The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 10, 2019
Filed:
Nov. 09, 2015
Trw Automotive Safety Systems Gmbh, Aschaffenburg, DE;
Hans-Jürgen Bossler, Münster, DE;
Martin Kreuzer, Kleinwallstadt, DE;
Guido Hirzmann, Sailauf, DE;
Alexander Lammers, Mühltal, DE;
Helga Heist, Laufach, DE;
TRW AUTOMOTIVE SAFETY SYSTEMS GMBH, Aschaffenburg, DE;
Abstract
A device for detecting steering wheel contact comprises at least a first electrode () which is provided in a steering wheel () and which forms, together with a human body acting as a second electrode and a dielectric situated therebetween, at least one sensor capacitor (). The device also comprises an evaluation circuit () having a reference capacitor () of known capacitance which can be connected parallel to the sensor capacitor (), a direct current voltage source () which can be connected to the reference capacitor (), and a measuring device for measuring the voltage at the reference capacitor (). A method for detecting steering wheel contact using such a device comprises the following successive steps: charging the reference capacitor () by applying a known reference voltage, or charging the reference capacitor () and subsequently measuring a first voltage at the reference capacitor (); connecting, in parallel, the sensor capacitor () to the reference capacitor () so that a portion of the charge of the reference capacitor () is transmitted to the sensor capacitor (); measuring a second voltage at the reference capacitor (); end determining the capacitance of the sensor capacitor () from the known capacitance of the reference capacitor (), the reference voltage or the first voltage and the second voltage.