Dual electrode occupant detection system and method
First Claim
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1. A dual electrode occupant detection system configured to determine an occupant presence on a seat assembly, said system comprising:
- a first electrode configured to be installed into a seat assembly proximate to a seating surface of the seat assembly, said first electrode configured to generate an electrode signal having a signal value dependent on an excitation signal applied to the first electrode and a proximity of the occupant;
a second electrode distinct from the first electrode, said second electrode configured to be installed into the seat assembly and configured to generate an electrode signal having a signal value dependent on an excitation signal applied to the second electrode and the proximity of the occupant; and
a controller configured to determine an occupant presence based on signal values arising from a high frequency excitation signal and a low frequency excitation signal being applied to two or more of a) only the first electrode, b) only the second electrode, and c) simultaneously both the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the controller is configured to determine occupant presence based ona first signal value arising from a high frequency excitation signal being applied to only the first electrode,a second signal value arising from a low frequency excitation signal being applied to only the first electrode,a third signal value arising from the high frequency excitation signal being applied to one of only the second electrode, and simultaneously to both the first electrode and the second electrode,a fourth signal value arising from the low frequency excitation signal being applied to one of only the second electrode, and simultaneously to both the first electrode and the second electrode.
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Abstract
A dual-electrode occupant detection system configured to determine an occupant presence on a seat assembly. The system includes two electrodes that each generates an electric field in response to an applied excitation signal. The two electrode signals arising therefrom can be measured individually and/or combined to detect more reliably an occupant. Such a configuration advantageously avoids the added expense and complication of an electrode arrangement that relies on an underlying shield layer to reduce electrode signal degradation caused by a seat heater element.
53 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A dual electrode occupant detection system configured to determine an occupant presence on a seat assembly, said system comprising:
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a first electrode configured to be installed into a seat assembly proximate to a seating surface of the seat assembly, said first electrode configured to generate an electrode signal having a signal value dependent on an excitation signal applied to the first electrode and a proximity of the occupant; a second electrode distinct from the first electrode, said second electrode configured to be installed into the seat assembly and configured to generate an electrode signal having a signal value dependent on an excitation signal applied to the second electrode and the proximity of the occupant; and a controller configured to determine an occupant presence based on signal values arising from a high frequency excitation signal and a low frequency excitation signal being applied to two or more of a) only the first electrode, b) only the second electrode, and c) simultaneously both the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the controller is configured to determine occupant presence based on a first signal value arising from a high frequency excitation signal being applied to only the first electrode, a second signal value arising from a low frequency excitation signal being applied to only the first electrode, a third signal value arising from the high frequency excitation signal being applied to one of only the second electrode, and simultaneously to both the first electrode and the second electrode, a fourth signal value arising from the low frequency excitation signal being applied to one of only the second electrode, and simultaneously to both the first electrode and the second electrode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of detecting an occupant presence on a seat assembly, said method comprising:
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providing a first electrode configured to be installed into a seat assembly proximate to a seating surface of the seat assembly and configured to generate an electrode signal having a signal value dependent on an excitation signal applied to the first electrode and a proximity of the occupant; providing a second electrode distinct from the first electrode, said second electrode configured to be installed into the seat assembly and configured to generate an electrode signal having a signal value dependent on an excitation signal applied to the second electrode and the proximity of the occupant; applying a high frequency excitation signal and a low frequency excitation signal selectively to two or more of a) only the first electrode, b) only the second electrode, and c) simultaneously both the first electrode and the second electrode; and determining an occupant presence based on signal values arising from the excitation signals being applied to the electrodes, wherein determining an occupant presence includes the steps of determining a first signal value arising from a high frequency excitation signal being applied to only the first electrode, determining a second signal value arising from a low frequency excitation signal being applied to only the first electrode, determining a third signal value arising from the high frequency excitation signal being applied to one of only the second electrode, and simultaneously to both the first electrode and the second electrode, determining a fourth signal value arising from the low frequency excitation signal being applied to one of only the second electrode, and simultaneously to both the first electrode and the second electrode. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12)
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13. A controller for a dual electrode occupant detection system configured to determine an occupant presence on a seat assembly, said system comprising a first electrode configured to be installed into a seat assembly proximate to a seating surface of the seat assembly and configured to generate an electrode signal having a signal value dependent on an excitation signal applied to the first electrode and a proximity of the occupant, and a second electrode distinct from the first electrode, said second electrode configured to be installed into the seat assembly and configured to generate an electrode signal having a signal value dependent on an excitation signal applied to the second electrode and the proximity of the occupant, said controller configured to determine an occupant presence based on signal values arising from a high frequency excitation signal and a low frequency excitation signal being applied to two or more of a) only the first electrode, b) only the second electrode, and c) simultaneously both the first electrode and the second electrode, wherein the controller is configured to determine occupant presence based on
a first signal value arising from a high frequency excitation signal being applied to only the first electrode, a second signal value arising from a low frequency excitation signal being applied to only the first electrode, a third signal value arising from the high frequency excitation signal being applied to one of only the second electrode, and simultaneously to both the first electrode and the second electrode, a fourth signal value arising from the low frequency excitation signal being applied to one of only the second electrode, and simultaneously to both the first electrode and the second electrode.
Specification