Sensor configuration

• US 6,522,155 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2001
• Issued: 02/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 08/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Continental Automotive GmbH (Continental AG)
• Original Assignee: Siemens AG
• Inventors: Winkler, Gerd, Wild, Gerhard, Pietsch, Arnulf
• Primary Examiner(s): Oda, Christine
• Assistant Examiner(s): LeRoux, Etienne P
• Application Number:
  US09/795,096
• Publication Number:
  US 20020021136A1
• Time in Patent Office: 720 Days
• Field of Search: 324/649, 324/691, 340/561, 340/562, 340/425.5, 340/667, 340/686.1, 738/624.74, 738/620.44, 738/620.45, 738/620.46
• US Class Current: 324/691
• 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 2210/12 Capacitive; Electric field
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2230/10 Wired data transmission
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015
• CPC Class Codes: G01L 1/205 using distributed sensing elements

Abstract

A sensor configuration for measuring the local distribution of a measured variable has a plurality of sensor elements which are disposed in a distributed fashion and interconnected in an array. An electric response of the sensor elements is a function of the local value of the measured variable. At least one of the sensor elements has a series circuit composed of a series element which is independent of the value of the measured variable and a measuring element which is dependent on the value of the measured variable.

Claims

1. A sensor arrangement for measuring the local distribution of a measured variable, comprising:

a plurality of sensor elements arranged in a distributed fashion and interconnected in an array, said sensor elements having an electric response being a function of a local value of a measured variable, at least one of said sensor elements having an element independent of the value of the measured variable and a measuring element dependent on the value of the measured variable connected directly in series without an intervening electrical connection between said element and said measuring element; and

a plurality of electrical terminals connected to said sensor elements to detect the electric response of at least one of said sensor elements with a measuring instrument.

2. The sensor configuration according to claim 1, wherein said measuring element is a pressure-dependent resistor.

3. The sensor configuration according to claim 2, wherein said measuring element has a nominal resistance of between 100 kΩ

and 500 kΩ

.

4. The sensor configuration according to claim 1, wherein said series element is an ohmic resistor.

5. The sensor configuration according to claim 4, wherein said series element has an ohmic resistance of between 1 kΩ

and 10 kΩ

.

6. The sensor configuration according to claim 1, wherein said sensor elements are disposed in a substantially planar fashion in rows and columns.

7. The sensor configuration according to claim 1, including two films disposed substantially parallel to one another, made of electrically insulating material and having mutually facing lateral surfaces, a plurality of conductor tracks applied on said mutually facing lateral surfaces, and high-resistance layer disposed between said two films, said high-resistance layer each having cutouts in the region of the points of intersection of said conductor tracks.

8. The sensor configuration according to claim 7, wherein said cutouts are filled with a resisting material.

9. The sensor configuration according to claim 7, including a resisting material disposed between the conductor tracks at the points of intersection of the conductor tracks.

10. In combination with a seat occupancy device in a motor vehicle, the sensor configuration according to claim 1.

11. The sensor configuration according to claim 1, wherein said measuring element is a temperature-dependent resistor.

12. The sensor arrangement according to claim 1, wherein said measuring element is a capacitor whose capacitance is dependent on said measured variable.

13. The sensor configuration according to claim 1, including a plurality of electrical terminals connected to said sensor elements for transmitting said electric response to a measuring instrument.

14. The sensor configuration according to claim 1, including a plurality of electrical terminals connected to said sensor elements for transmitting said electric response to a seat occupancy device in a motor vehicle.

15. The sensor configuration according to claim 1, including a plurality of electrical terminals connected to said sensor elements for transmitting said electric response to a measuring instrument.