Occupancy detection device for detecting occupancy of a seat in a motor vehicle
First Claim
1. An occupancy detection device for detecting an occupancy of a seat of a motor vehicle, comprisingan electric resonant circuit which includes a first and a second inductance and at least one sensor element;
- means for charging the resonant circuit with an alternating voltage; and
a microcontroller and a peak-to-peak detector, wherein the microcontroller and the peak-to-peak detector are used to determine a resonance frequency or a resonance amplitude in the resonant circuit, wherein the electric resonant circuit experiences a change in the resonance frequency or the resonance amplitude due to a change of the surroundings of the sensor element, so that an occupancy of the seat can be detected; and
a first and a second terminal, via which a heater control can be connected with the occupancy detection device, in order to be able to simultaneously operate the sensor element as heater, wherein the first and the second terminal are arranged such that a direct current provided at these terminals by the heater control is supplied to the sensor element via the first and the second inductance.
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Accused Products
Abstract
Disclosed herein is an occupancy detection device for detecting an occupancy of a seat of a motor vehicle. The occupancy detection device comprises an electric resonant circuit and a sensor element, wherein the electric resonant circuit experiences a change due to a change of the surroundings of the sensor element, so that with reference to the determined electrical parameter an occupancy of the seat can be detected; and a heater control connected with the occupancy detection device such that the sensor element can simultaneously operate as a heater.
23 Citations
15 Claims
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1. An occupancy detection device for detecting an occupancy of a seat of a motor vehicle, comprising
an electric resonant circuit which includes a first and a second inductance and at least one sensor element; -
means for charging the resonant circuit with an alternating voltage; and a microcontroller and a peak-to-peak detector, wherein the microcontroller and the peak-to-peak detector are used to determine a resonance frequency or a resonance amplitude in the resonant circuit, wherein the electric resonant circuit experiences a change in the resonance frequency or the resonance amplitude due to a change of the surroundings of the sensor element, so that an occupancy of the seat can be detected; and a first and a second terminal, via which a heater control can be connected with the occupancy detection device, in order to be able to simultaneously operate the sensor element as heater, wherein the first and the second terminal are arranged such that a direct current provided at these terminals by the heater control is supplied to the sensor element via the first and the second inductance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification