Mat sensor

• US 5,798,703 A
• Filed: 02/28/1997
• Issued: 08/25/1998
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/1995
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nippon Signal Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Nippon Signal Company Limited
• Inventors: Sakai, Masayoshi, Shirai, Toshihito, Futsuhara, Koichi
• Primary Examiner(s): TONG, NINA C
• Application Number:
  US08/809,168
• Time in Patent Office: 543 Days
• Field of Search: 340/666, 340/561, 340/562, 340/573, 340/575, 340/568, 340/665, 340/667, 340/521, 340/522, 200/86 A, 200/86 R, 200/85 R, 200/85 A, 200/DIG. 35, 307/119, 307/116, 307/139
• US Class Current: 340/666
• CPC Class Codes: F16P 3/12 with means, e.g. feelers, which in case of the presence of a body part of a person in or near the danger zone influence the control or operation of the machine F16P3/08 takes precedence

Abstract

The invention relates to a highly reliable mat sensor which can also detect temporary faults in a sensor portion. Two sensor portions are provided, and agreement or disagreement of an ON/OFF condition of the output from the two sensor portions is detected, and when the output conditions of the two sensor portions are in agreement, then a normal judgment signal for both sensor portions is generated. When the normal judgment signal is generated and the two sensor portions are OFF, an operation permit signal for a movable portion of a machine is generated. Moreover, the presence or absence of a body is detected from a change in value of the electrostatic capacity of one sensor portion. In this way, a temporary poor contact attributable to deterioration of the sensor portion can also be detected, and the movable portion of the machine can be stopped.

Claims

1. A mat sensor comprising:

mat shaped body detection means including a plurality of sensor portions, wherein each sensor portion includes a pair of mutually facing electrode plates which are contacted when the pressure from a body acts from above, thus producing a body present detection signal, and which are separated when the pressure is released, thus producing a body absent detection signal, agreement or disagreement detection means for detecting agreement or disagreement between detection signals from the sensor portions of said body detection means,

judgment means for generating a normal judgment signal for said body detection means when agreement detection information is input from said agreement or disagreement detection means, and stopping said normal judgment signal when disagreement detection information is input from said agreement or disagreement detection means, and

sensor output generating means for generating, on the condition that the normal judgment signal is being generated from said judgment means, a sensor output signal indicating the absence of the body, only when all said detection signals from said respective sensor portions of said body detection means are body absent detection signals.

2. A mat sensor according to claim 1, wherein said plurality of sensor portions including four lead type first and second sensor portions each with two pairs of leads connected to the planar of first and second electrode plates facing each other in spaced apart relation.

3. A mat sensor according to claim 2, wherein said body detection means comprises a first mat with said first and second of electrode plates of said first sensor portion covered with insulation material, and a second mat with said first and second electrode plates of said second sensor portion covered with insulation material, and said first mat and second mat are laid on top of each other.

4. A mat sensor according to claim 2, wherein said body detection means comprises a single mat with the electrode plates of said first sensor portion made up of a plurality of electrode plate members connected together in series, and the electrode plates of said second sensor portion similarly made up of a plurality of electrode plate members connected together in series, and the electrode plate members of said first sensor portion and the electrode plate members of said second sensor portion arranged alternately and at a narrower spacing than the footprint width of the body, within an insulation member.

5. A mat sensor according to claim 4, wherein said body detection means is constructed with an insulation plate incorporated into a peripheral portion of the mat, so that foot pressure acts simultaneously on an electrode plate member of the first sensor portion and an electrode plate member of the second sensor portion.

6. A mat sensor according to claim 4, wherein said body detection means is constructed with electrode plate members having surface areas less than those of the respective electrode plate members of the first and second sensor portions arranged at a central portion of the mat, densely arranged at a peripheral portion of the mat.

7. A mat sensor according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of sensor portions further including a third sensor portion at a peripheral portion of the mat, with a pair of mutually facing electrode plates which are contacted when the body pressure acts, thus producing a body present detection signal, and which are separated when the body pressure is released, thus producing the body absent detection signal, and said agreement or disagreement detection means outputs to said judgment means an output from a logical sum operation on the body present detection signal from the third sensor portion and the agreement or disagreement detection information from the first and second sensor portions, and an output from a logical product operation on the body absent detection signals from the first, second and third sensor portions is output to the sensor output generating means.

8. A mat sensor according to claim 4, wherein said plurality of sensor portions further including a third sensor portion at a peripheral portion of the mat, with a pair of mutually facing electrode plates which are contacted when the body pressure acts, thus producing a body present detection signal, and which are separated when the body pressure is released, thus producing the body absent detection signal, and power is respectively supplied to said first sensor portion and said second sensor portion via the electrode plates of said third sensor portion.

9. A mat sensor according to claim 2, wherein said body detection means has a DC power source connected to one lead of the first electrode plate of said first sensor portion, and an other lead of the first electrode plate of said first sensor portion and one lead of the second electrode plate of said first sensor portion connected together via a first resistor, and one lead of the first electrode plate of said second sensor portion connected to one lead of the second electrode plate of said second sensor portion via a second resistor, and an other lead of the second electrode plate of said first sensor portion and an other lead of the first electrode plate of said second sensor portion connected together in series, and an other lead of the second electrode plate of said second sensor portion made a detection output terminal, and

said agreement or disagreement detection means comprises:

a first window comparator with a first threshold value range set such that a voltage is input from the detection output terminal when the respective first and second electrode plates of said first and second sensor portions are contacted simultaneously, an agreement detection output signal of logic value 1 is produced;

a second window comparator with a second threshold value range set such that a voltage is input from the detection output terminal when the respective first and second electrode plates of said first and second sensor portions are separated simultaneously, an agreement detection output signal of logic value 1 is produced; and

a first logical sum operating means for carrying out a logical sum operation on the respective output signals from said first and second window comparators, and an output signal from said first logical sum operating means is output to said judgment means, and the output signal from said second window comparator is output to said sensor output generating means.

10. A mat sensor according to claim 2, wherein said body detection means comprises:

an AC signal source connected between one leads of the respective electrode plates of said first and second sensor portions;

first light emitting elements for ON detection of the sensor portions connected in parallel between said AC signal source and the respective sensor portions;

second light emitting elements for OFF detection of the sensor portions connected in reverse current directions to said first light emitting elements between the other leads of the respective electrode plates of said first and second sensor portions; and

first and second light receiving elements which respectively form photocouplers with the first and second light emitting elements of said respective sensor portions, and

said agreement or disagreement detection means comprises;

first logical product operating means for carrying out a logical product operation on the output signals from said respective first light receiving elements of said first and second sensor portions;

second logical product operating means for carrying out a logical product operation on output signals from said respective second light receiving elements of said first and second sensor portions; and

a logical sum operating means for carrying out a logical sum operation on the output signals from said first logical product operating means and said second logical product operating means,

and an output signal from said logical sum operating means is output to said judgment means, and the output signal from said second logical product operating means is output to said sensor output generating means.

11. A mat sensor according to claim 2, wherein said body detection means comprises:

one lead of the first electrode plate of the first sensor portion connected to a positive pole of a signal generator via a resistor, an other lead of the first electrode plate of said first sensor portion connected to one lead of the first electrode plate of the second sensor portion via a second resistor, and one lead of the second electrode plate of the first sensor portion connected to an other lead of the first electrode plate of the second sensor portion via a series circuit of a first light emitting element and a third resistor, and an other lead of the second electrode plate of the first sensor portion connected to one lead of the second electrode plate of the second sensor portion via a fourth resistor, and an other lead of the second electrode plate of the second sensor portion connected to a negative pole of said signal generator;

a series circuit of a fifth resistor and second and third light emitting elements with current directions opposite to that of the first light emitting element connected in parallel with the series circuit of said third light emitting element and third resistor; and

has first, second and third light receiving elements which respectively form photocouplers with the first, second and third light emitting elements of said respective sensor portions, and said agreement or disagreement means comprises a logical sum operating means for carrying out a logical sum operation on output signals from said first and second light emitting elements, and an output signal from said logical sum operating means is output to said judgment means, and an output signal from said third light receiving element is output to said sensor output generating means.

12. A mat sensor according to claim 11, wherein there is provided a current monitoring means for detecting whether or not a current equal to or greater than a predetermined level is being supplied to the first and second sensor portions, and a logical product operating means for carrying out a logical product operation on an output signal from said current monitoring means and the output signal from said logical sum operating means, and an output signal from said logical product operating means is output to said judgment means.

13. A mat sensor according to claim 2, wherein said body detection means comprising:

said first and second sensor portions connected in series to an AC signal source;

a first light emitting element for detecting an off condition of the first sensor portion connected in series between the first and second electrode plates of the first sensor portion via a current reducing resistor;

a second light emitting element for detecting an off condition of the second sensor portion connected in series between the first and second electrode plates of the second sensor portion via a current reducing resistor, and first and second light receiving elements which respectively form photocouplers with the first and second light emitting elements of said respective sensor portions, and

said agreement or disagreement detection means comprises;

a logical product operating means for carrying out a logical product operation on output signals from said first and second light emitting elements;

a current detection means for detecting a current flowing in a series circuit of said AC signal source and the first and second sensor portions;

a current level judgment means for judging if the level of the detection current of said current detection means is equal to or above a predetermined value, and a logical sum operating means for carrying out a logical sum operation on an output signal from said logical product operating means and an output signal from the current level judgment means, and an output signal from said logical sum operating means is output to said judgment means, and the output signal from said logical product operating means is output to said sensor output generating means.

14. A mat sensor according to claim 2, wherein the first and second sensor portions of said body detection means are connected in parallel with an AC signal source;

a first light emitting element for detecting an off condition of the first sensor portion connected in series between the first and second electrode plates of the first sensor portion via a current reducing resistor;

a second light emitting element for detecting an off condition of the second sensor portion connected in series between the first and second electrode plates of the second sensor portion via a current reducing resistor, and first and second light receiving elements which respectively form photocouplers with the first and second light emitting elements of said respective sensor portions, and

wherein said agreement or disagreement detection means comprises;

a first logical product operating means for carrying out a logical product operation on output signals from said first and second light emitting elements;

two current detection means for detecting currents respectively flowing in said first sensor portion and second sensor portion;

two current level judging means for judging if the level of the detection currents of said two current detection means is equal to or above a respective predetermined value, and a second logical product operating means for carrying out a logical product operation on output signals from the two current detection means, and a first logical sum operating means for carrying out a logical sum operation on an output signal from said first logical product operating means and an output signal from the second logical product operating means, and output signal from said first logical sum operating means is output to said judgment means, and the output signal from said first logical product operating means is output to said sensor output generating means.

15. A mat sensor according to claim 2, wherein said body detection means is constructed with a positive pole of a DC power source connected to one lead of the first electrode plate of said first sensor portion, a first electromagnetic relay disposed in series between an other lead of the first electrode plate of said first sensor portion and one lead of the second electrode plate of said first sensor portion, a second electromagnetic relay disposed in series between one lead of the first electrode plate of said second sensor portion and one lead of the second electrode plate of the second sensor portion, an other lead of the second electrode plate of the first sensor portion and an other lead of the first electrode plate of the second sensor portion connected in series, and an other lead of the second electrode plate of the second sensor portion connected to a negative pole of the DC power source via a resistor,

said agreement or disagreement detection means is constructed with a first series circuit of first make contact points of said first electromagnetic relay and first make contact points of said second electromagnetic relay, and a second series circuit of break contact points of said first electromagnetic relay and break contact points of said second electromagnetic relay connected in parallel, said judgment means comprises a third electromagnetic relay, a manual switch and a fourth electromagnetic relay, and is constructed with a series circuit of the third electromagnetic relay and an ON contact points of the manual switch connected in series to said first and second series circuits, and first make contact points of the third electromagnetic relay connected in parallel with the ON contact points of the manual switch to give self hold contact points for the third electromagnetic relay, and a series circuit of the fourth electromagnetic relay, second make contact points of the third electromagnetic relay, and OFF contact points of the manual switch connected in parallel with the first and second series circuits and the third electromagnetic relay, and

said sensor output generating means comprises a series circuit of second make contact points of said first electromagnetic relay, second make contact points of said second electromagnetic relay, and make contact points of said fourth electromagnetic relay.

16. A mat sensor according to claim 2, wherein said body detection means is constructed with said first and second sensor portions connected in parallel with an AC signal source, a first electromagnetic relay connected between the first and second electrode plates of the first sensor portion via a first rectifying circuit, a primary side coil of a first transformer connected in series between the first sensor portion and the AC signal source, a second electromagnetic relay connected to a secondary side coil of said first transformer via a second rectifying circuit, a third electromagnetic relay connected between the first and second electrode plates of the second sensor portion via a third rectifying circuit, a primary side coil of a second transformer connected in series between the second sensor portion and the AC signal source, and an fourth electromagnetic relay connected to a secondary side coil of said second transformer via a fourth rectifying circuit,

said agreement or disagreement detection device is constructed with a series circuit of first make contact points of said first electromagnetic relay and first make contact points of said third electromagnetic relay, and a series circuit of first make contact points of said second electromagnetic relay and first make contact points of said fourth electromagnetic relay connected in parallel,

said judgment means comprises a fifth electromagnetic relay and a manual switch, and is constructed with a series circuit of the fifth electromagnetic relay and an ON contact points of the manual switch connected in series to the parallel circuit of the series circuit of the first make contact points of said first and third electromagnetic relays, and the series circuit of the first make contact points of said second and fourth electromagnetic relays, a first make contact points of said fifth electromagnetic relay connected in parallel with the ON contact points of the manual switch to give self hold contact points for the fifth electromagnetic relay, and

said sensor output generating means is constructed with an OFF contact points of said manual switch connected in series to a series circuit of respective second make contact points of said first electromagnetic relay, third electromagnetic relay and fifth electromagnetic relay, wherein each relay is not susceptible to fusion faults.

17. A mat sensor according to claim 2 wherein said body detection means is constructed with said first and second sensor portions connected in parallel with an AC signal source, a first electromagnetic relay connected between the first and second electrode plates of the first sensor portion via a first rectifying circuit, a primary side coil of a first transformer connected in series between the first sensor portion and the AC signal source, an second electromagnetic relay connected to a secondary side coil of said first transformer via a second rectifying circuit, a third electromagnetic relay connected between the first and second electrode plates of the second sensor portion via a third rectifying circuit, a primary side coil of a second transformer connected in series between the second sensor portion and the AC signal source, and a fourth electromagnetic relay connected to a secondary side coil of said second transformer via an fourth rectifying circuit, said agreement or disagreement means is constructed with a series circuit of first make contact points of said first electromagnetic relay, break contact points of the second electromagnetic relay, first make contact points of the third electromagnetic relay and break contact points of the fourth electromagnetic relay, and a series circuit of break contact points of said first electromagnetic relay, first make contact points of the second electromagnetic relay, break contact points of the third electromagnetic relay, and first make contact points of the fourth electromagnetic relay, connected in parallel, said judgment means comprises fifth, sixth and seventh electromagnetic relays and a manual switch, and is constructed with a series circuit of series connected respective break contact points of said sixth and seventh electromagnetic relays and the fifth electromagnetic relay, a series circuit of parallel connected first make contact points of the fifth electromagnetic relay and first make contact points of the sixth electromagnetic relay, and the series connected sixth electromagnetic relay, and a series circuit of parallel connected second make contact points of the fifth electromagnetic relay and a first make contact points of the seventh electromagnetic relay, and the series connected seventh electromagnetic relay, connected together in parallel, and the parallel circuit of the series circuits incorporating the fifth, sixth, and seventh electromagnetic relays is connected in series to an ON contact points of said manual switch, while a series circuit of respective second make contact points of the sixth and seventh electromagnetic relays, and the first break contact points of the fifth electromagnetic relay is connected in parallel with the ON contact points of said manual switch, to thus constitute a self hold contact point circuit, and said sensor output generating means is constructed with an OFF contact points of said manual switch connected in series to a series circuit of a respective second make contact points of said first and third electromagnetic relays, respective third make contact points of the sixth and seventh electromagnetic relays, and the second break contact, points of the fifth electromagnetic relay.

18. A mat sensor according to claim 1, wherein said judgment means is constructed such that when the agreement detection information is input thereto from said agreement or disagreement detection means, said agreement detection information is self held by switching on a manual switch, and the normal judgment signal for said body detection means is then generated based on a self hold information when said manual switch is switched OFF, and when the disagreement detection information is input thereto from said agreement or disagreement detection means, the self hold information is released and said normal judgment signal is stopped.

19. A mat sensor according to claim 18 wherein said judgment means comprises:

first self hold means with output information from said agreement or disagreement means input to a reset terminal, and a power source voltage signal applied to a trigger terminal via an ON contact point of a first manual switch, and the output information fed back to the trigger terminal, and a first logical product operating means for carrying out a logical product operation on the output from said first self hold means and the power source voltage signal input via an OFF contact point of said first manual switch, and an output from said first logical product operating means is made the normal judgment signal.

20. A mat sensor according to claim 19, wherein said judgment means comprises:

a second self hold circuit with a power source voltage input to a reset terminal, and a power source voltage signal applied to a trigger terminal via an ON contact point of a second manual switch linked to said first manual switch, and an output therefrom fed back to the trigger terminal of said second manual switch;

display means which is illuminated with an output of logic value 1 from said second self hold circuit; and

a second logical product operating means for carrying out a logical product operation on the power source voltage signal input via an OFF contact point of said second manual switch and the logical product output from said first logical product operating means, and the output from said second logical product operating means is made the normal judgment signal.

21. A mat sensor according to claim 1, wherein said agreement or disagreement detection means comprises timer means for measuring running time when the detection signals from the respective sensor portions are in disagreement, and outputting the disagreement detection information to said judgment means when this time continues for at least a predetermined time.

22. A mat sensor according to claim 1, wherein said agreement or disagreement means comprises:

a first logical product operating means for generating an output of logic value 1 when high level outputs of logic value 1 respectively generated from first and second sensor portions of said plurality of sensor portions when the pressure of the body acts thereon are simultaneously input;

NOT operating means for carrying out a NOT operation on logical outputs from said first and second sensor portions; and

a first logical sum operating means for carrying out a logical sum operation on both of outputs from said first logical product operating means and said NOT operating means, and an output signal from said first logical sum operating means is output to said judgment means, and the output signal from said first logical product operating means is output to said sensor output generating means.

23. A mat sensor according to claim 1, wherein said sensor output generating means comprises a first logical product operating means for carrying out a logical product operation on the normal judgment signal and the body absent detection signal, and an output from said first logical product operating means is made the sensor output signal.

24. A mat sensor according to claim 1, wherein electrode plate materials for the plurality of sensor portions are respectively different.

25. A mat sensor comprising mat shaped body detection means including a sensor portion with a pair of mutually facing electrode plates which are contacted when the pressure from a body acts from above, and which are separated when the pressure is released,

electrostatic capacitance value detection means for detecting a change in electrostatic capacitance value based on a change in spacing between the electrode plates of the sensor portion of said body detection means, said electrostatic capacitance value detection means including a first transformer with an AC input signal applied to a primary side coil and a secondary side coil connected in series to the electrode plates of said sensor portion, and

sensor output generating means for generating a sensor output indicating the presence or absence of the body based on detection results from said electrostatic capacitance value detection means wherein said electrostatic capacitance value detection means comprises a parallel resonance circuit including said first transformer with the electrode plates of said sensor portion as a capacitor, which resonates in parallel when the electrode plates of said sensor portion are separated;

wherein said sensor output generating means comprising;

a first rectifying means for rectifying an output from said parallel resonance circuit;

a first level detection means for generating an output of logic value 1 when a rectified output from said first rectifying means is equal to or greater than a predetermined level;

a first AC amplifying means for amplifying the rectified output from said first rectifying means and for magnifying along a time axis the change in the rectified output from said first rectifying means when the electrode plates of said sensor portion change from a separated condition to a contacted condition;

a second level detection means for generating an output when an amplified output from said first AC amplifying means is equal to or greater than a predetermined level; and

a first logical product operating means for carrying out a logical product operation on both of the outputs from said first and second level detection means, and an output of logic value 1 from said first logical product operating means is made the sensor output indicating the absence of the body.

26. A mat sensor according to claim 25, wherein the sensor portion of said body detection means is of a two lead construction with one lead connected to each electrode plate of a pair of opposing electrode plates, said electrostatic capacitance detection means comprises said first transformer with said secondary side coil connected in series to the two leads of the electrode plates of said sensor portion to thus constitute said parallel resonance circuit, and a detection output is taken from a point between a resistor and the primary coil of said first transformer.

27. A mat sensor according to claim 26, wherein said sensor output generating means comprises a first window comparator which generates an output of logic value 1 indicating the absence of the body when the detection output taken out from the point between the primary coil of the first transformer and the resistor of said electrostatic capacitance value detection means is within a previously set upper threshold value and lower threshold value range, and which gives an output of logic value 0 at the time of a fault.

28. A mat sensor according to claim 25, wherein the sensor portion of said body detection means is of a two lead construction with one lead connected to each electrode plate of a pair of opposing electrode plates, said electrostatic capacitance value detection means comprises said first transformer is connected in series to the two leads of the electrode plates of said sensor portion to thus constitute said parallel resonance circuit, and a detection output is taken from a tertiary coil.

29. A mat sensor according to claim 25, wherein the sensor portion of said body detection means is of a four lead construction with two leads connected to each of respective electrode plate members of a plurality of pairs of mutually opposing electrode plate members, with the electrode plate members connected in series to each other to form pairs of said electrode plates, said first transformer is connected in series to one end of said plurality of electrode plate members to thus constitute said parallel resonance circuit, and said electrostatic capacitance value detection means includes a second transformer with a primary coil connected in series to an other end of said plurality of electrode plate members, and a detection output is generated from a secondary coil of said second transformer.

30. A mat sensor according to claim 25, wherein said sensor output generating means comprises:

wherein said first level detection means comprises a first window comparator for generating an output of logic value 1 when the rectified output from said first rectifying means is equal to or greater than a predetermined value, and which gives an output of logic value 0 at the time of a fault;

a high frequency signal generating means for generating a high frequency signal for superimposing on the rectified output from said first rectifying means;

said first AC amplifying means with the amplified output saturated when the rectified output superimposed with the high frequency signal is changing;

wherein said second level detection means comprises a second rectifying means for rectifying the amplified output from said first AC amplifying means; and

said first logical product operating means for carrying out the logical product operation on the rectified output from said first window comparator, and the rectified output from said second rectifying means, and the sensor output indicating the absence of the body is generated based on an output of logic value 1 from said first logical product operating means.

31. A mat sensor according to claim 30, wherein said sensor output generating means comprises:

poor contact checking means for checking for the presence of poor contact of the electrode plates of said sensor portion and generating an output of logic value 1 when there is no poor contact,

first logical sum operating means for carrying out a logical sum operation on the output from said poor contact checking means and the output from said first logical product operating means,

first self hold means which generates an output when an input signal of logic value 1 is applied to a trigger terminal while a logical sum output from said first logical sum operating means is being input to a reset terminal, and self holds the trigger input signal, and

second logical product operating means for carrying out a logical product operation on the output from said first self hold means and the output from said first logical product operating means, and an output of logic value 1 from said second logical product operating means is made the sensor output.

32. A mat sensor according to claim 31, wherein said poor contact checking means supplies a poor contact checking current to the electrode plates of said sensor portion, and checks for the presence of poor contact of the electrode plates based on the value of said poor contact checking current at the time of contact of said electrode plates, and generates an output of logic value 1 when there is no poor contact.

33. A mat sensor according to claim 32, wherein said poor contact checking means comprises:

a DC power source connected in series to said electrode plates, for supplying the poor contact checking current thereto, a current detection resistor connected in series to the electrode plates, and a third level detection circuit for generating an output of logic value 1 indicating the absence of poor contact when a terminal voltage level of said current detection resistor is equal to or greater than a predetermined level.

34. A mat sensor according to claim 33, wherein said poor contact checking means is constructed with a resistor disposed in a conducting path between said DC power source and said current detecting resistor, and said third level detection circuit comprises a second window comparator for generating an output of logic value 1 when the terminal voltage level of said current detection resistor is within a previously set predetermined threshold value range.

35. A mat sensor according to claim 32, wherein said poor contact checking means comprises:

an AC power source connected in series to the electrode plates, for supplying a low frequency AC poor contact checking current of lower frequency than an electrostatic capacity detection input signal;

a second transformer incorporating a primary coil connected in series to the electrode plates and a secondary coil for sampling an output corresponding to the AC poor contact current flowing in said primary coil; and

third level detection means for generating an output of logic value 1 indicating the absence of poor contact when an output voltage level from said second transformer is equal to or greater than a predetermined level.

36. A mat sensor according to claim 35, wherein with said poor contact checking means, has an inductance coil inserted in series in the power supply path of said poor contact checking current.

37. A mat sensor according to claim 31, wherein with said poor contact checking means, a bias voltage of a predetermined level is superimposed on the output from said first rectifying means, and there is provided a second window comparator which generates an output of logic value 1 indicating no poor contact when the output from said first rectifying means is approximately the bias voltage level, and the output from said second window comparator is input to said first logical sum operating means.

38. A mat sensor according to claim 30, wherein said sensor output generating means comprises:

poor contact checking means for checking for the presence of poor contact of the electrode plates of said sensor portion and generating an output of logic value 1 when there is no poor contact,

off-delay means for delaying a drop in the output from said poor contact checking means for a predetermined time, and

first self hold means with an output from said off-delay means input to a trigger terminal and an output from a second logical product operating means input to a reset terminal, with an output fed back to said trigger terminal, and an output of logic value 1 from said first self hold means is made the sensor output.

39. A mat sensor according to claim 30, wherein said sensor output generating means is constructed such that a drop in an output of a logical sum of an output from a poor contact checking means which checks for the presence of poor contact of the electrode plates of said sensor portion and generates an output of logic value 1 when there is no poor contact, and an output from a second logical product operating means, is delayed for a predetermined time by an off-delay means, and an output from said off-delay means is self held by switching on a manual switch, and a normal detection signal of said sensor portion is generated based on a self hold output when said manual switch is switched OFF, and an output of a logical product operation on a normal judgment signal and the output from said second logical product operating circuit is made the sensor output.