CAPACITANCE TYPE OCCUPANT DETECTION SENSOR
First Claim
1. A capacitance type occupant detection sensor comprising:
- a capacitive sensor including a detection electrode and disposed to a seat of a vehicle;
a voltage application portion applying a detection voltage to the detection electrode, and providing an electric field between the detection electrode and a reference electrode, which is applied with a reference voltage;
a current detector detecting a current, which flows through the detection electrode due to application of the detection voltage to the detection electrode;
a capacitance detector detecting a capacitance between the detection electrode and the reference electrode based on the detection voltage and the current detected by the current detector; and
a determination portion determining an occupant based on the capacitance detected by the capacitance detector,wherein the capacitive sensor further includes;
a first charging electrode, which is disposed apart from the detection electrode and applied with a charging voltage from the voltage application portion; and
a second charging electrode, which is disposed apart from the first charging electrode in parallel and applied with the reference voltage, andwherein when the first charging electrode is applied with the charging voltage, the first charging electrode and the second charging electrode are capacitively coupled with a device to be charged that is opposed to the first charging electrode and the second charging electrode through a seat surface of the seat.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A capacitance type occupant detection sensor includes (i) a capacitive sensor, (ii) a voltage application portion, (iii) a current detector, (iv) a capacitance detector, and (v) a determination portion. The capacitive sensor includes a detection electrode and is disposed to a seat. The voltage application portion applies a detection voltage to the detection electrode, and provides an electric field between the detection electrode and a reference electrode, which is applied with a reference voltage. The current detector detects a current, which is provided by the detection voltage, flowing through the detection electrode. The capacitance detector detects a capacitance between the detection electrode and the reference electrode. The determination portion determines an occupant. The capacitive sensor has a first charging electrode and a second charging electrode. The first charging electrode is disposed apart from the detection electrode and applied with a charging voltage from the voltage application portion.
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Citations
13 Claims
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1. A capacitance type occupant detection sensor comprising:
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a capacitive sensor including a detection electrode and disposed to a seat of a vehicle; a voltage application portion applying a detection voltage to the detection electrode, and providing an electric field between the detection electrode and a reference electrode, which is applied with a reference voltage; a current detector detecting a current, which flows through the detection electrode due to application of the detection voltage to the detection electrode; a capacitance detector detecting a capacitance between the detection electrode and the reference electrode based on the detection voltage and the current detected by the current detector; and a determination portion determining an occupant based on the capacitance detected by the capacitance detector, wherein the capacitive sensor further includes; a first charging electrode, which is disposed apart from the detection electrode and applied with a charging voltage from the voltage application portion; and a second charging electrode, which is disposed apart from the first charging electrode in parallel and applied with the reference voltage, and wherein when the first charging electrode is applied with the charging voltage, the first charging electrode and the second charging electrode are capacitively coupled with a device to be charged that is opposed to the first charging electrode and the second charging electrode through a seat surface of the seat. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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Specification