Heater control unit and vehicle seat heater
First Claim
1. A heater control unit that controls electric power supplied to a heater provided in a seat, comprising:
- an outside air temperature sensor that measures an outside air temperature;
a seat surface temperature sensor that measures a surface temperature of the seat; and
a controller that communicates with the outside air temperature sensor and the seat surface temperature sensor and determines a time period for which an initial electric power is output to the heater during an initial heating state of the seat based on the measured outside air temperature and the measured seat surface temperature, whereinwhen the time period is determined, the controller is configured to supply the initial electric power to the heater provided in the seat for the determined time period, andwhen the time period expires, the controller is configured to supply an electric power to the heater provided in the seat that is less than the initial electric power.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A heater control unit controls electric power supplied to a heater provided in a seat. The heater control unit includes an outside air temperature measuring portion that measures an outside air temperature, a seat surface temperature measuring portion that measures a surface temperature of the seat, and a control portion. The control portion controls a time for which an initial electric power larger than an electric power in a steady state after the initial state is output to the heater, according to the measured outside air temperature and the measured seat surface temperature in an initial state immediately after the heater is activated.
8 Citations
9 Claims
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1. A heater control unit that controls electric power supplied to a heater provided in a seat, comprising:
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an outside air temperature sensor that measures an outside air temperature; a seat surface temperature sensor that measures a surface temperature of the seat; and a controller that communicates with the outside air temperature sensor and the seat surface temperature sensor and determines a time period for which an initial electric power is output to the heater during an initial heating state of the seat based on the measured outside air temperature and the measured seat surface temperature, wherein when the time period is determined, the controller is configured to supply the initial electric power to the heater provided in the seat for the determined time period, and when the time period expires, the controller is configured to supply an electric power to the heater provided in the seat that is less than the initial electric power. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A heater control method for controlling electric power supplied to a heater provided in a seat, comprising:
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measuring an outside air temperature with an outside air temperature sensor and measuring a seat surface temperature with a seat surface temperature sensor, in an initial state immediately after the heater is activated; and controlling a time period for which an initial electric power is output to the heater during the initial state based on the measured outside air temperature and the measured seat surface temperature, the initial electric power being larger than an electric power output in a steady state after the initial state is output to the heater. - View Dependent Claims (8, 9)
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Specification