Vehicle seat heating arrangement

• US 7,134,715 B1
• Filed: 07/17/2000
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/17/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: International Electronics & Engineering SA, Kongsberg Automotive Ab (Kongsberg Automotive ASA)
• Original Assignee: International Electronics & Engineering SA, Kongsberg Automotive Ab (Kongsberg Automotive ASA)
• Inventors: Lorenz, Holger, Josefsson, Daniel, Gallo, Jean-Francois, Fristedt, Tommy, Ruggiu, Manuel
• Primary Examiner(s): Brown, Peter R.
• Application Number:
  US10/333,427
• Time in Patent Office: 2,311 Days
• Field of Search: 297/180.11, 297/180.12, 297/217.13, 340/665, 340/666, 340/667, 219/202, 219/217, 219/494, 219/497, 219/499, 219/501, 219/505
• US Class Current: 297/180.12
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/002 Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0033 mounted on or in the foam cushion
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/267 alerting means responsive to presence or absence of children
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/30 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/40 Force or pressure sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G01G 19/4142 for controlling activation of safety devices, e.g. airbag systems electrical circuits for triggering safety arrangements in case of vehicle accidents B60R21/015

Abstract

A vehicle seat having a heating device arranged in connection with the vehicle seat and connected to a control unit which includes a current-feeding apparatus for feeding a current to the heating device. The vehicle seat also includes a temperature sensor connected to the control unit for detecting the temperature at the heating device. The control unit is arranged to feed the current if the measured temperature falls below a pre-determined temperature value. An occupant sensor is also provided for detecting the presence of an occupant or an object in the vehicle seat. The occupant sensor is arranged as a single integral unit together with the heating device in the vehicle seat.

Claims

1. A vehicle seat comprising:

a heating device arranged in connection with a vehicle seat and connected to a control unit, said control unit including current feeding means for feeding a current to said heating device;

a temperature sensor connected to said control unit, said temperature sensor adapted for detecting a temperature at said heating device, said control unit being operative to feed said current if a detected temperature falls below a predetermined temperature value; and

an occupant sensor for detecting the presence of an occupant or an object in said vehicle seat, said occupant sensor being arranged as an integrated component together with said heating device in said vehicle seat, wherein said occupant sensor and said heating device are formed as two laminated sheet layers.

2. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein said heating device and said occupant sensor are prefabricated as one single integrated unit adapted to be mounted in said vehicle seat.

3. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, further comprising a protection material disposed between said occupant sensor and said heating device.

4. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein said heating device includes a carrier layer and a heating wire, said heating wire being arranged on said carrier layer.

5. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein said heating device includes two carrier layers and a heating wire, said heating wire being arranged between said two carrier layers.

6. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein said occupant sensor includes a carrier layer and a plurality of pressure-sensing elements, said pressure-sensing elements being arranged on said carrier layer.

7. The vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein said heating device includes a heating wire, wherein said carrier layer supports said heating wire and forms part of said heating device.

8. The vehicle seat according to claim 7, wherein said carrier layer is made of a plastic material.

9. The vehicle seat according to claim 7, wherein said control unit is arranged on said occupant sensor.

10. The vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein said carrier layer is made of a plastic material.

11. The vehicle seat according to claim 6, wherein said control unit is arranged on said occupant sensor.

12. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein said control unit for said heating device also comprises control unit for said occupant sensor.

13. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein said temperature sensor is used for the control of the operation of said occupant sensor.

14. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein said heating device is operative so as to provide heat in response to a signal from said occupant sensor.

15. The vehicle seat according to claim 1, wherein said occupant signal outputs a signal upon detecting the presence of an occupant or an object in said vehicle seat, wherein said control unit is adapted to switch said heating device on and off in a synchronized manner with respect to the occasions at which said signal is outputted from said occupant sensor.

16. A method for manufacturing a vehicle seat, comprising the steps of:

providing a heating device;

providing an occupant sensor for detecting the presence of an occupant or an object in a vehicle seat; and

providing a temperature sensor adapted to be connected to a control unit, said control unit adapted for detecting a temperature at said heating device, said control unit being operative to feed a current to said heating device if a detected temperature falls below a predetermined temperature value;

wherein said heating device and said occupant sensor are provided as an integrated component and formed as two laminated sheet layers.

17. The method according to claim 16 wherein said control unit is mounted on said occupant sensor.

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising providing a protection material between said occupant sensor and said heating device.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein said control unit is mounted on said occupant sensor.

20. A vehicle seat comprising:

a heating device arranged in connection with a vehicle seat and connected to a control unit, said control unit including current feeding means for feeding a current to said heating device;

a temperature sensor connected to said control unit, said temperature sensor adapted for detecting a temperature at said heating device, said control unit being operative to feed said current if a measured temperature falls below a predetermined temperature value; and

an occupant sensor for detecting the presence of an occupant or an object in said vehicle seat, wherein said occupant sensor and said heating device are assembled so as to form a single integral unit, such that said occupant sensor and said heating device are attached to one another.

21. The vehicle seat according to claim 20, wherein said occupant sensor and said heating device are assembled to one another with glue.

22. The vehicle seat according to claim 20, further comprising a protection material disposed between said occupant sensor and said heating device.

23. The vehicle seat according to claim 20, wherein said heating device includes a carrier layer and a heating wire, said heating wire being arranged on said carrier layer.

24. The vehicle seat according to claim 20, wherein said occupant sensor includes a carrier layer and a plurality of pressure-sensing elements, said pressure-sensing elements being arranged on said carrier layer.

25. The vehicle seat according to claim 20, wherein said control unit for said heating device is also comprises a control unit for said occupant sensor.

26. The vehicle seat according to claim 20, wherein said heating device is operative so as to provide heat in response to a signal from said occupant sensor.

27. The vehicle seat according to claim 20, wherein said occupant sensor outputs a signal upon the presence of an occupant or an object in said vehicle seat, wherein said control unit is adapted to switch said heating device on and off in a synchronized manner with respect to the occasions at which said signal is outputted from said occupant sensor.

28. A method of manufacturing a vehicle seat, comprising the steps of:

providing a heating device,

providing an occupant sensor for detecting the presence of an occupant or an object in a vehicle seat;

providing a temperature sensor, said temperature sensor being adapted to be connected to a control unit, said control unit adapted for detecting a temperature at said heating device, said control unit being operative to feed a current to said heating device if a detected temperature falls below a predetermined temperature value; and

assembling said heating device and said occupant sensor in the form of a single integral unit such that said heating device and said occupant sensor are attached to one another.

29. The method of manufacturing a vehicle seat according to claim 28, wherein said occupant sensor and said heating device are attached to one another with glue.

30. The method of manufacturing a vehicle seat according to claim 28, further comprising providing a protection material between said occupant sensor and said heating device.

31. A vehicle seat comprising:

a heating device arranged in connection with a vehicle seat and connected to a control unit, said control unit including current feeding means for feeding a current to said heating device;

a temperature sensor connected to said control unit, said temperature sensor adapted for detecting a temperature at said heating device, said control unit being operative to feed said current if a measured temperature falls below a predetermined temperature value; and

an occupant sensor for detecting the presence of an occupant or an object in said vehicle seat, wherein said occupant sensor and said heating device are assembled so as to form a single integral unit, such that said occupant sensor and said heating device are attached to one another;

wherein said occupant sensor includes a carrier layer and a plurality of pressure-sensing elements, said pressure-sensing elements being arranged on said carrier layer.

32. The vehicle seat according to claim 31, further comprising a protection material disposed between said occupant sensor and said heating device.

33. The vehicle seat according to claim 31, wherein said heating device includes a carrier layer and a heating wire, said heating wire being arranged on said carrier layer.

34. The vehicle seat according to claim 31, wherein said heating device includes two carrier layers and a heating wire, said heating wire being arranged between said two carrier layers.

35. The vehicle seat according to claim 31, wherein said control unit for said heating device is also comprises a control unit for said occupant sensor.

36. The vehicle seat according to claim 31, wherein said heating device is operative so as to provide heat in response to a signal from said occupant sensor.

37. The vehicle seat according to claim 31, wherein said occupant sensor outputs a signal upon the presence of an occupant or an object in said vehicle seat, wherein said control unit is adapted to switch said heating device on and off in a synchronized manner with respect to the occasions at which said signal is outputted from said occupant sensor.