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.

Abstract: A spatially coded structured light is generated by an array of laser diodes (1) in order to perform structured light triangulation. The laser diodes (1a-c) are VCSEL, where the light is emitted in the direction perpendicular to the semiconductor wafer surface. Plural such laser diodes (1a-c) are integrated monolithically to form an array (1). The position of the individual laser diodes in the array is coded spatially to form a non-regular unique pattern. The light output by the lasers is projected by a refractive or diffractive optical system (2) into the space to be monitored to form the structured light pattern. An object (5) to be investigated may be illuminated by the VCSEL array (1) and a camera (3) captures the frames. A processing unit (4) controls the power of VCSEL (1a-c) and processes the data from the camera (3).

Abstract: An inductive respiration sensor (10) comprises an inductive transducer (12) and sensing circuitry. The sensing circuitry comprises a transimpedance amplifier, TIA, (14), the sense input (16) of which is operatively connected to the inductive transducer. The TIA is configured to drive a current from its output (20) into the sense input such that the voltage on the sense input follows the voltage applied to the reference input (18) and to cause a voltage on the output indicative of the current. The TIA comprises a first (34) and a second (30) transistor. The collector or drain and the emitter or source of the first transistor are operatively connected between the sense input and the output of the TIA. The emitter or source of the second transistor is connected to the reference input, the collector or drain of the second transistor is connected to the base or gate of the first transistor, and the base or gate of the second transistor is connected to the sense input.

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 configured to maintain the alternating voltage equal to an alternating reference voltage by injecting a current into the antenna electrode and to measure the current. The control and evaluation circuit includes a microcontroller with a digital output for providing a digital signal and a low-pass filter operatively connected to the digital output for generating the alternating reference voltage by low-pass-filtering the digital signal.

Abstract: A capacitive sensing circuit is disclosed, wherein the mixer is directly connected to the sense electrode. The AC transimpedance amplifier in front of the mixer in prior art is removed and replaced by a differential DC transimpedance amplifier respectively integrator. The mixer DC offset voltage or current together with the large amplification factor required after the mixer now would result in an inacceptable DC offset at the output of the signal chain. In order to eliminate the effect of the mixer offset, the amplifying stages after the mixer are AC coupled to the mixer output and one of the signals entering the mixer is phase modulated or amplitude modulated with a known low frequency signal. An additional mixer after the AC coupled amplifying stages is driven with the same low frequency modulating signal, resulting in the wanted DC output signal responsive to the capacitance to be measured.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sensor mat for determining a seat occupation situation of a vehicle seat. Said sensor mat comprises a plurality of sensor cells which can be allocated to a sitting area of the vehicle seat and are configured and interconnected in such a way that an output signal of the sensor mat varies in accordance with the seat occupation situation. At least one first sensor cell and a second sensor cell are interconnected to a pair of sensor cells such that the output signal of the sensor mat exceeds or lies below a predefined threshold value independently of the triggering state of the other sensor cells when the first and the second sensor cell are triggered simultaneously.

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: 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