An illustrative device capable of detecting a bearing force includes a support rigid by tension and at least one plate that is elastically deformable by the bearing force from a bent conformation in which the plate exhibits a convex bearing face on which the bearing force to be detected is directly exerted and to a more flattened conformation in which the convex bearing face is more flattened. The illustrative device further includes a spring capable of permanently straining the plate to its bent conformation, a guiding mechanism mounted on the support and capable of guiding the free distal end of the plate in translation along a translation axis at right angles to the direction of indentation, and a sensor capable of detecting a displacement of the free distal end along the translation axis to detect the bearing force.

A capacitive detection device that may include at least one electrode of a capacitive sensor, an alternating voltage source, a device for measuring a complex value of impedance or admittance between the detection electrode and an electrical circuit reference point and a calibration resistor, and a switching device arranged so as to connect the voltage source to the electrode, in the measurement mode, and to connect the voltage source to the calibration resistor and disconnect the voltage source from the electrode, in the calibration mode. The measuring device is arranged so as to measure a first complex value of the calibration resistor, during operation in the calibration mode; to measure a second complex value between the electrode and the electrical circuit reference point during operation in measurement mode, and to correct the second measured complex value according to the first measured complex value.

A seating detection method includes: detecting whether a seat belt sensor in a vehicle seat is in an ON state or an OFF state; detecting whether a pressure sensitive sensor in a seat skin constituting a seating surface is in an ON state or an OFF state; and determining a foreign object insertion state in which a foreign object is inserted between the seating surface and a child seat based on whether the seat belt sensor is in the ON state or the OFF state and whether the pressure sensitive sensor is in the ON state or the OFF state. When the pressure sensitive sensor is changed from the ON state to the OFF state in a state in which the seat belt sensor is maintained in the ON state after the seat belt sensor is changed to the ON state, it is determined as the foreign object insertion state.

A vehicle seat includes a load sensor for measuring a load applied from an occupant and a seat cushion frame, wherein the seat cushion frame comprises right and left side frames extending in a front-and-rear direction, the load sensor is attached to the seat cushion frame, and a concave portion is formed in at least one of the right and left side frames at a position opposite to the load sensor.

A load sensor is provided with a seat mounting hole between both end parts of a rectangular plate-like main body portion of a load receiving member. A plurality of strain detecting elements the resistance value of each of which changes depending on the amount of strain of the main body portion are disposed around the seat mounting hole. In plan view of the load receiving member, the center point of the seat mounting hole is offset from the center point of the arrangement of the plurality of strain detecting elements toward a part of the load receiving member that has relatively high rigidity.

A passenger's weight measurement device for a vehicle seat includes an upper rail provided on a lower rail that is fixable to a vehicle floor, the upper rail being movable in at least one of rear and front directions; a load sensor fixed onto the upper rail; and a frame provided on the load sensor and below the vehicle seat. In plan view, the load sensor protrudes from the frame in at least one of left and right directions.

A vehicle seat comprises a seat component having a contour; wherein the contour changes when at least a portion of a user's body is in contact with the seat component and at least one multibend sensor operatively connected to the seat component and adapted to at least partially conform to the contour of the seat component; the at least one multibend sensor comprising a signal generation source adapted to transmit signals and a signal receiver adapted to receive at least some of the transmitted signals. The seat further comprises a signal processor operatively connected to the signal receiver, the signal processor adapted to make at least one measurement associated with the received signals; and, a sensing module operatively connected to the signal processor and configured to use the at least one measurement to determine information regarding the contour of the seat component.

A power supply apparatus acquires peripheral information regarding whether a living body is present outside a vehicle near a power supplying unit, during power supply to the vehicle. The power supply apparatus acquires in-vehicle information regarding whether a living body is present inside the vehicle, during power supply to the vehicle. The power supply apparatus restricts supplied electric power when in-vehicle information indicating that a living body is present inside the vehicle is acquired or when peripheral information indicating that a living body is present near the power supplying unit is acquired. The power supply apparatus changes a restriction amount of the supplied electric power when at least either of in-vehicle information indicating that a living body is present inside the vehicle or peripheral information indicating that a living body is present near the power supplying unit is acquired, compared to that when neither piece of information is acquired.

A passenger□s weight measurement device for a vehicle seat includes an upper rail provided on a lower rail that is fixable to a vehicle floor, the upper rail being movable in at least one of rear and front directions; a load sensor fixed onto the upper rail; and a frame provided on the load sensor and below the vehicle seat. In plan view, the load sensor protrudes from the frame in at least one of left and right directions.

A vehicle airbag control system has an airbag module, a detector and an electronic controller. The airbag module has an airbag that is configured to be positioned below a vehicle floor panel in an undeployed state. The airbag that is configured to be positioned to be above the vehicle floor panel in the deployed state. The detector is configured to detect a presence of an obstruction over the airbag module at a location above the vehicle floor panel. The electronic controller is programmed to deploy the airbag based on a detected result of the detector.