OCCUPANT DETECTION SYSTEM AND METHOD HAVING HEATER ELEMENT ELECTRICAL ISOLATION
First Claim
1. A system for determining an occupant proximate to a vehicle seat comprising:
- an occupant detection electrode configured to influence an excitation signal in accordance with an occupant presence proximate to the vehicle seat for determining the occupant;
a heater element configured to generate heat in response to a heater voltage for warming the occupant; and
an electrical isolation means that selectively electrically isolates the heater element such that the heater element does not interfere with a determination of the occupant.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for determining an occupant proximate to a vehicle seat, a controller for use in the system, and a method for electrically isolating a heater element from an occupant detection electrode. When a heater element in a seat is coupled to a heater voltage source to generate heat, the heater element may influence an electric field generated by an occupant detection electrode in such a way as to interfere with determining an occupant proximate to the seat. Depending on the arrangement of the electrode and the heater element, such interference may be present at all times when the electrode is connected to the heater voltage source, or may only be problematic when the seat is wet with liquid moisture. By electrically isolating the heater element, the influence on the electric field may be reduced so the process of determining if an occupant is present in the seat is not interfered with.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A system for determining an occupant proximate to a vehicle seat comprising:
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an occupant detection electrode configured to influence an excitation signal in accordance with an occupant presence proximate to the vehicle seat for determining the occupant; a heater element configured to generate heat in response to a heater voltage for warming the occupant; and an electrical isolation means that selectively electrically isolates the heater element such that the heater element does not interfere with a determination of the occupant. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A controller for determining an occupant proximate to a vehicle seat comprising:
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an excitation signal output configured to allow an excitation signal applied to an occupant detection electrode to be influenced in accordance with an occupant presence proximate to the vehicle seat for determining the occupant; a heater voltage output configured to supply a heater voltage to a heater element to generate heat in response to the heater voltage for warming the occupant; and an electrical isolation means configured to selectively electrically isolate the heater element such that the heater element does not interfere with determining the occupant. - View Dependent Claims (14)
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15. A method for electrically isolating a heater element from an occupant detection electrode comprising the steps of:
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coupling a first contact of a heater element to a first voltage output of a heater voltage source with a first electrically isolating switch; coupling a second contact of a heater element to a second voltage output of a heater voltage source with a second electrically isolating switch; and operating the first electrically isolating switch to a first switch open state and the second electrically isolating switch to a second switch open state to electrically isolate the heater element such that the heater element does not interfere with a determination of an occupant. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification