Process for the capacitive object detection in the case of vehicles

US6442464B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Bayerische Motoren Werke Aktiengesellschaft · DE

Inventors

• Lutz Eisenmann · Reichenbach/Oberlausitz, DE
• Yan Lu · Beijing, CN
• Sivart Sauer · Munich, DE
• Christian Marschner · Munich, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 2, 2001
• Grant date: Aug 27, 2002
• Expiry date: Mar 2, 2021

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60N2220/20
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

In a process for capacitive object detection in a vehicle seat, capacitors arranged in the backrest and in the seat surface are influenced by an object. The capacitors are acted upon by alternating voltage and their capacitance is determined individually. From the value of each of the two capacitances, an evaluation of the object is derived by means of a value table. When the two evaluations correspond to one another (concerning the type of an object), an occupant protection system assigned to the seat is correspondingly activated or deactivated.