Capacitive sensor
First Claim
1. Capacitive sensor for a vehicle seat, comprisingan antenna electrode for being arranged in said vehicle seat;
- a control and evaluation circuit operatively connected to said antenna electrode, said control and evaluation circuit comprising at least one measurement circuit, anda seat frame connector for connecting said control and evaluation circuit to a seat frame of said vehicle seat;
wherein said control and evaluation circuit is configured to temporarily couple said measurement circuit to the seat frame of the vehicle seat via said seat frame connector, andwherein said control and evaluation circuit is configured to operate in a first mode of operation, during which said control and evaluation circuit is configured to measure an alternating electrical current flowing between said antenna electrode and ground, and in a second mode of operation, during which said control and evaluation circuit is configured to measure an electrical current flowing into said seat frame connector when said measurement circuit is temporarily coupled to the seat frame of the vehicle.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A capacitive sensor for a vehicle seat comprises an antenna electrode and a control and evaluation circuit operatively connected to the antenna electrode. The control and evaluation circuit is configured to operate in a first mode of operation, during which it measures alternating electrical current flowing between the antenna electrode and ground. The capacitive sensor comprises a seat frame connector for connecting the control and evaluation circuit to the seat frame of the vehicle seat. The control and evaluation circuit is configured to operate in a second mode of operation, during which it measures electrical current flowing into the seat frame connector.
5 Citations
11 Claims
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1. Capacitive sensor for a vehicle seat, comprising
an antenna electrode for being arranged in said vehicle seat; -
a control and evaluation circuit operatively connected to said antenna electrode, said control and evaluation circuit comprising at least one measurement circuit, and a seat frame connector for connecting said control and evaluation circuit to a seat frame of said vehicle seat; wherein said control and evaluation circuit is configured to temporarily couple said measurement circuit to the seat frame of the vehicle seat via said seat frame connector, and wherein said control and evaluation circuit is configured to operate in a first mode of operation, during which said control and evaluation circuit is configured to measure an alternating electrical current flowing between said antenna electrode and ground, and in a second mode of operation, during which said control and evaluation circuit is configured to measure an electrical current flowing into said seat frame connector when said measurement circuit is temporarily coupled to the seat frame of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. Combined heating and capacitive sensing system for a vehicle seat, said combined heating and capacitive sensing system including a heating element for being arranged in said vehicle seat and a capacitive sensor, said heating element being operable as antenna electrode for said capacitive sensor;
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said capacitive sensor further comprising a control and evaluation circuit operatively connected to said antenna electrode, said control and evaluation circuit comprising at least one measurement circuit, and a seat frame connector for connecting said control and evaluation circuit to a seat frame of said vehicle seat; wherein said control and evaluation circuit is configured to temporarily couple said measurement circuit to the seat frame of the vehicle seat via said seat frame connector, and wherein said control and evaluation circuit is configured to operate in a first mode of operation, during which said control and evaluation circuit is configured to measure alternating electrical current flowing between said antenna electrode and ground, and in a second mode of operation, during which said control and evaluation circuit is configured to measure electrical current flowing into said seat frame connector when said measurement circuit is temporarily coupled to the seat frame of the vehicle. - View Dependent Claims (11)
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Specification