HIGH-DISCRIMINATION ANTENNA ARRAY FOR CAPACITANCE-RESPONSIVE CIRCUITS

• US 3,740,567 A
• Filed: 04/20/1972
• Issued: 06/19/1973
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/1972
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Cooper Industries, Inc. (Eaton Corporation PLC.)
• Original Assignee: Carl E. Atkins
• Inventors: Atkins, Carl E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Schaefer, Robert K.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Ginsburg, M.
• Application Number:
  US05/245,799
• Time in Patent Office: 425 Days
• Field of Search: 307/1R,1SB 317/246 200/DIG.1 340/278,258C
• US Class Current: 340/573.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2022/4858 for sensing pressure on seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors

Abstract

A multi-element antenna array for use with capacitanceresponsive circuits to enable discrimination between human occupants and animals or packages resting on an automobile seat.

Claims

1. In a system including capacitance-responsive circuit, the improvement comprising:

multi-element antenna means coupled to said capacitance-responsive circuit to enable discrimination by said capitance-responsive circuit between (a) humans and (b) animals or objects the size or shape of which is substantially different from humans by the degree of capacitive coupling to each element of said antenna means when positioned in the vicinity of said antenna means.

2. a second electrically conductive element disposed in the region of said fundament-supporting portion of said seat;

and

3. The improvement according to claim 2 wherein said first electrically conductive element is disposed in the region of the back-rest portion of a seat, said second electrically conductive element is disposed in the region of the fundament-supporting portion of said seat, and said third electrically conductive element is disposed along at least a segment of the forward edge of the fundament-supporting portion of said seat.

4. The improvement according to claim 2 further comprising first, second and third coupling circuit means associated with said first, second and third electrically conductive elements, respectively, each coupling circuit means being operative to modify the effect upon the capacitance-responsive circuit of capacitive coupling by humans, animals or objects to the elements associated with said coupling circuit means.

5. The improvement according to claim 4 wherein said first coupling circuit means comprises a first capacitance, said second coupling circuit means comprises a second capacitance, and said third coupling circuit means comprises a resistance.

6. In a system including a seat having a back-rest portion and a fundament-supporting portion and a capacitance-responsive circuit, the improvement comprising:

multi-element antenna means disposed in predetermined regions of said back-rest and fundament-supporting portions of said seat and coupled to said capacitance-responsive circuit to enable discrimination by said capacitance-responsive circuit between (a) humans and (b) animals or objects the size or shape of which is substantially different from humans by the degree of capacitive coupling to each element of said antenna means when occupying said seat.

7. The improvement according to claim 6 wherein said multi-element antenna means comprises:

8. The improvement according to claim 7 wherein said first electrically conductive element is disposed over a first predetermined area, said second electrically conductive element is disposed over a second predetermined area, and said third electrically conductive element is disposed along a predetermined line.

9. The improvement according to claim 7 further comprising first, second and third coupling circuit means associated with said first, second and third electrically conductive elements, respectively, each coupling circuit means being operative to modify the effect upon the capacitance-responsive circuit of capacitive coupling by humans, animals and objects to the elements associated with said coupling circuit means.

10. The improvement according to claim 9 wherein said first coupling circuit means comprises a first capacitance, said second coupling circuit means comprises a second capacitance, and said third coupling circuit means comprises a resistance.