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. 18, 2012
Filed:
Sep. 21, 2010
Kouji Ootaka, Toyohashi, JP;
Kouji Ootaka, Toyohashi, JP;
Denso Corporation, Kariya, JP;
Abstract
A capacitive occupant sensor for detecting an occupant sitting on a seat cushion of a seat of a vehicle includes a capacitive sensor mat, a cushion member, and a floating electrode. The capacitive sensor mat is disposed in the seat cushion and has a surface. The cushion member is disposed on the surface of the capacitive sensor mat. The floating electrode is disposed on an opposite side of the cushion member from the surface of the capacitive sensor mat. A projected area of the floating electrode with respect to the surface is smaller than the surface. The floating electrode is in an electrically-floating state with respect to the capacitive sensor mat. The occupant is detected based on an occupant capacitance between the capacitive sensor mat and the occupant and a floating capacitance between the capacitive sensor mat and the floating electrode.