Abstract: Method and apparatus for identifying and categorizing the weight and characteristics of the occupant currently occupying a vehicle seat. The method for identifying and categorizing the occupant or object involves measuring the deflection of the upper surface of the seat cushion at one or more points due to compression of the cushion produced by the weight distribution of the occupant. The system contains multiple sensor/emitter pairs for detecting the deflection. The system also includes a sensor to measure ambient temperature, preferably for temperature compensation due to the effects extreme temperatures may have on the compression properties of the seat cushion material and sensor/emitter pairs. A system processor interprets the data acquired by the sensors, and utilizes an algorithm and training tables to output a control signal indicative of the categorization of the occupant or object.

Abstract: A capacitive measuring sensor which detects changes in an angle of electrode surfaces arranged at an acute angle to one another. The sensor outputs capacitive changes as a sensor signal. The sensor is preferably elongated and has at its end regions two fastening elements for connection to a body to be measured, two capacitor electrodes and two fastening elements. Changes in the angle of the capacitor electrodes is effected by displacement between the fastening points on the object to be measured.

Abstract: A magnetic transducer element is formed in a portion (22) of a shaft (20) by an axially-oriented magnetic source (30) comprising a U-shape permanent magnet or electromagnet assembly, the gap (g) between the poles of which is small compared to the pole width (w). The source (30) is brought up to the continually rotating shaft (20) from a distance (D1) to a position closely proximate (D2) the shaft (20) and then retracting the source (30). With an electromagnet the mechanical movement may be emulated by controlling the energising of the electromagnet. An annular, surface-adjacent zone of axially-directed magnetisation is created whose external detectable field (40) has a distribution in the axial direction which shifts axially under applied torque. An axial or radial component may be sensed as a measure of torque. A method of preparing the shaft for magnetisation (magnetic-cleansing) and a post-magnetisation procedure is disclosed.

Abstract: A method to maintain magnetic levitation that is stabilized by means of Hall effect sensors is disclosed. The method and device comprising a Hall effect sensor or sensors used to control an electromagnet to maintain the position between two magnets or objects. The present invention has been used to suspend a magnet in a high pressure tube that is magnetically coupled to a magnet outside the tube connected to an analytical balance that can accurately measure the force on the magnet inside the tube. This force measurement can be used to determine fluid density, flow, viscosity, and solubility. This magnetic levitation method also has application for other devices such as motors, generators, trains, turbines, wind tunnels, and entertainment devices.

Abstract: In a process for capacitive object detection in a vehicle seat, capacitors arranged in the backrest and in the seat surface are influenced by an object. The capacitors are acted upon by alternating voltage, and the time variation of their capacitances is determined individually. From the values of each of the two capacitances, an evaluation of the object is derived by means of a value table and, when the two evaluations correspond to one another concerning the type of an object, an occupant protection system assigned to the seat is correspondingly activated.

Abstract: A capacitance type load sensor is provided with outer and inner tubes made of plastic and formed into a hollow circular cylinder shape and outer and inner electrodes respectively attached to the inner and outer peripheral faces of the outer and inner tubes. A coil spring is disposed within the interior space of the inner tube, and load-applied hooks of the coil spring are individually coupled to respective end walls of the outer and inner tubes. When a tensile load is applied to the hooks of the coil spring and hence the coil spring is elongated, a relative motion occurs between the outer and inner tubes so that the facing area between the outer and inner electrodes and accordingly the capacitance between these electrodes decrease. The load sensor measures the applied load based on an amount of change in the capacitance between before and after the application of the load.

Abstract: A control signal generator transmits a first signal to a movable electrode and a fixed electrode to detect a change in a capacitance formed between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode during a normal physical quantity detection timing interval. Also, the control signal generator transmits a second signal to the movable electrode and the fixed electrode instead of the first signal to move the movable electrode for diagnosing a malfunction of each of a plurality of physical quantity detection portions during a self diagnosis timing interval. The control signal generator transmits the second signal to the movable electrode and the fixed electrode of each physical quantity detection portion during a different timing intervals.

Abstract: A physical quantity detector apparatus detects a physical quantity in accordance with the displacement of a vibrator. The apparatus includes: a comb-like fixed electrode having a plurality of electrode fingers; and a comb-like movable electrode being displaceable together with the vibrator and having a plurality of electrode fingers. A voltage is applied between the fixed electrode and the movable electrode.

Abstract: A capacitive pressure sensor for measuring a pressure applied to an elastic member includes a capacitive plate disposed adjacent to the elastic member so as to define a gap between a planar conductive surface of the elastic member and a corresponding planar surface of the capacitive plate. The gap, capacitive plate and elastic member together define a capacitor having a characteristic capacitance. The sensor further includes an elongated electrical conductor characterized by an associated inductance value. The conductor is fixedly attached to and electrically coupled with the capacitive plate. The gap between the capacitive plate and the elastic member varies as a predetermined function of the pressure applied to the elastic member so as to vary the characteristic capacitance. The capacitor and the electrical conductor together form an electrical resonator having a characteristic resonant frequency. Varying the capacitance of this tank circuit varies the resonant frequency of the tank circuit.

Abstract: An electrode layer is formed on the upper surface of a first substrate, and a processing for partially removing the substrate is carried out in order to allow the substrate to have flexibility. To the lower surface of the first substrate, a second substrate is connected. Then, by cutting the second substrate, a working body and a pedestal are formed. On the other hand, a groove is formed on a third substrate. An electrode layer is formed on the bottom surface of the groove. The third substrate is connected to the first substrate so that both the electrodes face to each other with a predetermined spacing therebetween. Finally, the first, second and third substrates are cut off every respective unit regions to form independent sensors, respectively. When an acceleration is exerted on the, working body, the first substrate bends. As a result, the distance between both the electrodes changes. Thus, an acceleration exerted is detected by changes in an electrostatic capacitance between both the electrodes.

Abstract: This invention includes a first electrode (10a, 10b, 10c, 30) and a second electrode (20a, 20b, 20c, 20d) which are arranged to face each other so as not to come into contact with each other and a gap between which changes in accordance with a change in an amount to be detected, and a signal processor 4 for calculating the amount to be detected on the basis of an electrostatic capacitance formed between the first and second electrodes. The first electrode has a portion (12a, 14a) and a portion (12b, 14b), areas of which that face the second electrode increases and decreases, respectively, upon a positioning error that occurs in a direction (x, y) parallel to the first electrode. These portions have the same area.

Abstract: Described is a weighing cell for an electronic balance with two side walls (15, 16) which move parallel to each other as a function of the weight and in which are located two metal plates forming a condensor whose capacitance varies with the weight. One plate is a circuit board (17) which has a metal film (20) on the side facing the other plate (23) and which also carries the components (18, 19, 19′) of the electric circuitry of the balance.

Abstract: A capacitive sensing array device, particularly a fingerprint sensing array device, includes an array of sense electrodes covered by a dielectric layer defining a sensing surface over which, for example, a person's finger is placed in use. Each sense electrode is associated with an overlying, electrically isolated, second electrode on the sensing surface. One or more adjacent conductor lines at a predetermined potential are also carried on the sensing surface, e.g. in the form of a grid surrounding and spaced from the second electrodes and the second electrode and/or its adjacent conductor line is shaped at a part thereof so as to encourage electrical flash-over at a reduced potential level at that part and prevent damage being caused by electrostatic charges carried by a person's finger.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a weight sensing apparatus (10) for a vehicle seat (22). The weight sensing apparatus (10) includes a differential capacitor (150) including a first capacitor (152) and a second capacitor (176). The first capacitor (152) includes first and second opposed plate assemblies (154 and 156). The second capacitor (179) includes a third plate assembly (180) and the second plate assembly (156). Each plate assembly (154, 156, and 180) includes a plurality of electrically conductive elongated members that extend in an axial direction. The second plate assembly (156) is interposed between the first and third plate assemblies (154 and 180) and is movable in an axial direction relative to the first and third plate assemblies (154 and 180) in response to a load being applied to a vehicle seat. A source of alternating current supplies electrical energy to the differential capacitor (150) and an output circuit is electrically connected with the differential capacitor (150).

Abstract: A process for the manufacture of a Coriolis rate-of-rotation sensor with oscillatory support masses spring-suspended on a substrate as well as driving means for the excitation of the planar oscillation of the oscillating masses and evaluation means for the determination of a Coriolis acceleration. Oscillating masses, driving means and integrated stops are structured in a common operation by means of plasma etching from a silicon-on-insulator (SOI) wafer.