Occupant sensor

Abstract

An electric field sensor comprises at least one electrode mountable in a vehicle seat and a sensing circuit operatively coupled to the electrode, wherein the at least one electrode at least partially bounds at least one region that is proximate to an object such as an infant seat, a child seat, or a booster seat, for which the sensitivity of the sensor is preferably reduced. The at least one region without a conductive electrode may comprise a plurality of regions, and at least one of the regions may extend laterally across the seat. Furthermore, a plurality of electrodes may be incorporated, each having a different sensitivity to particular objects to be sensed, wherein an overall capacitance measurement that is dominated by the capacitance of the particular electrode that is most sensitive to the particular object can be used to indicate the presence of that object.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.