Patent US4796013A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US4796013A
Expired / Lapsed
US
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Capacitive occupancy detector apparatus
Assignee: Aisin Corp
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Filing: 1986-10-15
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Granted: 1989-01-03
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Expires: 2006-10-15
Abstract
Abstract A capacitive occupancy detector apparatus includes a personnel containment device having first and second electrodes which will define an electric field therebetween which will be intercepted by a person present in the containment device. A detecting device is provided for detecting the capacitance formed between the first and second electrodes and a processor is provided for storing the capacitance at predetermined periods. The difference between the last capacitance detected and a capacitance previously stored is detected to determine the presence of a person when the difference indicates an increase of the capacitance exceeding a first predetermined threshold. A second threshold is set based upon the capacitance which determines the presence of a person so that the subsequent determination of the absence of a person is based upon detecting a decrease of the capacitance with respect to the second threshold.
Inventors
- 👤 Tomio Yasuda
- 👤 Jun Sato
- 👤 Masao Ohashi
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 14:35
CPC Classifications
H; H03; H03K; H03K17/00; H03K17/94; H03K17/945; H03K17/955; G; G01; G01V; G01V3/00; G01V3/08; G01V3/088; G07; G07B; G07B13/00; G07B13/02; G07B13/04; H01; H01H; H01H3/00; H01H3/02; H01H3/14; H01H3/141
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 16
Claim 1
Independent Claim
189 words
A personnel detector comprising personnel containment means first and second electrodes insulated from each other and arranged such that at least part of a person present in said personnel containment means is disposed therebetween; capacitance detecting means for detecting a capacitance between the first and the second electrodes and providing a representative electrical signal; processing means including storage means for storing the electrical signal; storage update means for causing the electrical signal stored in the storage means to be updated at given time intervals; comparison means for producing an electrical signal representing the arrival of a person whenever a difference between the electrical signal developed by the capacitance detecting means and the signal stored by the storage means exceeds a first threshold value; and means for setting a second threshold value based on the capacitance detected during the presence of a person and determining the departure of a person when the capacitance detected by the detecting means decreases below said second threshold value; wherein said capacitance detecting means includes an oscillator means which produces a signal of a frequency which decreases with an increasing capacitance and a frequency/voltage converter.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
189 words
A personnel detector comprising personnel containment means first and second electrodes insulated from each other and arranged such that at least part of a person present in said personnel containment means is disposed therebetween; capacitance detecting means for detecting a capacitance between the first and the second electrodes and providing a representative electrical signal; processing means including storage means for storing the electrical signal; storage update means for causing the electrical signal stored in the storage means to be updated at given time intervals; comparison means for producing an electrical signal representing the arrival of a person whenever a difference between the electrical signal developed by the capacitance detecting means and the signal stored by the storage means exceeds a first threshold value; and means for setting a second threshold value based on the capacitance detected during the presence of a person and determining the departure of a person when the capacitance detected by the detecting means decreases below said second threshold value; wherein said capacitance detecting means includes an oscillator means which produces a signal of a frequency which decreases with an increasing capacitance and a frequency/voltage converter.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
32 words
A personnel detector according to claim 1 in which the electrical signal developed by the capacitance detecting means comprises a voltage signal which corresponds to the frequency developed by the oscillator means.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
A personnel detector according to claim 2 in which the storage means comprises means for retaining a sample voltage.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
61 words
A personnel detector according to claim 3 in which the storage update means comprises means for producing a sampling signal which is applied to the sample voltage retaining means to sample the voltage, further including blocking means for preventing a sampling signal from being produced whenever the comparison and processing means produces an electrical signal representing the presence of a person.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
189 words
A personnel detector comprising personnel containment means first and second electrodes insulated from each other and arranged such that at least part of a person present in said personnel containment means is disposed therebetween; capacitance detecting means for detecting a capacitance between the first and the second electrodes and providing a representative electrical signal; processing means including storage means for storing the electrical signal; storage update means for causing the electrical signal stored in the storage means to be updated at given time intervals; comparison means for producing an electrical signal representing the arrival of a person whenever a difference between the electrical signal developed by the capacitance detecting means and the signal stored by the storage means exceeds a first threshold value; and means for setting a second threshold value based on the capacitance detected during the presence of a person and determining the departure of a person when the capacitance detected by the detecting means decreases below said second threshold value; wherein the first electrode comprises a conductive layer mounted on a door trim of the vehicle and the second electrode comprises the body of the vehicle.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
189 words
A personnel detector comprising personnel containment means first and second electrodes insulated from each other and arranged such that at least part of a person present in said personnel containment means is disposed therebetween; capacitance detecting means for detecting a capacitance between the first and the second electrodes and providing a representative electrical signal; processing means including storage means for storing the electrical signal; storage update means for causing the electrical signal stored in the storage means to be updated at given time intervals; comparison means for producing an electrical signal representing the arrival of a person whenever a difference between the electrical signal developed by the capacitance detecting means and the signal stored by the storage means exceeds a first threshold value; and means for setting a second threshold value based on the capacitance detected during the presence of a person and determining the departure of a person when the capacitance detected by the detecting means decreases below said second threshold value; wherein the first electrode comprises a conductive layer mounted on a door trim of the vehicle and the second electrode comprises the body of the vehicle.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
44 words
A personnel detector according to claim 5 in which the conductive layer is in the form of a thin film of electrically conductive material such as a metal foil, a fabric of conductive fibers, a conductive paint applied to a film or the like.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
25 words
A personnel detector according to claim 6 in which the conductive layer is mounted on the rear side of a skin of the door trim.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
189 words
A personnel detector comprising personnel containment means first and second electrodes insulated from each other and arranged such that at least part of a person present in said personnel containment means is disposed therebetween; capacitance detecting means for detecting a capacitance between the first and the second electrodes and providing a representative electrical signal; processing means including storage means for storing the electrical signal; storage update means for causing the electrical signal stored in the storage means to be updated at given time intervals; comparison means for producing an electrical signal representing the arrival of a person whenever a difference between the electrical signal developed by the capacitance detecting means and the signal stored by the storage means exceeds a first threshold value; and means for setting a second threshold value based on the capacitance detected during the presence of a person and determining the departure of a person when the capacitance detected by the detecting means decreases below said second threshold value; wherein the first electrode comprises a conductive layer mounted on an arm rest of the vehicle and the second electrode comprises the body of the vehicle.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
189 words
A personnel detector comprising personnel containment means first and second electrodes insulated from each other and arranged such that at least part of a person present in said personnel containment means is disposed therebetween; capacitance detecting means for detecting a capacitance between the first and the second electrodes and providing a representative electrical signal; processing means including storage means for storing the electrical signal; storage update means for causing the electrical signal stored in the storage means to be updated at given time intervals; comparison means for producing an electrical signal representing the arrival of a person whenever a difference between the electrical signal developed by the capacitance detecting means and the signal stored by the storage means exceeds a first threshold value; and means for setting a second threshold value based on the capacitance detected during the presence of a person and determining the departure of a person when the capacitance detected by the detecting means decreases below said second threshold value; wherein the first electrode comprises a conductive layer mounted on an arm rest of the vehicle and the second electrode comprises the body of the vehicle.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
44 words
A personnel detector according to claim 8 in which the conductive layer is in the form of a thin film of electrically conductive material such as a metal foil, a fabric of conductive fibers, a conductive paint applied to a film or the like.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
25 words
A personnel detector according to claim 9 in which the conductive layer is mounted on the rear side of a skin of the arm rest.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
198 words
A personnel detector comprising personnel containment means first and second electrodes insulated from each other and arranged such that at least part of a person present in said personnel containment means is disposed therebetween; capacitance detecting means for detecting a capacitance between the first and the second electrodes and providing a representative electrical signal; processing means including storage means for storing the electrical signal; storage update means for causing the electrical signal stored in the storage means to be updated at given time intervals; comparison means for producing an electrical signal representing the arrival of a person whenever a difference between the electrical signal developed by the capacitance detecting means and the signal stored by the storage means exceeds a first threshold value; and means for setting a second threshold value based on the capacitance detected during the presence of a person and determining the departure of a person when the capacitance detected by the detecting means decreases below said second threshold value; wherein the first electrode comprises a conductive layer mounted on a floor mat of the vehicle and covering a major portion of the floor mat and the second electrode comprises the body of the vehicle.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
198 words
A personnel detector comprising personnel containment means first and second electrodes insulated from each other and arranged such that at least part of a person present in said personnel containment means is disposed therebetween; capacitance detecting means for detecting a capacitance between the first and the second electrodes and providing a representative electrical signal; processing means including storage means for storing the electrical signal; storage update means for causing the electrical signal stored in the storage means to be updated at given time intervals; comparison means for producing an electrical signal representing the arrival of a person whenever a difference between the electrical signal developed by the capacitance detecting means and the signal stored by the storage means exceeds a first threshold value; and means for setting a second threshold value based on the capacitance detected during the presence of a person and determining the departure of a person when the capacitance detected by the detecting means decreases below said second threshold value; wherein the first electrode comprises a conductive layer mounted on a floor mat of the vehicle and covering a major portion of the floor mat and the second electrode comprises the body of the vehicle.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
45 words
A personnel detector according to claim 11 in which the conductive layer is in the form of a thin film of a electrically conductive material such as a metal foil, a fabric of conductive fibers, a conductive paint applied to a film or the like.
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) | 1992-01-03 | 1992-07-04 | 1993-01-03 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-01-03 | 1996-07-04 | 1997-01-03 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-01-03 | 2000-07-04 | 2001-01-03 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |