Occupant detection system

A system for detecting an occupant in a seat of a vehicle, comprising:

• a. a seat;
• b. at least one weight sensor operatively coupled to said seat, wherein said at least one weight sensor is responsive to a weight of an object upon said seat when said object is placed on said seat;
• c. an electric field sensor comprising at least one first electrode, wherein said at least one first electrode is operatively connected to a seat bottom of said seat, said electric field sensor generates an electric field proximate to said at least one first electrode, and generates a signal responsive to said electric field, and said electric field sensor is adapted to distinguish a first seating condition from another seating condition, wherein said first seating condition is an occupant selected from (i) a child in a child seat on said seat, (ii) an infant or child in a rear facing infant seat on said seat, or (iii) a child in a booster seat on said seat;
• and
• d. a signal processor operatively connected to said at least one weight sensor and to said electric field sensor, wherein said signal processor generates a signal indicative of a type of occupant on said seat responsive to a signal from said at least one weight sensor and a signal from said electric field sensor.

An occupant detection system, comprising:

• a. a vehicle seat;
• b. a first electrode mounted in said vehicle seat, wherein said first electrode is proximate to a portion of an occupant selected from an infant or child that is closest to said vehicle seat when said occupant is seated in an infant seat, a child seat, or a booster seat, and the infant seat, the child seat or the booster seat is placed on said vehicle seat;
• c. a second electrode mounted in said vehicle seat, wherein said second electrode is less proximate to said portion of said occupant than is said first electrode, and said second electrode at least partially surrounds said first electrode;
• d. a sensing circuit operatively coupled to said first and second electrodes, wherein said sensing circuit generates a first measure responsive to a capacitance of said first electrode and said sensing circuit generates a second measure responsive to a capacitance of said second electrode.

A method of detecting an occupant on a vehicle seat, comprising:

• a. placing a first electrode in a vehicle seat proximate to a location on said vehicle seat closest to a portion of an occupant selected from an infant or child that is closest to said vehicle seat when said occupant is seated in an infant seat, a child seat, or a booster seat, and the infant seat, the child seat or the booster seat is placed on said vehicle seat;
• b. placing a second electrode in said vehicle seat at least partially surrounding said first electrode in a location that is less proximate to said portion of said occupant;
• c. applying a first oscillating signal to said first electrode;
• d. detecting a first response from said first electrode to said first oscillating signal;
• e. applying a second oscillating signal to said second electrode;
• and
• f. detecting a second response from said second electrode to said second oscillating signal.