VEHICLE SEAT OCCUPANT SENSOR AND HEATER ELEMENT
First Claim
1. An occupant sensor mat configured to be located proximate to a seating surface of a vehicle seat assembly, said mat comprising:
- a sensor electrode formed of conductive material and configured to radiate an electric field in response to an excitation signal for determining an occupant presence proximate to the seating surface;
a heater element configured to underlie the sensor electrode, said heater element formed of conductive material and configured to radiate heat in response to electrical current for warming an occupant residing on the seating surface; and
an incompressible spacer interposed between the sensor electrode and the heater element, said incompressible spacer formed of a material sufficiently flexible for locating proximate to a seating surface, and sufficiently incompressible to prevent a substantial change in capacitive coupling between the sensor electrode and the heater element from before to while an occupant resides on the seating surface.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An occupant sensor mat configured to be located proximate to a seating surface of a vehicle seat assembly. The mat includes a sensor electrode formed of conductive material and configured to radiate an electric field in response to an excitation signal for determining an occupant presence proximate to the seating surface. A heater element is configured to underlie the sensor electrode. The heater element is formed of conductive material and configured to radiate heat in response to electrical current for warming an occupant residing on the seating surface. An incompressible spacer is interposed between the sensor electrode and the heater element. The incompressible spacer formed of a material sufficiently flexible for locating proximate to a seating surface, and sufficiently incompressible to prevent a substantial change in capacitive coupling between the sensor electrode and the heater element from before to while an occupant resides on the seating surface.
13 Citations
8 Claims
-
1. An occupant sensor mat configured to be located proximate to a seating surface of a vehicle seat assembly, said mat comprising:
-
a sensor electrode formed of conductive material and configured to radiate an electric field in response to an excitation signal for determining an occupant presence proximate to the seating surface; a heater element configured to underlie the sensor electrode, said heater element formed of conductive material and configured to radiate heat in response to electrical current for warming an occupant residing on the seating surface; and an incompressible spacer interposed between the sensor electrode and the heater element, said incompressible spacer formed of a material sufficiently flexible for locating proximate to a seating surface, and sufficiently incompressible to prevent a substantial change in capacitive coupling between the sensor electrode and the heater element from before to while an occupant resides on the seating surface. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
-
-
5. A vehicle seat assembly, said seat assembly comprising:
-
a seat cushion configured to define a seating surface; a sensor electrode located proximate to the seating surface, said sensor electrode formed of conductive material and configured to radiate an electric field in response to an excitation signal for determining an occupant presence proximate to the seating surface; a heater element underlying the sensor electrode proximate to the seating surface, said heater element formed of conductive material and configured to radiate heat in response to electrical current for warming an occupant residing on the seating surface; and an incompressible spacer interposed between the sensor electrode and the heater element, said incompressible spacer formed of a material sufficiently flexible for locating proximate to a seating surface, and sufficiently incompressible to prevent a substantial change in capacitive coupling between the sensor electrode and the heater element from before to while an occupant resides on the seating surface. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
-
Specification