Occupancy sensor that measures electric current through a heating element

• US 9,162,769 B2
• Filed: 04/05/2011
• Issued: 10/20/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 04/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rauh, Hans-Georg, Zuzga, Matthew, Iqbal, Syed, Spasojevic, Igor, Dorn, Richard
• Primary Examiner(s): Norman, Marc
• Assistant Examiner(s): SNOW, MAXWELL B
• Application Number:
  US13/080,039
• Publication Number:
  US 20110240751A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,659 Days
• Field of Search: 165/237, 622/44, 62/35, 62/32, 180/273, 219/217, 219/202
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00285 for vehicle seats vehicle seats with heating or ventilation means independent from the HVAC system of the vehicle B60N2/56
• 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 2/5685 Resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/01516 using force or pressure sensing means
• CPC Class Codes: B60R 21/0154 in combination with seat heating
• CPC Class Codes: B64D 13/00 Arrangements or adaptations of air-treatment apparatus for aircraft crew or passengers, or freight space , or structural parts of the aircraft treatment rooms with artificial climate for medical purposes A61G10/02; respiratory apparatus in general A62B; for vehicles in general B60H
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0238 For seats
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/029 Heaters specially adapted for seat warmers

Abstract

An occupancy sensor has three layers. The bottom layer contains two electrodes, and a resistive element between the electrodes. The middle layer is a spacer. The top layer is a third electrode, divided into two parts. When a person sits on the sensor, both parts of the third layer contact the resistive element. This causes current to flow through all of the electrodes. Accordingly, occupancy can be detected by measuring current flow through the electrodes. The device additionally provides heating via the resistive element. The sensor can be arranged in a vehicle seat.

Claims

1. A heating product comprising:

a support;

a sensor arranged on the support, the sensor comprising;

i. a first electrode,

ii. a second electrode,

iii. a third electrode including a gap, the gap diving the third electrode into two parts,

iv. a heater resistor, and

v. a spacer; and

a cover layer arranged on the sensor,

wherein the first electrode, the second resistor, and the heater resistor are in contact with a same surface of the support and are arranged on a same plane,

wherein the heater resistor is located in between, and in contact with, the first electrode and the second electrode,

wherein the spacer is located above the first electrode and the second electrode, and is configured to separate the first electrode and the second electrode from the third electrode when the cover layer not subject to a mechanical load,

wherein when the cover layer is subject to the mechanical load, the two parts of the third electrode contact the heater resistor causing a current flow through the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, and the heater resistor, and

wherein the heating product includes a device configured to detect a presence of the mechanical load on the cover layer by measuring the current flow through the heater resistor.

2. The heating product according to claim 1, wherein the heater resistor is an electrical conductor track that is provided as a coating on the support.

3. The heating product according to claim 1, wherein the heater resistor is an electrically conductive filament.

4. The heating product according to claim 1, wherein the heater resistor comprises a conductor track;

and

wherein the conductor track intermittently serves as a transducer.

5. The multifunction product according to claim 1, wherein the heating product comprises an identical second sensor, the first sensor is arranged at a first measuring point on the support that is subjected to the mechanical load and the identical second sensor is arranged at a second measuring point on the support that is not subjected to the mechanical load.

6. The multifunction product of claim 1, wherein the heating product is comprised of a plurality of heater resistors arranged electrically parallel to each other.

7. The multifunction product of claim 1, wherein the first electrode provides power to the heater resistor element.

8. The multifunction product of claim 1, wherein the support is formed flat and is air permeable.

10. The heating product of claim 1, wherein a padding layer is arranged directly above the cover layer.

11. The heating product of claim 1, wherein the heating product is arranged inside of a seat.

12. The heating product of claim 1, wherein the heating product is arranged inside of a vehicle.

13. The heating product of claim 1, wherein the third electrode transmits an electrical current to the heater resistor.

14. The heating product of claim 1, wherein the spacer is compressible.

15. The heating product of claim 1, wherein the sensor is one of a plurality of sensors, and the plurality of sensors are arranged inside of a vehicle seat, and

wherein each of the plurality of sensors are individually capable of detecting the presence of the mechanical load.

9. A method of detecting a mechanical load, comprising:

I. providing a multifunction product, the multifunction product comprising;

a support; and

a sensor arranged on the support, the sensor comprising;

i. a first electrode,

ii. a second electrode,

iii. a third electrode including a gap, the gap diving the third electrode into two parts,

iv. a heater resistor, and

v. a spacer; and

a cover layer arranged on the sensor,

wherein the first electrode, the second resistor, and the heater resistor are in contact with a same surface of the support and are arranged on a same plane,

wherein the heater resistor is located in between, and in contact with, the first electrode and the second electrode,

wherein the spacer is located above the first electrode and the second electrode, and is configured to separate the first electrode and the second electrode from the third electrode when the cover layer not subject to a mechanical load,

II. detecting the mechanical load on the cover layer when the mechanical load presses the two parts of the third electrode against the heater resistor and current flows through the first electrode, the second electrode, the third electrode, and the heater resistor, and measuring the current flow through the heater resistor.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the multifunction product is arranged in a vehicle seat.

17. The method of claim 9, wherein the mechanical weight is the weight of a person.

18. The method of claim 9, wherein multiple multifunction products are arranged inside of a vehicle seat, and each of the multiple multifunction products are capable of detecting the presence of the mechanical load.

19. The method of claim 9, wherein the spacer is compressed when the mechanical load presses the two parts of the third electrode against the heater resistor.

20. The method of claim 9, wherein the support is formed flat and is air permeable.