Method and apparatus for preserving calibration data in a vehicle seat occupant detection system

The technical field of this invention is a vehicle occupant protection system and particularly an occupant detection system for a vehicle seat. Dedicated memory locations for vehicle identification data and seat calibration data are provided in a first rewritable, non-volatile memory within an occupant detection system module and a second rewritable, non-volatile memory external to the occupant detection system. At least once each ignition cycle, preferably at power up, an algorithm responsive to vehicle identification data obtained from the vehicle, stored in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory and/or stored in the second rewritable, non-volatile memory, as well as the presence of seat calibration data in the first rewritable, non-volatile memory, controls the copying of seat calibration data and/or vehicle identification data between the first and second rewritable, non-volatile memories to preserve seat calibration data for a vehicle through replacement of the occupant detection system module or the entire occupant detection system.