Dielectric detecting system

• US 5,467,022 A
• Filed: 01/15/1993
• Issued: 11/14/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 01/16/1992
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd. (Aisin Corp.)
• Inventors: Yokochi, Masaru, Aoki, Kouji
• Primary Examiner(s): Regan, Maura K.
• Application Number:
  US08/005,083
• Time in Patent Office: 1,033 Days
• Field of Search: 324/661, 324/663, 324/687, 324/679, 324/688, 324/690, 340/562, 340/573
• US Class Current: 324/661
• 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: B60N 2/0031 mounted on the frame
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0035 characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/12 Capacitive; Electric field
• CPC Class Codes: G01V 3/088 operating with electric fields G01V3/082 takes precedence

Abstract

A dielectric detecting system comprises: an earth electrode; a sensor electrode opposed to the earth electrode for constituting a first condenser therebetween whose electric capacitance varies in dependence on an existence of the dielectric; a medium electrode positioned between the earth electrode and the sensor electrode for constituting a second condenser between the medium electrode and the earth electrode and a third condenser between the medium electrode and the sensor electrode in such a manner that one of an electric capacitance of the second condenser and an electric capacitance of the third condenser serves for detecting an other dielectric; and an operational amplifier for equalizing electric potential of the medium electrode to that of the sensor electrode.

Claims

1. A dielectric detecting system comprising:

an earth electrode;

a sensor electrode opposed to the earth electrode for constituting a first condenser therebetween whose electric capacitance varies in dependence on an existence of a dielectric;

a medium electrode positioned between the earth electrode and the sensor electrode for constituting a second condenser between the medium electrode and the earth electrode and for constituting a third condenser between the medium electrode and the sensor electrode in such a manner that one of an electric capacitance of the second condenser and an electric capacitance of the third condenser serves for detecting an other dielectric; and

an equalizing means for equalizing electric potential of the medium electrode to that of the sensor electrode.

2. A dielectric detecting system as recited in claim 1, wherein the equalizing means is an operational amplifier.