The load-detecting device 1 includes a base 2 engaged with a pair of S springs 100, and a load detection sensor unit SU that is mounted on the base 2 and includes a first electrode 52 and a second electrode 62 facing each other and being brought into contact with each other by pressing force of the seat cushion SC when a load is detected, The upper surface 47S of the load detection sensor unit SU that is pressed by the seat cushion SC when a load is detected is located at the same height as or higher than the upper ends 101 of the respective S springs 100, with which the base 2 is engaged, and the contact surface between the first electrode 52 and the second electrode 62 is located lower than the upper ends 101 of the respective S springs 100, with which the base 2 is engaged.

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.

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.

The load-detecting device 1 includes a base 2 engaged with a pair of S springs 100, and a load detection sensor unit SU that is mounted on the base 2 and includes a first electrode 52 and a second electrode 62 facing each other and being brought into contact with each other by pressing force of the seat cushion when a load is detected The upper surface 47S of the load detection sensor unit SU that is pressed by the seat cushion when a load is detected is located at the same height as or higher than the upper ends 101 of the respective S springs 100, with which the base 2 is engaged, and the contact surface between the first electrode 52 and the second electrode 62 is located lower than the upper ends 101 of the respective S springs 100, with which the base 2 is engaged.

A load-detecting device 1 includes a load detection sensor unit SU and a base 2 on which the load detection sensor unit SU is mounted, and the load detection sensor unit SU includes an upper surface 47S configured to be pressed by a seat cushion SC, a first electrode 52, and a second electrode 62. The upper surface 47S moves with respect to the mount surface 21S such that an angle of the upper surface 47S with respect to the mount surface 21S changes.

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 seat with an adjusting mechanism for selectively changing a contour and firmness of the seat. A force/pressure sensor is arranged between the contour of the seat which is in contact with the occupant, and the adjusting mechanism. The force/pressure sensor measures the actual force/pressure with which the occupant presses upon the seat, and which force/pressure is adjustable by the respective adjusting mechanism. A control unit stores a desired force/pressure value for the seat, and controls the adjusting mechanism to drive the actual force/pressure towards the desired force/pressure. The seat also has an operator interface which receives input from an operator. The control unit has a manual mode where the adjusting mechanism is only controlled by the operator interface. The control unit in the automatic mode records the actual value from the force/pressure sensor when the operator adjusts the seat through the interface. The control unit then sets the desired force/pressure to the present value of the force/pressure sensor. Once the operator is finished changing the adjusting mechanism, the control unit continues in automatic mode and performs any changes to the adjusting mechanism to drive the actual force/pressure from the force/pressure sensor for the value of the new desired force/pressure.

A seat device 5 according to the present invention includes a cushion pad 60, a support member 70 for supporting the cushion pad 60, a pressure sensitive switch SW disposed with a spacing from the under face of the cushion pad, and a pressing member 90 disposed below the cushion pad 60 and deformed by a pressure applied from the under face of the cushion pad to press the pressure sensitive switch SW. The deformed amount of the pressing member 90 per unit displacement amount in which the under face of the cushion pad is displaced downwardly is greater in a second stage after the pressure sensitive switch SW is turned on than in a first stage before the pressure sensitive switch SW is turned on.

A B-surface seat occupancy sensor unit (10) comprises a support plate (12) having a top surface (20) and a bottom surface, a plurality of spacer elements (14), which define an upper surface (18) of the unit. The top surface of the support plate is arranged recessed the upper surface. A first foam pad (22) is disposed between the spacer elements on the support plate. A recess (24) formed in the top surface of the support plate, underneath the first foam pad, accommodates a second foam pad (23) carrying a pressure-responsive membrane switch (26). The recess has a depth exceeding the total height of the pressure-responsive membrane switch and the second foam pad. The pressure-sensitive membrane switch projects laterally beyond opposite edges of the second foam pad.

A method for operating an identification device of a seat of a motor vehicle, in which an identification of a child car seat or an adult on the seat is carried out by an electronic computing device, and in which, depending on the identification, an airbag apparatus of the seat is activated, and in which a relative variance is determined from a ratio of a pressure variance of a pressure on the seat and an acceleration variance of an acceleration of the motor vehicle during a movement of the motor vehicle and, depending on the relative variance, the identification is carried out and the airbag apparatus is activated. The method further includes determining a speed variance of a speed of the motor vehicle by the electronic computing device and, depending on the determined speed variance, deciding whether the identification is carried out during the movement of the motor vehicle.