Abstract: A combined seat heater and capacitive occupancy sensor comprises a heating element (10) connected between a first (21) and a second (22) node, and a capacitive sensing network connected to the heating element to apply an oscillating voltage thereto and to derive the capacitive load of the heating element. A common mode choke (16) connects the first and second node to a third (23) and fourth (24) node, respectively. The capacitive sensing network comprises an oscillator (28), AC-coupled to the third and/or the fourth node to drive oscillating voltage into that node, and a transimpedance amplifier (32), which has a first input to receive the oscillating voltage as reference voltage and a second input operatively connected to the heating element. The transimpedance amplifier maintains a voltage on its second input equal to the reference voltage by driving a current into the second input. An output signal (44) indicates the AC component of the current driven into the second input.

Abstract: A method for capacitive sensing comprises the steps of tagging a transmitting signal by modulating a sub-carrier on said signal using state of the art modulation techniques; demodulating said subcarrier out of useful/received signal to prove validity of said signal.

Abstract: A combined seat heater and capacitive occupancy sensor comprises a heater network and a capacitive sensing network. The heater network includes a heating element (10) connected between a first node (21) and a second node (22) to dissipate heat. The capacitive sensing network is connected to the heating element to apply an oscillating current thereto and to derive a capacitive load of the heating element from the voltage resulting on the heating element. The heater network comprises a common mode choke (16) connecting the first and the second node to a third (23) and a fourth (24) node, respectively. The capacitive sensing network further comprises means to sustain the oscillating current in or to drive the oscillating current into the heating element as well as a high-impedance amplifier (32) having an input node operatively connected to the heating element to probe the resulting voltage, and an output node (44) to provide an output signal indicative of the voltage.

Abstract: A method for capacitive sensing comprises the steps of tagging a transmitting signal by modulating a sub-carrier on said signal using state of the art modulation techniques; demodulating said subcarrier out of useful/received signal to prove validity of said signal.

Abstract: A combined seat heater and capacitive occupancy sensor comprises a heater network and a capacitive sensing network. The heater network includes a heating element (10) connected between a first node (21) and a second node (22) to dissipate heat. The capacitive sensing network is connected to the heating element to apply an oscillating current thereto and to derive a capacitive load of the heating element from the voltage resulting on the heating element. The heater network comprises a common mode choke (16) connecting the first and the second node to a third (23) and a fourth (24) node, respectively. The capacitive sensing network further comprises means to sustain the oscillating current in or to drive the oscillating current into the heating element as well as a high-impedance amplifier (32) having an input node operatively connected to the heating element to probe the resulting voltage, and an output node (44) to provide an output signal indicative of the voltage.

Abstract: A combined seat heater and capacitive occupancy sensor comprises a heating element (10) connected between a first (21) and a second (22) node, and a capacitive sensing network connected to the heating element to apply an oscillating voltage thereto and to derive the capacitive load of the heating element. A common mode choke (16) connects the first and second node to a third (23) and fourth (24) node, respectively. The capacitive sensing network comprises an oscillator (28), AC-coupled to the third and/or the fourth node to drive oscillating voltage into that node, and a transimpedance amplifier (32), which has a first input to receive the oscillating voltage as reference voltage and a second input operatively connected to the heating element. The transimpedance amplifier maintains a voltage on its second input equal to the reference voltage by driving a current into the second input. An output signal (44) indicates the AC component of the current driven into the second input.

Abstract: A data input device with a film-based pressure sensor including a first carrier film, a second carrier film and a spacer. The spacer has an opening delimiting an active zone, in which first and second electrodes are arranged such that, in response to a compressive force, an electrical contact is established. A control circuit able to operate in at least a first and a second mode is configured to measure, in the first mode a quantity indicative of electrical resistance and, in the second mode, a quantity indicative of a capacitance.

Abstract: A sensing system (10) for monitoring a predetermined space comprises a control unit, one or more antenna electrodes (14) connected to the control unit and an autonomous modulator (12). The autonomous modulator (12) is arranged at a certain distance from the antenna electrode (14) operable as emitter antenna electrode in such a way that at least a part of the space to be monitored lies between the first autonomous modulator (12) and the antenna electrode operable as emitter antenna electrode. The control unit (16) and the first autonomous modulator are furthermore adapted to one another in such a way that the RF response signal emitted by the autonomous modulator (12) is responsive to the presence of a conductive body in the part of the space to be monitored between the first autonomous modulator (12) and the antenna electrode (14) operated as emitter antenna electrode.

Abstract: A capacitive pressure includes a laminated arrangement with a first flexible, electrically insulating carrier film carrying a first capacitor electrode, a second flexible, electrically insulating carrier film carrying a second capacitor electrode and a flexible, electrically insulating spacer film sandwiched between the first and second carrier films, where the spacer film has a through-hole or recess therein, with respect to which the first and second capacitor electrodes are arranged opposite one another, in such a way that the first and second electrodes are brought closer together by resilient bending of the first and/or second carrier film into the through-hole or recess under the action of a compressive force acting on the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A capacitive pressure comprises a laminated arrangement with a first flexible, electrically insulating carrier film carrying a first capacitor electrode, a second flexible, electrically insulating carrier film carrying a second capacitor electrode and a flexible, electrically insulating spacer film sandwiched between the first and second carrier films. The spacer film has a through-hole or recess therein, with respect to which the first and second capacitor electrodes are arranged opposite one another, in such a way that the first and second electrodes are brought closer together by resilient bending of the first and/or second carrier film into the through-hole or recess under the action of a compressive force acting on the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A data input device is provided with a film-based pressure sensor build from a first carrier film, a second carrier film and a spacer arranged between the carrier films for keeping them at a distance from one another. The spacer has an opening delimiting an active zone, in which first and second electrodes are arranged in such a way that, in response to a compressive force acting on the active zone, an electrical contact is established between the first and second electrodes. A control circuit able to operate in at least a first and a second mode of operation is configured so as to measure, in the first mode of operation, a quantity indicative of electrical resistance between the first and second electrodes for detecting an amount or a position of a compressive force acting on the active zone and, in the second mode of operation, a quantity indicative of a capacitance for detecting a person or an object approaching thereto.

Abstract: An input device comprises a capacitive proximity and pressure sensor, which includes a first carrier layer, a second carrier layer and a spacer arranged between the first and second carrier layers, the first carrier layer having a first capacitor electrode applied thereon, the second carrier layer having a second capacitor electrode applied thereon, the first and second capacitor electrodes being arranged opposite one another with respect to the spacer in such a way that, in response to a compressive force acting on the pressure sensor, the first and second capacitor electrodes are brought closer together. The input device further comprises a control circuit configured so as to operate in at least two modes of operation, including a first and a second mode of operation.

Abstract: A system for the detection of a seat occupancy in a vehicle, including first and second capacitive electrodes being arranged in a compartment of the vehicle, and a driver and evaluation circuit, operatively connected to the first and second capacitive electrodes. The first capacitive electrode is arranged in a seat of the vehicle while the second capacitive electrode is arranged in a foot-area of the vehicle, and the driver and evaluation circuit includes the ability for driving the first capacitive electrode and determining a capacitive coupling with a conductive object placed on the seat and further includes the ability for driving the second electrode and determining a capacitive coupling between the second electrode and the first electrode.

Abstract: Disclosed is a pressure sensor comprising sensor layers (12, 14) which are made of an elastic, resistive material and are applied to a polymer film that is not represented. (22) embodies a spacer that is coated with an adhesive. One sensor layer (14) is provided with a microstructured surface encompassing spherical structures (20) within an active zone (16). The compression path amounts to 10 micrometers at an extension R of the structures of 50 micrometers. The structures (20) are large compared with a certain surface roughness. The inventive pressure sensor is produced by injection molding, etching, embossing, or by means of an electron beam technique or laser beam technique. Disclosed are variations thereof, which function differently.

Abstract: A foil style switching element includes a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance from one another and a plurality of contact arrangement arranged between the first and the second carrier foils. The contact arrangements are arranged on the first and second carrier foils so that an electric contact between the contact arrangements is generated when the first and the second carrier foil are pressed together. A foil style luminescent screen unit applied on a side of the first carrier foil facing away from the second carrier foil, the luminescent screen unit includes a first electrode layer, a dielectric layer, a luminescent matter layer and a second electrode layer. The first electrode layer of the foil style luminescent screen unit is applied directly on the first carrier foil which faces away from the second carrier foil.

Abstract: The invention relates to a switch element in the form of a film, comprising a first film carrier and a second film carrier which are placed a certain distance apart. At least one film-like luminescent screen is applied to the side of the first film carrier which faces the second film carrier.

Abstract: A system for stopping the deployment of an airbag in a vehicle includes a detector for detecting a position of the airbag with respect to an occupant of the vehicle and an airbag operating device. The detector is located on the airbag in an area which, upon deployment of the airbag, is facing the occupant of the vehicle. The detector generates a position signal which is sent to the airbag operating device such that the airbag operating device stops the deployment of the airbag when the position signal indicates a predetermined position of the airbag in relation to the occupant.

Abstract: The invention concerns a force sensor (10) comprising a first electrode (22) and a second electrode (24) made of conductive material, which are arranged spaced from each other on a first insulating support (12). The invention is characterized in that a contact element (26) is conductive material is placed opposite the two electrodes and some distance therefrom, said contact element t(26) being pressed against said electrodes (22, 24) when a force is exerted on the pressure sensor (10) and at least one of the electrodes (22, 24) is coated with a pressure sensitive material layer (28, 30).

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for determining several parameters of a seated person, comprising the following steps: subdividing the seat surface (4) into at least two sections, determining the barycenter position of the active weight in each section, and evaluating said parameters of said person based on said determined positions. The evaluation of said parameters can include the evaluation of the size and/or weight of said person, the evaluation of the position of the said person on said seat based on the distribution of the barycenter positions on the seat or the evaluation of the orientation of said person on said seat based on the longitudinal positions of the barycenters of the active weight in each section.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for determining the size and/or weight of a person sitting on a seat determines the respective positions of the centers of gravity of active weight of the person in at least two different sections of the seat and evaluates the size and/or weight of the person from the respective positions so determined.