A vehicle occupant classification system categorizes vehicle occupants
into various classes such as adult, child, infant, etc. to provide
variable control for a vehicle restraint system such as an airbag. The
classification system utilizes sensors that are installed in various
locations in the vehicle. The sensors are used to generate a
three-dimensional profile for the vehicle occupant. Various factors can
affect the accuracy of this three-dimensional profile. Fuzzy logic is
used to reduce some of the inaccuracies by providing multiple decision
levels for various stages of the classification. Inaccuracies are also
caused by sensors shifting within the system from their original
position. This condition creates offset and the system evaluates this
offset and generates a correction factor to provide a more accurate
three-dimensional profile. Electrically erasable programmable read-only
memory is used to reduce complications and inaccuracies associated with
seat occupant weight sensors that have mounting configurations that vary
depending upon the vehicle.