COMBINATION SEAT HEATER AND OCCUPANT SENSOR ANTENNA

• US 20130213950A1
• Filed: 03/15/2013
• Published: 08/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/03/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Original Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
• Inventors: BULGAJEWSKI, Edward F., CUBAN, Michael M., SLIWA, Piotr
• Granted Patent: US 9,338,825 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/209
• CPC Class Codes: H01P 3/00 Waveguides; Transmission lines of the waveguide type
• CPC Class Codes: H01Q 1/22 by structural association with other equipment or articles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/00 Details of electric heating devices
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/003 using serpentine layout
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• 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 combination automobile seat heater and occupant sensor antenna is provided having a flexible substrate with the seat heater applied on one side of the substrate and the occupant sensor antenna applied on the other side of the substrate. Structure is provided to minimize interference in the performance of the antenna by operation of the seat heater, which can include advantageous positioning of the layers and/or the use of a layer defining air gaps between the seat heater and occupant sensor.

Claims

1. A combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna, comprising:

an electrically insulative substrate having opposed first and second sides;

a seat heater assembly on said first side of said substrate;

a capacitor system occupant sensor antenna on said second side of said substrate; and

interference reducing structure interposed between said seat heater assembly and said antenna, include a layer defining air gaps therein.

2. The combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna of claim 1, said interference reducing structure including a ground plane layer adjacent said layer defining air gaps.

3. The combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna of claim 2, said layer defining air gaps therein being disposed between said substrate and said ground plane layer.

4. The combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna of claim 3, said layer defining air gaps therein including a plurality of cutouts.

5. The combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna of claim 3, said layer defining air gaps therein being a foam material.

6. The combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna of claim 1, said layer defining air gaps therein including a plurality of cutouts.

7. The combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna of claim 6, said interference reducing structure including a ground plane layer adjacent said layer defining air gaps.

8. The combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna of claim 1, said layer defining air gaps therein being a foam material.

9. The combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna of claim 8, said interference reducing structure including a ground plane layer adjacent said layer defining air gaps.

10. A combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna, comprising:

an electrically insulative substrate having opposed first and second sides;

a polymer thick film printed seat heater including a printed conductive layer and a printed resistive layer on one of said first and second sides of said substrate, said seat heater conductive layer defining a plurality of conductive traces;

a polymer thick film printed capacitor system occupant sensor antenna on the other of said first and second sides of said substrate; and

an air gap layer disposed between said occupant sensor antenna and said seat heater.

11. The combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna of claim 10, said air gap layer including a plurality of cutouts.

12. The combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna of claim 10, said air gap layer being a foam material.

13. The combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna of claim 10, including a ground plane layer adjacent said air gap layer.

14. The combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna of claim 13, said air gap layer including a plurality of cutouts.

15. The combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna of claim 13, said air gap layer being a foam material.

16. A combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna, comprising:

a substrate;

a printed seat heater assembly on a bottom side of said substrate; and

a printed occupant sensor antenna assembly on a top side of said substrate.

17. The combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna of claim 16, further including an air gap layer disposed between said seat heater assembly and said occupant sensor antenna assembly.

18. The combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna of claim 17, said air gap layer including a plurality of cutouts.

19. The combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna of claim 17, said air gap layer being a foam material.

20. The combination seat heater and occupant sensor antenna of claim 17, including at least one of a printed ground plane conductor layer and a printed isolation dielectric layer adjacent said air gap layer.