Patent ID: 7598881

Claim:
A sensor system for occupant detection, the sensor system comprising: a flexible circuit material comprising an electrical insulating material; an antenna supported by the flexible circuit material, the antenna adjacent to an occupant seating area; a circuit substrate physically connected to the flexible circuit material by a first permanent connection; a first circuit on the circuit substrate separate from the antenna, the first circuit operable to measure occupant information by electrical connection with the antenna and spaced from the occupant seating area, the antenna physically connected to the circuit substrate by a first permanent connection, the first circuit configured to output the measured occupant information free of determination of any characteristic of an occupant; at least one wire electrically connected with the first circuit, the at least one wire physically connected to the circuit substrate by a second permanent connection; and a processor operable to determine a characteristic of the occupant as a function of the occupant information output free of determination of any characteristic, the processor electrically connected with the first circuit by the at least one wire, the processor spaced from the first circuit by the at least one wire and spaced from the occupant seating area.