Capacitance type sensor and occupant detection system having the same
First Claim
1. A capacitance type sensor comprising:
- a first electrode arranged inside any one of a seating portion and a backrest portion of a seat in a vehicle;
a second electrode arranged adjacent to the first electrode inside any one of the seating portion and the backrest portion of the seat, whichever the first electrode is arranged, and forming an electric field together with the first electrode therebetween in a wetness determination mode in which a wet condition of the seat is determined; and
a third electrode that forms an electric field together with the first and the second electrode therebetween in an occupant determination mode in which an occupant in the seat is determined.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A capacitance type sensor installed in a vehicle includes the first electrode, the second electrode, and the third electrode. The first electrode is arranged inside a seating portion of a seat or a backrest portion of the seat, or both. The second electrode is arranged adjacent to the first electrode inside at least one of the seating portion and the backrest portion of the seat, whatever the first electrode is arranged. The second electrode forms an electric field together with the first electrode between them in a wetness determination mode in which a wet condition of the seat is determined. The third electrode forms an electric field together with the first and the second electrode between them in an occupant determination mode in which an occupant in the seat is determined.
-
Citations
18 Claims
-
1. A capacitance type sensor comprising:
-
a first electrode arranged inside any one of a seating portion and a backrest portion of a seat in a vehicle;
a second electrode arranged adjacent to the first electrode inside any one of the seating portion and the backrest portion of the seat, whichever the first electrode is arranged, and forming an electric field together with the first electrode therebetween in a wetness determination mode in which a wet condition of the seat is determined; and
a third electrode that forms an electric field together with the first and the second electrode therebetween in an occupant determination mode in which an occupant in the seat is determined. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
-
-
7. An occupant detection system comprising:
-
a first electrode arranged inside any one of a seating portion and a backrest portion of a seat in a vehicle, a second electrode arranged adjacent to the first electrode inside any one of the seating portion and the backrest portion of the seat, whichever the first electrode is arranged, and forming an electric field together with the first electrode therebetween in a wetness determination mode in which a wet condition of the seat is determined, and a third electrode that forms an electric field together with the first and the second electrode therebetween in an occupant determination mode in which an occupant in the seat is determined; and
an occupant detection electronic control unit that determines whether the seat is wet based on an output of the capacitance type sensor in the wetness determination mode, and determines an occupant in the seat based on an output of the capacitance type sensor in the occupant determination mode. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
-
Specification