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. 09, 2003
Filed:
Sep. 12, 2001
Applicant:
Inventor:
Theodore V. Lester, Schiller Park, IL (US);
Assignee:
Motorola, Inc., Schaumburg, IL (US);
Attorney:
Primary Examiner:
Assistant Examiner:
Int. Cl.
CPC ...
B60L 1/00 ;
U.S. Cl.
CPC ...
B60L 1/00 ;
Abstract
An apparatus ( ) for sensing size and location of a vehicle occupant includes a conductor ( ) that is electrically coupled to a voltage signal generator ( ) and disposed within the seat of the vehicle. The conductor generates a periodic electric field ( ). A plurality of sensor electrostatic antennas ( ) is disposed adjacent the roof and is capable of sensing at least a portion of the electric field ( ). A detection circuit ( ) determines the size and location of a vehicle occupant based upon an amount of the electric field ( ) incident on each sensor electrostatic antenna ( ).