Abstract: A heater element having an electrically insulating substrate, a buss layer made of a conductive material, and a resistive layer that includes a first patch of a first resistive material. The first buss layer has a first buss and a second buss extending from terminals of the heater element to a heating area of the heater element. The first resistive material is applied in a first selected location in the heating area so as to provide electrical communication between the first buss and the second buss and to enable an electrical current to flow through the first resistive material. The resistive layer includes a second patch of a second resistive material. The second patch is applied in a second selected location in the heating area so as to provide electrical communication between the first buss and the second buss, the second selected location being different from the first selected location.

Abstract: A heater element having an electrically insulating substrate, a buss layer made of a conductive material, and a resistive layer that includes a first patch of a first resistive material. The first buss layer has a first buss and a second buss extending from terminals of the heater element to a heating area of the heater element. The first resistive material is applied in a first selected location in the heating area so as to provide electrical communication between the first buss and the second buss and to enable an electrical current to flow through the first resistive material. The resistive layer includes a second patch of a second resistive material. The second patch is applied in a second selected location in the heating area so as to provide electrical communication between the first buss and the second buss, the second selected location being different from the first selected location.

Abstract: A method for sensing occupancy status within an automotive vehicle uses a radar sensor system having 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 an outgoing radar signal; receiving, using at least one sensor, at least one sensor signal reflected as a result of the outgoing radar signal; obtaining accelerometer data value from at least one accelerometer, the accelerometer data containing information regarding vibration or motion of the automotive vehicle and supplying the accelerometer data to the processing circuitry; and operating the processing circuitry for generating, based on the at least one sensor signal and on the accelerometer data, one or more occupancy status signals, the occupancy status signal indicating a property related to the at least one occupiable position.