OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD
First Claim
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;
a force sensor arranged within the seat and providing an output indicative of a sensed force applied to the seat; and
occupant detection circuitry for processing the capacitive sensor output and the force sensor output and detecting a state of occupancy of the seat based on the capacitive sensor output and the force sensor output.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
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. The system also includes a force sensor arranged within the seat providing an output indicative of a sensed force applied to the seat. The system further includes occupant detection circuitry for processing the capacitive sensor output and force sensor output and detecting a state of occupancy of the seat based on the capacitive sensor output and the force sensor output.
-
Citations
20 Claims
-
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; a force sensor arranged within the seat and providing an output indicative of a sensed force applied to the seat; and occupant detection circuitry for processing the capacitive sensor output and the force sensor output and detecting a state of occupancy of the seat based on the capacitive sensor output and the force sensor output. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
-
-
12. A method of detecting an occupant in a seat, said method comprising the steps of:
-
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 a first output based on the voltage response indicative of a characteristic of an occupant; sensing force applied to the seat by an occupant with the use of a force sensor located in the seat; generating a second output indicative of the sensed force on the seat; and processing the first output and the second output to detect a state of occupancy of the seat based on the first output and second output. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
-
Specification