Automotive vehicle with occupant detection system

US9539915B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• IEE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS & ENGINEERING S.A. · LU

Inventors

• Stephen Fuks · Ann Arbor, US
• Ingrid Scheckenbach · Ferschweiler, DE
• Claus-Christian Kedenburg · Konz, DE
• Christoph Wendt · Mettendorf, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Apr 10, 2008
• Grant date: Jan 10, 2017
• Expiry date: Jun 22, 2030

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60N2210/12
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

An automotive vehicle has arranged therein a vehicle seat and is equipped with an occupant detection system for detecting whether an occupant is present on the vehicle seat, the system including a first antenna electrode arranged in the seat and a sensing circuit associated with the seat where the sensing circuit includes an oscillation circuit connected to the first antenna electrode for applying to the first antenna electrode a first oscillating signal and a current detection circuit also connected to the first antenna electrode for determining a first current flowing in the first antenna electrode in response to the first oscillating signal being applied, the first current indicating whether an occupant is present on the vehicle seat, where the vehicle is further equipped with an appliance including an appliance control device arranged in the vehicle compartment at a location where it can be operated by an occupant of the seat and the occupant detection system is configured for detecting whether the occupant attempts to interact with the appliance control device, in particular, the occupant detection system includes a second antenna electrode arranged together with the appliance…