Patents by Inventor Kai Niederhagen

Kai Niederhagen has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 8400323
    Abstract: An occupant detection system and method are provided for detecting an occupant seated in a vehicle seat. An electrode is arranged in a seat proximate to an expected location of an occupant for sensing an occupant proximate thereto. The electrode may be integrated with a seat heater. Control circuitry controls the seat heater. A signal generator is coupled to the electrode and configured output to the electrode a plurality of signals at a plurality of frequencies. Occupant detection circuitry detects voltages responsive to the plurality of signals at the plurality of frequencies and detects a state of occupancy based on the detected voltages. An LC circuit coupled to the electrode and the control circuitry suppresses capacitance generated by the control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Fischer, Christian A Fischer, Marcel Fruend, Kai Niederhagen
  • Patent number: 8198992
    Abstract: A safety belt warning system for vehicles comprises a sensor mat for the detection of a force acting on its surface, which includes, for the formation of two electrical capacitors, two dielectric layers which are located one above the other in sandwich fashion and arranged in each case between electrically conductive coats, and which have different compressibility at least in the direction of loading due to force, so that the capacitances of the two capacitors vary differently with a load on the sensor mat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2012
    Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas Fischer, Christian A. Fischer, Marcel Fruend, Kai Niederhagen
  • Publication number: 20110148648
    Abstract: An occupant detection system and method are provided for detecting an occupant seated in a vehicle seat. An electrode is arranged in a seat proximate to an expected location of an occupant for sensing an occupant proximate thereto. The electrode may be integrated with a seat heater. Control circuitry controls the seat heater. A signal generator is coupled to the electrode and configured output to the electrode a plurality of signals at a plurality of frequencies. Occupant detection circuitry detects voltages responsive to the plurality of signals at the plurality of frequencies and detects a state of occupancy based on the detected voltages. An LC circuit coupled to the electrode and the control circuitry suppresses capacitance generated by the control circuitry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 21, 2009
    Publication date: June 23, 2011
    Inventors: Thomas Fischer, Christian A. Fischer, Marcel Fruend, Kai Niederhagen
  • Publication number: 20090295557
    Abstract: A safety belt warning system for vehicles comprises a sensor mat for the detection of a force acting on its surface, which includes, for the formation of two electrical capacitors, two dielectric layers which are located one above the other in sandwich fashion and arranged in each case between electrically conductive coats, and which have different compressibility at least in the direction of loading due to force, so that the capacitances of the two capacitors vary differently with a load on the sensor mat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Applicant: DELPHI TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas Fischer, Christian A. Fischer, Marcel Fruend, Kai Niederhagen