I. G. Bauerhin Gmbh

Axel Farr

Jochen Michelmann

Dieter Barthel

Klaus Strenge

Christian Diehl

The invention relates to a method and an apparatus for capacitive seat-occupancy recognition for vehicle seats. The apparatus which is based on the method comprises a reference capacitor that possesses a capacitance with respect to a first reference potential of a vehicle, an electrode integrated into a seat sensor that possess a capacitance with respect to a first reference potential, an at least parasitically-present capacitance of the sensor electrode with respect to a second reference potential or the vehicle ground, a first switch that connects the reference capacitor and a reference-voltage source of known voltage connected with the reference potential, a second switch that connects the sensor electrode with reference capacitor, and a third switch that connects the sensor electrode with the reference potential and the at least parasitically-present capacitance with the vehicle ground.

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Waechtersbach, Germany

Axel Farr