Sensor device for determining the deviation of a head support position from a target position

A sensor device for determining the deviation of the position of a head support of a motor vehicle seat from a target position is provided that includes a capacitative proximity sensor that can be integrated in a head support, having two transmitting electrodes disposed at a vertical distance from each other and a common receiving electrode. The sensor device further includes a control unit that can be set up for actuating the transmitting electrodes for transmitting an alternating electric field, determining a dimension for the vertical and horizontal deviation of the head support position from a target position relative to the position of a head of a vehicle occupant from received electrical signals captured by the receiving electrode and information about the capacitance formed between each of the transmitting electrodes and the receiving electrode determining the dimension for the vertical deviation of the head support position using a difference between the received signals associated with the two transmitting electrodes or parameters derived therefrom, and determining the dimension for the horizontal deviation of the head support position using the sum of the received signals associated with the two transmitting electrodes or parameters derived therefrom.