Occupant-presence sensing

• US 20040012499A1
• Filed: 04/09/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/09/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Mack, Frank, Lich, Thomas, Wolf, Rene, Giesel, Ruediger
• Application Number:
  US10/410,632
• Publication Number:
  US 20040012499A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/665
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01534 using electromagneticwaves, e.g. infrared

Abstract

To sense the occupancy status of the seat surface of a seat, in particular in a vehicle, an electrically conductive foamed plastic is used, at least in sections, in the seat surface, and a signal corresponding to the resistance value between a top-side and a bottom-side electrode is utilized for discrimination purposes to determine whether the seat is occupied or not. An array of a plurality of parallel strips or a matrix of patches of the conductive foamed plastic permits a more thorough discrimination in terms of the occupying object or the occupying person.

Claims

1. A system for sensing an occupancy of a seat, comprising:

a seat surface manufactured from a foamed plastic, wherein, given an occupancy of the seat, an electric signal is able to be tapped off, a first value of the electric signal given the occupancy of the seat being distinguishable from a second value of the electric signal present when the seat is unoccupied, wherein;

the foamed plastic includes an electrically conductive foamed plastic, the foamed plastic includes a first electrode on a top side and a second electrode on a bottom side, and

the electric signal is able to be tapped off between the first electrode and the second electrode.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the seat is located in a vehicle.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the electrically conductive foamed plastic is only provided in sections of the seat surface.

4. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the electrically conductive foamed plastic is arranged in a plurality of parallel strips that are configured separately from each other.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein:

the parallel strips are situated in parallel with a driving direction of a vehicle in which the seat is located.

6. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the electrically conductive foamed plastic is placed in a plurality of patches configured separately from one another in a matrix.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein:

the system is arranged in at least one of a seat backrest and a headrest.