Abstract: A B-surface 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), which define an upper surface (18) of the unit. The top surface of the support plate is arranged recessed the upper surface. A first foam pad (22) is disposed between the spacer elements on the support plate. A recess (24) formed in the top surface of the support plate, underneath the first foam pad, accommodates a second foam pad (23) carrying a pressure-responsive membrane switch (26). The recess has a depth exceeding the total height of the pressure-responsive membrane switch and the second foam pad. The pressure-sensitive membrane switch projects laterally beyond opposite edges of the second foam pad.

Abstract: A capacitive sensing circuit is disclosed, wherein the transimpedance amplifier in front of the mixer in prior art is removed respectively replaced by an amplifier with low gain and consequently high dynamic range. 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: 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: A vehicle seat suspension mat (10) comprises one or more suspension springs (16) for supporting a seat cushion (22) and an occupancy sensor module (24) supported by at least one suspension spring. The module includes a first plate (26) having a switch element (38) arranged thereon and a second plate (28) mounted in a cantilevered manner to the first plate, in such a way that the first and second plates form together a pair of jaws, which the switch element is arranged between. The first and second plates are configured so as to move closer together against their resiliency in response to compressive forces acting on the first and second plates.

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 vehicle seat suspension mat (12) comprises suspension springs (14) for supporting a seat cushion (16) and a pressure sensor module (18) arranged on the springs for being applied against a bottom surface of the seat cushion. The pressure sensor module produces an electrical signal responsive to pressure acting on it. The pressure sensor module comprises a base plate (20) and a film-type pressure sensor (22) arranged on the base plate. The pressure sensor includes a pressure-sensitive cell (36). The base plate comprises a frame (26) and an actuator (28) that is linked to the frame in such a way that it is capable of movement relative to the frame. The actuator is arranged against the pressure-sensitive cell of the film-type pressure sensor and comprises a fixation element (48) fixing the base plate to the springs. The fixation element provides a spacing between the base plate and the springs.

Abstract: In a combined seat heater and capacitive occupancy sensor, the present invention proposes to perform two measurements with two different frequencies. In a first step, the carrier frequency is set to a first known carrier frequency, the complex current through inductance and unknown capacitance and complex drive voltage are measured. In a second step, the carrier frequency is set to a second known carrier frequency, the complex current through inductance and unknown capacitance and complex drive voltage are measured. The measured complex values are used in a formula which yields the unknown capacitance.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to hybrid three-dimensional imagers and to a laser source for active illumination for hybrid three-dimensional imagers (i.e. 3D imagers that make combined use of different 3D imaging technologies). The invention is applicable to three-dimensional imaging systems which use a combination of different imaging techniques (hybrid technologies) to achieve a higher precision or a higher level of reliability.

Abstract: In an impedance measurement system, a reference impedance (2) to be measured is periodically connected and disconnected by means of switch (3) in parallel to the unknown impedance (1) to be measured. The thus generated amplitude modulation of the measurement current is demodulated, and the amplitude of the demodulated signal is indicative of the reference impedance to be measured. Using a low frequency modulation of the reference impedance enables to measure the impedance of the reference impedance without disconnecting the unknown impedance.

Abstract: Foil-based PTC heaters are self-regulating, i.e. do not need any electronic control unit (ECU) to limit the maximum heating current. In order to establish different heating power levels the present invention proposes to choose different PTC ratio/onset characteristics. In addition, the print design of the PTC ink can be adjusted accordingly.

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 capacitive sensing system for a heating element comprises a capacitive detector connectable to the heating element and a common mode choke for connecting the heating element with a heating current supply. The detector drives an alternating current into the heating element and produces an output depending on the capacitive load, which the alternating current is subject to. Depending on the object sensed, the load varies in a range between a minimum and a maximum value. The choke represents an inductive load in parallel of the capacitive load. The capacitive load and the inductive load contribute to a complex impedance dominated by the inductive load. A compensation capacitor arranged parallel to the choke represents an additional capacitive load also contributing to the complex impedance. The compensation capacitor is dimensioned such that the sum of additional capacitive load and maximum value amounts to at least 50% of the inductive load.

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.