Abstract: A lidar imager for acquiring a range image of a scene comprises a light source for emitting a light beam, a scanning device for scanning the light beam across the scene and a light sensor for receiving light reflected from the scene. The scanning device comprises a spatial light modulator (SLM) configured to display holograms that deflect the light beam into different directions within the scene to be imaged.

Abstract: A sports rebound wall is provided that includes: a rebound surface, at least one target area formed in the rebound surface, and a resistive matrix sensor formed on, or embedded in, the target area. The matrix sensor includes a first array of substantially parallel conductive tracks and a second array of substantially parallel conductive tracks. The first array and the second array are spaced apart from one another. The rebound wall has a matrix sensor that is capable of providing information about the force, location and timing at which the target area of the sports rebound wall is impacted. This is made possible by the specific construction of the matrix sensor.

Abstract: A method of determining the ventilatory threshold of a subject in real time during an exercise session wherein data relating to physiological parameters of said subject are acquired and stored in function of time during the exercise session, said data including at least data indicative of the respiration and of the heart beat rate.

Abstract: A microcontroller uses a combination of several synchronized PWM outputs to generate a low distortion sine wave by summing the PWM outputs and filtering the summed signal. The sine wave is used as a guard voltage. The unknown impedance is measured by impinging the guard voltage on the sense electrode by a transistor connected in common base configuration and then transferring the sense current through the common base connected transistor to a transimpedance amplifier made out of a second transistor connected in common emitter configuration. The output voltage at the collector of the second transistor is measured by an ADC input of the microcontroller. The microcontroller translates the ADC output values into the unknown impedance to be measured by doing a software demodulation of the ADC output values. A reference impedance can be connected in parallel to the unknown impeder to eliminate gain errors of the signal sensing circuit.

Abstract: A method and circuit for measuring impedance of a sense-only capacitive sensor operated in loading mode. The method carried out by the circuit includes the steps of: combining a plurality of synchronized output signals; applying low-pass filtering to the summed output signals to generate a sinusoidal test signal; applying the sinusoidal test signal to a sensor signal voltage divider circuit and to a reference voltage divider circuit; determining amplitude and relative phase, with respect to the sinusoidal test signal, of a sensor voltage signal and a reference voltage signal; obtaining a difference voltage signal by subtracting the reference voltage signal from the sensor voltage signal; and feeding the difference voltage signal to a vector demodulator unit for obtaining a real part and an imaginary part of the complex impedance of the capacitive sensor.

Abstract: A capacitive sensing system operates according to a method which uses an ADC. The analog signal to be digitized is modulated with a triangular or saw-tooth modulating signal, so that a modulated analog signal is obtained, which is sampled with the ADC. The triangular or saw-tooth signal is chosen to have a peak-to-peak amplitude corresponding at least approximately to an integer multiple L, with L?1, of the quantization step size of the ADC. The saw-tooth or triangular signal has a number M, of periods per each sequence of N samples. M and N are chosen such that M>1 and M?N and such that R=r*N/(k*gcd(N, M)*L), where gcd(M, N) is the greatest common divisor of N and M and where k=2 if the modulating signal is a saw-tooth signal and k=4 if the modulating signal is a triangular signal.

Abstract: A seat heater (10) with a heating element (12) connected between a first (14) and a second (16) nodes comprises a third (18) and a fourth (20) node operatively connectable to a first and a second terminal, respectively, of a power supply. A first electric component (22) providing a controllable first conductance is connected between the first and the third nodes. A second electric component (24) providing a controllable second conductance is connected between the second and the fourth nodes. A control network (26) is connected to the electric components to control the respective conductances and has a mode of operation in which it applies an oscillating signal to the heating element by modulating the first and second conductances in such a way that a voltage drop variation between the third and first nodes is opposite to a voltage drop variation between the second and fourth nodes.

Abstract: A capacitive occupancy or proximity detector includes a heating circuit, an impedance measurement circuit connected to the heating element and a diagnostic circuit configured for determining integrity of the heater element. The heating circuit includes a heating element, a heating current source and a common mode choke having a first and a second winding, the heating element being connectable to the heating current source via the first and second windings. The diagnostic circuit includes at least one controllable switching element coupled across the second winding circuitry for injecting a DC current into a series connection formed by the first winding, the heating element and a parallel connection of the second winding and said at least one controllable switching element; and at least one detection circuit for detecting a voltage variation across the second winding.

Abstract: A vehicle seat occupancy classification system having at least one weight-responsive sensor, including a supporting plate, a collecting plate, a hinge member mechanically connecting the supporting plate and the collecting plate, at least one elastic spring member, and a position sensor that is configured to determine a gap dimension between the supporting plate and the collecting plate. The occupancy seat classification system includes an evaluation unit that is configured to receive the output signal from the position sensor and to provide a seat occupant classification based on a level of the received output signal and at least a first pre-determined threshold value of the output signal.

Abstract: A suspension mat (14) for a vehicle seat comprises one or more suspension springs (16) for supporting a cushion (28), a support plate (18) attached to the one or more suspension springs, a mobile plate (34) coupled with the support plate, a flat spring (26) arranged between the support plate and the mobile plate and a switch element. The mobile plate is arranged movable between a first and a second position relative to the support plate. The flat spring biases the mobile plate toward the first position. The switch element is located between the support plate and the flat spring, in such a way that when the mobile plate moves against a bias of the flat spring toward the second position, the flat spring presses and actuates the switch element. The flat spring may e.g. comprise a washer spring, a plate spring, a dome-shaped flat spring and/or a cantilever flat spring.

Abstract: A capacitive occupancy or proximity detector (10) comprises a heating circuit, an impedance measurement circuit (34, 36, 40) and a diagnostic circuit. The heating circuit includes a heating element (12). The impedance measurement circuit is connected to the heating element so as to measure impedance between the heating element and a node at ground potential. The diagnostic circuit is configured for measuring electrical resistance across the heating circuit and includes a heating current sensor (42), configured for sensing a heating current across the heating circuit, a current supply device (48) for driving a diagnostic current across the heating circuit and a current limiting ground path (50), configured for draining the diagnostic current and for blocking the heating current.

Abstract: A seat heater, e.g. for a vehicle seat, comprises a heating element (10) for dissipating heat when a heating current flows across it and a temperature sensor (15) for providing a temperature signal indicative of the seat temperature. The seat heater comprises a common mode choke (16) with at least three windings. The heating element is connected in series between a first (16.1) and a second (16.2) thereof so as to be operatively connectable to a power source (12) via the common mode choke. The temperature sensor is connected to a third winding (16.3) of the at least three windings in such a way that the temperature signal may be received, e.g. by a temperature controller of the seat heater, via the third winding of the common mode choke.

Abstract: A capacitive sensor for a vehicle seat comprises an antenna electrode and a control and evaluation circuit operatively connected to the antenna electrode. The control and evaluation circuit is configured to operate in a first mode of operation, during which it measures alternating electrical current flowing between the antenna electrode and ground. The capacitive sensor comprises a seat frame connector for connecting the control and evaluation circuit to the seat frame of the vehicle seat. The control and evaluation circuit is configured to operate in a second mode of operation, during which it measures electrical current flowing into the seat frame connector.

Abstract: A capacitive sensing device includes an antenna electrode for emitting an alternating electric field in response to an alternating voltage caused in the antenna electrode and a control and evaluation circuit that includes a transimpedance amplifier configured to maintain the alternating voltage equal to an alternating reference voltage on a reference voltage node by injecting a current into the antenna electrode and to measure the current. The control and evaluation circuit includes a microcontroller and a multiplexer configured and arranged to switch the antenna electrode alternately to a current input of the transimpedance amplifier and to the alternating reference voltage node. The microcontroller is configured to control the multiplexer. The multiplexer and the transimpedance amplifier and a low-pass filter operatively connected to the transimpedance amplifier form together a synchronous rectifier arrangement.

Abstract: An occupant sensor having a switching element, which comprises a top carrier layer and a bottom carrier layer separated by a spacer. The spacer has an opening defining an active zone in which the carrier layers may be brought together in response to a force acting on at least one of them. The switching element includes a first electrode and a second electrode arranged within the active area between the carrier layers such that an electrical contact is established between the first and second electrodes if the carrier layers are brought together. The occupant sensor includes a decoupling layer arranged on a top side of the switching element such that the decoupling layer covers the top carrier layer in the region of the active area. The decoupling layer and switching element are laterally displaceable with respect to each other in the region of the active area.

Abstract: A driver assistance system (12) comprises an optical detector (14) with active scene illumination. The optical detector includes at least one of a stereoscopic imager, a time-of-flight imager, a structured-light imager and a night vision system. The optical detector includes a light source (16) for converting electrical energy into light, projection optics (18) for illuminating a scene with light generated by the light source and one or more optical sensors (20) for detecting light returned from the scene in response to the scene being illuminated. The light source is thermally connected to a heat sink (30) for evacuating heat produced by the light source and the projection optics are optically connected to the light source with one or more optical fibers (22) for transport of light generated by the light source to the projection optics.

Abstract: A piezoelectric and/or electret sensing device includes a piezoelectric and/or electret transducer for producing a measurement current in response to mechanical stimulus, and a control and evaluation circuit connected to the transducer. The control and evaluation circuit includes a transimpedance amplifier having a first and a second input, the transducer being operatively connected between the first input and a reference node, and an electrical waveform generator for generating an electrical waveform, the electrical waveform generator being operatively connected between the second input and the reference node.

Abstract: A method for sensing occupancy status within an automotive vehicle uses a radar sensor system, the radar sensor system includes an antenna system, at least one sensor and processing circuitry. The method comprises illuminating, using the antenna system, at least one occupiable position within the vehicle with continuous wave (CW signals), the CW signals being frequency modulated in time. At least one sensor signal (y(t,f1 . . . y(t,fn)) reflected as a result of the CW signals, is received using at least one sensor the at least one sensor defining a plurality of receive channels (1 . . . i), each channel having a different frequency (f1 . . . fi). Processing circuitry is operable for applying, for each receive channel (1 . . . i), DC offset removal to the corresponding sensor signal (y(t,f1 . . . y(t,fn)) to generate a modified signal (y?(t, f1) . . . y?(t,fn)); and generating, based on the modified signals (y?(t, f1) . . .

Abstract: A capacitive detection device (20) for a vehicle comprises a sensing electrode (26) for generating an oscillatory electric field in a detection space and a shielding electrode (28) arranged on a side of the sensing electrode turned away from the detection space. The capacitive detection device comprises a circuit ground and a ground connector for connecting the circuit ground to chassis ground of the vehicle. At least one shunt capacitor is connected between circuit ground and the shielding electrode. The at least one shunt capacitor has a capacitance at least 25 times higher than the capacitance between the shielding electrode and the chassis ground of the vehicle.

Abstract: A scanning 3D imager for recording images of a scene comprises a light source configured to emit a fan-shaped pulsed light beam with linear cross section, a scanning mirror arranged in the light path of the light beam to guide the light beam into the scene and to successively illuminate slices of the scene by sweeping the light beam through the scene transversally to the linear cross section thereof, and an imager chip arranged to receive light from the scene via the scanning mirror, the imager chip comprising an photosensor array disposed in such a way that the illuminated slices of the scene are successively imaged thereon.