US Patent 7786882 Occupant-detecting apparatus

An occupant-detecting apparatus includes a plurality of load sensors configured to detect a load imparted on a vehicle seat, and an occupant-sitting determination device configured to determine whether or not an occupant is seated on the vehicle seat, based on detected result of the load sensors. The load sensors are configured to detect loads at different positions on the vehicle seat, and the occupant-sitting determination device is configured not to perform occupant-sitting determination if an absolute value (ΔW) of a variable amount in a sum of detected result of the load sensors is lesser than a predetermined threshold value (TH/L).