Abstract: A capacitive sensor arrangement includes: a sensing electrode having a capacitance (CX) which depends on the presence of an object in a detection space; a measurement device connected to the sensing electrode and configured to detect the capacitance (CX) of the sensing electrode; and a conducting structure, wherein the capacitance (CX) of the sensing electrode depends on a potential of the conducting structure. In order to obtain a reliable capacitive measurement, the measurement device is connected to a power supply between a first potential (VS) and a second potential (GND), the measurement device being connected to the second potential exclusively via the structure.

Abstract: In addition to the loading mode of a capacitive sensing device of a seat occupancy detection and classification system, a second measurement mode is introduced, which allows a discrimination of objects (CRS or human) with and without grounding condition. Depending on the value of the new measurement, the data is allocated to different groups which are subject to different thresholds in the loading mode. This means that if the new measurement indicates a grounding condition of the object, a higher threshold in the loading mode will be applied. In this way CRS with grounding condition will be classified by means of the higher threshold, resulting in a robustness increase. Typical human sitting positions do not show a grounding condition and will be classified by the lower threshold.