Abstract: An occupant classification system for a vehicle comprises a radio-frequency (RF) transmitter unit, which includes a transmission RF antenna and an RF generator operatively connected to the transmission RF antenna. The RF generator and the transmission RF antenna are configured for generating radio waves at a certain fixed RF frequency in the Very High Frequency (VHF) range or the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) range. During operation of the RF transmitter unit, the generated radio waves propagate from the transmission RF antenna. The occupant classification system further comprises an RF detector for detecting, at the fixed RF frequency, an influence of an occupant on the radio waves propagating from the transmission RF antenna.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for online and direct control of production of biogas in an anaerobic digester comprising the steps of: a) feeding the anaerobic digester with organic substrate, b) extracting a sample of biogas from the headspace of the anaerobic digester, c) analyzing the composition of the sample of biogas and detecting the quantity of one or more volatile fatty acids in said sample of biogas, d) controlling feeding of the anaerobic digester in view of the quantity of the one or more volatile fatty acids detected in said sample of biogas.

Abstract: A seat sensor system including at least one seat sensor associated to a seat for sensing a status related to a seat occupancy and for generating an output signal indicative of the status and a control unit for communicating with the seat sensor. At least one transmitter for transmitting a data signal indicative of the output signal is associated with the seat and coupled to the seat sensor; and at least one receiver is coupled to the control unit for wirelessly receiving the data signal from the transmitter.

Abstract: An occupant classification system for a vehicle comprises a radio-frequency (RF) transmitter unit, which includes a transmission RF antenna and an RF generator operatively connected to the transmission RF antenna. The RF generator and the transmission RF antenna are configured for generating radio waves at a certain fixed RF frequency in the Very High Frequency (VHF) range or the Ultra High Frequency (UHF) range. During operation of the RF transmitter unit, the generated radio waves propagate from the transmission RF antenna. The occupant classification system further comprises an RF detector for detecting, at the fixed RF frequency, an influence of an occupant on the radio waves propagating from the transmission RF antenna.

Abstract: The cancerous or pre-cancerous tissue visualization method includes providing a fluorescence intensity image and a fluorescence lifetime image of the tissue; identifying in the fluorescence lifetime image first pixels corresponding to a region of healthy tissue and second pixels corresponding to a region of cancerous or pre-cancerous tissue; defining a weighting function mapping fluorescence lifetime values onto weighting factors in a range from a low weighting factor to a high weighting factor such that the weighting function maps a lifetime value contained in the first pixels onto the low weighting factor and a lifetime value contained in the second pixels onto the high weighting factor; producing a weighted fluorescence intensity image by weighting the intensity values contained in the pixels of the fluorescence intensity image with weighting factors obtained by evaluation of the weighting function at the lifetime values contained in corresponding pixels of the fluorescence lifetime image.

Abstract: An automotive vehicle includes an occupant detection system (10) for detecting an occupancy state of one or more passenger seats. The occupant detection system comprises a control unit (20), one or more vibration sensors (18) operatively connected to the control unit, each one of the one or more vibration sensors being arranged in a respective one of the passenger seats, and at least one vibration sensor that is arranged in the driver seat and operatively connected to the control unit so as to provide a reference signal to the control unit.

Abstract: An occupant detection system comprises an electrode arrangement for placement into a seat of an automotive vehicle and an evaluation circuit operatively connected to the electrode arrangement. The latter includes a first electrode for emitting an electric field into a detection region above the vehicle seat, a second electrode and an electric insulator layer sandwiched between the first and second electrodes. When the electrode arrangement is in place in the seat, the first electrode forms with vehicle ground a first capacitor having a first capacitance, which is influenceable by an occupying item in the detection region through interaction of the occupying item with the electric field, the first electrode forms with the second electrode a second capacitor having a second capacitance and the second electrode forms with at least one of vehicle ground and a third electrode a third capacitor having a third capacitance.

Abstract: In an occupant detection system, which comprises an electrode arrangement for being placed into the seat of an automotive vehicle, the electrode arrangement including an antenna electrode for emitting an electric field into a detection region above the vehicle seat, and an evaluation circuit operatively connected to the antenna electrode, the evaluation circuit is configured and arranged so as to measure a capacitance influenceable by an occupying item in the detection region through interaction of the occupying item with the electric field. The evaluation circuit is further configured and arranged so as to determine fluctuations of the measured capacitance; analyse a frequency spectrum of the fluctuations; and derive an occupancy state of the vehicle seat based on both the measured capacitance and the frequency spectrum.

Abstract: A generally flexible pressure sensing mat for a vehicle seat includes a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance from each other by means of a spacer. The mat includes a plurality of cells, each cell being defined by a respective opening of the spacer. In each cell, at least two electrodes are arranged between the first and second carrier foils and, in response to pressure acting on the pressure sensing mat at a cell, the first and second carrier foils are pressed together against the reaction force of the carrier foils thereby causing variation of an electrical resistance between the at least two electrodes of the cell. The pressure sensing mat includes at least one rigidifying element, the least one rigidifying element being associated to an individual cell for locally reducing flexibility of the pressure sensing mat at the individual cell.

Abstract: A merchandise checkout terminal is equipped with an article scanning device. The article scanning device comprises a bar code reader and a quality sensor interrogator for interrogating a quality sensor integrated into a packaged perishable article and retrieving quality information concerning the packaged perishable article.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the detection of optical sensors by means of measurement of information relative to the signal intensity and signal modulation phase shift. The proposed method employs the use of CMOS and/or CCD imager and illuminations with different wavelengths. The system is able realize a contactless measurement of a phase shift to curse on a gas concentration an distance.

Abstract: A seat belt warning system comprises a sensing system associated to a vehicle seat for sensing a seat belt related status with respect to said vehicle seat and a control unit communicating with said sensing system for generating a warning signal depending on the seat belt related status determined by said sensing system. The sensing system comprises a seat occupancy detector (16) for determining a seat occupancy status of a vehicle seat and a seat belt fastening detector (18) for determining a seat belt usage condition. According to the invention said sensing system further comprises a first surface acoustic wave device (26) including at least one surface acoustic wave resonator (26?) and an antenna (26?) and in that said control unit (20) comprises an RF antenna (22) for remotely communicating with said surface acoustic wave device (26).

Abstract: A safety system for a vehicle is provided, which comprises signalling means associated with a seat of the vehicle for emitting an optically detectable signal carrying information related to the seat and detecting means for remotely detecting the optically detectable signal and for providing a corresponding signal to a control unit.

Abstract: A safety system for a vehicle comprises a first acquisition unit for acquiring first information relating to a child scat placed on a scat of a vehicle, a second acquisition unit for acquiring second information relating to the child scat. The first and second acquisition units are of different types. The safety system further comprises a controller (20) capable of evaluating first information and second information individually and a combination of first and second information for detecting misuse of the child scat and for generating a misuse signal indicative of the misuse.

Abstract: A child seat sensor (10) comprises at least one antenna structure (22, 24, 26) to be integrated into a vehicle seat (26). The at least one antenna structure (22, 24, 26) comprises at least one antenna wire for emitting and/or receiving an electromagnetic field, which may be influenced by the presence and/or the orientation of a child seat. According to an important aspect of the invention, the child seat sensor (10) comprises a fixing element (28) for fixing the antenna structure (22, 24, 26) to a portion of the seat (16). The fixing element (28) is arranged together with the antenna wire on an individual carrier material (30) in such a way, that the antenna structure (22, 24, 26) is fixable to the seat portion (16) by activation of the fixing element (28).

Abstract: A generally flexible pressure sensing mat for a vehicle seat includes a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance from each other by means of a spacer. The mat includes a plurality of cells, each cell being defined by a respective opening of the spacer. In each cell, at least two electrodes are arranged between the first and second carrier foils and, in response to pressure acting on the pressure sensing mat at a cell, the first and second carrier foils are pressed together against the reaction force of the carrier foils thereby causing variation of an electrical resistance between the at least two electrodes of the cell. The pressure sensing mat includes at least one rigidifying element, the least one rigidifying element being associated to an individual cell for locally reducing flexibility of the pressure sensing mat at the individual cell.

Abstract: A seat sensor system comprises at least one seat sensor associated to a seat for sensing a status related to a seat occupancy and for generating an output signal indicative of said status and a control unit for communicating with said at least one seat sensor. According to the invention at least one transmitter is associated with said seat, said transmitter being coupled to said at least one seat sensor, said transmitter for transmitting a data signal indicative of said output signal; and at least one receiver is coupled to said control unit, said receiver for wirelessly receiving said data signal) from said transmitter.

Abstract: A method for fitting a sensor onto a seat cushion is disclosed, which is specifically suitable for the assembly of a seat sensor onto a seat cushion, wherein the seat cushion comprises a seating surface having a central region, said central region of said seating surface being at least partially delimited by a groove extending from said seating surface into said seat cushion, and wherein said sensor comprises a first sensor portion to be arranged at least partially at a periphery of said central region. The method comprises the steps of providing a mould (10) for foaming said seat cushion, said mould comprising at least one ridge (14) designed for forming said groove into said seating surface of said seat cushion; arranging said first sensor portion (18) in said mould on said at least one ridge (14), and foaming said seat cushion, thereby integrating at least part of said first sensor (18) portion into said seat cushion.

Abstract: A leakage detection patch (10) for a modified atmosphere package comprises a substrate (12) and an oxygen sensing spot (14) arranged thereon. The oxygen sensing spot contains an oxygen indicator, which may be interrogated remotely An adhesive strip (16) for fixing the leakage detection patch to a package surface of the 5 modified atmosphere package extends peripherally around the sensing spot. The leakage detection patch further comprises means (20) enabling oxygen diffusion between the modified atmosphere and the oxygen sensing spot.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the detection of optical sensors by means of measurement of information relative to the signal intensity and signal modulation phase shift. The proposed method employs the use of CMOS and/or CCD imager and illuminations with different wavelengths. The system is able realize a contactless measurement of a phase shift to curse on a gas concentration an distance.