An apparatus (34) and associated method are provided for vehicle occupant
sensing. An EM energy driver component (36) and associated EM energy source
(40) provide a modulated beam (44, e.g., IR light), and a movable
reflection component (46) scans the beam onto an occupant location. A detector
(92) detects beam reflection and a phase determination component (96)
processes phase information that is provided to a controller (24). Within
the controller (24) processing (114, 116, and 118) provides
mapping of occupant contours and determination of an occupant characteristic.