Double-electrode capacitive sensor, passenger detector, and passenger protection system

• US 7,688,204 B2
• Filed: 01/15/2008
• Issued: 03/30/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/07/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Original Assignee: DENSO Corporation
• Inventors: Yamanaka, Shoichi, Kamizono, Tsutomu
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAM, TOAN NGOC
• Application Number:
  US12/008,966
• Publication Number:
  US 20080186192A1
• Time in Patent Office: 805 Days
• Field of Search: 340/562, 340/545.4, 340/665, 340/666, 340/667, 340/561, 340/438, 307/10.1, 701/45, 701/50, 180/271, 180/272, 180/273, 280/735, 738/623.37, 738/625.2, 738/623.91, 324/658, 324/686
• US Class Current: 340/562
• 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 2/0033 mounted on or in the foam cushion
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0035 characterised by the sensor data transmission, e.g. wired connections or wireless transmitters therefor; characterised by the sensor data processing, e.g. seat sensor signal amplification or electric circuits for providing seat sensor information
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/12 Capacitive; Electric field
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01532 using electric or capacitive field sensors

Abstract

A double-electrode capacitive sensor for detecting a detection object includes: an electrode assembly having first and second electrodes and an insulation substrate; and a detection circuit. The first and second electrodes are disposed on first and second surfaces of the substrate, respectively. The detection circuit applies an alternating voltage between a ground and the first electrode, and detects an electric potential of the second electrode, or controls the electric potential of the second electrode to follow the alternating voltage. The detection circuit detects a capacitance change between the first electrode and the ground when the detection object approaches the first electrode for determining whether the detection object approaches the first electrode. A periphery of the second electrode is substantially opposite to a periphery of the first electrode.

Claims

1. A double-electrode capacitive sensor for detecting a detection object made of dielectric material, the sensor comprising:

an electrode assembly having a first electrode, a second electrode and an insulation substrate; and

a detection circuit electrically coupled with the first and second electrodes, wherein

the first electrode faces the detection object,

the first and second electrodes are overlapped, and the second electrode is coupled with a ground,

the insulation substrate has a first surface and a second surface,

the first electrode is disposed on the first surface, and the second electrode is disposed on the second surface, so that the second electrode faces the first electrode in parallel to the first electrode through the insulation substrate,

the detection circuit applies an alternating voltage between the ground and one of the first and second electrodes,

the detection circuit detects an electric potential of the other one of the first and second electrodes, or controls the electric potential of the other one of the first and second electrodes to follow the alternating voltage of the one of the first and second electrodes,

the detection circuit detects a capacitance change between the first electrode and the ground when the detection object approaches the first electrode,

the detection circuit determines whether the detection object approaches the first electrode based on the capacitance change, and

the second electrode has a periphery, which is substantially opposite to a periphery of the first electrode.

2. The sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the electrode assembly further includes a wiring layer, which is disposed on one of the first and second surfaces of the substrate,

the wiring layer is spaced apart from one of the first and second electrodes, which is disposed on the one of the first and second surfaces, and

the wiring layer does not overlap with the other one of the first and second electrodes, which is disposed on the other one of the first and second surfaces.

6. A passenger detector comprising:

the double-electrode capacitive sensor according to claim 1, wherein

the double-electrode capacitive sensor is mounted on a seat of a vehicle,

the detection object is a passenger in the vehicle so that the detection circuit determines whether the passenger sits down on the seat based on the capacitance change, and

the detection circuit further identify the passenger based on the capacitance change.

7. A passenger protection system comprising:

the passenger detector according to claim 6;

a passenger protection device for protect the passenger in case of collision of the vehicle; and

a controller for controlling the passenger protection device based on determination of the passenger detector.

3. A double-electrode capacitive sensor for detecting a detection object made of dielectric material, the sensor comprising:

an electrode assembly having a first electrode, a second electrode and an insulation substrate; and

a detection circuit electrically coupled with the first and second electrodes, wherein

the first electrode faces the detection object,

the first and second electrodes are overlapped, and the second electrode is coupled with a ground,

the insulation substrate has a first surface and a second surface,

the first electrode is disposed on the first surface, and the second electrode is disposed on the second surface, so that the second electrode faces the first electrode in parallel to the first electrode through the insulation substrate,

the detection circuit applies an alternating voltage between the ground and one of the first and second electrodes,

the detection circuit detects an electric potential of the other one of the first and second electrodes, or controls the electric potential of the other one of the first and second electrodes to follow the alternating voltage of the one of the first and second electrodes,

the detection circuit detects a capacitance change between the first electrode and the ground when the detection object approaches the first electrode,

the detection circuit determines whether the detection object approaches the first electrode based on the capacitance change,

the detection circuit includes an oscillation circuit and a differential amplifier circuit,

the oscillation circuit applies the alternating voltage between the ground and the one of the first and second electrodes,

the differential amplifier circuit alternatingly energizes the other one of the first and second electrodes so that the electric potential of the other one of the first and second electrodes follows the electric potential of the one of the first and second electrodes,

the differential amplifier outputs a signal corresponding to an energizing current to the other one of the first and second electrodes, and

the differential amplifier includes a voltage follower circuit for energizing the other one of the first and second electrodes with the electric potential of the other one of the first and second electrodes.

4. The sensor according to claim 3, wherein

the voltage follower circuit energizes the other one of the first and second electrodes through an impedance element for detecting current.

5. The sensor according to claim 3, wherein

the oscillation circuit applies the alternating voltage between the ground and the one of the first and second electrodes through an impedance element for detecting current.

8. A double-electrode capacitive sensor for detecting a detection object made of dielectric material, the sensor comprising:

an electrode assembly having a first electrode, a second electrode and an insulation substrate; and

a detection circuit electrically coupled with the first and second electrodes, wherein

the insulation substrate has a first surface and a second surface,

the first electrode is disposed on the first surface, and the second electrode is disposed on the second surface,

the first electrode faces the detection object,

the first and second electrodes are overlapped so that a periphery of the second electrode is substantially opposite to a periphery of the first electrode,

the second electrode is coupled with a ground,

the detection circuit applies an alternating voltage between the ground and the second electrode,

the detection circuit controls an electric potential of the first electrode to follow the alternating voltage,

the detection circuit detects a capacitance change between the first electrode and the ground when the detection object approaches the first electrode,

the detection circuit determines whether the detection object approaches the first electrode based on the capacitance change,

the detection circuit includes an oscillation circuit and a differential amplifier circuit,

the oscillation circuit applies the alternating voltage between the ground and the second electrode,

the differential amplifier circuit alternatingly energizes the first electrode so that the electric potential of the first electrode follows the electric potential of the second electrode,

the differential amplifier outputs a signal corresponding to an energizing current to the first electrode,

the differential amplifier includes a voltage follower circuit for energizing the first electrode with the electric potential of the first electrode, and

a deviation between the periphery of the first electrode and the periphery of the second electrode is in a range between −

10% and +10%.