Patent · US Active

Diagnostic capacitive occupancy or proximity detector

US9764668B2 · kind B2 · utility

2Cited by

3References

24Claims

0Family size

Assignee

IEE INTERNATIONAL ELECTRONICS & ENGINEERING S.A. · LU

Inventors

Laurent Lamesch · Reichlange, LU
Michael Puetz · Trier, DE
David Hoyer · Ayl, DE
Andreas Petereit · Schweich, DE
Thomas Meyers · Fremont, US
Frank ALTHAUS · Neuhaus, DE
Michael Virnich · Korlingen, DE

Key dates

Filing date	Nov 12, 2013
Grant date	Sep 19, 2017
Priority date	—
Expiry date	Jan 28, 2034

Classification

Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
CPC primaryH03K2217/960705
WIPO fieldTransport
WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

A capacitive occupancy or proximity detector (10) comprises a heating circuit, an impedance measurement circuit (34, 36, 40) and a diagnostic circuit. The heating circuit includes a heating element (12). The impedance measurement circuit is connected to the heating element so as to measure impedance between the heating element and a node at ground potential. The diagnostic circuit is configured for measuring electrical resistance across the heating circuit and includes a heating current sensor (42), configured for sensing a heating current across the heating circuit, a current supply device (48) for driving a diagnostic current across the heating circuit and a current limiting ground path (50), configured for draining the diagnostic current and for blocking the heating current.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.