Abstract: A vehicle occupant detection system and method for using the same. The vehicle occupant detection system includes: a controller; a plurality of life detection sensors, wherein the plurality of life detection sensors are installed within an interior cabin of a mass-transit vehicle and are each associated with a life detection zone; a local warning system having at least one human-machine interface (HMI) output device; and a vehicle interface that communicatively couples the controller to a vehicle electrical system of the mass-transit vehicle. The vehicle occupant detection system is configured to: (i) acquire sensor data by scanning the life detection zone using the plurality of life detection sensors; (ii) determine whether an occupant is present based on the sensor data; and (iii) provide an indication to a user that an occupant is present using the HMI output device when it is determined that an occupant is present.

Abstract: A sensor arrangement for capacitive position detection of a hand on a steering wheel. The sensor arrangement includes: a plurality of capacitive sensors disposed along a detection surface, which is an outer surface of the steering wheel, each sensor having at least one sensor electrode; and a measurement device electrically connected to the sensors. In order to increase the reliability of capacitive hand detection on a steering wheel, the measurement device is adapted to perform a sequence of detection operations, and in each detection operation, to activate at least one sensor by applying a detection signal to its at least one sensor electrode in order to capacitively detect the hand while grounding at least one other sensor by connecting at least one of its sensor electrodes to ground, and to activate different sensors in consecutive detection operations.

Abstract: A method for corrected depth measurement with a time-of-flight camera using amplitude-modulated continuous light. In order to enable an accurate and efficient depth measurement with a time-of-flight camera, the method includes, for each of a plurality of pixels of a sensor array of the camera: acquiring with the camera a raw depth value rm for the pixel; and automatically calculating a ground truth value rt according to: rt=g(rm?cm)+ct, to correct a systematic depth error of the raw depth value rm, wherein cm is a pixel-dependent first offset, g is a pixel-independent first function and ct is a pixel-independent second offset.

Abstract: A radar sensor system and a method for detecting an occupancy in an interior of a vehicle and with vital sign monitoring. The radar sensor system includes a radar transmitting unit, a radar receiving unit and a signal processing and control unit. The method includes: transmitting a radar wave towards a scene within the vehicle interior, receiving at least one radar wave that has been generated by reflection of the transmitted radar wave, decomposing the received radar wave into range, Doppler and angular information, quantifying and tracking a movement in each region of interest by angular gating and range gating, detecting and monitoring vital signs of occupants in each region of interest, and determining whether quantified and tracked movements in the scene are related to an occupant or to external or internal disturbances, based on a fulfillment of at least one predefined condition concerning the and/or the detected vital signs.

Abstract: A method and system for real-time motion artifact handling and noise removal for time-of-flight (ToF) sensor images. The method includes: calculating values of a cross correlation function c(?) at a plurality of temporally spaced positions or phases from sent (s(t)) and received (r(t)) signals, thereby deriving a plurality of respective cross correlation values [c(?0), c(?1), c(?2), c(?3)]; deriving, from the plurality of cross correlation values [c(?0), c(?1), c(?2), c(?3)], a depth map D having values representing, for each pixel, distance to a portion of an object upon which the sent signals (s(t)) are incident; deriving, from the plurality of cross correlation values [c(?0), c(?1), c(?2), c(?3)], a guidance image (I; I?); and generating an output image D? based on the depth map D and the guidance image (I; I?), the output image D? comprising an edge-preserving and smoothed version of depth map D, the edge-preserving being from guidance image (I; I?).

Abstract: A complex current measurement circuit for a guard-sense capacitive sensor includes a periodic signal voltage source, a differential transimpedance amplifier circuit (DTA) and a demultiplexer circuit (DMX). At least one sense antenna electrode of the capacitive sensor is electrically connectable to a signal input line of the DMX which has signal output lines electrically connected to differential signal input lines of the DTA. The DTA includes operational amplifiers having input ports each electrically connected to one of the signal output lines. For each differential signal input line, either a capacitor is electrically connected between an output port of the voltage source and the differential signal input line, wherein an impedance of the capacitor is close to zero Ohm, or a galvanic connection is provided to one of the signal output lines. An output signal provided by the DTA is usable for determining a complex sense current of the capacitive sensor.

Abstract: An automotive spread MIMO-configured radar system has a plurality of transceiver antenna units for transmitting mutually orthogonal radar waves. Each transceiver antenna unit has a plurality of range gates to indicate a range detected by the transceiver antenna unit. At least one specific transceiver antenna unit (TRx1) is configured to transmit a reference signal received directly by at least one transceiver antenna unit (TRx2) that is separated by an a priori known distance from the specific transceiver antenna unit (TRx1). An evaluation and control unit is configured for reading out the plurality of range gates for the transceiver antenna unit (TRx2), and, based on the read-out range gate that indicates the received reference signal and based on the a priori known distance, for synchronizing the specific transceiver antenna unit (TRx1) and the transceiver antenna unit (TRx2) that received the reference signal and/or for correcting a measured Doppler shift.

Abstract: A planar carrier for mounting on a rim of a steering wheel without wrinkles, the planar carrier including a portion of planar flexible foil of roughly rectangular shape having two longitudinal sides and two lateral sides, wherein the length B of the lateral sides is 0.96 to 1.00 times the perimeter of the rim, and wherein N cut-outs per unit length are provided on each of the longitudinal sides. The cut-outs of one side are located in a staggered fashion relative to opposing cut-out portions on the opposite side. The optimum shape and size of the cut-outs may be determined as described. The planar carrier may be implemented as a heat carrier, a heating device and/or a sensing device.

Abstract: A position determining device for determining the position of an object with reference to the position determining device, the position determining device encompassing: a transmitting device at a first location; a receiving device at a second location, the receiving device being configured for reception of a transmitted signal from the first transmitting device, and for determination of a transit time of the transmitted signal from the transmitting device to the object and from the object to the receiving device, the first location and the second location being at a distance from one another, and the position determining device being configured to determine, from the transit time, an ellipse on which the object lies and which has the first location and the second location as foci.

Abstract: A periodic type leaky wave antenna, formed, e.g. on a printed circuit board, using cells of a filled circular structure. The leaky wave antenna may be formed in a series fed patch configuration. In order to achieve a high quality factor with respect to high frequency sensitive beam, a circular patch structure may be used, giving the best area to perimeter ratio. The cavity model based design considerations yield a proportional Q-factor expression with respect to the geometrical ratio. The antenna design takes into consideration effects such as degradation at broadside and circular polarisation, as well as input reflection coefficient. The tuning of a delay loop length yields a simple optimization criterion in order to achieve Q-balancing, circular polarisation and a matched configuration.

Abstract: A system for hand detection on a steering wheel includes a signal line extending from a first point to a second point and being disposed along at least a portion of a surface of the steering wheel; and a detection unit coupled to the first point. The detection unit is configured to send a time-dependent detection signal over the signal line, receive a reflected signal from the signal line and detect the presence of a hand on the surface based on the reflected signal.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor system that includes: a sensor arrangement with a plurality of capacitive electrodes, each being connected to a corresponding detector line; and a detector device connected to each detector line and configured to detect the capacitance of each electrode by applying a detector signal. The sensor arrangement includes: at least one electrode group having at least two electrodes, each electrode of an electrode group being connected to another electrode via a resistive element so that all electrodes of this electrode group are connected in series; and a diagnose device that is connected, for each electrode group, at least to a first detector line of a first electrode and to a second detector line of a second detector electrode and is configured to apply a diagnose signal via the first and second detector lines and to detect a conductor break based on a response to the diagnose signal.

Abstract: A camera system includes an imager unit for recording image data and converting the image data into a digital image signal, and a video processing unit operatively connected to the imager unit for receiving the digital image signal from the imager unit and for generating a corrected video output signal. The video processing unit has a dead pixel correction unit and a subsequent non-uniform offset error correction unit. The dead pixel correction unit is configured for correcting the signal of confirmed dead pixels, which are referenced in a map of confirmed dead pixels associated to the dead pixel correction unit. The non-uniform offset error correction unit is configured for correcting readout amplifier non-uniformity and pixel level non-uniformity in the digital image signal. The non-uniform offset error correction unit is further configured for new dead pixel detection simultaneously to the pixel level non-uniformity correction.

Abstract: A capacitance measurement circuit for determining a complex electric current of at least one capacitive sense-guard sensor. The circuit includes an alternating signal voltage source, wherein each guard electrode is electrically connectable to the signal voltage source, a current measurement circuit having at least one measurement channel to determine a measurement current through a sense electrode, and at least one diagnostics channel to determine, with reference to an AC ground potential, a diagnostic current flowing through a guard electrode and a sense electrode of a capacitive sensor, and a remotely controllable switching unit, which in a measurement switching state is configured to electrically connect the sense electrode of the capacitive sensor to the measurement channel, and in a diagnostic switching state is configured to electrically connect the sense electrode to the diagnostics channel.

Abstract: A tunable dielectric metamaterial device for radar sensing comprises at least one metamaterial layer a plurality of electrically conductive electrodes and a plurality of electrically conductive control lines. The metamaterial layer includes a plurality of dielectric resonators comprising tunable material, wherein at least one electromagnetic property of the tunable material varies with an externally controllable electric field applied to it. Two distinct electrically conductive electrodes each are arranged in a spaced manner at any one of the dielectric resonators to cover the dielectric resonator. The electrically conductive control lines are configured for controlling the electric field to be applied to the tunable material, wherein each electrically conductive line is electrically connected to an electrically conductive electrode.

Abstract: A method of operating a modulated continuous-wave radar system at least includes steps of transmitting, with a modulation frequency, a plurality of n modulated continuous radar waves that represent mutually orthogonal codes towards a scene with a potential object to be detected, wherein the transmitted modulated continuous radar waves of the plurality of modulated continuous radar waves are consecutively transmitted with a constant time lag given by one nth of a period of the modulation frequency; digitally converting a plurality of reflected and received radar signals with a sampling rate that is equal to the modulation frequency; decoding individual range information for each received radar signal; and determining a range between the radar system and the object on the basis of the decoded individual range information.

Abstract: A polarimetric radar system for detecting and classifying objects positioned in an interior of a vehicle includes a radar transmitter unit for transmitting radar waves of at least two different polarizations, a radar receiving unit for receiving radar waves of at least two different polarizations, a radar signal generating unit for generating and providing radar waves to be transmitted by the at least one radar transmitter unit, a signal processing circuitry for processing the generated radar waves and the received radar waves and a signal evaluation unit that is configured to receive processed signals from the signal processing circuitry, to estimate values for a set of predetermined object parameters on the basis of the received processed signals, and to select an object class upon detecting a match of the estimated values for the set of object parameters with one out of a plurality of predetermined sets of object parameters.

Abstract: A capacitive seat occupancy detection and classification system with a capacitive sensor having at least two distinct antenna electrodes and a method of operating is proposed to reduce an impact of the sensor-to-object impedance ZSO on an object-to-ground impedance ZOG measurement that the system performs. By measuring the impedance between the different antenna electrodes by the system, additional information is obtainable that can be used to compensate the impact of the sensor-to-object impedance ZSO on the object-to-ground impedance. As one effect of combining both impedance measurement results, the proposed system is able to determine the object-to-ground impedance ZOG completely independent from wear of ISOFIX anchorages or human objects touching the electric ground of the vehicle, thus ensuring a stable classification of the object over the entire vehicle lifetime. The method further enables high-resolution seat occupancy classification.

Abstract: A measurement circuit for a capacitive measurement system includes a DC voltage source, a first switching member, a charge transfer circuit, an integration capacitor and a current sink electrically connected in parallel to the integration capacitor. The charge transfer circuit has an active semiconductor device and a direct current bias voltage source. At least one electrically conductive electrode that forms a capacitor of unknown capacitance in conjunction with a reference electrode is electrically connectable either to the DC voltage source for charging or to the charge transfer circuit for discharging into the integration capacitor. The charge transfer circuit is configured for receiving an electric input current at an input port and for giving out an electric output current at an output port that is equal to the electric input current within a predetermined range of voltages across the input port and the output port of the charge transfer circuit.

Abstract: A method of operating an automotive radar system that includes a radar transmitter unit for transmitting radar waveforms towards a scene, a radar receiving unit for receiving radar waveforms that have been reflected by a target in the scene, and an evaluation and control unit for decoding range-Doppler information from the received waveforms. The method includes: transmitting a first sequence of radar waveforms (xTx) and a second sequence of radar waveforms ({tilde over (x)}Tx,k) towards the scene that differs from the first transmitted sequence of radar waveforms (xTx) by predetermined phase shifts (?k) such that each radar waveform ({tilde over (x)}Tx,k) of the second sequence has a different predetermined phase shift (?k). First range-Doppler information and second range-Doppler information are decoded. Deviations of the second range-Doppler information from the first range-Doppler information are compared to at least one predetermined deviation value.