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Fluid filled seat bladder with capacitive sensors for occupant classification and weight estimation

  • US 6,927,678 B2
  • Filed: 08/18/2003
  • Issued: 08/09/2005
  • Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2003
  • Status: Expired due to Term
First Claim
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1. Apparatus for classifying an occupant of a seat, the apparatus comprising:

  • a fluid-filled elastomeric seat bladder including first and second peripherally sealed elastomeric sheets that deform in response to occupant weight;

    a ground plane conductor film generally conforming to said first elastomeric sheet, and at least one sensor element conductor film generally conforming to said second elastomeric sheet; and

    a controller for detecting a change in capacitance or electric field coupling between said sensor element conductor film and said ground plane conductor film as a measure of deformation of said elastomeric sheets due to occupant weight, and for classifying said occupant based on said detected change.

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