Passenger detector

• US 20010042412A1
• Filed: 05/04/2001
• Published: 11/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 11/04/1998
• 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: Serban, Bogdan, Witte, Michel
• Granted Patent: US 6,737,953 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 73/862.46
• 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: G01L 1/205 using distributed sensing elements

Abstract

A description is given of a passenger detector comprising a flexible support of insulating material, at least two electrode structures placed on said insulating substrate at a certain distance from each other, and a layer of semiconducting material placed above said electrode structures in an active zone of the detector. In conformity with the invention, said layer of semiconducting material has an internal resistance that varies with a deformation of said layer and said layer of semiconducting material is placed in intimate contact with said electrode structures.

Claims

1. Passenger detector comprising a flexible support made of an insulating material, at least two electrode structures arranged on said flexible support at a distance from each other, and a layer of semiconducting material arranged on top of said electrode structures in an active zone of said detector, said layer of semiconducting material being arranged in intimate contact with said electrode structures and having an internal resistance that varies with a deformation of said layer.

2. Detector according to

claim 1

, wherein said flexible support comprises a woven fabric.

3. Detector according to

claim 1

, wherein said flexible support comprises a non-woven fabric.

4. Detector according to

claim 1

, wherein said electrode structures are deposited on said flexible support.

5. Detector according to

claim 1

, wherein said electrode structures are printed on said flexible support.

6. Detector according to

claim 1

, comprising a metallic layer, which is deposited on said flexible support, wherein said electrode structures are engraved or etched in said metallic layer.

7. Detector according to

claim 1

, wherein said layer of semiconducting material comprises a semiconducting ink which is printed on said electrode structures.

8. Detector according to

claim 1

, wherein said layer of semiconducting material comprises a conducting elastomer, granulated or non-granulated, which is deposited or stuck on said electrode structures.

9. Detector according to

claim 1

, wherein the layer of semiconducting material is divided into several zones, said zones being arranged at different places on said electrode structures, thus defining several active zones of said detector.

10. Detector according to

claim 1

, further comprising a protective layer applied onto said electrode structures and said layer of semiconducting material.

11. Vehicle seat comprising at least one passenger detector according to

claim 1

.

12. Vehicle seat according to

claim 11

, wherein said passenger detector is integrated into the surface of the seat.

13. Vehicle seat according to

claim 11

, wherein said passenger detector is integrated into the into the back of the seat.

14. Vehicle seat according to

claim 11

, wherein said passenger detector is integrated the head-rest.

15. Passenger detector comprising a flexible support made of an insulating fabric, at least two electrode structures arranged on said insulating fabric at a distance from each other, and a layer of semiconducting material arranged on top of said electrode structures in an active zone of said detector, said layer of semiconducting material being arranged in intimate contact with said electrode structures and having an internal resistance that varies with a deformation of said layer.

16. Passenger detector according to

claim 15

, wherein said electrode structures are printed on said insulating fabric.

17. Passenger detector according to

claim 16

, wherein said layer of semiconducting material comprises a semiconducting ink which is printed on said electrode structures.

18. Passenger detector having a plurality of active zones, said detector comprising a flexible support made of an insulating material, at least two electrode structures arranged on said flexible support at a distance from each other, and a layer of semiconducting material, said layer of semiconducting material having an internal resistance that varies with a deformation of said layer, said layer of semiconducting material being divided into several zones, each of said zones being arranged in one of said active zones of said detector on said electrode structures and in intimate contact with said electrode structures.