INSULATION BARRIER FOR UNSHIELDED WIRE
First Claim
1. A sensor assembly configured to detect whether a seat in a vehicle is occupied, comprising:
- a plurality of sensing elements configured to be positioned within the seat, the seat having a base member with a mat positioned therein, wherein each of the plurality of sensing elements is capable of detecting the presence or absence of an object on a portion of the seat, and wherein each of the plurality of sensing elements provides an output of an electrical signal indicative of the detection;
a cable having first and second layers of non-conductive material and a plurality of conductors positioned between and attached to the first and second layers, wherein the output of one of the sensing elements is in electrical communication with one of the conductors, wherein the same conductor is configured to be electrically coupled to an electrical device capable of processing the electrical signal from the same sensing element; and
a first non-conductive spacing member formed from a dielectric material and attached to at least a portion of the cable.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor assembly has a plurality of sensing elements configured to be positioned within a seat of a vehicle. Each of the sensing elements include an output signal indicating the presence or absence of an occupant. The sensor assembly includes a cable with a plurality of conductors that are in electrical communication with the output signals of the sensing elements. The sensor assembly further provides a non-conductive spacer positioned between the cable and the plurality of sensing elements. A method for providing a sensor assembly having a spacer between sensing elements and conductors attached thereto to reduce unwanted coupling of signals onto the conductors is also disclosed.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A sensor assembly configured to detect whether a seat in a vehicle is occupied, comprising:
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a plurality of sensing elements configured to be positioned within the seat, the seat having a base member with a mat positioned therein, wherein each of the plurality of sensing elements is capable of detecting the presence or absence of an object on a portion of the seat, and wherein each of the plurality of sensing elements provides an output of an electrical signal indicative of the detection; a cable having first and second layers of non-conductive material and a plurality of conductors positioned between and attached to the first and second layers, wherein the output of one of the sensing elements is in electrical communication with one of the conductors, wherein the same conductor is configured to be electrically coupled to an electrical device capable of processing the electrical signal from the same sensing element; and a first non-conductive spacing member formed from a dielectric material and attached to at least a portion of the cable. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A seat capable of supporting an occupant for a vehicle, the seat being capable of characterizing the presence of the occupant, comprising:
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a base member configured to accept and support the occupant including a mat having first and second major surfaces and positioned along at least a portion of the base member; a plurality of sensing elements disposed within the base member, each of the sensing elements capable of detecting the presence or absence of the occupant on a portion of the seat and having an output including an electrical signal indicative of the detection; a cable having first and second sides defined by two non-conductive layers with a plurality of electrical conductors disposed between and secured by the two non-conductive layers, wherein a first electrical conductor is coupled to the output of a first sensing element; and a first non-conductive spacing member having a layer of dielectric material and positioned adjacent at least a portion of the cable to reduce the conductance of unwanted electrical signals onto the plurality of electrical conductors, wherein the first electrical conductor is configured to be in electrical communication with an electronic device capable of characterizing the presence of the occupant. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A method of providing one or more electrical signals from a seat sensor assembly to an external device that are indicative of one or more attributes measured by the seat sensor assembly, comprising:
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aligning a first seat sensing element with a seat, the first seat sensing element capable of sensing an attribute and providing an output having an electrical signal indicative of the attribute; attaching a first conductor between the electrical output of the first seat sensing element and the external device so that the first seat sensing element is in electrical communication with the external device; and disposing a non-conductive spacing member having a layer of dielectric material between the seat sensing element and the first conductor to reduce electrical coupling of an unwanted electrical signal onto the first conductor. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification