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:
Sep. 21, 2004
Filed:
Aug. 24, 2001
Philip W. Kithil, Santa Fe, NM (US);
Advanced Safety Concepts, Inc., Santa Fe, NM (US);
Abstract
Capacitive sensors used to detect force upon a transparency product for detecting and discriminating crash characteristics of a vehicle, as well as capacitive sensors used in conjunction with a conductive panel functioning as an airbag cover and ground plane for the capacitive sensors. The capacitive sensors are made up of electrodes, of which one may be a conductive coating. The capacitive sensors can be arranged upon a substrate and can include a reference sensor. Long term effects of temperature upon sensor output are compensated for with an algorithm comparing constant desired sensor output to low frequency drift due to temperature effects. Moisture upon a transparency product is distinguished from a nearby object due to the capacitance sensed. A sleep detection algorithm detects when a vehicle operator is drowsy. A capacitive sensor array having a nested circle sensor and L-shaped sensors, along with a dummy sensor is used in a sunroof-equipped vehicle for sensing occupant head position.