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:
Aug. 27, 2013
Filed:
Mar. 08, 2011
Hideki Uno, Toyota, JP;
Junko Shima, Nissin, JP;
Yasuhiro Ishiguro, Nagoya, JP;
Toyota Boshoku Kabushiki Kaisha, Aichi-Ken, JP;
Abstract
An occupant detection system includes a detection electrode provided in a vehicle seat, a phase difference measuring unit, a direct current measuring unit, and a detecting unit that detects an occupant. The phase difference measuring unit supplies a reference signal comprising a sinusoidal wave to the detection electrode via a resistive element, detects the potential of the detection electrode as an electrode signal, and measures a phase lag time of the electrode signal relative to the reference signal. The direct current measuring unit applies a steady DC voltage to the detection electrode via a resistive element, detects the potential of the detection electrode, and measures time it takes from start of application of the DC voltage to the time when the detection electrode reaches a given potential, as a charge time. The detecting unit detects an occupant based on the phase lag time and the charge time.