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).

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.

An occupant support includes a seat and a seat cover. The seat is adapted to support an occupant resting thereon. The seat cover is couple to the seat and arranged to lie between the occupant and the seat.

An occupant support includes a seat and a seat cover. The seat is adapted to support an occupant resting thereon. The seat cover is couple to the seat and arranged to lie between the occupant and the seat.

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 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.

Systems and methods of impact handling and ultrasound alerting are provided. Systems comprise an ultrasound transmitter is configured to transmit ultrasound signals at specified frequencies, a controller associated with a vehicle seat and configured to generate the ultrasound signals with respect to seat statuses and control the transmitter accordingly, and an application installable on a user's communication device to be associated with a device's audio receiver. The seat may comprise a dynamic part mounted on a static part and energy absorbing element(s) configured to restrain a movement of the dynamic part relative to the static part upon impact, via connection(s) between the static and dynamic parts that have static element(s) attached to the static part and dynamic element(s) attached to the dynamic part.