Seat assembly having seat heating and occupant detection
First Claim
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1. A seat assembly, comprising:
- a seat cushion having a seating surface;
a heating element adjacent the seating surface formed of electrically conductive material, wherein the heating element includes a first terminal and a second terminal;
a heating circuit coupled to the heating element for supplying an electrical current to the heating element effective for generating heat;
an occupant sensing circuit coupled to the heating element and effective for sensing the presence of an occupant near the heating element;
an isolation circuit interposed between the heating circuit and the heating element, said isolation circuit effective for isolating the heating circuit from the occupant sensing circuit, wherein the isolation circuit comprises a first electrical component coupling a first heater lead to the first terminal and a second electrical component coupling a second heater lead to the second terminal;
a first heating voltage source connected to the first electrical component for applying a first voltage to the first terminal as a reference voltage for establishing a first differential voltage across the first electrical component; and
a second heating voltage source connected to the second electrical component for applying a second voltage on the second terminal as a reference voltage for establishing a second differential voltage across the second electrical component, thereby isolating the heating circuit from the occupant sensing circuit.
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Abstract
A seat assembly including a seat cushion, a heating element, a heating circuit, a occupant sensing circuit, and an isolation circuit. The seat cushion has a seating surface, the heating element is adjacent the seating surface and is formed of electrically conductive material. The heating circuit is coupled to the heating element for supplying electrical current to the heating element for generating heat. The occupant sensing circuit is also coupled to the heating element for sensing the presence of an occupant near the heating element. The isolation circuit is interposed between the heating circuit and the heating element for isolating the heating circuit from the occupant sensing circuit.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A seat assembly, comprising:
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a seat cushion having a seating surface; a heating element adjacent the seating surface formed of electrically conductive material, wherein the heating element includes a first terminal and a second terminal; a heating circuit coupled to the heating element for supplying an electrical current to the heating element effective for generating heat; an occupant sensing circuit coupled to the heating element and effective for sensing the presence of an occupant near the heating element; an isolation circuit interposed between the heating circuit and the heating element, said isolation circuit effective for isolating the heating circuit from the occupant sensing circuit, wherein the isolation circuit comprises a first electrical component coupling a first heater lead to the first terminal and a second electrical component coupling a second heater lead to the second terminal; a first heating voltage source connected to the first electrical component for applying a first voltage to the first terminal as a reference voltage for establishing a first differential voltage across the first electrical component; and a second heating voltage source connected to the second electrical component for applying a second voltage on the second terminal as a reference voltage for establishing a second differential voltage across the second electrical component, thereby isolating the heating circuit from the occupant sensing circuit. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15)
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Specification