Capacitive occupancy or proximity detector

• US 10,126,149 B2
• Filed: 08/20/2015
• Issued: 11/13/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/10/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SA (Aerospace Hi-Tech Holding Group Company Limited)
• Original Assignee: IEE International Electronics & Engineering SA (Aerospace Hi-Tech Holding Group Company Limited)
• Inventors: Virnich, Michael, Putz, Michael, Lamesch, Laurent, Landwehr, Jochen
• Primary Examiner(s): Assouad, Patrick
• Assistant Examiner(s): Yodichkas, Khristopher
• Application Number:
  US15/510,303
• Publication Number:
  US 20170299411A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,181 Days
• Field of Search: 324658
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0035 characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/12 Capacitive; Electric field
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0154 in combination with seat heating
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 1/06 Rims, e.g. with heating means; Rim covers B62D1/11 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 3/08 with provision for safeguarding the apparatus, e.g. against abnormal operation, against breakdown
• CPC Class Codes: G01D 5/24 by varying capacitance
• CPC Class Codes: G01R 31/44 Testing lamps
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 17/955 using a capacitive detector
• CPC Class Codes: H03K 2217/960705 Safety of capacitive touch and proximity switches, e.g. increasing reliability, fail-safe

Abstract

A capacitive occupancy or proximity detector includes a heating circuit, an impedance measurement circuit connected to the heating element, and a diagnostic circuit configured for determining integrity of the heater element. The heating circuit includes a heating element, a heating current source and a common mode choke having a first and a second winding, the heating element being connectable to the heating current source via the first and second windings. The diagnostic circuit includes at least one controllable switching element coupled across the second winding, circuitry for injecting a DC current into a series connection formed by the first winding the heating element and a parallel connection of the second winding and the at least one controllable switching element, and at least one detection circuit for detecting a voltage variation across the second winding.

Claims

1. A capacitive occupancy or proximity detector, comprising:

a heating circuit including a heating element, a heating current source and a common mode choke having a first and a second winding, said heating element being connectable to said heating current source via said first and second windings of said common mode choke;

an impedance measurement circuit connected to said heating element for measuring impedance between said heating element and a node at ground potential; and

a diagnostic circuit configured for determining integrity of said heater element,

wherein said diagnostic circuit comprises;

at least one first controllable switching element having a first terminal connected to said second winding of said common mode choke, and a second terminal connected to ground potential, such that said at least one first controllable switching element is coupled across said second winding of said common mode choke;

means for injecting a DC current into a series connection formed by said first winding of said common mode choke, said heating element and a parallel connection of said second winding of said common mode choke and said at least one first controllable switching element, wherein the injected DC current flows through said first winding, through said heating element, and divides at the parallel connection such that part of the injected DC current flows through said second winding, and another part of the injected DC current flows through said at least one first controllable switching element; and

at least one detection circuit for detecting a voltage variation across said second winding of said common mode choke, said voltage variation being induced upon opening said first controllable switching element.

2. The capacitive occupancy or proximity detector according to claim 1, wherein said means for injecting said DC current comprises said heating current source and wherein said diagnostic circuit is configured for determining integrity of said heater element during a heating cycle of said heating element.

3. The capacitive occupancy or proximity detector according to claim 1, wherein said means for injecting said DC current comprises a diagnostic DC current source which is connected to said first winding of said common mode choke and wherein said diagnostic circuit is configured for determining integrity of said heater element outside a heating cycle of said heating element.

4. The capacitive occupancy or proximity detector according to claim 1, wherein said means for injecting said DC current comprises a diagnostic DC current source which is connectable via a second controllable switching element to said first winding of said common mode choke and wherein said diagnostic circuit is configured for determining integrity of said heater element outside a heating cycle of said heating element.

5. The capacitive occupancy or proximity detector according to claim 1, wherein said detection circuit comprises a microcontroller comprising an analog to digital conversion block and a corresponding analog to digital input, said analog to digital input being operatively connected to a diagnostic node located between said second winding of said common mode choke and said heating element, said microcontroller being further configured for comparing an amplitude of said voltage variation at said diagnostic node to a threshold value.

6. The capacitive occupancy or proximity detector according to claim 5, wherein said detection circuit further comprises an amplifier connected between said diagnostic node and said analog to digital input of said microcontroller, said amplifier for amplifying a voltage signal at said diagnostic node.

7. The capacitive occupancy or proximity detector according to claim 5, wherein said microcontroller is further configured for measuring an offset voltage at said analog to digital input and for subtracting the measured offset voltage from said voltage variation prior to the comparison with said threshold value.

8. The capacitive occupancy or proximity detector according to claim 7, wherein said microcontroller is configured for measuring said offset voltage at said analog to digital input when said first controllable switching element is closed.

9. The capacitive occupancy or proximity detector according to claim 5, wherein said microcontroller is further configured for controlling operation of said at least one first controllable switching element and/or at least one second controllable switching element.

10. Method for determining integrity of a heater element in a capacitive occupancy or proximity detector according to claim 1, said method comprising the steps of:

a. controlling said at least one first controllable switching element to switch into a closed state;

b. causing a DC current to be injected into a series connection formed by said first winding of said common mode choke, said heating element and a parallel connection of said second winding of said common mode choke and said at least one first controllable switching element;

c. after a predetermined settling time, controlling said at least one first controllable switching element to switch into an open state;

d. upon opening said first controllable switching element, detecting a voltage variation across said second winding of said common mode choke; and

e. concluding that integrity of a heater element is given if said voltage variation exceeds a predetermined threshold value.

11. Method for determining integrity of a heater element according to claim 10, wherein said causing said DC current to be injected into a series connection comprises causing said heating current source to supply a heating current to said heating element.

12. Method for determining integrity of a heater element according to claim 10, wherein said causing said DC current to be injected into a series connection comprises connecting a diagnostic DC current source to said first winding of said common mode choke.

13. Method for determining integrity of a heater element according to claim 10, wherein said detecting a voltage variation across said second winding of said common mode choke comprises detecting a variation of a voltage level at a diagnostic node located between said second winding of said common mode choke and said heating element, and wherein said method further comprises the step of measuring an offset voltage at said diagnostic node and subtracting said offset voltage from said variation of said voltage level at said diagnostic node prior to the comparison with said threshold value.

14. Method for determining integrity of a heater element according to claim 13, wherein said measuring an offset voltage is carried out when said at least one first controllable switching element is in said closed state.