Enhancing Airbag Safety: ams IC Helps To Detect Presence Of Infants In Passenger Seat

The Takata occupant classification system, named CS3 (Child Seat Suppression System), can distinguish between an adult and a rear facing infant seat present on the passenger seat. These systems help to save lives by suppressing the airbag deployment in the presence of a baby seat. Moreover, new governmental regulations demand this safety feature to be present in every future car.

The CS3 is an electric field device which effectively measures the capacitive coupling between the sensing electrode in the seat, the occupant, and the vehicle ground. The mass and position of the occupant relate directly to the magnitude of the signal response, thus allowing for a clear distinction between children and adults. The CS3 ECU communicates the resultant occupant state to the airbag control unit.

ams’ ASIC performs high-precision measurements supported by a multitude of diagnosis features. The IC was specially designed to work under high electromagnetic disturbances (EMC) such as the operation of mobile phones in the car. Thomas Mueller, product manager for automotive ASICs at ams, states: “ams’ long-term experience in safety and EMC-robust designs allows our customers to design demanding safety-critical applications.”

Jeff Bennett, Director of Engineering for Occupant Detection Systems at Takata, comments: “Together with our partner, ams, we offer a cost-effective, robust solution consistent with our mission of protecting human life.”