Patent ID: 8669492

Claim:
A passenger seat device for an automotive vehicle, comprising: a seat heater embedded at least in a seat in parallel to a seat surface, wherein an electric current is supplied to the seat heater in a controlled manner from an on-board power source of the automotive vehicle; a first seat heater switch that is interposed between a first end of the seat heater and the on-board power source; a second seat heater switch that is interposed between a second end of the seat heater and a ground; a detector electrode embedded in the seat; an alternating current power source which is provided integrally with or separate from the on-board power source and which supplies an alternating voltage having a predetermined frequency to the detector electrode; a detector for detecting occupancy conditions of the seat based on changes in an electric potential of the detector electrode, wherein: the first and second ends of the seat heater are disconnected from the on-board power source and the ground, respectively, for a predetermined time value by opening the first and second seat heater switches to bring the seat heater to a floating state; and the detector detects the occupancy conditions of the seat during a period in which the seat heater is in the floating state.