# US 2014/0197942 A1 · Occupant classification system with seat back sensor > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0197942 A1 - Document ID: US20140197942A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/152,471 - Filed: 2014-01-10 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2013-01-11 - Assignees: TK Holdings Inc. - Applicants: TK Holdings Inc. - Inventors: Michael Robert TABACZYNSKI; Jeffrey Scott BENNETT; Phillip B. MAGUIRE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140197942A1 ## CPC - B60R 21/01532: {using electric or capacitive field sensors} - B60N 2/0024: {for identifying, categorising or investigation of the occupant or object on the seat} - B60N 2/5685: {Resistance} - B60R 21/0154: {in combination with seat heating} - B60N 2210/12: Capacitive; Electric field - B60N 2230/10: Wired data transmission - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - B60N: SEATS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR VEHICLES; VEHICLE PASSENGER ACCOMMODATION NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A classification system for determining the occupancy state of a seat of a vehicle. The classification system includes a first sensing electrode located in a back portion of the seat and a a second sensing electrode located in a base portion of the seat. The system includes a measurement circuit configured to measure a first property associated with the first sensing electrode and a second property associated with the second electrode. A controller is configured to send an occupancy signal indicative of the occupancy state of the seat based on the measured properties associated with the first and second sensing electrodes. The controller may be configured to send the occupancy signal to a Seat Belt Reminder (SBR) system. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A classification system, for determining the occupancy state of a seat of a vehicle, the system comprising: a first sensing electrode located in a back portion of the seat; a second sensing electrode located in a base portion of the seat; a measurement circuit configured to measure a first property associated with the first sensing electrode and a second property associated with the second electrode; a controller configured to send an occupancy signal indicative of the occupancy state of the seat based on the measured properties associated with the first and second sensing electrodes. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller is configured to send the occupancy signal to a Seat Belt Reminder (SBR) system. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the controller and the measurement circuit are located in the same electronic control unit. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the measurement circuit provides a first measured signal to the controller and wherein the first measured signal is indicative of the first property. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The system of claim 4, wherein the measurement circuit provides a second measured signal to the controller and wherein the second measured signal is indicative of the second property. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The system of claim 5, wherein the controller is configured to make a determination of the occupancy state of the seat based on the first and second measured signals. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the seat is occupied if both the first measured signal and the second measured signal indicate that the seat is occupied. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system of claim 7, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the seat is not occupied if the second measured signal indicates that the seat is not occupied. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the seat is not occupied if the first measured signal indicates the seat is not occupied and the second measured signal indicates that the seat is occupied. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the determination of the controller is provided to a Seat Belt Reminder (SBR) system in the form of the occupancy signal. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the measurement circuit is configured to measure in-phase and quadrature components of a first current carried by the first sensing electrode and to measure in-phase and quadrature components of a second current carried by the second sensing electrode. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, further comprising a heating element located in the seat bottom. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The system of claim 12, wherein the heating element is integrated into the second conductor. ### Claim 14 A classification system, for determining the occupancy state of a seat of a vehicle, the system comprising: a first electrode located in a back portion of the seat; a second electrode located in a base portion of the seat; a control unit configured to send a voltage signal to each of the first and second electrodes; a measurement circuit configured to measure a property of the voltage signals provided to the first and second electrodes; a controller configured to send an occupancy signal indicative of the occupancy state of the seat based on the detected change in the voltage signals, wherein the controller is configured to determine that the seat is occupied if both the measured property of the voltage signal to the first electrode and the measured property of the voltage signal to the second electrode indicate that the seat is occupied; and wherein the controller is configured to send the occupancy signal to a Seat Belt Reminder (SBR) system. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, wherein the second electrode is configured to function as a heating element. ### Claim 16 The system of clam 14, wherein the control unit comprises the measurement circuit and the controller. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The system of claim 14, further comprising a separate heating element located in the seat back.