Device and method for heating of a seat

• US 20040011778A1
• Filed: 01/07/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kongsberg Automotive Ab (Kongsberg Automotive ASA)
• Original Assignee: Kongsberg Automotive Ab (Kongsberg Automotive ASA)
• Inventors: Fristedt, Tommy
• Granted Patent: US 6,914,217 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/217
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1931 to control the temperature of one space
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/24 the sensing element having a resistance varying with temperature, e.g. a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0238 For seats
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/003 using serpentine layout
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/014 Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/029 Heaters specially adapted for seat warmers
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/342 heaters used in textiles

Abstract

The invention is a device for heating a seat (3) comprising a heating element (2) connected to a control unit (1) which is arranged to feed a current (I) through the heating element (2), a detector unit (6) in connection to the heating element (2) connected to the control unit (1) with current (I) being fed when the measured temperature value falls below a predetermined desired value (T_B). The invention is characterized in that the detector unit (6) comprises at least one first temperature sensor (7) on or in the vicinity of the heating element (2) with at least one further temperature sensor (8) at a predetermined distance from the heating element (2). By means of the invention a more even heating of the seat is obtained with an increased comfort for a person sitting in the seat.

Claims

1. Device for heating a seat (3) comprising a heating element (2) connected to a control unit (1) which is arranged to feed a current (I) through the heating element (2), a detector unit (6) in connection to the heating element (2) connected to the control unit (1), with the current (I) being fed when a measured temperature value falls below a predetermined desired value (T_B), characterized in that the detector unit (6) comprises at least a first temperature sensor (7) on or in the vicinity of the heating element (2), with at least one additional temperature sensor (8) at a predetermined distance from the heating element (2).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the temperature sensors (7, 8) are connected so that they together give off a combined temperature value which is fed to the control unit (1).

3. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the temperature sensors (7, 8) are coupled in series.

4. Device according to claim 2, characterized in that the temperature sensors (7, 8) are arranged in parallell.

5. Device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the temperature sensors (7, 8) are of the NTC type.

6. Device according to any of claims 1-4, characterized in that the temperature sensors (7, 8) are of the PTC type.

7. Device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the temperature sensors (7, 8) have the sam resistance and the same desired value.

8. Device according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that the temperature sensors (7, 8) have different resistances but same desired value.

9. Device according to any of claims 1-6, characterized in that the temperature sensors (7, 8) have the same resistance but different desired values.

10. Device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that the temperature sensors (7, 8) have essentially the same thermic mass.

12. Device according to any of the previous claims, characterized in that a connection is arranged between the temperature sensors (7, 8) which connection is arranged to give information regarding the temperature sensors (7, 8) to the control unit (1).

11. Device according to any of claims 19, characterized in that the temperature sensors (7, 8) have different thermic masses.

13. Method for heating a seat (3) comprising a heating element (2) connected to a control unit (1) which is arranged to feed a current (I) through the heating element (2) comprising:

detecting the current temperature (T) in connection to the heating element (2), and

controlling the temperature (T) by feeding said current (I) through the heating element (2) if said current temperature (T) falls below a predetermined desired temperature (T_B), characterized in that it comprises;

detecting a temperature (T1) in the vicinity of the heating element (2) and

detecting another temperature (T2) at a predetermined distance from the heating element (2) which temperatures together give a value (T) regarding the current temperature to be compared to a desired temperature (T_B) in connection with said control.

14. Method according to claim 13 characterized in that the detected temperature values (T1) and (T2) from the two temperature sensors (7, 8) give rise to a common combined signal which defines a temperature value in the interval between said temperature values pending on the positions temperature sensors (7, 8).