CAPACITIVE OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM HAVING WET SEAT COMPENSATION AND METHOD
First Claim
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1. An occupant detection system comprising:
- a capacitive sensor comprising an electrode arranged in a seat proximate to an expected location of an occupant for sensing an occupant presence proximate thereto, said capacitive sensor configured to provide an output indicative of the sensed occupant presence; and
occupant detection circuitry for processing the capacitive sensor output and determining a wet seat condition and generating a wet seat fault based on a determined wet seat condition, wherein the occupant detection circuitry further detects a state of occupancy of the seat based on the capacitive sensor output and the wet seat fault.
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Abstract
An occupant detection system and method are provided. The system includes a capacitive sensor having an electrode arranged in a seat proximate to an expected location of an occupant for sensing an occupant presence approximate thereto. The capacitive sensor is configured to provide an output indicative of the sensed occupant presence. Occupant detection circuitry is included for processing the capacitive sensor output and determining a wet seat condition and generating a wet seat fault based on a determined wet seat condition. The occupant detection circuitry further detects a state of occupancy of the seat based on the capacitive sensor output and the wet seat fault.
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Citations
18 Claims
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1. An occupant detection system comprising:
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a capacitive sensor comprising an electrode arranged in a seat proximate to an expected location of an occupant for sensing an occupant presence proximate thereto, said capacitive sensor configured to provide an output indicative of the sensed occupant presence; and occupant detection circuitry for processing the capacitive sensor output and determining a wet seat condition and generating a wet seat fault based on a determined wet seat condition, wherein the occupant detection circuitry further detects a state of occupancy of the seat based on the capacitive sensor output and the wet seat fault. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of detecting an occupant in a seat, said method comprising the steps of:
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applying an alternating current signal to an electrode arranged in a seat proximate to an expected location of an occupant for generating an electric field at the expected location; detecting a voltage response to the electric field; generating an output based on the voltage response indicative of a characteristic of an occupant; detecting a wet seat condition; generating a wet seat fault based on the detected wet seat condition; and detecting a state of occupancy of the seat based on the output and the wet seat fault. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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Specification