A method of calibrating an in-vehicle inductive sensing apparatus to the dimensions and/or posture of a user seated in the vehicle. An array of inductive sensing coils is mounted in a fixed position relative to a geometry of the seat in which the user is received. From the spatial pattern or distribution of inductive sensing signals, it is determined which subset of coils is positioned most appropriately, e.g. which is closest, to an anatomical body of interest. A biological measurement pertaining to the anatomical body of interest is computed using data from only the selected subset of coils.

A seat configured so that the accuracy of detection of each sensor provided in the seat to detect the body potential of a seated occupant can be improved without degrading the sense and comfort of the seat. A seat includes a trim cover having a contact surface for a seated occupant, and sensors arranged opposite to the contact surface and configured to detect the body potential of the seated occupant. Each sensor is a capacitive coupling sensor configured to detect the body potential through the trim cover. Moreover, a portion of the seat facing each sensor includes a dielectric configured to increase the dielectric constant of such a portion.

A seat is configured to suitably restrain a warping of a connecting portion in a signal transmission path, when the connecting portion is disposed inside a through hole provided in a pad member of the seat. The seat includes: a pressure sensor that detects a seating pressure of a seat occupant; a leading wire of the transmission path that extends from the pressure sensor; a cable of the transmission path that extends from an electronic control unit for a signal output from the pressure sensor; a warp restraining member that restrains a warping of a connecting portion of the leading wire and the cable; and a through hole formed in a pad member of the seat, from one end to another end in the thickness direction of the pad member. The warp restraining member is inserted into the through hole to thereby pass the transmission path through the through hole.

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.

A seat is configured to suitably restrain a warping of a connecting portion in a signal transmission path, when the connecting portion is disposed inside a through hole provided in a pad member of the seat. The seat includes: a pressure sensor that detects a seating pressure of a seat occupant; a leading wire of the transmission path that extends from the pressure sensor; a cable of the transmission path that extends from an electronic control unit for a signal output from the pressure sensor; a warp restraining member that restrains a warping of a connecting portion of the leading wire and the cable; and a through hole formed in a pad member of the seat, from one end to another end in the thickness direction of the pad member. The warp restraining member is inserted into the through hole to thereby pass the transmission path through the through hole.

A method for classifying an occupant and providing the occupant classification for a safety device in a motor vehicle. The method includes reading in a first piece of information that indirectly describes the occupant; reading in a second piece of information that directly describes the occupant; classifying the occupant, taking the indirect and direct information into account; and providing the occupant classification to an interface to the safety device for the vehicle. A corresponding device is also described.

An occupant detection system includes a controller, a sensing electrode, and a shield electrode, the electrodes disposed in a vehicle seat. The controller is electrically coupled to the sensing electrode and shield electrode by a sensing circuit. The controller is configured to send an input signal to the sensing electrode, the shield electrode, or both and measures current, impedance, or capacitance values to determine the presence of an object on the seat, to classify the object, or both.

A vehicle seat includes 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 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.

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.