Occupant sensor
DCFirst Claim
1. A method of providing for sensing an occupant in a seat, wherein said seat incorporates a seat heater, said method comprising:
- a) placing a heating element in said seat;
b) placing a first electrode between said heating element and a seating region of said seat;
c) placing a second electrode between said heating element and said first electrode;
d) providing for operatively coupling a first signal to said first electrode; and
e) providing for operatively coupling a second signal to said second electrode, wherein said first signal is an oscillating or pulsed signal, and said second signal is substantially equal to said first signal.
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Abstract
An oscillatory or pulsed first signal is operatively coupled to a first electrode placed between a conductive heating element and a seating region of a seat containing the heating element. A second signal substantially equal to the first signal is operatively coupled to a second electrode placed between the heating element and the first electrode. An occupant in the seat is sensed from a response to the first signal, responsive to which a safety restraint system may be controlled. In other embodiments, the second signal is operatively coupled to an electrode placed proximate to a side of the heating element away from the seating region of the seat, the second electrode comprises a sheath at least partially around at least a portion of the heading element, or the operative coupling of the first or second signals comprises AC coupling, for example, through an associated first or second capacitor.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method of providing for sensing an occupant in a seat, wherein said seat incorporates a seat heater, said method comprising:
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a) placing a heating element in said seat; b) placing a first electrode between said heating element and a seating region of said seat; c) placing a second electrode between said heating element and said first electrode; d) providing for operatively coupling a first signal to said first electrode; and e) providing for operatively coupling a second signal to said second electrode, wherein said first signal is an oscillating or pulsed signal, and said second signal is substantially equal to said first signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of sensing an occupant in a seat, wherein said seat incorporates a seat heater, said method comprising:
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a) placing a heating element in said seat; b) placing a first electrode between said heating element and a seating region of said seat; c) placing a second electrode between said heating element and said first electrode; d) operatively coupling a first signal to said first electrode; e) operatively coupling a second signal to said second electrode, wherein said first signal is an oscillating or pulsed signal, and said second signal is substantially equal to said first signal; and f) sensing a response to said first signal. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An occupant sensor for sensing an occupant in a seat, wherein said seat incorporates a seat heater, said occupant sensor comprising:
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a) a heating element positioned in said seat; b) a first electrode located between said heating element and a seating region of said seat; c) a second electrode located between said heating element and said first electrode; d) a first signal operatively coupled to said first electrode; and e) a second signal operatively coupled to said second electrode, wherein said first signal is an oscillating or pulsed signal, and said second signal is substantially equal to said first signal. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification