A capacitive sensor member (130) of a vehicle seat occupant detection and classification device (18) comprises a first electrically conductive antenna member (132) and at least a second electrically conductive antenna member (134) that is adjacently arranged to the first electrically conductive antenna member (132) without any mutual galvanic connection. At least one electrically conductive bridging member (146) is fixedly attached to at least one elastic spacer member (148) that has elastic mechanical properties in a specified direction (54). If a mechanical load (F) is applied to the capacitive sensor member (130) in the specified direction (54) that is equal to or larger than a predetermined value for the mechanical load (F), the at least one electrically conductive bridging member (146) provides at least one galvanic contact between the first electrically conductive antenna member (132) and the second electrically conductive antenna member (134).

To provide a sensor unit that can be easily attached to and detached from a seat in which a seated occupant is seated, and a seat equipped with a sensor unit. A sensor unit includes a sensor module including a biological sensor that detects a biological signal of a seated occupant, and a wireless communication unit that is connected to the biological sensor to wirelessly transmit the detected biological signal to an outside; and a sensor holder that holds the sensor module. The sensor holder includes a seat attachment portion detachably attached to an attached portion that is provided in a front surface of a seat cushion at a position at which the seated occupant is abuttable against the attached portion.

An on-vehicle device that is to be mounted in a vehicle includes: an electrical component including a sensor; a power supply module including a power receiving antenna and a power supply circuit configured to convert radio waves for power feeding received by the power receiving antenna into electric power and supply the electric power to the electrical component; and a line member having flexibility and electrically connecting the electrical component to the power supply module.

In addition to the loading mode of a capacitive sensing device of a seat occupancy detection and classification system, a second measurement mode is introduced, which allows a discrimination of objects (CRS or human) with and without grounding condition. Depending on the value of the new measurement, the data is allocated to different groups which are subject to different thresholds in the loading mode. This means that if the new measurement indicates a grounding condition of the object, a higher threshold in the loading mode will be applied. In this way CRS with grounding condition will be classified by means of the higher threshold, resulting in a robustness increase. Typical human sitting positions do not show a grounding condition and will be classified by the lower threshold.

A system configured to determine a physical state of a vehicle occupant within a vehicle is described herein. The system includes an electrode in contact with the vehicle occupant and containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes and a controller that determines the physical state of the vehicle occupant based on an output of the electrode. The controller initiates a countermeasure based on the physical state of the vehicle occupant. A system configured to generate electricity based upon a temperature difference between a vehicle occupant and a portion of a vehicle interior is also presented herein. This system includes a thermoelectric device containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes. The thermoelectric device has a first side in contact with a vehicle occupant and a second side in contact with a portion of the vehicle interior. The thermoelectric device supplies electrical power to an electrical system of the vehicle.

A vehicle seat comprises a frame member provided on a floor of a vehicle, a seat part such as a seat cushion detachably attached to the frame member, a mechanical connector device provided on the frame member and the seat part for detachably attaching the seat part to the frame member; and an electric connector device provided on the frame member and the seat part for electrically connecting an electric component provided on the seat part to an electric component provided on the frame member.

The seat heater control device is provided for a vehicle including a vehicle body, a vehicle seat and a seat heater. The seat heater control device includes: an electrostatic sensor provided in the vehicle seat and configured to measure capacitance between the electrostatic sensor and the vehicle body; and a controller configured to control an operation and/or an operational temperature of the seat heater, based on a measured value of the electrostatic sensor. The controller is configured to cause the seat heater to operate at a relative higher temperature when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than a first threshold and lower than a second threshold. The controller is configured to cause the seat heater to operate at a relative lower temperature when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than the second threshold.

A wire harness connected to a sensor is positioned on a back surface of a pad of a vehicle seat supported by a panel. The vehicle seat includes a panel; a pad supported by the panel; a skin material covering a front surface of the pad; and a sensor provided between the front surface of the pad and the skin material for acquiring information on a seat occupant, wherein the pad is provided with a through hole passed from the front surface of the pad to a back surface of the pad, and a recess formed in the back surface of the pad and connected to the through hole, the wire harness connected to the sensor extending in the through hole and the recess.

A method of adjusting a vehicle seat includes detecting one of a current position of a vehicle occupant in a vehicle seat with one of a pressure sensitive fabric, a sound transmitter and transducer, and an electromagnetic field transmitter and transducer. A comfortable position is determined of the vehicle occupant. The vehicle seat is adjusted from the current position to the comfortable position. A vehicle seat assembly is also disclosed.

The object is to provide an occupant detection device that can accurately detect whether there is a passenger, even when a personal computer, a tablet terminal, a smartphone or the like is placed on a vehicle seat. The occupant detection device is provided for a vehicle including a vehicle body, a vehicle seat and an in-vehicle battery. The occupant detection device includes: an electrostatic sensor provided in the seat and configured to measure capacitance between the sensor and the vehicle body; an interrupting unit configured to interrupt a function of the in-vehicle battery; a controller configured to temporarily activate the interrupting unit when a measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than a predetermined threshold; and a judgement unit configured to judge that there is a passenger when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than the predetermined threshold even while the interrupting unit is activated.