SEAT HEATER
First Claim
1. A seat heater, comprisingan electric heating element connected between a first node and a second node to dissipate heat when a heating current is caused to flow between said first and second nodes, across said heating element;
- a first electric component connected between said first node and a third node, said third node being operatively connectable to a first terminal of a power supply, said first electric component providing a controllable first conductance between said first and third nodes;
a second electric component connected between said second node and a fourth node, said fourth node being operatively connectable to a second terminal of said power supply, said second electric component providing a controllable second conductance between said second and fourth nodes;
a control network having a mode of operation in which said control network applies an oscillating signal to said heating element, said control network being connected to said first electric component to control said first conductance and to said second electric component to control said second conductance;
wherein, for applying said oscillating signal to said heating element, said control network is configured to modulate said first conductance and said second conductance in such a way that a variation of a voltage drop between said first and third nodes is opposite to a variation of a voltage drop between said fourth and second nodes.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A seat heater (10) with a heating element (12) connected between a first (14) and a second (16) nodes comprises a third (18) and a fourth (20) node operatively connectable to a first and a second terminal, respectively, of a power supply. A first electric component (22) providing a controllable first conductance is connected between the first and the third nodes. A second electric component (24) providing a controllable second conductance is connected between the second and the fourth nodes. A control network (26) is connected to the electric components to control the respective conductances and has a mode of operation in which it applies an oscillating signal to the heating element by modulating the first and second conductances in such a way that a voltage drop variation between the third and first nodes is opposite to a voltage drop variation between the second and fourth nodes.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A seat heater, comprising
an electric heating element connected between a first node and a second node to dissipate heat when a heating current is caused to flow between said first and second nodes, across said heating element; -
a first electric component connected between said first node and a third node, said third node being operatively connectable to a first terminal of a power supply, said first electric component providing a controllable first conductance between said first and third nodes; a second electric component connected between said second node and a fourth node, said fourth node being operatively connectable to a second terminal of said power supply, said second electric component providing a controllable second conductance between said second and fourth nodes; a control network having a mode of operation in which said control network applies an oscillating signal to said heating element, said control network being connected to said first electric component to control said first conductance and to said second electric component to control said second conductance; wherein, for applying said oscillating signal to said heating element, said control network is configured to modulate said first conductance and said second conductance in such a way that a variation of a voltage drop between said first and third nodes is opposite to a variation of a voltage drop between said fourth and second nodes. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A seat heater, comprising an electric heating element connected between a first node and a second node to dissipate heat when a heating current is caused to flow between said first and second nodes, across said heating element;
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a first transistor connected between said first node and a third node, said third node being operatively connectable to a first terminal of a power supply, said first transistor providing a controllable first conductance between said first and third nodes; a second transistor connected between said second node and a fourth node, said fourth node being operatively connectable to a second terminal of said power supply, said second transistor providing a controllable second conductance between said second and fourth nodes; a control network having a mode of operation in which said control network applies an oscillating signal to said heating element, said control network being connected to said first transistor to control said first conductance and to said second transistor to control said second conductance; wherein, for applying said oscillating signal to said heating element, said control network is configured to modulate said first conductance and said second conductance in such a way that a variation of a voltage drop between said first and third nodes is opposite to a variation of a voltage drop between said fourth and second nodes. - View Dependent Claims (16)
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Specification