A capacitive sensor device configured for being connected to at least one electric heating member serving as a capacitive antenna electrode. The capacitive sensor device includes a common mode choke connected between the heating current supply and the electric heating member, a capacitive sensing circuit configured to determine a complex electrical impedance between the electric heating member and a counter electrode, an electric measuring shunt for providing a voltage that is representative of an electric current flowing through the electric heating member, and a remotely controllable source of direct current electrically connected in parallel to the heating current supply. The remotely controllable source of direct current is configured to provide, upon receiving a remote control signal, an electric pulse having a predetermined amount of electric charge to the at least one electric heating member.

An electronic tag programmed with an identification in a seat belt assembly is identified by reading the programmed identification via an electronic device embedded in a seat. In response to identifying the electronic tag, a determination is made that an occupant has not fastened a seat belt of the seat belt assembly to secure the occupant in the seat.

Detection device for a steering wheel of a vehicle, said device being configured to detect contact or proximity of a person with or to the steering wheel, comprising sensors, of which there are only three, of which: a first sensor (21) is intended to be arranged on a left-hand half of a first face of the steering wheel, a second sensor (22) is intended to be arranged on a right-hand half of said first face of the steering wheel, and a third sensor (23) is intended to be arranged on a second face opposed to said first face of the steering wheel, and said first face is a rear face of the steering wheel.

A capacitance measuring system detecting an occupant of a vehicle. A sensor/heater assembly is arranged in at least one of a seat or a steering wheel of a vehicle and includes a sensor and a heater arranged adjacent to the sensor. A measurement circuit is configured to output an excitation signal to the measurement circuit and the sensor/heater assembly, measure a resonant frequency of the measurement circuit and the sensor/heater assembly in response to the excitation signal; determine at least one capacitance value based on the resonant frequency; and determine whether a body part is in proximity to the sensor based on the at least one capacitance value.

A motor output control apparatus includes: an output detector configured to comprise a first detector for detecting a first output signal generated from a first winding of a motor and a second detector for detecting a second output signal generated from a second winding of the motor; a failure determiner configured to determine whether the first winding or the second winding has a failure based on at least one of the first output signal and the second output signal and based on an input-steering torque; and an output controller configured to determine whether or not an output-calculation value corresponding to the input-steering torque is less than a threshold value if it is determined that the first winding or the second winding has a failure, and configured to control an output of the normal one of the first winding or the second winding according to the determination result.

An electronic tag programmed with an identification in a seat belt assembly is identified by reading the programmed identification via an electronic device embedded in a seat. In response to identifying the electronic tag, a determination is made that an occupant has not fastened a seat belt of the seat belt assembly to secure the occupant in the seat.

Provided is a flexible, durable capacitive sensor that achieves high flexibility in designing wiring arrangement. A capacitive sensor includes a dielectric layer and a plurality of electrode units placed on both sides of the dielectric layer in the front-back direction. The electrode unit includes an insulating layer having through holes extending therethrough in the front-rear direction, electrode layers placed on one side of the insulating layer in the front-back direction, and jumper wiring layers placed on the other side of the insulating layer in the front-back direction and electrically connected to the electrode layers through the through holes. The insulating layer has an elongation at break of 60% or more, a tension set of less than 5%, and a volume resistivity of 1.0?10.sup.10 ?.Math.cm or more.

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

A system for detecting a living being using electric fields may include sensors configured to generate and receive an electric field. The system may include at least one amplifier connected to at least one electrode of a sensor, a controller to operate the sensors, and a processor connected to the controller. The processor may output a signal representative of the presence or absence of a living being present in the electric fields or representative of a distance between the sensor and the living being. The sensors may be attached to a rigid or flexible substrate forming part of a skin that can be attached to a robot, a vehicle, or another moving or autonomous device to sense the presence of a living being near the device. The device may be configured to stop moving or to move to avoid the living being in the electric field.

A system for detecting improper usage of a seatbelt of a vehicle includes a vehicle seat having a seat cushion and a seat back. A shoulder belt and a lap belt are intended to restrain an occupant sitting on the vehicle seat. The system includes a sensor module associated with the shoulder belt and the lap belt. The sensor module generates signals indicative of at least one parameter associated with the vehicle seat, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt when the occupant is sitting on the vehicle seat. The system also includes a controller that receives the signals indicative of the at least one parameter associated with the seat back, the shoulder belt, and the lap belt. The controller analyzes the received one or more signals, and determines whether the seatbelt is being used improperly by the occupant, based on the analysis.