Vehicular control method to avoid collisions in which a smartphone is coupled to the vehicle while in a vehicular compartment. Data is generated from vehicle-resident sensors about operation of the vehicle and transferred from the vehicle to the smartphone while the smartphone is coupled to the vehicle. A communications network with another vehicle is established using the smartphone and the data transferred from the vehicle to the smartphone and data from sensors on the smartphone is transmitted via the smartphone and established communications network to other vehicle, the data including data about location and movement of the vehicle. Then, while the smartphone is coupled to the vehicle, a vehicular operational function is controlled based in part on data transmitted using the smartphone and established communications network to cause movement of the vehicle to change in order to avoid a collision with the other vehicle.

A capacitance measurement circuit for determining a sense current of a capacitive sensor with a sense electrode and a guard electrode. The measurement circuit includes a periodic signal voltage source, a sense current measurement circuit configured for determining the sense current with reference to a reference voltage, and at least one remotely controllable switch member. In a first switching state, the at least one switch member electrically connects the sense current measurement circuit to the periodic signal voltage source for providing a first reference voltage, and in a second switching state, the at least one switch member electrically connects the sense current measurement circuit to a second reference voltage that is different from the first reference voltage.

A system for detecting the presence of an occupant of a seat. The system includes a sensing mat that includes an upper conducting layer and a lower conducting layer. At least one of the conducting layers comprises a printed electronic circuit separated into conductive zones by at least one resistive zone. The mat also includes a plurality of sensing zones and each of the sensing zones include a conductive zone from the upper conducting layer and a conductive zone from the lower conducting layer. Each of the conducting layers are connected to a controller configured to detect a change in capacitance of each of the sensing zones resulting from a change in distance between the upper conducting layer and the lower conducting layer. The controller is connected to a vehicle network and is configured to provide data to the network that indicates the absence or presence of the occupant.

Bioinformation of a seated person is more accurately measured. A heartbeat measurement device for measuring heartbeat of a person seated on a vehicle seat has heartbeat sensors and a circuit substrate: the heartbeat sensors have leading wires which output electric signals corresponding to a heartbeat and constitute a transmission path for the electric signals; and the circuit substrate has input terminals which receives the electric signals output from the heartbeat sensors, and a differential amplifier which amplifies the electric signals input to the input terminals. The heartbeat sensors and the circuit substrate are disposed in positions adjacent to each other in the vehicle seat, and terminal portions of the leading wires come out from portions adjacent to the circuit board of the heartbeat sensors are connected to the input terminals in a state abutting the input terminals.

A safety alert system for a specific vehicle includes an Internet-connected server executing software, a digital data repository, a profile associated with the specific vehicle and identifying the specific vehicle and comprising contact information for a person, a computerized monitoring apparatus located in the specific vehicle with a two-way Internet connection to the Internet-connected server, global positioning system (GPS) circuitry coupled, a plurality of sensors, sensing both environmental conditions and status of apparatus of the specific vehicle, and reporting to the monitoring apparatus, and at least one set of variable values stored in the digital data repository indicating an alert status. The server keeps a log of reported variable values for the specific vehicle, periodically compares the variable values reported with the at least one set of variable values indicating an alert status, and issues an alert accordingly.

A capacitive vehicle seat occupancy detection and classification system includes an impedance measurement circuit and a control and evaluation unit. The impedance measurement circuit is configured for providing periodic electrical measurement signals to a capacitive sensor of N different fundamental frequencies, wherein N is a natural number of at least 3, and to determine a complex impedance from each of determined sense currents in the capacitive sensor. The control and evaluation unit is configured to determine a seat occupancy class for each one of the complex impedances determined at the at least N different fundamental frequencies, and to determine a final seat occupancy class derived by a majority decision among the determined seat occupancy classes.

According to various implementations, a sensor mat includes a mat substrate, a sensor electrode, and a shield electrode. At least a portion of the sensor and shield electrodes are spaced apart from and parallel to each other on a first surface of the mat substrate. The shield electrode is electrically coupled to a voltage source to create a capacitance between the shield electrode and the sensor electrode, and the sensor electrode is used to detect a change in the capacitance. The shield electrode may also be alternately used for heating the surface of the vehicle part adjacent the mat. For example, the sensor may be disposed adjacent a portion of a steering wheel or a seat assembly and is used for sensing presence of an occupant's hands or body adjacent the steering wheel or seat assembly.

A capacitive detection system for detecting occupancy of a vehicle seat includes a signal generating unit and a signal evaluation unit. The vehicle seat has a seat heater member configured for receiving time-varying output signals of the signal generating unit. The signal evaluation unit is configured to generate an output signal that is indicative of the seat heater member to be defective, if the sensed capacitance of the seat heater member is less than a second predetermined threshold value for the sensed capacitance.

A method of producing a functional vehicle component includes fixing a leather sheet over a surface of a vehicle component, applying a flexible electronic circuit to an A-surface of the leather sheet, and arranging a pigmented coating over the circuit. The pigmented coating inhibits or prevents the circuit from being visible through the pigmented coating. The method may include attaching an electronic element, such as a light source, a sensor, a wireless transmitter, or a switch, to the circuit. When the circuit includes a light source, the pigmented coating inhibits or prevents the light source from being visible through the pigmented coating, but light emitted by the light source is visible through the pigmented coating.

Techniques are disclosed for systems and methods to detect and/or classify a vehicle occupant, such as a passenger seated within the cockpit of a vehicle. An occupant classification system includes an occupant weight sensor, an occupant presence sensor, and a logic device configured to communicate with the occupant weight sensor and the occupant presence sensor. The logic device is configured to receive occupant weight sensor signals from the occupant weight sensor and occupant presence sensor signals from the occupant presence sensor, determine an estimated occupant weight and an occupant presence response based, at least in part, on the occupant weight sensor signals and the occupant presence sensor signals, and determine an occupant classification status corresponding to the passenger seat based, at least in part, on the estimated occupant weight and/or the occupant presence response.