Automotive systems
First Claim
1. An electric field sensor, comprising:
- a. at least one first electrode;
b. at least one second electrode; and
c. at least one third electrode, wherein said at least one second electrode is located between said at least one first electrode and said at least one third electrode, said at least one first electrode is located proximate to a region to be sensed by said electric field sensor, and said at least one second electrode is substantially the same size as said at least one first electrode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
An occupant detection system comprises a weight sensor and an electric field sensor, each operatively coupled to a seat. The electric field sensor generates an electric field from at least one electrode in the seat bottom of the seat, provides for generating a response to an influence of the occupant thereupon, and is adapted to provide for discriminating from the response a seated infant or child seating condition from another seating condition. If a measure of weight from the weight sensor is less than a threshold, or if a seated child seating condition is detected by the electric field sensor, then a signal processor provides for disabling an associated restraint actuator. The electric field sensor may comprise a plurality of electrodes over separate first and second regions of differing proximity to a seated infant or child, or at least one electrode in cooperation with a shield or void over at least one of the regions.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. An electric field sensor, comprising:
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a. at least one first electrode;
b. at least one second electrode; and
c. at least one third electrode, wherein said at least one second electrode is located between said at least one first electrode and said at least one third electrode, said at least one first electrode is located proximate to a region to be sensed by said electric field sensor, and said at least one second electrode is substantially the same size as said at least one first electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electric field sensor, comprising:
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a. at least one electrode;
b. a first reference capacitor;
c. a second reference capacitor; and
d. a sensing circuit comprising a plurality of states, wherein in a first state said sensing circuit is operatively coupled to at least one said electrode so as to provide for generating a first signal responsive to the capacitance of said at least one said electrode, in a second state said sensing circuit is operatively coupled to said first reference capacitor so as to provide for generating a second signal responsive to the capacitance of said first reference capacitor, in a third state said sensing circuit is operatively coupled to said second reference capacitor so as to provide for generating a third signal responsive to the capacitance of said second reference capacitor, and said sensing circuit is adapted to provide for generating a measure responsive to the capacitance of said at least one said electrode responsive to said first signal, said second signal and said third signal. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of generating a response from an electric field sensor, comprising:
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a. operatively coupling an oscillatory voltage signal across a voltage divider, wherein said voltage divider comprises a first impedance operatively coupled to a switched impedance at a node;
b. switching said switched impedance in accordance with a plurality of states, wherein in a first state said switched impedance comprises at least one electrode of an electric field sensor, in a second state said switched impedance comprises a first reference capacitor, and in a third state said switched impedance comprises a second reference capacitor;
c. generating a plurality of corresponding response signals from said node corresponding to each of said first state, said second state and said third state; and
d. generating the response from the electric field sensor responsive to said plurality of corresponding response signals. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15)
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Specification