Iee International Electronics and Engineering S.a.

Sanel Imamovic

Philippe Boyer

Dietmar Jungen

Markus Kordel

Fabian Leponce

Jean Claude Schmitz

A pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit () for detecting an occupancy state of a seat comprises a support plate () with a support area (), a pressure-responsive membrane switch (), one or more spacers () arranged around the support area and a compressible foam. The membrane switch comprises a first carrier film and a second carrier film spaced from each other by a spacer film. The spacer film has therein an opening defining a cell. The membrane switch comprises at least two electrodes arranged in facing relationship with each other in the cell on the first and the second carrier film, respectively, in such a way that they are brought closer together, possibly into contact with each other, when sufficient pressure is applied on the membrane switch. The one or more spacers () protrude from the support, and define an upper surface () raised with respect to the support area. The compressible foam () rests with its bottom surface () on the upper surface of the one or more spacers. The compressible foam penetrates into the support area in between the one or more spacers and activates the pressure-responsive membrane switch in response to a force applied on the top surface that exceeds a certain threshold force.

Pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit

An upholstered seat element for a vehicle seat comprises a foam padding () having a surface generally shaped in conformity with an outward surface of the vehicle seat, a trim cover disposed on the foam padding surface, a sheet-type electric device arranged between the foam padding and the trim cover and an attachment assembly securing the trim cover to the foam padding. The foam padding has at least one channel formed therein on the foam padding surface, along which channel the attachment assembly is arranged. The sheet-type device has at least one strip-shaped portion crossing the channel in at least one crossing location. The foam padding has a recess formed therein at the at least one crossing location, the recess being dimensioned in such a way that the strip-shaped portion of the film type device may slide into the recess when the upholstered seat element is subjected to a force inducing deformation of the foam padding. The recess is arranged offset from the middle of the crossing location, on the course of the strip-shaped portion of the sheet-like electric device () and a further recess is formed in the foam at the at least one crossing location, the further recess being arranged substantially symmetrically to the first recess with respect to the middle of the crossing location, on the course of the strip-shaped portion.

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Differdange, Luxembourg

Sanel Imamovic