The occupant detection sensor, which is enclosed in the seat cushion of the front passenger seat, is used to detect whether or not the front passenger seat is occupied.
The sensor shown in the illustration consists of a construction in which two sheets of electrodes sandwich a spacer. When the occupant is seated, the electrode sheets come in contact with each other through the hole that is provided in the spacer portion, thus enabling the current to flow. As a result, the center airbag sensor assembly detects the presence of the occupant. Using this signal, some models do not operate the airbag when there is no one in the front passenger seat. This signal also controls the front passenger seat seatbelt warning light lighting (when there is no one on the front passenger seat, the warning light does not come on the warning light).