Seat occupancy sensor unit for seat with spring suspension or seat pan

A vehicle seat, comprising a seat cushion supported by cushion-supporting springs and a pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, comprising:

• a support plate having a top surface and a bottom surface,
• a plurality of bearing elements for fixation of said support plate on seat cushion suspension springs, said bearing elements defining an upper surface of said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, wherein said top surface of said support plate is arranged recessed from said upper surface;
• a foam pad disposed between said bearing elements on said support plate;
• a recess formed in said top surface of said support plate, underneath said foam pad;
• and
• a pressure-responsive membrane switch arranged in said recess,
• wherein said recess has a depth exceeding the thickness of said pressure-responsive membrane switch and wherein said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit rests on said cushion-supporting springs and is applied by said cushion-supporting springs against said seat cushion.

A pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit for detecting an occupancy state of a seat, comprising:

• a support plate having a top surface and a bottom surface,
• a plurality of spacer elements defining an upper surface of said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit from which upper surface said top surface of said support plate is arranged recessed from;
• a foam pad disposed between said spacer elements, carried by said support plate;
• a recess formed in said top surface of said support plate, underneath said foam pad;
• and
• a pressure-responsive membrane switch arranged in said recess,
• wherein said recess has a depth exceeding the thickness of said pressure-responsive membrane switch.

A vehicle seat, comprising a seat cushion supported by a cushion-supporting pan and a pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit, said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit comprising

• a support plate having a top surface and a bottom surface,
• a plurality of spacer elements defining an upper surface of said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit from which upper surface said top surface of said support plate is arranged recessed from;
• a foam pad disposed between said spacer elements, carried by said support plate;
• a recess formed in said top surface of said support plate, underneath said foam pad;
• and
• a pressure-responsive membrane switch arranged in said recess,
• wherein said recess has a depth exceeding the thickness of said pressure-responsive membrane switch and wherein said pressure-responsive seat occupancy sensor unit rests on said cushion-supporting pan and is applied by said cushion-supporting pan against said seat cushion.