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.

The Baby Alert Car Seat AlarmSmart Car Seat, is a device or smart car seat that detects the presence of a baby or child placed, or secured in a car seat, within the vehicle, before and after the driver of the vehicle has reached his/her destination; and, after the ignition is turned off, alerts the driver of the vehicle that the baby or child remains place or secured in a car seat within the vehicle; or, once the baby or child is placed, or secured in a car seat, within the vehicle, if the ignition is not turned on within a preset time, the Baby Alert Car Seat AlarmSmart Car Seat will alert the driver of the vehicle that a baby or child remains placed or secured in a car seat within the vehicle.

A universal reminder device in the form of a series circuit including a power source, a warning indicator, a pressure-sensitive normally closed momentary switch, and a pressure-sensitive normally open momentary switch.

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 seatback includes a lower frame, an upper frame, and a hinge coupling the lower and upper frames. An actuator is fixed relative to the lower frame, and a cable extends from the actuator to the upper frame. In the event of a collision, the actuator pulls the cable, and the upper frame moves from an upright position to a bent position relative to the lower frame.

A method of controlling audio speaker settings in a vehicle with a rear row of seating comprises: requesting an operator of the vehicle to make a choice between a first option, wherein the vehicle automatically controls audio speaker settings based on a dynamically determined occupancy state of the rear row of seating, and a second option, wherein the vehicle recommends audio speaker settings to the operator based on the dynamically determined occupancy state; dynamically determining the occupancy state; if the operator chooses the first option, then automatically controlling audio speaker settings based on the dynamically determined occupancy state; and if the operator chooses the second option, then providing recommended audio speaker settings to the operator based on the dynamically determined occupancy state. The audio speaker settings include volume.

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.

A low-cost weight-measurement and sensing system is provided. The system may include a sensor assembly configured to be mounted between a floor pan of a vehicle and a seat of the vehicle. The sensor assembly may include a plurality of sensor modules. Each sensor module of the plurality of sensor modules may be configured to sense a force applied thereupon and generate a reading representative of the force applied thereupon in response thereto to provide a plurality of sensor readings. The system may also include a control module connected to the plurality of sensor modules. The control module may be configured to determine a weight of an occupant of the seat of the vehicle based on the plurality of sensor readings.

A sensor module for use in a low-cost weight-measurement and sensing system is provided. The sensor module may include a substrate configured to be mounted between a floor pan of a vehicle and a seat of the vehicle. The sensor module may further include a force sensing element disposed upon the substrate. The force sensing element may be configured to sense a force applied thereupon, and generate a reading representative of the force applied thereupon in response thereto to provide a sensor reading. The sensor module may also include a wiring harness connected to the force sensing element. The wiring harness may be configured to transmit the sensor reading to a control module. The substrate may define an aperture configured to surround a fastening element used to fasten the seat to the floor pan of the vehicle.