A combination heater and sensor comprising: (a) a heating layer, a sensing layer, or both; (b) one or more power application portions, one or more sensing application portions, or both; wherein the heating layer and the sensing layer are located within the same plane; and wherein the heating layer is a nonwoven layer that is comprised of a plurality of metallized fibers that are randomly oriented forming the heating layer so that upon application of power the heating layer provides heat.

A system for adjusting at least one adjustable component (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) of a vehicle (10) is disclosed. The system may include an exterior sensor (44) configured to generate a signal indicative of an identity a user before the user enters the vehicle (10), and a controller (60) in communication with the exterior sensor (44) and an actuator (40) configured to adjust the at least one adjustable component (30, 32, 34, 36, 38). The controller (60) may be configured to automatically cause the actuator (40) to adjust the at least one adjustable component (30, 32, 34, 36, 38) responsive to the signal.

Electronic devices and methods are provided in which a pressure applied, by a driver, to a seat of a moving object driven by the driver is sensed. A state of the driver is determined based on frequency characteristics with respect to a change in the pressure sensed by the sensor.

A vehicle alert system inhibiting a child from being left unattended in a vehicle includes a car seat that is selectively positioned in a vehicle and child is selectively seated in the car seat. A base unit is positioned upon the seat to be sat upon thereby facilitating the base unit to detect weight. The base unit is turned on when the base unit detects weight. A remote unit is carried by the driver of the vehicle. The remote unit is in electrical communication with the base unit. Moreover, the remote unit emits an audible alarm when the remote unit moves beyond a trigger distance from the base unit and the base unit is turned on. In this way the remote unit inhibits the child from being left unattended in the vehicle.

A variable resistance conductive rubber sensor and method of detecting an object/human touch therewith is provided. The sensor has a sensor body constructed from electrically conductive rubber. The sensor body extends between opposite first and second ends. A first wire is operably connected to the first end and a second wire may be operably connected to the second end, with the first and second wires being brought into electrical communication with one another by the intermediately extending electrically conductive rubber of the sensor body. A microcontroller is operably connected to the sensor body to detect the presence of an applied force or human touch on the sensor body.

Systems, devices, and techniques are provided for occupancy assessment of a vehicle. For one or more occupants of the vehicle, the occupancy assessment establishes position and/or identity for some or all of the occupant(s).

The present disclosure provides a method and an apparatus for controlling an air cell in a seat. It includes: an air cell provided in the seat; a pressure sensor configured to measure a pressure in the air cell; an actuation switch configured to enable an operation of injecting or discharging air into or from the air cell; and a control unit input with the measured air cell pressure value.

A vehicle seat is adapted to be moved relative to a floor of a vehicle. The seat includes a seat bottom that can be moved relative to the floor and a seat back that can be moved relative to the seat bottom.

Provided is a security device, comprising: a sensor that senses a presence in a vehicle and generates a presence signal; an ignition state detection device that detects a state of the vehicle, and generates a status signal; and a rules processor that determines from the presence signal and the status signal whether an alarm or message is to be generated.

A vehicle seating system includes a vehicle seat, piezoelectric sensors individually positioned at respective locations within the seat corresponding to anatomical locations of a person sitting in the seat, and a controller. The sensors to generate electrical signals in response to mechanical stress applied on the sensors from biologically motivated force inputs of the person. The controller to detect from the electrical signals generated by the sensors biometric information of the person corresponding to the biologically motivated force inputs of the person.