Passenger seat having occupant detector for automotive vehicle
First Claim
1. A passenger seat device for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
- a seat heater that is embedded in a seat in parallel to a seat surface, electric current being supplied to the seat heater in a controlled manner from an on-board power source;
an upper electrode that is embedded in the seat above the seat heater in parallel thereto;
an alternating current power source that supplies an alternating voltage having a predetermined frequency to the upper electrode; and
a detector that detects occupancy conditions of the seat based on changes in a capacitance between the upper electrode and a member grounded to a body of the automotive vehicle;
a lower electrode embedded in the seat between the upper electrode and the seat heater in parallel thereto;
whereinthe upper electrode and the lower electrode are fixed directly to an upper surface and a lower surface, respectively, of an insulating film to form an integrated electrode unit;
the insulating film has a generally constant thickness to maintain a generally constant distance between the upper electrode and the lower electrode; and
the alternating current power source supplies to the lower electrode a shielding alternating voltage that changes in accordance with the alternating voltage supplied to the upper electrode.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electrode unit for detecting whether a seat is occupied or not (occupancy conditions) is embedded in a seat of an automotive vehicle together with an electrically powered seat heater. Both of the electrode unit and the seat heater are flat, and the electrode unit is laminated on the heat heater. The electrode unit is composed of an upper electrode, a lower electrode and an insulating film disposed between both electrodes. The occupancy conditions are detected based on changes in a capacitance between the upper electrode and a member grounded to a vehicle body. To reduce a capacitance between the upper electrode and seat heater and to thereby improve sensitivity of the detection of the occupancy conditions, an alternating voltage that alternates in accordance with an alternating voltage supplied to the upper electrode is supplied to the lower electrode.
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Citations
17 Claims
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1. A passenger seat device for an automotive vehicle, comprising:
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a seat heater that is embedded in a seat in parallel to a seat surface, electric current being supplied to the seat heater in a controlled manner from an on-board power source; an upper electrode that is embedded in the seat above the seat heater in parallel thereto; an alternating current power source that supplies an alternating voltage having a predetermined frequency to the upper electrode; and a detector that detects occupancy conditions of the seat based on changes in a capacitance between the upper electrode and a member grounded to a body of the automotive vehicle; a lower electrode embedded in the seat between the upper electrode and the seat heater in parallel thereto;
whereinthe upper electrode and the lower electrode are fixed directly to an upper surface and a lower surface, respectively, of an insulating film to form an integrated electrode unit; the insulating film has a generally constant thickness to maintain a generally constant distance between the upper electrode and the lower electrode; and the alternating current power source supplies to the lower electrode a shielding alternating voltage that changes in accordance with the alternating voltage supplied to the upper electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of manufacturing a passenger seat for an automotive vehicle, the passenger seat having a seat heater embedded therein, an upper electrode embedded in the seat above the seat heater in parallel thereto, a lower electrode embedded in the seat between the upper electrode and the seat heater in parallel thereto, an alternating current power source for supplying alternating voltage having a predetermined frequency to the upper electrode, and a detector for detecting occupancy conditions of the seat based on changes in a capacitance between the upper electrode a member grounded to a body of the vehicle, the method comprising:
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providing an insulating film; forming an integral electrode unit by attaching the upper electrode directly to an upper surface of the insulating film and attaching the lower electrode directly to a lower surface of the insulating film; providing an insulating layer between the lower electrode and the heater; embedding the heater and the integral electrode unit in the passenger seat. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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Specification