different than the first time period.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein the control processor is operable to reset the characterization change parameter in response to one of: (a) a no occupant characterization or (b) characterizing the occupant as a different one of the at least two categories consecutively for a current hysteresis time period.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein the occupant detection sensor comprises an electrode antenna.

17. The system of claim 11 further comprising an air bag controller connected with the control processor.

18. A vehicle passenger detection method for controlling sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) characterizing the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories;

(b) determining a characterization change parameter as a function of a probability of characterization accuracy; and

(c) limiting a change of the characterization of (a) by the characterization change parameter; wherein (b) comprises determining a ratio of occurrences of a first of the at least two categories to a total number of judgments.

19. A vehicle passenger detection method for controlling sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) characterizing the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories;

(b) applying a characterization change parameter for a first time period; and

(c) altering the characterization change parameter after the first time period;

wherein (b) comprises applying a hysteresis to (a) for the first time period, and (c) comprises increasing an amount of time of the hysteresis.

20. A vehicle passenger detection method for controlling sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) characterizing the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories;

(b) applying a characterization change parameter for a first time period;

(c) altering the characterization change parameter after the first time period; and

(d) determining a confidence parameter different than the characterization change parameter;

wherein the first time period is a function of the confidence parameter.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein (d) comprises determining a ratio of occurrences of a first of the at least two categories to a total number of judgments.

22. A vehicle passenger detection method for controlling sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) characterizing the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories;

(b) applying a characterization change parameter for a first time period;

(c) altering the characterization change parameter after the first time period; and

(d) determining first and second confidence parameters at first and second times, the first time different than the second time, the first confidence parameter a function of a first total number of judgments at the first time and the second confidence parameter a function of second total number of judgments at the second time.

23. A vehicle passenger detection method for controlling sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the method comprising the acts of:

(a) characterizing the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories;

(b) applying a characterization change parameter for a first time period;

(c) altering the characterization change parameter after the first time period; and

(d) resetting the characterization change parameter in response to characterizing the occupant as a different one of the at least two categories consecutively for a current hysteresis time period.

24. A vehicle passenger detection system for controlling the sensing of an occupant in a seating area, the system comprising:

an occupant detection sensor adjacent the seating area; and

a control processor operatively connected with the occupant detection sensor, the control processor operative to characterize the occupant in the seating area as one of at least two categories, apply a characterization change parameter for a first time period, and alter the characterization change parameter after the first time period;

wherein the control processor is operable to determine a confidence parameter different than the characterization change parameter, the first time period being a function of the confidence parameter.