Abstract: A three-dimensional laser scanner instrument for acquiring three-dimensional geometric data of a scene (1) comprises an illumination system (3) for generating a light beam (2) and for scanning an illumination point of said light beam (2) through said scene (1), a light detection system (6-9) comprising at least one light detector (8), said light detection system being arranged to receive light from said scene (1), and an optical system (4) for imaging light scattered in or reflected from said scene (1) onto said light detection system (6-9).

Abstract: The invention relates to a transducer arrangement for converting a load variation into one or more electrical output signals. The transducer arrangement comprises at least one transducer element and an evaluation unit operatively connected to the transducer element. The transducer arrangement can be used amongst others, for healthcare applications, sport leisure activities, impact detection for safety applications in the automotive industry as well as for safety surveillance systems in the industry.

Abstract: A pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit (10) comprises a support plate (12) having a top surface (20) and a bottom surface, a plurality of spacer elements (14) defining an upper surface (18) of the pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, which upper surface the top surface of the support plate is arranged recessed from, a foam pad (22) disposed between the spacer elements on the support plate, a recess (24) formed in the top surface of the support plate, underneath the foam pad, and a pressure-responsive membrane switch (26) arranged in the recess. The recess has a depth exceeding the thickness of the pressure-responsive membrane switch. The foam pad is configured such that, upon it being compressed by application of pressure exceeding a certain threshold, it deforms so as to penetrate into the recess and activates the pressure-responsive membrane switch.

Abstract: A pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit (10) for detecting an occupancy state of a seat comprises a support plate (12) with a support area (14), a pressure-responsive membrane switch (15), one or more spacers (16) arranged around the support area and a compressible foam. The membrane switch comprises a first carrier film and a second carrier film spaced from each other by a spacer film. The spacer film has therein an opening defining a cell. The membrane switch comprises at least two electrodes arranged in facing relationship with each other in the cell on the first and the second carrier film, respectively, in such a way that they are brought closer together, possibly into contact with each other, when sufficient pressure is applied on the membrane switch. The one or more spacers (16) protrude from the support, and define an upper surface (20) raised with respect to the support area. The compressible foam (18) rests with its bottom surface (22) on the upper surface of the one or more spacers.

Abstract: A seat (10) configured for detecting an occupancy state comprises an at least partially electrically conductive structural frame (14) comprising at least two fixation sites (22, 24) and an at least partially electrically conductive cushion-supporting spring (20) taut between the fixation sites. The cushion-supporting spring is electrically insulated from the structural frame. The seat comprises a cushion (16) supported by the cushion-supporting spring. The cushion-supporting spring and the structural frame are disposed in such a way that they are brought in electrical contact with each other when a force (34) is applied on the cushion that exceeds a predefined threshold force.

Abstract: A film-type pressure sensor includes a carrier structure including a first carrier film, a second carrier film and a spacer film arranged between the first and second carrier films, where one or more pressure-sensing cells are disposed in the carrier structure, each of which includes an electrode arrangement for producing an impedance change in response to a compressive force, an electrical interface is provided for mechanically and electrically connecting the pressure sensor to an evaluation circuit, where some terminals of the interface are connected with the electrode arrangements of the cells so as to allow them to be read out, such that one or more electrical components interconnect at least two of the terminals in pairs so as to form a combination of terminal pair impedances that represents coded information relating to the pressure sensor.

Abstract: A dynamic reference range image generation method comprises providing a reference range image, to be dynamically updated, composed of pixels, each of which contains a reference range value. An acquired range image is provided, the pixels of which contain each a measured range value, the measured range values being updated at a predetermined rate. Pixels of the acquired range image containing an invalid measured range value are accordingly marked. The measured range value of each pixel of the acquired range image not marked as containing an invalid measured range value is compared with the reference range value of the corresponding pixel of the reference range image. The reference range value of that pixel of the reference range image is updated e.g.

Abstract: A foil heater comprises a first (16) and a second (14) spiral resistive heating trace formed in a first and a second layer, respectively, that conforms to a flat or curved surface. Each of the first and second resistive heating traces has a center and at least one outer extremity. An electrically insulating layer (12) is arranged between the first and second layers. The electrically insulating layer comprises an opening that accommodates an electrical via, through which the first and second resistive heating traces are electrically contacted with each other.

Abstract: An access control device comprises at least one transit authorization request device, such as an ID sensor activated by access card or badge or a biometric sensor (fingerprint, retina), said transit authorization request device to be activated by a person requesting authorization to pass through said passageway or doorway and a presence detection and tracking device for detecting the presence of a person in the vicinity of said passageway or doorway and for tracking the movement of a person within or through said passageway or doorway. According to the invention, the access control device further comprises a control unit configured for assigning a virtual transit ticket to a person after authorization to pass through said passageway or doorway has been granted to said person, said virtual transit ticket being representative of the transit privileges granted to said person, i.e.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement comprises a first sensor element for converting a physical quantity into a first electrical signal and at least a second sensor element for converting said physical quantity into a second electrical signal. The first sensor element has a first sensitivity while said second sensor element has a second sensitivity different from said first sensitivity.

Abstract: A method for contamination detection in a time-of-flight (TOF) range imaging system is described, wherein the TOF range imaging system receives light reflected from a scene, through an optical interface, on an imager sensor having an array of pixels, and wherein distance information and amplitude information are determined for the sensor pixels. The presence of contamination on the optical interface is determined on the basis of amplitude information determined for the sensor pixels.

Abstract: A method for matching the pixels (10-1, 10-2) of a first range image of a scene (18) as seen from a first point of sight (14) with pixels (12-1, 12-2) of a second range image of the scene as seen from a second point of sight (16) comprises the following steps: providing the first range image as a grid of source pixels (10), on which the scene is mapped in accordance with a first projection associated with the first point of sight, wherein each source pixel has a point in the scene projected thereon in accordance with the first projection and has associated therewith a range value determined for that point in the scene; providing a grid of target pixels (12) for the second range image and a second projection associated with the second point of sight; and for each one of the target pixels, a) determining which source pixel would have the same point (P1, P2) in the scene projected thereon in accordance with the first projection as the target pixel would have projected thereon in accordance with the second projec

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 capacitive sensing system for being connected to a heating element comprises a capacitive detector connectable to the heating element and a common mode choke for essentially preventing alternating current from flowing from the heating element to the heating current supply. The capacitive detector is configured for driving an alternating current into the heating element and for producing an output indicative of capacitance based upon the alternating current. The choke has a first and a second winding for connecting the heating element with the heating current supply. The choke comprises a third winding connected in parallel of the first and/or second winding. The capacitive detector is configured for measuring a portion of the alternating current flowing across the third winding and for taking into account the measured portion of alternating current when producing the output.

Abstract: A plural-frequency capacitive occupancy sensing system comprises an antenna electrode and a detection circuit, which is configured to drive the antenna electrode at least with a first and a second signal at a first and a second frequency, respectively, so as to obtain at least a first and a second measurement value indicative of at least one of conductance, susceptance, resistance, reactance and capacitance between the antenna electrode and a reference node, at the first frequency and the second frequency, respectively. The detection circuit compares the capacitance between the antenna electrode and the reference node with a threshold capacitance, the threshold capacitance being derived from a difference between the first and second measurement values and/or the capacitance between the antenna electrode and the reference node being corrected based upon the difference between the measurement values. The detection circuit outputs an occupancy state signal depending on the comparison.

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 capacitive occupant detection system comprises at least one antenna electrode to be arranged in a seat and an evaluation unit operatively coupled to said at least one antenna electrode, said evaluation unit being configured for applying, during operation, an alternating voltage signal to said antenna electrode and for detecting an amplitude and/or phase of a displacement current flowing from said antenna electrode towards ground. According to the invention said antenna electrode comprises an antenna electrode conductor and at least one dedicated ground electrode, said ground electrode being arranged at a predetermined distance of said antenna electrode conductor and extending along said antenna electrode conductor.

Abstract: A capacitive occupant detection system comprises at least one sensing electrode to be arranged on the bottom side of a seat cushion, a seat heater like structure to be arranged on a top side of said seat cushion, and an evaluation unit operatively coupled to said at least one sensing electrode for determining a value representative of the capacitance between the at least one sensing electrode and the seat heater like structure.

Abstract: A method of operating a differential mobility spectrometer includes an ionization chamber, a filter channel and a detection region. In the ionization chamber, analyte ions are produced from a sample, the so-obtained ions are then subjected in the filter channel to a time-varying electric field. The time-varying electric field has a longitudinal field component drawing the analyte ions from the ionization chamber through the filter channel into the detection region and a transversal field component, which is the superposition of an asymmetrically oscillating transversal field causing the analyte ions to move to and fro in transversal direction and a compensation field for selecting a species of analyte ions by substantially canceling the average transversal velocity of the selected species.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle has arranged therein a vehicle seat and is equipped with an occupant detection system for detecting whether an occupant is present on the vehicle seat, the system including a first antenna electrode arranged in the seat and a first sensing circuit associated with the seat, where the first sensing circuit includes an oscillation circuit operatively connected to the first antenna electrode for applying to the first antenna electrode a first oscillating signal and a first current detection circuit connected to the first antenna electrode for determining a current flowing into the first antenna electrode in response to the first oscillating signal being applied thereto, where the current flowing in the first antenna electrode indicates whether an occupant is present on the vehicle seat, and when in operation, the first sensing circuit codes the information whether an occupant is present on the vehicle seat into a first output signal which is output and which may be supplied to a restraint sy