Capacitive seat occupancy detection and classification
system (16), in particular vehicle seat occupancy detection and classification
system (16), comprising an impedance measurement circuit (18) and a control and evaluation unit (30), characterized in that the impedance measurement circuit (18) comprises the following: - a
signal voltage source (20) designed to apply periodic electrical measurement signals to an output terminal (22), wherein a capacitive sensor (36) can be electrically connected to the output terminal (22) to receive the electrical measurement signals, and wherein the
signal voltage source (20) is designed to generate periodic measurement signals of N different fundamental frequencies, where N is a natural number of at least 3, - a sensing current measuring circuit (24) designed to determine complex sensing currents generated in the capacitive sensor (36) by the provided periodic measurement signals of at least N different fundamental frequencies, - a
signal processing unit (26) designed to to determine a complex impedance from each of the specified sensing currents with reference to a complex reference potential, and to provide output signals (28) that are representative of the complex impedances that have been determined at at least N different fundamental frequencies, and that the control and evaluation unit (30) is designed to to receive the output signals (28) provided by the
signal processing unit (26), to compare each of the complex impedances that have been determined at at least N different fundamental frequencies with predetermined threshold values, based on the result of the comparison, to determine a seat occupancy class for each of the complex impedances that have been determined at at least N different fundamental frequencies and to determine a final seating class derived by a
majority decision from the seating classes determined for each of the complex impedances determined at one of the at least N different fundamental frequencies, where N is equal to [(2 xn) + 1], where n is a natural number greater than 1, representing the number of potential resonances or electromagnetic (EM)
narrowband interferences.