Combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna

摘要

A combination automobile seat heater and occupant sensor antenna is provided having a flexible substrate with the seat heater applied on one side of the substrate and the occupant sensor antenna applied on the other side of the substrate. Structure is provided to minimize interference in the performance of the antenna by operation of the seat heater, which can include advantageous positioning of the layers and/or the use of a layer defining air gaps between the seat heater and occupant sensor.

主权项

1. A combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna, comprising, a single structure incorporating components providing:
an electrically insulative substrate extending generally along a plane and having a first side and a second sides also extending along the plane with the first side on an opposite side of the substrate with respect to the second side; a seat heater assembly on said first side of said substrate and having terminals for receiving a current from an automobile electrical system to provide a resistive heating of heater conductors of the seat heater assembly at a temperature adapted to provide heat to an individual seated on the combination seat heater and occupant sensor in an automotive seat; a capacitor system occupant sensor antenna on said second side of said substrate providing an antenna layer with an antenna conductor and having connections for communication between the antenna conductor and a controller and adapted to allow sensing capacitance affected by an individual seated on the combination seat heater and occupant sensor to determine a presence or absence of an individual seated on the combination seat heater and occupant sensor; and interference reducing structure separate from the substrate interposed between said seat heater assembly and said capacitor system occupant sensor antenna adapted to electrically shield the capacitor system occupant sensor antenna from the seat heater assembly, include a generally planar layer of electrically insulating polymer material positioned and sized to fully separate the electrically insulative substrate of the seat heater from the antenna conductor and defining a plurality of air gaps therein, the air gaps distributed over the entire area of the electrically insulating polymer material separating the electrically insulative substrate of the seat heater from the antenna conductor and positioned between the antenna conductors and the heater conductors.