System for capacitive detection of a seat occupancy

• US 20070115121A1
• Filed: 11/15/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2005
• 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: Schleeh, Thomas
• Granted Patent: US 8,049,520 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 340/562
• 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: B60R 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors

Abstract

A system for capacitive detection of seat occupancy in a vehicle comprises a sensing electrode and a shielding electrode arranged in substantially parallel layers. A spacer is arranged between the sensing electrode and the shielding electrode to keep the sensing electrode and the shielding electrode at a certain distance from each other. The spacer comprises an inner textile layer and at least one of the electrodes comprises a film-based electrode.

Claims

1. A system for capacitive detection of a seat occupancy in a vehicle, comprising:

a sensing electrode and a shielding electrode arranged in substantially parallel layers and

a spacer arranged between said sensing electrode and said shielding electrode to keep said sensing electrode and said shielding electrode at a certain distance from each other,

wherein said spacer comprises an inner textile layer and wherein at least one of said electrodes comprises a film-based electrode.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said both said sensing electrode and said shielding electrode comprise a film-based electrode.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said spacer substantially consists of textile material.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said at least one film-based electrode comprises a film substrate and a conductive layer applied on said substrate.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said sensing electrode has a first side facing away from said spacer and said shielding electrode and a second side facing to said spacer and said shielding electrode and wherein said system comprises a first outer textile layer arranged on said first side of said sensing electrode.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said first outer textile layer is water repellent.

7. The system according to claim 5, wherein said first outer textile layer comprises a reinforcement pad in a region where said system is to be fixed to a vehicle seat.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said shielding electrode has a first side facing to said spacer and said sensing electrode and a second side facing away from said spacer and said sensing electrode and wherein said system comprises a second outer textile layer arranged on said second side of said shielding electrode.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said second outer textile layer is water repellent.

10. The system according to claim 8, wherein said second outer textile layer comprises a reinforcement pad in a region where said system is to be fixed to a vehicle seat.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein said inner textile layer is water repellent.

12. The system according to claim 1, wherein said inner textile layer comprises a reinforcement pad in a region where said system is to be fixed to a vehicle seat.

13. The system according to claim 1, wherein said inner textile layer is a warp-knitted spacer fabric.

14. The system according to claim 4, wherein the conductive layer of said film-based electrode has at least one gap in a region where said system is to be fixed to a vehicle seat.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein said film-based electrode comprises a sealing layer for protecting said film-based electrode against electrolysis.