SENSOR ASSEMBLY FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE
First Claim
1. A sensor device for a motor vehicle, including a control and evaluation circuit and a sensor electrode coupled therewith,wherein the sensor electrode is designed as a conductor loop, which is coupled at two contacts to the control and evaluation circuit,wherein the control and evaluation circuit includes a measurement circuit, which is designed such that the sensor electrode monitors capacitance changes,wherein the control and evaluation circuit includes a test connection that can be activated intermittently, which tests the integrity of the sensor electrode and its coupling to the control and evaluation circuit, wherein the test connection has a triggering mechanism that can be activated in order to intermittently couple a test capacitor to the sensor electrode, such that the measurement circuit also detects the capacitance of the test capacitor in addition to the capacitance of the sensor electrode.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A sensor device for a motor vehicle including a control and evaluation circuit and at least one sensor electrode coupled therewith, wherein the sensor electrode is designed as a conductor loop, which is coupled to the control and evaluation circuit at two contacts. The control and evaluation circuit has a measurement circuit, which monitors the sensor electrode for capacitance changes. The control and evaluation circuit includes a test connection that can be activated intermittently, which tests the integrity of the sensor electrode and its coupling to the control and evaluation circuit. The test connection has a triggering mechanism that can be activated in order to intermittently couple a test capacitor to the sensor electrode, such that the measurement circuit also detects the capacitance of the test capacitor in addition to the capacitance of the sensor electrode.
10 Citations
12 Claims
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1. A sensor device for a motor vehicle, including a control and evaluation circuit and a sensor electrode coupled therewith,
wherein the sensor electrode is designed as a conductor loop, which is coupled at two contacts to the control and evaluation circuit, wherein the control and evaluation circuit includes a measurement circuit, which is designed such that the sensor electrode monitors capacitance changes, wherein the control and evaluation circuit includes a test connection that can be activated intermittently, which tests the integrity of the sensor electrode and its coupling to the control and evaluation circuit, wherein the test connection has a triggering mechanism that can be activated in order to intermittently couple a test capacitor to the sensor electrode, such that the measurement circuit also detects the capacitance of the test capacitor in addition to the capacitance of the sensor electrode.
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2. A sensor device for a motor vehicle, including a control and evaluation circuit and a sensor electrode coupled therewith,
wherein the sensor electrode is designed in a coaxial form, and is coupled with input conductors and output conductors to the control and evaluation circuit, wherein the control and evaluation circuit includes a measurement circuit, which is designed such that the sensor electrode monitors the capacitance changes, wherein the control and evaluation circuit includes a test connection that can be intermittently activated, which tests the integrity of the sensor electrode and its coupling to the control and evaluation circuit, wherein the test connection has a triggering mechanism that can be activated in order to intermittently couple a test capacitor to the sensor electrode, such that the measurement circuit also detects the capacitance of the test capacitor in addition to the capacitance of the sensor electrode.
Specification