Iee International Electronics and Engineering S.a.

Manuel Wampach

Dietmar Jungen

Konstantin Weires

Markus Kordel

Claus-Christian Kedenburg

An occupant sensor having a switching element, which comprises a top carrier layer and a bottom carrier layer separated by a spacer. The spacer has an opening defining an active zone in which the carrier layers may be brought together in response to a force acting on at least one of them. The switching element includes a first electrode and a second electrode arranged within the active area between the carrier layers such that an electrical contact is established between the first and second electrodes if the carrier layers are brought together. The occupant sensor includes a decoupling layer arranged on a top side of the switching element such that the decoupling layer covers the top carrier layer in the region of the active area. The decoupling layer and switching element are laterally displaceable with respect to each other in the region of the active area.

Occupant sensor and seat with such an occupant sensor

A B-surface seat occupancy sensor unit () comprises a support plate () having a top surface () and a bottom surface, a plurality of spacer elements (), which define an upper surface () of the unit. The top surface of the support plate is arranged recessed the upper surface. A first foam pad () is disposed between the spacer elements on the support plate. A recess () formed in the top surface of the support plate, underneath the first foam pad, accommodates a second foam pad () carrying a pressure-responsive membrane switch (). The recess has a depth exceeding the total height of the pressure-responsive membrane switch and the second foam pad. The pressure-sensitive membrane switch projects laterally beyond opposite edges of the second foam pad.

Seat occupancy sensor unit at a lower B-surface side of a seat cushion

A pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit () comprises a support plate () having a top surface () and a bottom surface, a plurality of spacer elements () defining an upper surface () of the pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, which upper surface the top surface of the support plate is arranged recessed from, a foam pad () disposed between the spacer elements on the support plate, a recess () formed in the top surface of the support plate, underneath the foam pad, and a pressure-responsive membrane switch () arranged in the recess. The recess has a depth exceeding the thickness of the pressure-responsive membrane switch. The foam pad is configured such that, upon it being compressed by application of pressure exceeding a certain threshold, it deforms so as to penetrate into the recess and activates the pressure-responsive membrane switch.

Growing community of inventors

Junglinster, Luxembourg

Manuel Wampach