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A vehicle occupant proximity sensor includes a transmitting electrode in a vehicle seat and an array of receiving electrodes mounted in the vehicle seat. The sensor determines the capacitance at each of the receiving electrodes, which varies based upon the proximity of the occupant to each receiving

A vehicle occupant proximity sensor includes a transmitting electrode in a vehicle seat and an array of receiving electrodes mounted in the vehicle seat. The sensor determines the capacitance at each of the receiving electrodes, which varies based upon the proximity of the occupant to each receiving electrode, thus producing an array of proximity information indicating in two dimensions the position of the occupant.

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A vehicle occupant proximity sensor includes a transmitting electrode in a vehicle seat and an array of receiving electrodes mounted in the vehicle seat. The sensor determines the capacitance at each of the receiving electrodes, which varies based upon the proximity of the occupant to each receiving

A vehicle occupant proximity sensor includes a transmitting electrode in a vehicle seat and an array of receiving electrodes mounted in the vehicle seat. The sensor determines the capacitance at each of the receiving electrodes, which varies based upon the proximity of the occupant to each receiving electrode, thus producing an array of proximity information indicating in two dimensions the position of the occupant. nnection of the low-voltage onboard power supply in the DC/DC converter is used as the central bus line. 4. The power supply system according to claim 2, wherein: a DC/DC converter without potential separation is provided between the higher-voltage onboard power supply and the low-voltage onboard power supply; and an existing coupling between the minus connection of the high-voltage onboard power supply and the minus connection of the low-voltage onboard power supply in the DC/DC converter is used as the central bus line. 5. Method for supplying electric power to a motor vehicle by means of a power supply system according to claim 1. 6. A method of supplying power to a vehicle having a first set of high voltage power consuming devices and a second set of lower voltage power consuming devices, comprising: providing a higher-voltage onboard power supply coupled to provide electric power to the first set power consuming devices; providing a lower-voltage onboard power supply coupled to provide electric power to the second set of power consuming devices, with one of a minus connection and a plus connection of at least the first set of power consuming devices being coupled via a central bus line with the corresponding minus or plus connection of the low-voltage onboard power supply; providing a controllable switch in the central bus line; measuring the voltage of the low voltage onboard power supply; opening the controllable switch when the measured voltage exceeds a defined threshold value. 7. A method of supplying power to a vehicle having a first set of high voltage power consuming devices and a second set of lower voltage power consuming devices, comprising: providing a higher-voltage onboard power supply coupled to provide electric power to the first set power consuming devices; providing a lower-voltage onboard power supply coupled to provide electric power to the second set of power consuming devices, with one of a minus connection and a plus connection of at least the first set of power consuming devices being coupled via a central bus line with the corresponding minus or plus connection of the low-voltage onboard power supply; providing a controllable switch in the central bus line; measuring a differential between current flowing in a line of said bus that is connected to the plus connection and a line of said bus that is connected to the minus connection in the higher-voltage onboard power supply; opening the controllable switch when the differential exceeds a defined threshold value. 8. In a vehicle power supply system having a low-voltage onboard power supply connected to supply electric power to a set of low-voltage power consuming devices, a higher-voltage onboard power supply connected to supply electric power to a set of higher-voltage power consuming devices, and a central bus line connecting one of a plus connection and a minus connection of at least the higher-voltage power consuming devices with the corresponding plus or minus connection of the low-voltage on board power supply, protective apparatus comprising: a controllable switch disposed in said central bus line; devices for measuring at least one quantity selected from the group consisting of voltage of the low-voltage onboard power supply, and a difference between current flowing in a line of said bus that is connected to the plus connection and a line of said bus that is connected to the minus in the higher-voltage onboard power supply; and opening the controllable switch when a measured quantity exceeds a preset threshold. 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