Iee International Electronics and Engineering S.a.

Andreas Petereit

Christian Bour

Christoph Wendt

Werner Bieck

Laurent Lamesch

Michael Puetz

Michael Virnich

Frank Althaus

David Hoyer

Thomas Meyers

Thomas Schleeh

Claus-Christian Kedenburg

Alexander Treis

Emmanuel Huegens

Harald Clos

Anne Lentes

Markus Schreiner

A capacitive occupancy or proximity detector () comprises a heating circuit, an impedance measurement circuit () and a diagnostic circuit. The heating circuit includes a heating element (). The impedance measurement circuit is connected to the heating element so as to measure impedance between the heating element and a node at ground potential. The diagnostic circuit is configured for measuring electrical resistance across the heating circuit and includes a heating current sensor (), configured for sensing a heating current across the heating circuit, a current supply device () for driving a diagnostic current across the heating circuit and a current limiting ground path (), configured for draining the diagnostic current and for blocking the heating current.

Diagnostic capacitive occupancy or proximity detector

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.

Capacitive sensor

A capacitive detection device () for a vehicle comprises a sensing electrode () for generating an oscillatory electric field in a detection space and a shielding electrode () arranged on a side of the sensing electrode turned away from the detection space. The capacitive detection device comprises a circuit ground and a ground connector for connecting the circuit ground to chassis ground of the vehicle. At least one shunt capacitor is connected between circuit ground and the shielding electrode. The at least one shunt capacitor has a capacitance at least 25 times higher than the capacitance between the shielding electrode and the chassis ground of the vehicle.

Capacitive detection device

An automotive vehicle has arranged therein a vehicle seat and is equipped with an occupant detection system for detecting whether an occupant is present on the vehicle seat, the system including a first antenna electrode arranged in the seat and a first sensing circuit associated with the seat, where the first sensing circuit includes an oscillation circuit operatively connected to the first antenna electrode for applying to the first antenna electrode a first oscillating signal and a first current detection circuit connected to the first antenna electrode for determining a current flowing into the first antenna electrode in response to the first oscillating signal being applied thereto, where the current flowing in the first antenna electrode indicates whether an occupant is present on the vehicle seat, and when in operation, the first sensing circuit codes the information whether an occupant is present on the vehicle seat into a first output signal which is output and which may be supplied to a restraint system control unit, the vehicle being further equipped with an appliance including an appliance control device arranged in the vehicle compartment at a location where an occupant of the seat can interact with it, a second antenna electrode is arranged with the appliance control device and a second sensing circuit is associated therewith, where the second sensing circuit is separate from the first sensing circuit and includes an electric signal detection circuit connected to the second antenna electrode and configured for determining an electric signal induced in the second antenna electrode in response to an electric field, which is radiated from an antenna electrode in the vehicle seat, being capacitively coupled into the second antenna electrode, the electric signal induced in the second antenna electrode indicates whether an occupant of the vehicle seat has a part of their body proximate to the appliance control device, and, when in operation, the second sensing circuit codes the information whether an occupant of the vehicle seat has a part of their body proximate to the appliance control device into a second output signal and outputs the second output signal.

Automotive vehicle with system for detecting the proximity of an occupant

A vehicle seat is provided in combination with a seat heater and a capacitive occupant detection system. The seat heater comprises a seat heating element disposed in the vehicle seat while the capacitive occupant detection system comprises a measurement circuit and an electrode arrangement, which is also disposed in the vehicle seat. The electrode arrangement includes a sensing electrode and a shielding electrode. The measurement circuit is operatively connected to the sensing electrode and to the shielding electrode and configured to keep the sensing electrode and the shielding electrode at substantially the same electric potential during the capacitive measurement. Of the seat heating element, the sensing electrode and the shielding electrode, the seat heating element is closest to a seating region of the vehicle seat and the sensing electrode is arranged between the seat heating element and the shielding electrode.

Vehicle seat with capacitive occupant detection system

A foil-type switching element comprises a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance from each other by means of a spacer, which comprises one opening () defining an active area. An elongate resistive layer () is provided on the second carrier foil within the active area while elongateshunt means () are arranged on the first miler foil within the active area and facing the resistive layer (). The form of the opening () in the spacer is such that the active area generally tapers in the longitudinal direction of the elongate resistive layer (), so that when pressure is applied on the switching element, the shunt means () shunt a portion of the resistive layer () thatprogressively increases with pressure, from the broad end of the spacer opening () towards its narrow end.

Foil-type switching element, in particular for use in collision detection systems

In order to provide a fast and reliable classification of an impact, the present invention proposes a method for the classification of an impact between an object and a vehicle, comprising the steps of detecting an initial contact between said object and said vehicle; recording a width data relating to a width of an impact zone between the object and the vehicle; processing said width data for determining the width of said impact zone a predetermined time interval after the initial contact; forming a first criterion for deciding whether the object is a pedestrian by identifying if the determined width of the impact zone lies between predetermined lower and upper first threshold values; determining that the object is human if said first criterion is met.

Classification method for pedestrian protection system

A collision recognition device for a vehicle is proposed, comprising a pressure sensor with a first electrode and a second electrode, both having first and second ends, the second end of the first electrode being connected to a first terminal of a first resistor, the second end of the second electrode being connected to a first terminal of a second resistor During use, a first voltage Vis applied to the first end of the first electrode, a second voltage Vis applied to a second terminal of the first resistor so that a voltage difference between said first terminal of the first resistor and said second terminal of said first resistor forms a first status voltage indicative of circuit integrity. A first signal voltage Vat the second end of the second electrode is indicative of whether said first and second electrodes are in contact. During a collision, the two electrodes are pressed together in the collision zone, which creates an electrical contact in this region. The signal voltage Vthus changes, and a collision can be detected. A fourth voltage Vis applied to the first end of the second electrode and a fifth voltage Vis applied to a second terminal of the second resistor so that a voltage difference between the first terminal of the second resistor and said second terminal of the second resistor forms a second status voltage indicative of circuit integrity.

Collision recognition device for a vehicle

A transmitter electrode () for a capacitive sensing device comprises a conductive sheet material (), said conductive sheet material comprising a first connecting point () for connecting the electrode to an electronic sensing unit. According to the invention the conductive sheet material comprises at least one second connecting point for connecting the electrode to an electronic sensing unit, said second connecting point (') being arranged at a certain distance from said first connecting point so that said conductive sheet material forms a conductive path between said first and second connecting point. The first and second connecting point (&#x2032;), which in use are both connected to the electronic sensing unit, enable to check the integrity of the transmitter electrode and the connection lines used to connect the transmitter electrode to the electronic sensing unit.

Capacitive transmitter electrode

An impact sensor system with at least one foil-type switching element having a plurality of active areas including at least a first a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance by at least one first spacer.The spacer has a plurality of recesses defining at least a first part of the active areas. In each active area, at least two electrode structures are arranged between the first and second carrier foils in such way that in response to a force acting on the active area, the first and second carrier foils are pressed together against the reaction force of the carrier foils and that, above a predetermined activation threshold force, an electrical contact is established between the electrode structures. The foil-type switching element is configured such that the activation threshold forces of a first group of said the active areas and a second group of active areas is different.

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Schweich, Germany

Andreas Petereit