Patent ID: 7859423
Filing Date: 2010-12-28
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
1. A film-type electrostatic capacitance sensor for detecting occupancy of a seat mounted in a vehicle, the sensor comprising: a planar mat buried in one of a seat face portion and a back rest portion of the seat, the planar mat extending along the one of the seat face portion and the back rest portion of the seat, the planar mat having a resin film extending along the one of the seat face portion and the back rest portion of the seat, and at least two electrodes provided individually on different sides of the resin film, the planar mat including an electrically insulating electrode protecting portion covering at least an exposed portion of each of the at least two electrodes; and a detector circuit portion detecting a change in an electrical state of the planar mat between the at least two electrodes based on whether the seat is occupied, wherein: the two electrodes are provided individually on both sides of the resin film; the electrode protecting portion provided on one of the sides of the resin film includes a resin coating layer; the electrode protecting portion provided on the other of the sides of the resin film includes a preformed resin film as a cover film; the planar mat is interposed between a cushion pad of the seat and a surface portion of the seat; the resin coating layer is disposed closer to the cushion pad; the planar mat is interposed between a heater portion of the seat and a surface portion of the seat; the resin coating layer is disposed closer to the heater portion; and the resin coating layer is formed on the same surface of the resin film as the detector circuit portion mounted on the resin film.