Passenger seat having occupant detector for automotive vehicle
US7928341B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jul 3, 2007 |
| Grant date | Apr 19, 2011 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Dec 8, 2028 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10T29/49826
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
An electrode unit for detecting whether a seat is occupied or not (occupancy conditions) is embedded in a seat of an automotive vehicle together with an electrically powered seat heater. Both of the electrode unit and the seat heater are flat, and the electrode unit is laminated on the heat heater. The electrode unit is composed of an upper electrode, a lower electrode and an insulating film disposed between both electrodes. The occupancy conditions are detected based on changes in a capacitance between the upper electrode and a member grounded to a vehicle body. To reduce a capacitance between the upper electrode and seat heater and to thereby improve sensitivity of the detection of the occupancy conditions, an alternating voltage that alternates in accordance with an alternating voltage supplied to the upper electrode is supplied to the lower electrode.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.