Surface heating, method for its production, and heatable object, and seat occupancy recognition, seat with it, and seat occupancy recognition method

• US 7,205,505 B2
• Filed: 01/05/2004
• Issued: 04/17/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Braincom AG
• Original Assignee: Braincom AG
• Inventors: Diemer, Michael, Diemer, Stefan
• Primary Examiner(s): Evans; Robin
• Assistant Examiner(s): Patel; Vinod
• Application Number:
  US10/751,671
• Publication Number:
  US 20050103773A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,198 Days
• Field of Search: 219/217, 219/528, 219/444.1, 340/667, 340/666, 340/573.1, 340/573.4, 340/573.7, 200/85.R, 200/85.A
• US Class Current: 219/217
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• 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 system for recognizing the occupancy of a seat, containing elements made of electrically conducting synthetic material, especially strips made of electrically conductive polyurethane. A seat equipped with the system. A method for recognizing seat occupancy whereby an alteration in resistance of the electrically conductive material occurring in a change of weight is detected.

Claims

1. A seat occupancy recognition system comprising:

a support;

a flexible sensing layer positioned on the support and including a flexible, electrically conductive plastic deformable from a first cross sectional area to a second cross sectional area, where the electrically conductive plastic has a first resistance in the first cross sectional area and a second resistance in the second cross sectional area different from the first resistance;

a plurality of power supply wires each including a contact terminal in electrical connection with the sensing layer; and

a power control unit operably connected to the plurality of power supply wires and including a sensor in electrical connection with the sensing layer, the sensor detecting a change in the resistance of the sensing layer as a result of a weight applied to the sensing layer.

2. Seat occupancy recognition system according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of elements each in the shape of a strip made of the electrically conductive plastic and parallelly arranged in a spaced apart relationship.

3. Seat occupancy recognition system according to claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive plastic contains 50–

70% graphite, and 30–

50% PU.

4. Seat occupancy recognition system according to claim 1, further comprising devices for the recognition of a change from the first resistance to the second resistance in the element.

5. A seat occupancy recognition system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the support is an air permeable support including a flexible layer of fibers.

6. A seat occupancy recognition system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the support is a layer formed of a woven or nonwoven fabric.

7. A seat occupancy recognition system as set forth in claim 5 wherein the support is made of a nonwoven fiber material.

8. A seat occupancy recognition system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the flexible, electrically conductive plastic is polyurethane, single component polyurethane, crosslinked single component polyurethane, PU foam, UV-resistant material, hydrolysable-permeable plastic material, or steam-permeable plastic material.

9. A seat occupancy recognition system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the electrically conductive plastic includes graphite.

10. A seat occupancy recognition system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sensing layer is formed directly on the support by spraying, rolling, or brushing thereon.

11. A seat occupancy recognition system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the sensing layer is cemented, sewn, or welded with the support.

12. A seat occupancy recognition system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the support is a molded article made of an elastic material.

13. A seat occupancy recognition system as set forth in claim 12 wherein the support is molded to form a portion of a mattress, a seat cushion, or a seat back.

14. A seat occupancy recognition system as set forth in claim 1 wherein the plurality of power supply wires each includes contact terminals in electrical connection with the sensing layer.

15. A seat occupancy recognition system as set forth in claim 14, wherein the contact terminals are positioned between the support and sensing layer.

16. A seat occupancy recognition system as set forth in claim 14 wherein the contact terminals are positioned in the sensing layer.

17. A seat occupancy recognition system as set forth in claim 14 wherein the contact terminals are affixed to a side portion of the sensing layer.

18. A seat occupancy recognition system as set forth in claim 14 wherein the contact terminals are affixed to the sensing layer by stitching or gluing.

19. A support device comprising a seat occupancy recognition system as, defined in claim 1.

20. A support device as set forth in claim 19 wherein the support is a car seat, a piece of furniture, or a mattress.

21. A support device as set forth in claim 20 wherein the sensing layer is anatomically matched to a contacting portion of a user.

22. A support device as set forth in claim 19 further comprising a cover covering the occupancy recognition system.

23. A support device as set forth in claim 22 wherein the cover is a material selected from the group consisting of a fabric, leather, synthetic material, and combinations thereof.

24. Seat occupancy recognition system according to claim 1 further comprising a support, wherein the flexible, electrically conductive plastic is positioned on the support.

25. Seat occupancy recognition system according to claim 24 wherein the support is a woven fabric or a nonwoven fabric.

26. Seat occupancy recognition system according to claim 25 where the fabric of the support is a natural or synthetic fibrous nonwoven fabric.

27. Seat occupancy recognition system according to claim 24 wherein the flexible, electrically conductive plastic is formed directly on the support by spraying, rolling, or brushing thereon.

28. Seat occupancy recognition system according to claim 24 wherein the flexible, electrically conductive plastic is cemented, sewn, or welded to the support.

29. Seat occupancy recognition system according to claim 24 wherein the support is a molded article made of an elastic material.

30. Seat occupancy recognition system according to claim 24 wherein the molded article is a seat upholstery of a seat surface part, a backrest, an upholstery of furniture for sitting or lying.

31. Seat occupancy recognition system according to claim 24 further comprising current supply wires having contact ends in electrical communication with the flexible, electrically conductive plastic, wherein the contact ends are positioned in the flexible, electrically conductive plastic or between the support and the flexible, electrically conductive plastic.

32. Seat occupancy recognition system according to claim 31 further comprising:

a current source; and

a current control connected with the current source;

wherein the current supply wires are connected to the current control to supply a current to the flexible, electrically conductive plastic.

33. Seat occupancy recognition system according to claim 32 further comprising a sensor in electrical connection with the flexible, electrically conductive plastic.

34. Seat occupancy recognition system according to claim 33 wherein the sensor detects a change in the resistance of the flexible, electrically conductive plastic as a result of a weight applied to the flexible, electrically conductive plastic.