초록 ▼

An electric field sensor (12) comprising at least one electrode (26) mountable within a seat (14) is operatively coupled to a sensing circuit (38), which applies an oscillating signal (28), comprising at least one frequency or at least one pulse, to at least one electrode (26) and generates a signal

An electric field sensor (12) comprising at least one electrode (26) mountable within a seat (14) is operatively coupled to a sensing circuit (38), which applies an oscillating signal (28), comprising at least one frequency or at least one pulse, to at least one electrode (26) and generates a signal (32) responsive to at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object proximate to the electric field sensor (12). At least one frequency or pulse width of the applied signal (28) are adapted to be at most weakly responsive to a wetting condition of the seat (14). A method of sensing an occupant comprises placing at least one electrode (12) within a seat (14) of a motor vehicle (16), applying an oscillating signal (28) to at least one electrode, measuring (1112) the amplitude (1026) and phase (1038) of a signal (26) responsive to the at least one electrode (26), rotating (1116) the measured amplitude (1026) and phase (1038), compensating (1118) the rotated amplitude by a value responsive to the rotated phase, and comparing (1120) the compensated amplitude with a threshold.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An occupant sensor, comprising:a. an electric field sensor comprising at least one first electrode mountable within a vehicle seat; and b. a sensing circuit operatively coupled to at least one said first electrode, wherein said sensing circuit applies an applied signal to said at least one said f

1. An occupant sensor, comprising:a. an electric field sensor comprising at least one first electrode mountable within a vehicle seat; and b. a sensing circuit operatively coupled to at least one said first electrode, wherein said sensing circuit applies an applied signal to said at least one said first electrode, said applied signal comprises a first oscillating signal, said sensing circuit generates a first signal responsive to at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object proximate to said electric field sensor, said first oscillating signal comprises at least one frequency, said at least one frequency comprises a plurality of frequencies, and at least one of said at least one frequency is at most weakly responsive to a wetting condition of said vehicle seat by a liquid.