James R Stanley, 66Ypsilanti, MI

6348862, Feb 19, 2002

Mar 6, 2000

09/520866

Judson G. McDonnell - Farmington Hills MI
James G. Stanley - Novi MI

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

G08B 1326

340562, 180272, 280735, 340561

A sense electrode ( ) and a plurality of control electrodes ( ) are located proximate to a region of space ( ) for sensing an object ( ) therein. A first signal ( ) and a plurality of second signals ( ) respectively applied to the sense ( ) and control ( ) electrodes generate an electric field ( ) within the region of space ( ). The capacitance of the sense electrode ( ) is measured for various electric field configurations responsive to the second signals ( ) and to the proximity of the object ( ). A most likely proximity scenario from a priori proximity scenarios is determined from the plurality of capacitance measurements. A front driven shield ( ) is provided between the sense electrode ( ) and the region of space ( ) for selectively shielding the sense electrode ( ) from influence by objects ( ) or grounds, so as to provide for calibrating the measurement circuit ( ) to compensate for parasitic capacitance and gain drift.

6378900, Apr 30, 2002

May 10, 2000

09/568596

James G. Stanley - Novi MI
Judson G. McDonnell - Farmington Hills MI

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

B60R 2132

280735, 701 45

A first electric field sensor in a seat bottom identifies whether there is normally seated, forward facing occupant on a vehicle seat by generating an electric field and sensing the effect of proximate objects thereupon. A second electric field sensor determines if an object is within an at-risk zone proximate to a safety restraint system by sensing from a proximate location the electric field generated by the first electric field sensor, and is responsive to the degree to which an object detected in the at-risk zone is electrostatically coupled to the vehicle seat. A range/proximity sensor may be provided to measure the proximity of an occupant to the seat back, so as to accommodate occupant movement prior to the deployment of the safety restraint system, and to improve occupant discrimination.

6392542, May 21, 2002

Jul 11, 2000

09/614086

James G. Stanley - Novi MI

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

G08B 1326

340561, 280735, 340562, 701 45

An electric field sensor ( ) comprising at least one electrode ( ) mountable within a seat ( ) is operatively coupled to a sensing circuit ( ), which applies an oscillating signal ( ), comprising at least one frequency or at least one pulse, to at least one electrode ( ) and generates a signal ( ) responsive to at least one electric-field-influencing property of an object proximate to the electric field sensor ( ). At least one frequency or pulse width of the applied signal ( ) are adapted to be at most weakly responsive to a wetting condition of the seat ( ). A method of sensing an occupant comprises placing at least one electrode ( ) within a seat ( ) of a motor vehicle ( ), applying an oscillating signal ( ) to at least one electrode, measuring ( ) the amplitude ( ) and phase ( ) of a signal ( ) responsive to the at least one electrode ( ), rotating ( ) the measured amplitude ( ) and phase ( ), compensating ( ) the rotated amplitude by a value responsive to the rotated phase, and comparing ( ) the compensated amplitude with a threshold.

6445294, Sep 3, 2002

Jul 14, 2000

09/616406

Judson G. McDonnell - Farmington Hills MI
James G. Stanley - Novi MI

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

G08B 1326

340562, 180272, 280735, 340561

A sense electrode ( ) is driven by a first oscillatory signal ( ) and at least one control electrode ( ) is driven by a second oscillatory signal ( ). In first ( ) and second ( ) states ( ), the second oscillatory signal ( ) respectively has a first and second phase with respect to the first oscillatory signal ( ). The proximity of an electric-field-influencing media ( ) to the proximity sensor ( ) is responsive to the difference of third ( ) and fourth ( ) signals that are respectively measured when the second oscillatory signal ( ) is in respective first ( ) and second ( ) states. The proximity sensor ( ) is calibrated with a known capacitance operatively coupled to the sense electrode ( ) with a plurality of switches (S , S ) adapted so that the switches (S , S ) have a relatively small effect on the capacitance of the sense electrode ( ).

6517106, Feb 11, 2003

Dec 29, 1999

09/474473

James G. Stanley - Novi MI
Judson G. McDonnell - Farmington Hills MI

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

B60R 2132

280735

An occupant detection system comprises an electric field sensor in the seat bottom of a vehicle seat for discriminating objects on the seat, and a range/proximity sensor for sensing the proximity of an occupants torso relative to the seat back of a vehicle seat. The electric field sensor discriminates normally seated occupants from other seating conditions, and disables a restraint actuator unless a normally seated occupant is present. The range/proximity sensor disables the restraint actuator if an occupant has not been proximate to the seat back for a period of time greater than a threshold.

6520535, Feb 18, 2003

Dec 29, 1999

09/474600

James G. Stanley - Novi MI
Judson G. McDonnell - Farmington Hills MI

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

B60R 2132

280735, 180271

An occupant detection system comprises an electric field sensor in the seat bottom of a vehicle seat for discriminating objects on the seat, and a range/proximity sensor for sensing the presence of an object proximate to a restraint actuator. The electric field sensor discriminates normally seated occupants from other seating conditions, and disables a restraint actuator unless a normally seated occupant is present. The range/proximity sensor disables the restraint actuator if an occupant is located in an at-risk so as to be susceptible to injury by the restraint actuator.

6563231, May 13, 2003

Dec 29, 1999

09/474469

James G. Stanley - Novi MI
Judson G. McDonnell - Farmington Hills MI

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

B60L 100

307 101

An occupant sensor comprises an electric field sensor comprising a plurality of first electrodes mountable within a vehicle seat, wherein the plurality of first electrodes are disposed on a common surface and are non-overlapping with one another. The electric field sensor further comprises at least one second electrode, wherein the first and second electrodes are proximate to one another. A sensing circuit is operatively coupled to the first and second electrodes so as to control the level of capacitance between an occupant on said vehicle seat and the circuit ground. In a second aspect, the electric field sensor incorporates a lattice electrode with a ground plane. In a third aspect, the electric field sensor incorporates a receive electrode that receives a signal from a sensing electrode for purposes of mitigating the effects of a seat wetting condition.

6577023, Jun 10, 2003

Dec 29, 1999

09/474470

James G. Stanley - Novi MI
Judson G. McDonnell - Farmington Hills MI

Automotive Systems Laboratory, Inc. - Farmington Hills MI

B60L 100

307 101, 701 50

An occupant detection system comprises an electric field sensor in the seat bottom of a vehicle seat for discriminating objects on the seat, and a seat weight sensor for sensing the force upon the seat. The electric field sensor discriminates normally seated occupants from other seating conditions, and disables a restraint actuator unless a normally seated occupant is present. The seat weight sensor disables the restraint actuator if force upon the seat is less than a threshold.