Gentherm Gmbh

Daniel Wei Li Cheah

Tim Normand

Michael Maass

Jack Barfuss

Ricardo Edmundo Flores Gonzalez

Gerardo Edel De La Garza Fernandez

Robert Lakatos

Peter Marton

A system including an assembly arranged in at least one of a seat and a steering wheel of a vehicle and a measurement circuit. The assembly includes a sensor and a heater arranged adjacent to the sensor. The measurement circuit is configured to output an excitation signal to the measurement circuit and the assembly and measure a resonant frequency of the measurement circuit and the assembly in response to the excitation signal. The measurement circuit is configured to determine a capacitance value based on the resonant frequency and determine whether a body part is in proximity to the sensor based on the capacitance value.

Capacitive sensing and heating system for steering wheels or seats to sense presence of hand of occupant on steering wheel or occupant in seat

A capacitance measuring system detecting an occupant of a vehicle. A sensor/heater assembly is arranged in at least one of a seat or a steering wheel of a vehicle and includes a sensor and a heater arranged adjacent to the sensor. A measurement circuit is configured to output an excitation signal to the measurement circuit and the sensor/heater assembly, measure a resonant frequency of the measurement circuit and the sensor/heater assembly in response to the excitation signal; determine at least one capacitance value based on the resonant frequency; and determine whether a body part is in proximity to the sensor based on the at least one capacitance value.

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Windsor, CA, United States of America

Daniel Wei Li Cheah