Seat heater with occupant sensor
First Claim
1. A device to produce heat and to sense mass for use in a vehicle seat comprising:
- an electrically insulative substrate defining a first and second side,a heater portion disposed on the first side of the substrate, the heater portion including a layer of conductive material forming at least one buss extending across the first side of the substrate, the heater portion further including a plurality of traces connected to the at least one buss, anda sensor portion disposed on the second side of the substrate, the sensor portion including at least one sensor.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a combination heater and occupant sensor device that may be used in an automobile seat. The device will heat a seat and sense the mass of an occupant in the seat. The device provides the ability to combine occupant sensors with a seat heater without damaging the sensors or obtaining incorrect sensor readings. The sensor results may be processed and used to control air bag deployment, for example, or to indicate if the seat belt of an occupied seat is not being employed. To provide flexibility of the device during use, the device may be formed on a polymer substrate and configured to include apertures throughout. In addition, in the heating portion of the device, conductive material may be blended in a polymer and the device may be configured to limit conductor cracking after repeated flexing of the device thus extending the life of the device.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A device to produce heat and to sense mass for use in a vehicle seat comprising:
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an electrically insulative substrate defining a first and second side, a heater portion disposed on the first side of the substrate, the heater portion including a layer of conductive material forming at least one buss extending across the first side of the substrate, the heater portion further including a plurality of traces connected to the at least one buss, and a sensor portion disposed on the second side of the substrate, the sensor portion including at least one sensor. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A combination heater and mass sensor device for use in a vehicle comprising:
a heating portion comprising; a nonconductive substrate; a plurality of apertures formed through the substrate; a layer of conductive material forming a buss and extending across the substrate, the buss forming at least one nonconductive area, and a plurality of traces extending outwardly from the buss, the plurality of traces positioned adjacent to at least some of the apertures; a layer of resistive material disposed on the conductive material; and a sensing portion disposed on the resistive material layer, comprising a plurality of sensors configured to be disposed in the at least one nonconductive area, each sensor comprising a first substantially flexible electrical contact, a second substantially flexible electrical contact, and a layer of dielectric material disposed between the first and second electrical contacts. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
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18. A device to produce heat and to sense mass for use in a vehicle seat comprising:
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an electrically insulative substrate made of a polymeric film; a conductive layer screen printed onto a first side of the substrate, a resistive layer configured across the conductive layer, the conductive layer and resistive layer being adapted to generate heat when subjected to an electrical power source; and a sensor disposed on a second side of the substrate, the sensor comprising a first substantially flexible electrical contact, a second substantially flexible electrical contact, and a layer of dielectric material disposed between the first and second electrical contacts. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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Specification