A vehicle seat occupancy detection system includes at least one capacitive sensor member having at least one sensing electrode, an impedance measurement circuit for determining a complex impedance or a complex admittance of the at least one sensing electrode, an evaluation unit for generating an output signal based on a determined complex admittance of the at least one sensing electrode and comparison of the determined complex admittance to at least one predetermined value, and at least one electrically conductive ground connecting member that is intentionally electrically connected to the reference electrode and that is arranged in close proximity to the at least one sensing electrode. The at least one ground connecting member and the at least one sensing electrode are galvanically separated such that, when the seat gets wet, the sensing electrode is directly electrically connected to the reference electrode by the at least one ground connecting member.

A capacitive sensor configured for connection between a heating element and a heating current supply comprises a common mode choke (CMC) for AC-decoupling the heating element from the heating current supply. The CMC comprises first and second inductively coupled windings, the first winding for connection between a first terminal of the heating current supply and a first terminal of the heating element and the second winding for connection between a second terminal of the heating element and a second terminal of the heating current supply. The capacitive sensor further comprises a control and evaluation circuit for injecting an AC signal into the heating element via a measurement node, measuring a voltage on and/or a current across the measurement node, and to derive an impedance between the heating element and a counter electrode from the measurement. The CMC comprises a third winding inductively coupled with the first and second windings, the third winding being operatively coupled with the measurement node.

A microcontroller uses a combination of several synchronized PWM outputs to generate a low distortion sine wave by summing the PWM outputs and filtering the summed signal. The sine wave is used as a guard voltage. The unknown impedance is measured by impinging the guard voltage on the sense electrode by a transistor connected in common base configuration and then transferring the sense current through the common base connected transistor to a transimpedance amplifier made out of a second transistor connected in common emitter configuration. The output voltage at the collector of the second transistor is measured by an ADC input of the microcontroller. The microcontroller translates the ADC output values into the unknown impedance to be measured by doing a software demodulation of the ADC output values. A reference impedance can be connected in parallel to the unknown impeder to eliminate gain errors of the signal sensing circuit.

A capacitive occupancy or proximity detector includes a heating circuit, an impedance measurement circuit connected to the heating element, and a diagnostic circuit configured for determining integrity of the heater element. The heating circuit includes a heating element, a heating current source and a common mode choke having a first and a second winding, the heating element being connectable to the heating current source via the first and second windings. The diagnostic circuit includes at least one controllable switching element coupled across the second winding, circuitry for injecting a DC current into a series connection formed by the first winding the heating element and a parallel connection of the second winding and the at least one controllable switching element, and at least one detection circuit for detecting a voltage variation across the second winding.

A device (1) for temperature control and for recognizing an occupation of certain areas by a person and/or an object are disclosed. The device includes at least one electrically conductive heating line (23) that is designed for releasing heat energy, and at least one electrode (3, 5) adjoining the at least one electrically conductive heating line (23), the longitudinal axis of the electrode extending, at least in sections, along the at least one heating line. The at least one electrode (3, 5) is mechanically coupled to the at least one heating line (23), and is designed as a component of a capacitive sensor system, by means of which a presence of persons and/or objects within a certain area is determinable.

A capacitive sensor member of a seat occupant classification device for use in seats, in particular in vehicle seats. The capacitive sensor member includes at least one electrically conductive sense electrode that has an optimized shape for use in vehicle seats equipped with child restraint system anchorages. A capacitive seat occupant classification system is provided that includes the capacitive sensor member.

Described are seat units with a seat pan (2) coupled to a seat back (3), inflatable cushions (5) positioned proximate the seat pan and/or the seat back, inflatable airbags (6) positioned proximate the inflatable cushions (5), and a pressure sensor (9) positioned over at least one of the seat pan (2) and the seat back (3) so that the inflatable cushions (5) and the inflatable airbags (6) are substantially covered by the pressure sensor (9). The pressure sensor (9) is configured to generate a pressure map, and a control unit (11) is configured to analyze the pressure map for at least one pressure irregularity within a pressure distribution, and adjust a pressure inside at least one of the inflatable cushions (5) and/or the inflatable airbags (6) to minimize the pressure irregularity within the pressure distribution.

System and method for obtaining and recording information about cargo includes a frame defining a cargo-receivable compartment, a position determining system at least partly on the frame and that allows for determination of position of the frame, an identification system on the frame that obtains information about cargo when present in the compartment, a memory component that receives and records information about position and movement of the frame, and the obtained information about cargo when present in the compartment in association with a unique identification of the frame, and a communications system on the frame to enable communication of information to and from the memory component.

A vehicle seat includes sheet-shaped sensors configured to detect electric signals associated with the biopotential of a seated passenger, the vehicle seat being configured to remove noise caused due to static electricity to stably measure a bioelectric signal (e.g., heart rate) of the passenger. A seat back includes the sheet-shaped sensors. A cushion pad placed on a seat back frame is covered with a trim cover. Vertically-extending conductive fabric in a belt shape is disposed on an outer surface of the trim cover. The portion where the conductive fabric is disposed has a three-layer structure of the conductive fabric, a skin, and a wadding. A free end of the conductive fabric drawn into the seat back is provided with a J-hook hooked onto a lower frame bridging portion, thus part of the conductive fabric and the lower frame bridging portion contact each other to be electrically conductive with each other.

A method for operating a massage device of a seat, in particular of a motor vehicle, having a massage drive with an unbalance which is driven by means of an electric motor, and an electrical line for operating the massage drive. By means of a component of the massage device, a change in capacitance due to a change in occupancy of at least one section of the seat is detected, and based on the change in capacitance, the energization of the electric motor is adjusted. A massage device of a seat and a vehicle seat of a motor vehicle as well as a component of a massage device of a seat are also provided.