Methods for classifying and ascertaining the identity of an object in a
seat in a vehicle in which a wave-receiving sensor receives waves at least
from a space above the seat and generates a signal representative of the
received waves and a weight sensing system obtains information about the
weight being applied to the seat. Tests are conducted on different
objects, each test entailing receiving waves by means of the
wave-receiving sensor and the information about the weight being applied
to the seat from the weight sensing system while that object is situated
in the seat and associating the signal representative of the received
waves and information about the weight being applied to the seat with that
object. An algorithm is generated from the tests and adapted to process a
signal representative of waves received by the wave-receiving sensor and
information about the weight being applied to the seat from the weight
sensing system and classify or identify the object most closely associated
therewith. In use, waves are received by the wave-receiving sensor and a
signal representative thereof is generated and information about the
weight being applied to the seat is obtained by the weight sensing system.
The signal representative of the received waves and information about the
weight being applied to the seat are input to the algorithm to thereby
classify or ascertain the identity of the object. A component may be
adjusted based on the classification or identity of the object.