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: 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: 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: 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: 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 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: The invention relates to a method for producing magnesium alloys with a superplastic structure using a deformation process, followed by quick cooling. The magnesium-based alloy is initially pre-heated to a temperature of 340-380° C. and is subsequently deformed. The semi-finished product thus obtained is cooled down at high speed to an ambient temperature immediately after deformation.