Reduced power heat mat

• US 20090001778A1
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Inventors: Nathan, John F., Kennedy, Karl, Karumathil, Santosh, Maue, H. Winston
• Granted Patent: US 8,066,324 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 297/180.120
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0238 For seats
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/003 using serpentine layout
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/005 using multiple resistive elements or resistive zones isolated from each other
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/014 Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/017 Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/029 Heaters specially adapted for seat warmers
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/34 flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs

Abstract

A vehicle seat assembly includes a seating surface, wherein the seating surface defines a plurality of temperature controlled zones. At least one electrically actuated heating/cooling source provides one of heating and cooling to the plurality of zones. A controller individually controls electrical power supplied from the source to each zone and is operative to reduce power consumption in one zone relative to another zone in accordance with a predetermined profile designed to limit the overall power consumption of the assembly.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat assembly comprising:

a vehicle seat having a seating surface, wherein the seating surface defines a plurality of temperature controlled zones;

at least one electrically actuated heating/cooling source providing one of heating and cooling to the plurality of zones; and

a controller for individually controlling heating/cooling supplied from the source to each zone and operative to reduce power consumption in one zone relative to another zone in accordance with a predetermined profile designed to limit the overall power consumption of the assembly.

2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the plurality of zones includes a separate source for providing one of heating and cooling to the zone.

3. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly includes a heat source disposed within each of the plurality of the zones.

4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assembly includes a cooling source directing air to each of the plurality of zones.

5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the controller independently regulates electrical power supplied to each zone in a sequential time dependent manner.

6. The assembly of claim 1 in which the controller sequentially rotates power among the zones according to a power management profile.

7. The assembly of claim 6 in which the zones are arranged in columns and rows.

8. The assembly of claim 7 in which the power management profile prevents simultaneous power from being applied to zones in the same column.

9. The assembly of claim 1 in which a plurality of zones are defined in a rear seat area, a mid seat area, and a front seat area, wherein the power management profile provides for power to be applied to the rear seat area at a first heating cycle time, to the mid seat area at a second heating cycle time and to the front seat area at a third heating cycle time, wherein the first heating cycle time is longer in duration than the second and third heating cycle times, and wherein the second heating cycle time is longer in duration than the third heating cycle time.

10. The assembly of claim 1 in which said source includes a resistive electric grid for providing heat.

11. The assembly of claim 10 in which said resistive electric grids have a heating density in a range from about 200 watts/m² to about 1200 watts/m².

12. The assembly of claim 10 in which said resistive electric grids use D.C. electrical power to provide heat.

13. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the seat includes a seat cushion and a seat back, and wherein in which at least one of the zones is disposed within a seat cushion and at least one of the zones is disposed within a seat back.

14. The assembly of claim 1 in which said source is a thermal electric device.

15. The assembly of claim 1 in which said source has a cooling capacity in a range from about 200 watts/m² to about 1200 watts/m².

16. The assembly of claim 11 in which said source includes a fan.

17. A seat assembly comprising:

a seat having a plurality of temperature controlled zones;

at least one source is adapted to providing heating or cooling to the plurality of zones; and

a controller for individually controlling the heating or cooling supplied from the source to each zone or a combination of zones, the controller operative to control the heating or cooling supplied to the zones or the combination of zones in a sequential basis among the zones or combination of zones thereby forming heating or cooling cycles.

18. A seat assembly comprising:

a seat having a plurality of zones;

a temperature varying mechanism associated with each of the plurality of zones of the seat, each of the plurality of temperature varying mechanisms being selectively operable to vary the temperature of the zone of the seat associated therewith; and

a controller for sequentially operating the plurality of temperature varying mechanisms according to a predetermined profile.