A sensor arrangement for capacitive detection of an object, including: an electrode arrangement having a heating element as an electrode; a detection device providing a detection signal to a sensor electrode and capacitively detecting the presence of an object near the sensor electrode; a high-side switch connected between a heating power source having a first potential and the heating element; a low-side switch connected between the heating element and a second potential; and a gate controller closing the high-side switch and low-side switch in a heating mode and opening the high-side switch and low-side switch in a detection mode. A decoupling MOSFET is connected between the high-side switch and heating element. The gate controller closes the MOSFET in the heating mode and opens the MOSFET in the detection mode. During the detection mode, the decoupling circuit provides a third potential at a first node between the high-side switch and MOSFET.

The present disclosure provides system and methods for a vehicle infotainment system (VIS) to monitor physiological parameters of occupants of a vehicle. The VIS also monitors vehicle operating parameters. The VIS is able to detect when an occupant is experiencing a physiological condition and correlates the physiological condition to one or more vehicle operating parameters. In response to detecting a physiological condition and to determining the correlation, the VIS causes an action to occur in order to mitigate the physiological condition and/or to seek assistance for the physiological condition.

Embodiments of the present disclosure a computer-implemented method comprising receiving sensor data from one or more vibration sensors that are embedded within a seat, where the sensor data includes data associated with speech by an occupant of the seat, and at least one of processing, transmitting, or storing the sensor data based on the data associated with the speech.

In accordance with an exemplary embodiment, a system is provided that includes one or more first sensors, one or more second sensors, and a processor. The one or more first sensors are of a first sensor modality configured to obtain first sensor data pertaining to an occupancy status of one or more seats of a vehicle. The one or more second sensors are of a second sensor modality, different from the first sensor modality, configured to obtain second sensor data pertaining to the occupancy status of the one or more seats of the vehicle. The processor is coupled to the one or more first sensors and the one or more second sensors, and is configured to at least facilitate determining the occupancy status of the one or more seats of the vehicle based on a fusion of the first sensor data and the second sensor data.

An ECU device which estimates a length of a lower limb of a seated person who is seated in a vehicle seat is shown. The ECU device includes the following. A thigh angle information obtainer obtains information regarding a thigh angle of the seated person. A back knee angle information obtainer obtains information regarding a back knee angle of the seated person. An estimator estimates the length of the lower limb of the seated person based on the information regarding the thigh angle obtained by the thigh angle information obtainer and information regarding the back knee angle obtained by the back knee angle information obtainer.

Non-contact biological sensors 1, 2 that detect biological information of a person by electromagnetic waves are provided in a seat 10 on which the person sits. The biological sensors 1, 2 are disposed in the seat 10 at positions away from members A1, A2, A3 (22, 32) which are the members, from among the members that constitute the seat 10, that interfere with the passage of electromagnetic waves. The biological sensors each have a first sensor 100 and a second sensor 200 that emit electromagnetic waves of different frequencies towards the person, and the first sensor 100 is disposed adjacent to the second sensor 200. Due to this configuration, it becomes easier to accurately detect biological information.

A method of controlling occupant thermal comfort includes the steps of driving a temperature in a seating zone to a temperature set point (54), holding the temperature set point in the seating zone for a predetermined time (56), and regulating the temperature in the seating zone to a corrected temperature set point based upon an equivalent homogenous temperature relating to vehicle cabin conditions and occupant gender (58).

A vital sign detection device controls directivities of radio waves A and B toward an irradiation region of a subject to determine the vital signs of the subject. The first directivity is where the vital signs easily appear and the second directivity is where the vital signs are less likely to appear. Noise is reduced by taking a difference between information about a distance to the subject calculated on the basis of the radio wave A having the first directivity and information about a distance to the subject calculated on the basis of the radio wave B having the second directivity received by the receiver.

According to the present disclosure, a drunk driving prevention system including: an alcohol detection unit configured to detect a driver's inebriation through the breath test device provided in a vehicle; a computation unit configured, when the driver is detected to be in a drunk state by the alcohol detection unit, to compute a driving-possible time at which the drunk state is resolved in the future so that driving is possible; and a notification unit configured to output the driving-possible time or whether or not driving is possible through an infotainment system of the vehicle or a driver's terminal is disclosed.

A method and system for transmitting an access instruction for accessing a vehicle is provided. The system includes a sensory operable to be installed in association with a seat of the vehicle, and a processor that is configured to receive, from a device that is external to the vehicle, a request for accessing the vehicle, determine, using the sensor, an occupation status of the seat of the vehicle, and transmit an access instruction to the device, wherein the access instruction is based on the occupation status of the seat.