Sensor for recognition of seat occupancy

• US 6,868,734 B2
• Filed: 08/17/2002
• Issued: 03/22/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 09/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Original Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
• Inventors: Jakoby, Bernhard, Arndt, Michael
• Primary Examiner(s): NOORI, MAX H
• Application Number:
  US10/416,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20040069075A1
• Time in Patent Office: 948 Days
• Field of Search: 737/60, 737/63, 737/68, 737/72, 737/81
• US Class Current: 73/781
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 2021/01088 wireless
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01526 using piezoelectric elements

Abstract

A sensor for seat-occupancy detection is located in a seat and configured as a passive sensor. This then allows a wireless querying of the sensor using a high-frequency pulse. The sensor is configured as an acoustic surface-wave component or as an LC resonant circuit.

Claims

1. A sensor for seat-occupancy detection, the sensor comprising:

at least one sensing element which generates a signal as a function of pressure exerted on a seat;

wherein the at least one sensor is configured as a passive sensor; and

wherein the at least one sensing element is configured as an electric resonator.

2. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor has at least one first antenna for a wireless querying of the signal.

3. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensing element is configured as a surface-type filter.

4. The sensor of claim 1, wherein the at least one sensor includes an array of sensing elements.

5. A sensor for seat-occupancy detection, the sensor comprising:

at least one sensing element which generates a signal as a function of pressure exerted on a seat;

wherein the at least one sensor is configured as a passive sensor; and

wherein the at least one sensing element is configured in an interdigital structure.

6. A sensor for seat-occupancy detection, the sensor comprising:

at least one sensing element which generates a signal as a function of pressure exerted on a seat;

wherein the at least one sensor is configured as a passive sensor;

wherein the at least one sensor has at least one first antenna for a wireless querying of the signal; and

wherein the at least one first antenna is tuned to a high-frequency signal.

7. A control device for a sensor for seat-occupancy detection, the control device comprising:

an antenna for emitting a query to a passive sensor, the passive sensor emitting a signal as a function of pressure exerted on a seat, the antenna configured to receive the signal, wherein the at least one sensing element is configured as an electric resonator.

8. A device for seat-occupancy detection, the device comprising:

a sensor including at least one sensing element which generates a signal as a function of pressure exerted on a seat, the at least one sensor being configured as a passive sensor, wherein the at least one sensing element is configured as an electric resonator; and

a control device which includes an antenna for emitting a query to the sensor and for receiving the signal.