Abstract: A method of operating a capacitive sensing device that includes exactly two electrically conductive antenna electrodes, which are placeable in two layers at a vehicle steering wheel rim, and a current measurement circuit for determining complex electric currents in the antenna electrodes. The method includes at least the following steps for constituting a measurement cycle: operating each one of the exactly two antenna electrodes in loading mode and determine the complex impedance of the respective antenna electrode; and generating a classification signal that is indicative of a present scenario, based on a fulfillment of at least one predetermined condition concerning at least one characteristic quantity of the first complex impedance as well as of the second complex impedance.

Abstract: An impedance measurement circuit for determining a complex impedance of a capacitive sensor that is configured for employing at least one electric heater member as an electrode to be operated in loading mode. The measurement circuit includes: a signal generating unit for providing an electric measurement signal; a signal sensing circuit measuring current through the at least one electric heater member; an electric heater member connection circuit comprising a plurality of MOSFETs for selectively electrically connecting the electric heater member either to the signal sensing circuit for complex impedance measurement or to a DC electric power unit for heating purposes; and a control and evaluation unit that is configured for controlling a switching status of the plurality of MOSFETs according to a predefined sequence, and for determining a complex impedance from the determined currents with reference to a complex reference potential during predefined stages of the predefined sequence.

Abstract: A sensing system and method of recognizing a hand gesture established by a sequence of hand touch positionings on an object. The method includes at least steps of: providing to a signal line a time-dependent measurement signal; receiving the measurement signal after being at least partially reflected by at least one portion of the signal line; determining positions on the object of the portions of the signal line that have reflected the measurement signal; comparing an obtained plurality of stored successively determined positions on the object with at least one predefined pattern of successive positions to derive a measure of similarity; and providing an output signal that is indicative of the predefined pattern of successive positions if the derived measure of similarity is lower than a predefined threshold value.

Abstract: Battery pack having at least one battery cell arranged within a housing, and a sensor arrangement arranged between the battery cell and an abutting surface. The sensor arrangement has first and second carrier foils separated by a spacer having a recess. A contact arrangement having first and second electrodes are arranged on the respective first and second carrier foils at the recess. In the operating state, the first electrode is spaced apart a first distance from the second electrode and, in a deformation state, a deformation of the battery cell is detected by a variation of an electrical property of the contact arrangement. The second carrier foil has an inlay having a second recess accommodating an activator unit arranged on the second carrier foil such that, after a transition from the operating state in the deformation state, a pressure force is transmitted via the activator unit.

Abstract: A capacitance measurement circuit for determining complex electric currents in a multi-channel capacitive sensing device includes a first sensing circuit for selectively connecting one of a plurality of sense electrodes to a common sense node and for connecting a corresponding guard electrode of the sense electrode to a common guard node, and at least a second sensing circuit. A measurement signal voltage source provides an alternating measurement voltage to the common guard node in a remotely controllable manner. A diagnostic signal voltage source provides an alternating diagnostic voltage to the common guard node in a remotely controllable manner. A current measurement circuit is connected with a signal input port to the common sense node and with a reference input port to the output port of the measurement signal voltage source.

Abstract: A method of detecting a hand positioning on a steering wheel using a sensing system having an electrically conducting signal line on a rim of the steering wheel with a priori knowledge about a relation between a distance of any portion of the signal line from a reference point and information on a position on the rim, and which further includes an electric impedance change of predefined magnitude that is permanently arranged at a predefined position along the signal line, a signal voltage source, and a control and evaluation unit. From a received measurement signal traveling along the signal line and having been reflected by the electric impedance change and by another portion or portions of the signal line, a reference travel time is determined. A position or positions on the rim of the other portion or portions of the signal line can then be determined.

Abstract: A method of operating a capacitive measurement system for compensation of temperature influence is described. The capacitive measurement system includes at least one capacitive sensor member in an installed state and a capacitive measurement circuit for determining a complex impedance of an unknown capacitance from a complex sense current through the at least one capacitive sensor member. In the method, a calibration measurement is carried out to obtain temperature characteristics of both the real part and the imaginary part of determined impedances. In following impedance measurements of the unknown capacitance at a current temperature, the real part and the imaginary part of the measured impedance is determined, and based on the real part determined at the current temperature and the determined temperature characteristics of both the real part and the imaginary part, the imaginary part of the impedance determined at the current temperature is corrected.

Abstract: A method of sensing a target in a target detection system having processing circuitry and a multiplexer coupled to the processing circuitry and to a plurality NT of transmit antennas forming a sparse transmit uniform linear array (ULA), the multiplexer being configured to generate multiplexed and phase modulated transmit signals (T1 . . . TNT) based on signals from a local oscillator. The processing circuitry receives signals via a plurality NR of receive antennas forming a dense receive ULA. The method includes transmitting the transmit signals via the transmit antennas as a general radiation pattern corresponding to a block circulant probing signal matrix, and receiving via the receive antennas receive signals resulting from backscattering of the transmit signals transmitted towards K targets. The method further includes processing the received reflection signals to determine the presence, range and/or angular position of a target within a field of view of the transmit antennas.

Abstract: A method of operating a capacitive sensing device that includes a capacitive sensor having at least one sense electrode, a measurement signal source for providing an alternating electric measurement signal with at least three fixed predefined signal frequencies to the at least one sense electrode, and an impedance measurement circuit for determining an unknown complex impedance of the at least one sense electrode from a response to the provided electric measurement signal.

Abstract: An occupancy detection system for at least one vehicle seat includes: an antenna arrangement having an antenna; a control device that applies a radio-frequency transmission signal to, and receives a response signal from, the antenna arrangement; and a transmit array having a plurality of structured metallic layers disposed above each other and extending laterally, each two neighbouring metallic layers isolated from each other by an intermediate dielectric layer. The antenna arrangement transmits a radio-frequency transmission field through the transmit array onto the vehicle seat in response to the transmission signal and receives a radio-frequency response field through the transmit array to generate the response signal. The transmit array is adapted to refract at least one of the transmission field and the response field. The transmit array has a receive section that focuses a response field from a position of a vehicle seat to a position of a receive antenna.

Abstract: A system for hand detection on a steering wheel. The system includes: at least one light source adapted to emit an emitted signal of light so that the emitted signal is directed from inside the steering wheel to at least one detection area of a surface of the steering wheel, the detection area being at least partially transparent for the emitted signal; at least one light sensor adapted to detect a reflected signal, which is a part of the emitted signal that is reflected from the detection area into the inside of the steering wheel; and a detection unit coupled to the at least one light sensor and adapted to detect a hand of a user on the steering wheel based on a detection of the reflected signal.

Abstract: A dielectric lens device for shaping a radar beam includes a first and a second plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens member and a plane-parallel dielectric substrate. The two plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens members are arranged with their plane surfaces towards a same surface of the plane-parallel dielectric substrate. The plano-convex cylindrical dielectric lens members are interconnected to the plane-parallel dielectric substrate in a material fit.

Abstract: A method for obstacle identification for a vehicle. In order to provide means for reliable obstacle identification for a vehicle, the method includes: performing a first obstacle search with a radar sensor using a radio frequency signal; performing a second obstacle search with a night vision camera; and identifying an obstacle if a first detection of the first obstacle search corresponds to a second detection of the second obstacle search, wherein a reliability of the first detection is assessed and if the reliability is above a first threshold, the obstacle is identified independently of the second obstacle search.

Abstract: A system for capacitive object detection. In order to provide means for efficiently using the circuitry of an electrical heating device for capacitive object detection, the system includes: an elongate conductive element extending between a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal is coupled to ground via a capacitive element and is connectable to an electrical power source, and the second terminal is connected to ground; and a detection circuit connected to at least one detection node disposed on the conductive element between the first and second terminal. The detection circuit is adapted to capacitively detect the presence of an object in the proximity of the conductive element based on an impedance associated with the object.

Abstract: A method and system for joint radar communication for automotive applications. The system carries out the method and includes a transmitter transmitting a radar signal, which signal has a phase-modulated continuous waveform and includes information encoded by phase modulation, a receiver, spaced from the transmitter, receiving the signal, and the receiver detecting the information from the received signal. In order to provide an efficient concept for joint radar-communication for automotive applications, the signal is a multi-carrier phase-modulated continuous waveform having a plurality of carrier frequencies and the information is encoded onto each carrier frequency.

Abstract: A radar sensor system and method for ascertaining whether an unattended child is present within an automotive vehicle. The radar sensor system carries out the method and includes a transmitter, at least one sensor, and processing circuitry. The method includes the steps of: illuminating at least one occupiable position within the vehicle with radiation of multiple frequencies; generating radar sensor signals from reflections of the transmitted radiation, a plurality of the radar sensor signals corresponding to different frequencies; and operating the processing circuitry for generating and determining if a first indicator value indicative of motion in the occupiable position satisfies a first predetermined criteria and, if so, generating and determining a second indicator value indicating a degree of repetitive pattern within the radar sensor signals, and determining presence of an unattended child in the vehicle if the second indicator value satisfies a second predetermined criteria.

Abstract: A capacitive detection device includes a capacitive sensor having a sense electrode and an auxiliary electrode that are arrangeable in the vicinity of an electric heater member for mutual capacitive coupling. The capacitive detection device has a signal voltage source providing an alternating measurement voltage, a complex impedance measurement circuit for measuring complex sense currents and for determining a complex impedance based on the measured complex sense current, and for electrically connecting the auxiliary electrode either with the reference voltage or with the guard signal.

Abstract: A method of operating a radar sensor system for determining a number of passengers in a vehicle passenger compartment. The radar sensor system includes at least one radar transmitting antenna and at least one radar receiving antenna and an evaluation and control unit for evaluating Doppler information from the received radar waves. The method includes: transmitting radar waves towards the vehicle passenger compartment; receiving radar waves reflected by a passenger or by passengers being present in the vehicle passenger compartment; generating received radar signals from the received radar waves; mathematically decomposing the received radar signals into a plurality of received signal components; providing values of the received signal components regarding a characteristic parameter to a classifier trained with a plurality of scenarios; identifying one of trained scenarios, based on the provided values; and generating an output signal indicative of the identified scenario.

Abstract: A radar wave imaging device includes a radar transmitter unit having at least one radar transmit antenna for transmitting radar waves towards a scene and a radar receiving unit including a plurality of radar receiver members that are arranged as a two-dimensional array, for receiving reflected radar waves. The radar receiving unit includes an imaging radar optics unit for imaging at least a portion of a scene onto at least a portion of the two-dimensional array of radar receiver members. The imaging radar optics unit includes at least a first radar lens that is arranged between the radar receiver members and the scene. The radar receiver members are arranged in direct contact to a surface of the first radar lens that is facing away from the scene.

Abstract: A method of operating a radar sensor system that is configured to determine range and velocity information from radar waves reflected by a scene in an interior of a vehicle for vital sign detection. The method includes steps to decompose reflected and received signals into range and velocity information, to measure the movement over time in specified range gates and to evaluate the similarities between them. Based on the characteristics of similar behaving range bins, it can be decided whether any detected movement is related to an internal or external disturbance or by vital signs.