Iee International Electronics and Engineering S.a.

Other

Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft

Bogdan Serban

Michel Witte

Michael Meyer

Volker Petri

Aloyse Schoos

Philippe Boyer

Harald Rudolf

David Hoyer

Reinhold Mickeler

Ernst Johann Hauer

Josef Mahalek

Emmanuel Huegens

A touchpad with an input area having a straight or curved main line of extension comprises a support element, a cover having a first surface facing away from the support element and a second surface facing towards the support element and one or more spacers arranged at a periphery of the input area. The one or more spacers mount the cover on the support element in such a way that the cover spans over the support plate in the input area while it is depressible towards the support element by a force acting on the input area of the touchpad. A resistive trace is so arranged on the support element that it extends along the main line of extension of the input area. At least one terminal contacts the resistive trace at a particular point of the main line of extension of the input area and a set of detection electrodes is arranged on the second surface of the cover in facing relationship with the resistive trace. The detection electrodes are configured and arranged for capacitively detecting a position of a user's finger or stylus when the user's finger or stylus is in proximity of or in light touch with the first surface of the cover, and for resistively detecting a position of a user's finger or stylus when the user's finger or stylus depresses the cover and so brings at least one of the detection electrodes into electrical contact with the resistive trace.

Touchpad with strip-shaped input area

A position detection device including a substrate; a first ohmic resistor applied to the substrate and extending along an active surface of the position detector, whereby the first ohmic resistor is connected between a first terminal and a second terminal of the position detection device; a plurality of electric conductors connected to the first ohmic resistor at places that are distinct therefrom, the electric conductors extending from the first ohmic resistor inside the active surface alternating between the first electric conductors, whereby one first end of the conductor elements is connected to a third terminal of the position detection device. The conductor elements are configured as ohmic resistors extending through the active surface of the device and a second end of the conductor elements is connected to a fourth terminal of the position detection device.

Position detection device

A data input device with a film-based pressure sensor including a first carrier film, a second carrier film and a spacer. The spacer has an opening delimiting an active zone, in which first and second electrodes are arranged such that, in response to a compressive force, an electrical contact is established. A control circuit able to operate in at least a first and a second mode is configured to measure, in the first mode a quantity indicative of electrical resistance and, in the second mode, a quantity indicative of a capacitance.

Data input device

A data input device including plural keys that are arranged over at least two lines. A unidirectional position detector is associated with each line of keys and each unidirectional position detector includes a first input connection, a second input connection, and an output connection. The output connections of the unidirectional position detectors are connected at different locations to a first ohmic resistor. In addition, the first input connections are connected to a first terminal of the data input device and the second input connections are connected to a second terminal of the data input device.

A flexible data input device including a first textile layer and a second textile layer, which are arranged spaced apart from each other by a spacer. The spacer includes apertures delimiting the active zones of the data input device. The two textile layers are electroconductive in the active zones and a material with pressure-variable resistance is applied in the active zones, at least on one of the textile layers.

Flexible keyboard

A device for venting a gas bag made of a textile material includes at least one ignitable pyrotechnic charge which is associated with the gas bag in such a way that, when the pyrotechnic charge is ignited, at least one thread of the textile material is directly destroyed by the explosion of the pyrotechnic charge.

Controlled deflation device for a gas bag

A description is given of a passenger detector comprising a flexible support of insulating material, at least two electrode structures placed on said insulating substrate at a certain distance from each other, and a layer of semiconducting material placed above said electrode structures in an active zone of the detector. In conformity with the invention, said layer of semiconducting material has an internal resistance that varies with a deformation of said layer and said layer of semiconducting material is placed in intimate contact with said electrode structures.

Passenger detector

A device for deflating a gas bag includes a gas bag having a deflation opening which is closed along a breakable, predetermined line. The predetermined breaking line includes a closure element and is breakable by melting or sublimating the closure element.

Device for controlled deflation of a gas bag

A system for stopping the deployment of an airbag in a vehicle includes a detector for detecting a position of the airbag with respect to an occupant of the vehicle and an airbag operating device. The detector is located on the airbag in an area which, upon deployment of the airbag, is facing the occupant of the vehicle. The detector generates a position signal which is sent to the airbag operating device such that the airbag operating device stops the deployment of the airbag when the position signal indicates a predetermined position of the airbag in relation to the occupant.

Device for stopping an airbag unfolding in a motor vehicle

The invention concerns a force sensor ( ) comprising a first electrode ( ) and a second electrode ( ) made of conductive material, which are arranged spaced from each other on a first insulating support ( ). The invention is characterized in that a contact element ( ) is conductive material is placed opposite the two electrodes and some distance therefrom, said contact element t( ) being pressed against said electrodes ( ) when a force is exerted on the pressure sensor ( ) and at least one of the electrodes ( ) is coated with a pressure sensitive material layer ( ).

Force sensor

The invention provides a testable foil pressure sensor constructed of two carrier foils which are laminated together. The first carrier foil is coated with a semiconductor material, while the second carrier foil has two adjacent strip conductors which can each be bonded on both ends and which, within spatially bounded areas which form sensor elements, have &ldquo;comb&rdquo; structures, with individual fingers which mesh with one another in a no-contact manner. According to the invention, within a sensor element, at least one of the contact fingers of the comb structure is formed by a strip conductor loop and at least one other contact finger is formed by a stub line branching off a strip conductor.

Foil pressure sensor which can be tested

A motor vehicle sensor arrangement which is used to detect jamming, i.e, an obstruction, at a movable vehicle part which can be moved into an end position, such as an electric window, a sliding and tilting roof, a convertible top, or a servo-actuated door. A cavity defined by opposing resilient walls is located proximate, but outside, the path of movement of the movable vehicle part and at a selected distance from the end position. A distance sensor, for example a pressure transducer, is arranged in the cavity between the resilient walls. When an object obstructs the path of movement of the movable vehicle part toward the end position, the resilient walls are moved toward each other. When the distance sensor contacts a portion of the opposing resilient wall, the distance sensor actuates a response signal indicating a jam. Preferably the distance sensor is mounted on one of the resilient walls approximately facing the direction in which the movable vehicle part moves toward the end position, while a projection extending toward the distance sensor is provided on the opposite resilient wall. The projection substantially reduces the travel distance to actuate the jamming signal, since the distance between the distance sensor and the projection is substantially shorter than the distance between the two opposing resilient walls.

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Leudelange, Luxembourg

Bogdan Serban