Abstract: A system for capacitive detection of seat occupancy in a vehicle comprises a sensing electrode and a shielding electrode arranged in substantially parallel layers. A spacer is arranged between the sensing electrode and the shielding electrode to keep the sensing electrode and the shielding electrode at a certain distance from each other. The spacer comprises an inner textile layer and at least one of the electrodes comprises a film-based electrode.

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: A seat sensor system including at least one seat sensor associated to a seat for sensing a status related to a seat occupancy and for generating an output signal indicative of the status and a control unit for communicating with the seat sensor. At least one transmitter for transmitting a data signal indicative of the output signal is associated with the seat and coupled to the seat sensor; and at least one receiver is coupled to the control unit for wirelessly receiving the data signal from the transmitter.

Abstract: A magnetic field sensing element includes a pair of electrodes; a dielectric polymer layer separating the electrodes; and a network of magnetic nanoparticles in the insulating layer forming a current flow path between the electrodes; where the network of magnetic nanoparticles includes_at least one magnetic tunnel junction involving two neighbouring nanoparticles of different coercivity.

Abstract: A foil-type switching element comprises a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance from each other by means of a spacer, which comprises one opening (18) defining an active area. An elongate resistive layer (20) is provided on the second carrier foil within the active area while elongate 5 shunt means (22) are arranged on the first miler foil within the active area and facing the resistive layer (20). The form of the opening (18) in the spacer is such that the active area generally tapers in the longitudinal direction of the elongate resistive layer (20), so that when pressure is applied on the switching element, the shunt means (22) shunt a portion of the resistive layer (20) that 10 progressively increases with pressure, from the broad end of the spacer opening (18) towards its narrow end.

Abstract: A camera system comprises a 3D TOF camera for acquiring a camera-perspective range image of a scene and an image processor for processing the range image. The image processor contains a position and orientation calibration routine implemented therein in hardware and/or software, which position and orientation calibration routine, when executed by the image processor, detects one or more planes within a range image acquired by the 3D TOF camera, selects a reference plane among the at least one or more planes detected and computes position and orientation parameters of the 3D TOF camera with respect to the reference plane, such as, e.g., elevation above the reference plane and/or camera roll angle and/or camera pitch angle.

Abstract: An occupant classification system for a vehicle comprises a radio-frequency (RF) transmitter unit, which includes a transmission RF antenna and an RF generator operatively connected to the transmission RF antenna. The RF generator and the transmission RF antenna are configured for generating radio waves at a certain fixed RF frequency in the Very High Frequency (VHF) range or the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) range. During operation of the RF transmitter unit, the generated radio waves propagate from the transmission RF antenna. The occupant classification system further comprises an RF detector for detecting, at the fixed RF frequency, an influence of an occupant on the radio waves propagating from the transmission RF antenna.

Abstract: An upholstery item (12) with an occupiable surface for supporting an occupant comprises a padding having a front side turned towards the occupiable surface, a back side turned away from the occupiable surface and an opening extending therein from the front side to the back side. A film-type occupancy sensor mat (24) arranged on the front side of the padding is equipped with an anchor tab (34,42) comprising a proximal portion integrally formed with the sensor mat (24) and a distal portion. The anchor tab (34,42) is inserted into the opening and secured against slipping out of the opening in direction of the front side by a retention element of the padding, provided at the opening. The anchor tab (34,42) is configured as an electric-connection portion of the sensor mat (24) adapted for connecting the sensor mat (24) to an electronic control unit.

Abstract: For acquiring a 3-D image of a scene, the scene is illuminated with modulated light emitted by an illumination unit and imaged onto an array of lock-in pixel sensor cells, which detect the previously emitted light after it has been scattered or reflected by an object or a living being in the scene. One determines the modulation phase of the light detected at the lock-in pixel sensor cells and provides a reference modulation phase that stands in a known relationship with the modulation phase of the light at the time of the emission. Based upon the reference modulation phase and the modulation phase of the light detected at the lock-in pixel sensor cells one then calculates depth information on the scene.

Abstract: A 3-D imaging system is described. The 3-D imaging system comprises an illumination unit for emitting light onto a target scene, an imaging sensor for imaging the target scene by detecting scattered/reflected light, an evaluation unit for determining distance information related to the target scene on the basis of light propagation time and synchronization means for providing synchronization information to the evaluation unit. The synchronization means comprises means for generating an electrical reference signal in the illumination unit, the reference signal being directly derived from the emitted light.

Abstract: In order to provide a fast and reliable classification of an impact, the present invention proposes a method for the classification of an impact between an object and a vehicle, comprising the steps of detecting an initial contact between said object and said vehicle; recording a width data relating to a width of an impact zone between the object and the vehicle; processing said width data for determining the width of said impact zone a predetermined time interval after the initial contact; forming a first criterion for deciding whether the object is a pedestrian by identifying if the determined width of the impact zone lies between predetermined lower and upper first threshold values; determining that the object is human if said first criterion is met.

Abstract: A time-of-flight imager pixel has a light-sensitive region, a first and a second integration gate associated with the light-sensitive region, a first and a second sense node, a first output gate arranged between the first integration gate and the first sense node and a second output gate arranged between the second integration gate and the second sense node, a method for operating such a pixel includes exposing the light-sensitive region to light so as to optically generate charge carriers; collecting the charge carriers alternatively under the first and second integration gates; adjusting voltages of the first and second output gates and the first and second integration gates, thereby transferring a first portion of the charge carriers from the first integration gate into the first sense node and a second portion from the second integration gate into the second sense node; calculating time-of-flight information based on the first and second portions of charge carriers.

Abstract: A method of recording 3D images of a scene based on the time-of-flight principle comprises illuminating a scene by emitting light carrying an intensity modulation, imaging the scene onto a pixel array using an optical system, detecting, in each pixel, intensity-modulated light reflected from the scene onto the pixel and determining, for each pixel, a distance value based on the phase of light detected in the pixel. The determination of the distance values comprises a phase-sensitive de-convolution of the scene imaged onto the pixel array such that phase errors induced by light spreading in the optical system are compensated for.

Abstract: A H-bridge circuit for supplying a load with a defined current comprises a first transistor for coupling a first terminal of the load to a positive potential of a power source; a second transistor for coupling the first terminal of the load to a negative potential of the power source; a third transistor for coupling a second terminal of the load to the positive potential of the power source; and a fourth transistor for coupling the second terminal of the load to the negative potential of the power source. The circuit further comprises a current sensing circuitry for sensing a current flowing through the load and for generating a voltage signal representative of the current, and a control circuit for individually controlling the operation of the first, second, third and fourth transistors by respective first, second, third and fourth control signals.

Abstract: A vehicle seat is provided in combination with a seat heater and a capacitive occupant detection system. The seat heater comprises a seat heating element disposed in the vehicle seat while the capacitive occupant detection system comprises a measurement circuit and an electrode arrangement, which is also disposed in the vehicle seat. The electrode arrangement includes a sensing electrode and a shielding electrode. The measurement circuit is operatively connected to the sensing electrode and to the shielding electrode and configured to keep the sensing electrode and the shielding electrode at substantially the same electric potential during the capacitive measurement. Of the seat heating element, the sensing electrode and the shielding electrode, the seat heating element is closest to a seating region of the vehicle seat and the sensing electrode is arranged between the seat heating element and the shielding electrode.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an occupant detection system (10) for detecting an occupancy state of one or more passenger seats. The occupant detection system comprises a control unit (20), one or more vibration sensors (18) operatively connected to the control unit, each one of the one or more vibration sensors being arranged in a respective one of the passenger seats, and at least one vibration sensor that is arranged in the driver seat and operatively connected to the control unit so as to provide a reference signal to the control unit.

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 sensing circuit associated with the seat where the sensing circuit includes an oscillation circuit connected to the first antenna electrode for applying to the first antenna electrode a first oscillating signal and a current detection circuit also connected to the first antenna electrode for determining a first current flowing in the first antenna electrode in response to the first oscillating signal being applied, the first current indicating whether an occupant is present on the vehicle seat, where the vehicle is further equipped with an appliance including an appliance control device arranged in the vehicle compartment at a location where it can be operated by an occupant of the seat and the occupant detection system is configured for detecting whether the occupa

Abstract: An occupant detection system comprises an electrode arrangement for placement into a seat of an automotive vehicle and an evaluation circuit operatively connected to the electrode arrangement. The latter includes a first electrode for emitting an electric field into a detection region above the vehicle seat, a second electrode and an electric insulator layer sandwiched between the first and second electrodes. When the electrode arrangement is in place in the seat, the first electrode forms with vehicle ground a first capacitor having a first capacitance, which is influenceable by an occupying item in the detection region through interaction of the occupying item with the electric field, the first electrode forms with the second electrode a second capacitor having a second capacitance and the second electrode forms with at least one of vehicle ground and a third electrode a third capacitor having a third capacitance.

Abstract: A foil-type switching element comprises a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance from each other by means of a spacer, which comprises one opening (18) defining an active area. An elongate resistive layer (20) is provided on the second carrier foil within the active area while elongate 5 shunt means (22) are arranged on the first miler foil within the active area and facing the resistive layer (20). The form of the opening (18) in the spacer is such that the active area generally tapers in the longitudinal direction of the elongate resistive layer (20), so that when pressure is applied on the switching element, the shunt means (22) shunt a portion of the resistive layer (20) that 10 progressively increases with pressure, from the broad end of the spacer opening (18) towards its narrow end.

Abstract: A collision recognition device for a vehicle is proposed, comprising a pressure sensor with a first electrode and a second electrode, both having first and second ends, the second end of the first electrode being connected to a first terminal of a first resistor, the second end of the second electrode being connected to a first terminal of a second resistor During use, a first voltage V1 is applied to the first end of the first electrode, a second voltage V2 is applied to a second terminal of the first resistor so that a voltage difference between said first terminal of the first resistor and said second terminal of said first resistor forms a first status voltage indicative of circuit integrity. A first signal voltage V3 at the second end of the second electrode is indicative of whether said first and second electrodes are in contact. During a collision, the two electrodes are pressed together in the collision zone, which creates an electrical contact in this region.