US3740567A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
High-discrimination antenna array for capacitance-responsive circuits
Assignee: Cooper Industries LLC
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Filing: 1972-04-20
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Granted: 1973-06-19
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Expires: 1992-04-20
Abstract
Abstract A multi-element antenna array for use with capacitanceresponsive circuits to enable discrimination between human occupants and animals or packages resting on an automobile seat.
Inventors
- 👤 C Atkins
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 04:03
CPC Classifications
B; B60; B60R; B60R21/00; B60R21/01; B60R21/015; B60R21/01512; B60R21/0153; B60R21/01532; B60N; B60N2/00; B60N2/002; B60N2/0021; B60N2/0024; B60N2/0026; B60N2210/00; B60N2210/10; B60N2210/12; B60R22/00; B60R22/48; B60R2022/4808; B60R2022/4858
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 20
Claim 1
Independent Claim
65 words
In a system including capacitance-responsive circuit, the improvement comprising: multi-element antenna means coupled to said capacitance-responsive circuit to enable discrimination by said capitance-responsive circuit between (a) humans and (b) animals or objects the size or shape of which is substantially different from humans by the degree of capacitive coupling to each element of said antenna means when positioned in the vicinity of said antenna means.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
65 words
In a system including capacitance-responsive circuit, the improvement comprising: multi-element antenna means coupled to said capacitance-responsive circuit to enable discrimination by said capitance-responsive circuit between (a) humans and (b) animals or objects the size or shape of which is substantially different from humans by the degree of capacitive coupling to each element of said antenna means when positioned in the vicinity of said antenna means.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
12 words
The improvement according to claim 1 wherein said multi-element antenna means comprises:
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
12 words
a second electrically conductive element disposed over a second predetermined area; and
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
12 words
a second electrically conductive element disposed over a second predetermined area; and
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
17 words
a second electrically conductive element disposed in the region of said fundament-supporting portion of said seat; and
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
a second electrically conductive element disposed in the region of said fundament-supporting portion of said seat; and
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
10 words
a third electrically conductive element disposed along a predetermined line.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
10 words
a third electrically conductive element disposed along a predetermined line.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
22 words
a third electrically conductive element disposed along at least a segment of the forward edge of said fundament-supporting portion of said seat.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
a third electrically conductive element disposed along at least a segment of the forward edge of said fundament-supporting portion of said seat.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
65 words
The improvement according to claim 2 wherein said first electrically conductive element is disposed in the region of the back-rest portion of a seat, said second electrically conductive element is disposed in the region of the fundament-supporting portion of said seat, and said third electrically conductive element is disposed along at least a segment of the forward edge of the fundament-supporting portion of said seat.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
57 words
The improvement according to claim 2 further comprising first, second and third coupling circuit means associated with said first, second and third electrically conductive elements, respectively, each coupling circuit means being operative to modify the effect upon the capacitance-responsive circuit of capacitive coupling by humans, animals or objects to the elements associated with said coupling circuit means.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improvement according to claim 4 wherein said first coupling circuit means comprises a first capacitance, said second coupling circuit means comprises a second capacitance, and said third coupling circuit means comprises a resistance.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a system including a seat having a back-rest portion and a fundament-supporting portion and a capacitance-responsive circuit, the improvement comprising: multi-element antenna means disposed in predetermined regions of said back-rest and fundament-supporting portions of said seat and coupled to said capacitance-responsive circuit to enable discrimination by said capacitance-responsive circuit between (a) humans and (b) animals or objects the size or shape of which is substantially different from humans by the degree of capacitive coupling to each element of said antenna means when occupying said seat.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
86 words
In a system including a seat having a back-rest portion and a fundament-supporting portion and a capacitance-responsive circuit, the improvement comprising: multi-element antenna means disposed in predetermined regions of said back-rest and fundament-supporting portions of said seat and coupled to said capacitance-responsive circuit to enable discrimination by said capacitance-responsive circuit between (a) humans and (b) animals or objects the size or shape of which is substantially different from humans by the degree of capacitive coupling to each element of said antenna means when occupying said seat.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
12 words
The improvement according to claim 6 wherein said multi-element antenna means comprises:
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
43 words
The improvement according to claim 7 wherein said first electrically conductive element is disposed over a first predetermined area, said second electrically conductive element is disposed over a second predetermined area, and said third electrically conductive element is disposed along a predetermined line.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
57 words
The improvement according to claim 7 further comprising first, second and third coupling circuit means associated with said first, second and third electrically conductive elements, respectively, each coupling circuit means being operative to modify the effect upon the capacitance-responsive circuit of capacitive coupling by humans, animals and objects to the elements associated with said coupling circuit means.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
34 words
The improvement according to claim 9 wherein said first coupling circuit means comprises a first capacitance, said second coupling circuit means comprises a second capacitance, and said third coupling circuit means comprises a resistance.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1976-06-18 | 1976-12-18 | 1977-06-19 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1980-06-18 | 1980-12-18 | 1981-06-19 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1984-06-18 | 1984-12-18 | 1985-06-19 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |