Patent ID: 6559555
Filing Date: 2003-05-06
Classification: B60N,B60R

Abstract:
A passenger detection system comprising:an array of at least three spaced-apart antenna electrodes disposed on a seat, at least two of said antenna electrodes arranged in a linear row and one antenna electrode offset from said linear row; an electric field generation device connectable to said at least three spaced-apart antenna electrodes for generating an electric field around at least one antenna electrode of said at least three spaced-apart antenna electrodes; a switching circuit for selecting a particular antenna electrode from said at least three spaced-apart antenna electrodes and connecting said selected antenna electrode to said electric field generation device to produce said electric field around said selected antenna electrode; an information detection circuit for detecting said electric field around said selected antenna electrode, and obtaining information related to a current flowing in said selected antenna electrode resulting from said electric field around said selected antenna electrode; and a control circuit for receiving signal data from said information detection circuit and determining passenger seating conditions on said seat according to said signal data.