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:
Oct. 02, 2001
Filed:
Feb. 24, 1999
Bernhard Mattes, Sachsenheim, DE;
Werner Nitschke, Ditzingen, DE;
Wolfgang Drobny, Heilbronn, DE;
Otto Karl, Leonberg-Höfingen, DE;
Adrian Hanussek, Mühlacker-Lienzingen, DE;
Peter Schädler, Ludwigsburg, DE;
Robert Bosch GmbH, Stuttgart, DE;
Abstract
The simplified signal-processing circuit arrangement for processing and evaluating signals indicative of the status of an FSR-foil pressure sensor utilized in a seat-occupancy detection device, makes use of the fact that an application-oriented, integrated circuit, present in a motor vehicle having digital open-loop and closed-loop control functions implemented in a microcontroller MCU, contains a highly precise, switchable test-voltage source. One end of a circuit containing the FSR-foil is connected to a switching output VTA of the ASIC carrying the highly precise test voltage. The other end of this circuit is connected to a port of the MCU. A measuring voltage, which is a function of the status-contingent current intensity through the FSR-foil, drops off across a reference resistor connected in series to the FSR-foil, is fed to an analog-digital converter input of the MCU, and is converted therein into a digital signal indicating the occupancy status of the FSR-foil. Thus, using only one precise, switchable, d.c. voltage source, one port of the MCU and one ADC port, it is possible to evaluate the OCCUPIED/NOT OCCUPIED status of the FSR-foil, as well as to detect various fault conditions.