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Control system for operating automotive vehicle components

  • US 7,274,007 B2
  • Filed: 09/21/2004
  • Issued: 09/25/2007
  • Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2003
  • Status: Active Grant
First Claim
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1. A controller for controlling one or more components of an automotive vehicle comprising;

  • at least one control module in signaling communication with an energy source, a sensor, a power stage and a switch wherein the energy source provides power to a heater as dictated by the power stage, the sensor senses a temperature associated with the heater and the switch turns the heater on and off and wherein the control module includes;

    i) programming for comparing representative values originating from the sensor to a set of n set point values (V1 . . . Vn) wherein the representative values are representative of temperatures (Ts) sensed by the temperature sensor, the n set-point values are representative of n predetermined temperatures (T1 . . . Tn) and n is a whole number greater than 1, wherein n is at least 5;

    ii) programming for allowing n different amounts of energy (E1 . . . En) to be applied to the heater depending upon the representative values, the amounts of energy changing during a heat up of the heater based upon repeated temperature sensing, which is also done during an initial heat up time period once the heater is turned on;

    wherein each of the different amounts of energy are based on the temperatures sensed and wherein as the temperatures (Ts) sensed by the temperature sensor become progressively higher, the amounts of energy being applied to the heater become smaller as (Ts) approaches Tn;

    wherein the heater is selected from a seat heater or a steering wheel heater of the automotive vehicle.

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