Communications: electrical – Land vehicle alarms or indicators
Reexamination Certificate
1999-06-14
2001-08-14
Lefkowitz, Edward (Department: 2632)
Communications: electrical
Land vehicle alarms or indicators
C340S436000, C340S438000, C340S439000, C180S272000, C280S735000, C701S045000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06275146
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention (Technical Field)
The present invention relates to vehicle occupant sensing methods and apparatuses.
2. Background Art
Detection of occupants in a vehicle is necessary for improved performance of safety systems, as well as for activation of comfort and convenience systems. Sensor technologies known in the art include beam-emitting devices such as infrared, ultrasound, microwave, and capacitance-based sensors, the latter being able to fill a volume and respond to the different conductivity of the occupant versus that of air and surrounding materials. These sensor technologies are usefully employed, in various embodiments in various locations in a vehicle. The present invention is of novel configurations providing a plethora of advantages over known systems, as described below.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION (DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION)
The present invention is of a capacitive sensor array comprising a plurality of capacitive sensors, each of the sensors comprising two adjacent electrodes formed on a single surface of a dielectric substrate. In the preferred embodiment, each capacitive sensor is installed in a seat, floor, door panel, dashboard, roof, roof supports, or steering wheel of a vehicle to sense occupant presence or position.
The invention is further of a signal device for a vehicle airbag system or other safety device, the device comprising a voltage threshold, the threshold selected from a range of output voltages created by a capacitive sensor constructed of dual adjacent electrodes formed on a single surface of a dielectric substrate, the range of voltages comprising a continuum from a maximum voltage when sensing fields are undisturbed by proximity of a person to a minimum voltage when a person is adjacent to the capacitive sensor.
The invention is additionally of a capacitive sensor array comprising a plurality of capacitive sensors with dual adjacent electrodes formed on a single surface of a dielectric substrate, the array installed in a vehicle in a manner to detect a vehicle occupant's head position relative to a seat headrest, and the array connected to adjustment means for adjusting seat headrest position to achieve a desired proximity of the headrest to the occupant's head.
The invention is also of a device for determining head position of a vehicle occupant by reference to proximity values obtained from an array of three or more proximity sensors, the device employing a geometric relationship of the sensors and the occupant's head, the device optionally employing an adjustment of the proximity values to adjust for a difference between a head surface proximity point and a head interior point, the device optionally being used to detect occupant impairment, to detect relative risk to the occupant caused by occupant's possibly dangerous position, or to enable the occupant to perform tasks by undertaking predetermined movements of the head.
The invention is still further of a device for detecting vehicle operator impairment, the device comprising means for determining phase shifts of vehicle motion and operator head motion.
The invention is additionally of a vehicle occupant sensing system employing one or more capacitive sensors and one or more weight sensors, the one or more capacitive sensors comprising dual adjacent electrodes formed on a surface of a dielectric substrate, and optionally wherein the capacitive sensors is positioned in a roof, dashboard and/or seat, and optionally wherein the weight sensor is positioned in a seat.
The invention is also of a vehicle airbag system comprising an occupant sensing system and an airbag inflation means, the occupant sensing system comprising one or more capacitive sensors positioned adjacent a roof, and optionally comprising means to detect occupant weight, the airbag inflation means becoming armed upon the capacitive sensors outputting a signal indicating presence of an occupant and receiving a signal from the weight sensing means indicating presence of an occupant.
The invention is further of a capacitive sensor comprising a plurality of electrodes formed on a single surface of a dielectric substrate, the electrodes being separated by grounded areas, the substrate additionally comprising a grounded area on an opposite surface from the electrodes, the opposite-side grounded area electrically connected to grounded areas which separate the electrodes. In the preferred embodiment, the substrate encompasses all or a portion of at least two adjacent sides of a rectangle.
The invention is yet further of a capacitive sensor comprising at least two adjacent electrodes formed on a single surface of a dielectric material and electronic parts electrically connected to the electrodes, wherein the electronic parts are installed on an opposite surface of the dielectric material or on a separate dielectric material which is adhered to the capacitive sensor dielectric material.
Primary objects of the present invention are to provide for enhanced safety and operability of automated systems within passenger vehicles.
A primary advantage of the present invention is it ability to provide the above objects in a cost effective manner.
Other objects, advantages and novel features, and further scope of applicability of the present invention will be set forth in part in the detailed description to follow, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, and in part will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon examination of the following, or may be learned by practice of the invention. The objects and advantages of the invention may be realized and attained by means of the instrumentalities and combinations particularly pointed out in the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3740567 (1973-06-01), Atkins
patent: 4625329 (1986-11-01), Ishikawa et al.
patent: 4796013 (1989-01-01), Yasuda et al.
patent: 4908574 (1990-03-01), Rhoades et al.
patent: 4972154 (1990-11-01), Bechtel et al.
patent: 4980519 (1990-12-01), Mathews
patent: 5071160 (1991-12-01), White et al.
patent: 5074583 (1991-12-01), Fujita et al.
patent: 5118134 (1992-06-01), Mattes et al.
patent: 5161820 (1992-11-01), Vollmer
patent: 5166679 (1992-11-01), Vranish et al.
patent: 5214388 (1993-05-01), Vranish et al.
patent: 5232243 (1993-08-01), Blackburn et al.
patent: 5247261 (1993-09-01), Gershenfeld
patent: 5261506 (1993-11-01), Jost
patent: 5291014 (1994-03-01), Brede et al.
patent: 5330226 (1994-07-01), Gentry et al.
patent: 5362051 (1994-11-01), Swafford, Jr. et al.
patent: 5366241 (1994-11-01), Kithil
patent: 5394097 (1995-02-01), Bechtel et al.
patent: 5398185 (1995-03-01), Omura
patent: 5400487 (1995-03-01), Gioutsos et al.
patent: 5404128 (1995-04-01), Ogino et al.
patent: 5431438 (1995-07-01), Manabe
patent: 5439249 (1995-08-01), Steffens, Jr. et al.
patent: 5446661 (1995-08-01), Gioutsos et al.
patent: 5482314 (1996-01-01), Corrado et al.
patent: 5494311 (1996-02-01), Blackburn et al.
patent: 5512836 (1996-04-01), Chen et al.
patent: 5525843 (1996-06-01), Höwing
patent: 5540459 (1996-07-01), Daniel
patent: 5549323 (1996-08-01), Davis
patent: 5551288 (1996-09-01), Geraldi et al.
patent: 5602734 (1997-02-01), Kithil
patent: 5653462 (1997-08-01), Breed et al.
patent: 5702123 (1997-12-01), Takahashi et al.
patent: 5707077 (1998-01-01), Yokota et al.
patent: 5712784 (1998-01-01), Fendt et al.
patent: 5722686 (1998-03-01), Blackburn et al.
patent: 5742916 (1998-04-01), Bischoff
patent: 5770997 (1998-06-01), Kleinberg
patent: 5785347 (1998-07-01), Adolph et al.
patent: 5802479 (1998-09-01), Kithil et al.
patent: 5829782 (1998-11-01), Breed et al.
patent: 5844486 (1998-12-01), Kithil et al.
patent: 5848802 (1998-12-01), Breed et al.
patent: 5861681 (1999-01-01), Nakano et al.
patent: 5871232 (1999-02-01), White
patent: 5914610 (1999-06-01), Gershenfeld et al.
Baxter, Larry, “Capacitive Sensors, Design and Applications”, IEEE Press Series on Electronics Technology, pp. 22-23, 44-45, 68-71, and 74-75.
Touch Sensor Technologies, “Human Touch Sensor”, touchsensor.com, Jan., 1999.
Barron Michael H.
Kithil Philip W.
McIntosh William C.
Lefkowitz Edward
Myers Jeffrey D.
LandOfFree
Vehicle occupant sensing does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Vehicle occupant sensing, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Vehicle occupant sensing will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2493531