A capacitive object detection system for a vehicle has first and second
capacitive electrodes embedded in the vehicle seat. The two electrodes are
excited by oppositely phased alternating voltages, which are adjusted by a
controller such that the resulting alternating currents in their
respective feed lines are substantially equal and oppositely phased. The
presence, size and location of an adjacent object is then determined based
on an analysis of the impedances of the first and second electrodes.