| CPC B60R 21/01532 (2014.10) [B60R 21/01552 (2014.10); B62D 1/046 (2013.01); B62D 1/06 (2013.01)] | 11 Claims |

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1. A capacitive device in a motor vehicle for detecting the presence of an occupant inside the vehicle, said device comprising
a first electrode separated from a second electrode by a dielectric material so as to form a capacitive sensor, said capacitive sensor being arranged on a surface of a component of the vehicle,
a voltage generator arranged to generate an AC voltage between said first and second electrodes,
a current measurement circuit arranged to detect a current between the second electrode and an exposed conductive part of the vehicle, the presence of said occupant near said component being a function of the detected current, wherein the current measurement circuit is configured to only receive current when said occupant is near said component,
a first capacitor electrically connected in series with the first electrode, and
a second capacitor electrically connected in series with the second electrode.
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