A seat occupancy sensor unit for recognizing occupancy of a vehicle seat. The sensor unit includes a mounting plate, a membrane switch which responds to pressure, and at least one support element which is arranged between the top of the mounting plate and the membrane switch. The at least one support element has a developable, convexly curved surface, which is provided for the purpose, in at least one operating state, of coming into at least partial contact with the membrane switch at least at the location of the at least one active switching element. A vehicle seat is provided, which comprises a seat base for supporting a person in a sitting position, a seat cushion with a foam element for padding the seat base, and a seat occupancy sensor unit. The foam element includes on the bottom thereof a recess for accommodating the seat occupancy sensor unit.

A buckle switch-and a microcontroller are provided. A power supply is connected to the buckle switch, which switches the connection with the power supply between a connected state and a disconnected state. The microcontroller is connected with the buckle switch and includes a removal switch input port and a removal control port. The removal switch input port detects the state of the buckle switch. The removal control port is connected to the buckle switch-via a pull-down resistance and controls whether the pull-down resistance operates. The microcontroller controls the removal control port such that the pull-down resistance does not operate when the buckle switch is in the connected state and such that the pull-down resistance does operate when the buckle switch is in the disconnected state.

A suspension mat (14) for a vehicle seat comprises one or more suspension springs (16) for supporting a cushion (28), a support plate (18) attached to the one or more suspension springs, a mobile plate (34) coupled with the support plate, a flat spring (26) arranged between the support plate and the mobile plate and a switch element. The mobile plate is arranged movable between a first and a second position relative to the support plate. The flat spring biases the mobile plate toward the first position. The switch element is located between the support plate and the flat spring, in such a way that when the mobile plate moves against a bias of the flat spring toward the second position, the flat spring presses and actuates the switch element. The flat spring may e.g. comprise a washer spring, a plate spring, a dome-shaped flat spring and/or a cantilever flat spring.

A vehicle includes a frame, a passenger presence sensor mounted thereto, and a seat assembly removably connected to. The seat assembly includes a driver seat disposed on the frame and a passenger seat disposed on the frame rearward of the 5 driver seat, at least the passenger seat being selectively disposed on the frame. A rigid passenger presence responsive member (PPRM) is retained in the passenger seat and movable with respect to the frame between at least a first position and a second position responsive to a weight of a passenger seated on the passenger seat. The PPRM is coupled to the passenger presence sensor in at least one of the first and 10 second positions, the passenger presence sensor is thereby configured to detect a presence of the passenger. Removable passenger seats for a vehicle are also disclosed.

An occupant detection method includes detecting a load acting on a seat for a vehicle with use of a load sensor provided at the seat, monitoring a seating sensor output outputted from a seating sensor forming a detection region at the seat, and determining that a child occupant is seated at a child restraint seat installed at the seat when a detection value of the load sensor is equal to or larger than a minimum value determining that an adult occupant is seated at the seat and equal to or smaller than a maximum value determining that the child occupant is seated at the child restraint seat, in a case where the seating sensor output indicates a state in which a seating load of an occupant is not applied to the detection region, the seating load corresponding to a load of the occupant while the occupant is seated.

A sensor device has an insulative non-woven fabric and a conductive fabric forming an electrode. The conductive fabric is joined to one surface of the non-woven fabric by at least one of fusion and seaming.

An occupant classification system comprises a capacitive sensor configured to measure capacitance. The capacitive sensor is at least partially arranged between a seat frame and at least one of a seat cover and a seat cushion of a seat. A sensor is configured to measure at least one of weight and pressure on the seat. The sensor is at least partially arranged between a vehicle structure and a component of the seat. A controller is configured to generate an occupant classification based on the measured capacitance and the at least one of the measured weight and the measured pressure on the seat.

An occupant classification system comprises a capacitive sensor configured to measure capacitance. The capacitive sensor is at least partially arranged between a seat frame and at least one of a seat cover and a seat cushion of a seat. A sensor is configured to measure at least one of weight and pressure on the seat. The sensor is at least partially arranged between a vehicle structure and a component of the seat. A controller is configured to generate an occupant classification based on the measured capacitance and the at least one of the measured weight and the measured pressure on the seat.

A passenger restraint device for amusement rides and a method for retaining at least one passenger by means of the restraint device. The device comprises at least one restraint element provided with at least one contact surface intended to be placed in contact with at least one part of the body of a passenger. The restraint element is movable between at least one open position, in which the restraint element is not in contact with the passenger and at least one closed position in which the restraint element is in contact with at least one part of the passenger's body. The restraint element comprises at least one sensor to detect a contact between the restraint element and at least one part of the body of the passenger, preferably a contact with a passenger's thighs.

A sensor device has an insulative non-woven fabric and a conductive fabric forming an electrode. The conductive fabric is joined to one surface of the non-woven fabric by at least one of fusion and seaming.