Vehicle passenger sensing system and method

摘要

A vehicle passenger sensing system and method in which the presence and position of a passenger is determined by transmitting an electric field from a first electrode and measuring currents induced by the electric field in a plurality of receiver electrodes. The induced currents at the various receiver electrodes are then compared to determine the presence of an adult size passenger, to distinguish between front-facing and rear-facing child safety seats, and to detect when a passenger is out of position. A switching circuit is provided to selectively transmit the electric field from each of the plurality of electrodes.