An occupant determination apparatus and an occupant determination method
accurately determine a size of an occupant, with a simple configuration
where a plurality of electrodes are arranged on one layer, and eliminate
errors due to the capacitance between an occupant and surrounding
car-body metal parts or the like, and thus suppress erroneous
determination. The apparatus includes a sensor having a plurality of seat
section electrodes arranged on a sitting section, and a determination
section. The determination section includes an oscillator, a capacitance
detecting section which detects the current flowing through a seat
section electrode in order to detect the capacitance, a switching circuit
which switches the connection of the capacitance detecting section to the
seat section electrode, and a controlling section which outputs a switch
control signal.