ASSEMBLY, SYSTEM, AND CIRCUIT WITH COMBINED HEATING AND OCCUPANCY DETECTING FOR A VEHICLE SEAT

• US 20170361744A1
• Filed: 06/21/2016
• Published: 12/21/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kongsberg Automotive Ab (Kongsberg Automotive ASA)
• Inventors: Persson, Mattias
• Granted Patent: US 10,442,328 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance

Abstract

Systems, assemblies and circuits are provided for combined heating and occupancy for vehicle seats wherein a plurality of conductors are arranged in a parallel circuit configuration with respect to each other and are attached to a seat mat. Each of the conductors is configured to generate heat in response to receiving an electrical current. Each of the conductors is configured to generate an electrical field in response to receiving an electrical signal and with the electrical field being recognizable for determining presence of an occupant on the seat. At least one bypass conductor is connected between two of the conductors to preserve heating and/or occupancy detection capabilities of the circuit in the event of breakage in any one or more of the conductors.

Claims

1. An assembly for a vehicle seat, comprising:

a seat mat;

a plurality of conductors arranged in a parallel circuit configuration with respect to each other and being attached to said seat mat; and

at least one bypass conductor connected between two of said conductors.

2. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said conductors is configured to generate heat in response to receiving an electrical current for heating said seat mat.

3. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said conductors is configured to generate an electrical field in response to receiving an electrical signal and with the electrical field being recognizable for determining presence of an occupant on said seat mat.

4. The assembly of claim 1 wherein one or more of said conductors are arranged in a zone with respect to said seat mat.

5. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said zone is configured to heat one of a plurality of portions of said seat mat.

6. The assembly of claim 4 wherein said zone is configured to detect presence of an occupant on one of a plurality of portions of said seat mat.

7. The assembly of claim 1 wherein each of said conductors is separately connected to terminals connectable to a common power source.

8. The assembly of claim 1 wherein said conductors are arranged in a parallel circuit configuration with respect to a common power source.

9. A combined heating and occupancy detecting system for a vehicle seat, said system comprising:

a plurality of conductors arranged in a parallel circuit configuration with respect to each other and being attached to the seat with each of said conductors being configured to generate heat in response to receiving an electrical current and with each of said conductors being configured to generate an electrical field in response to receiving an electrical signal and with the electrical field being recognizable for determining presence of an occupant on the seat; and

at least one bypass conductor connected between two of said conductors.

10. The system of claim 9 further comprising a controller being configured to provide the electrical signal to said conductors.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising a power supply being configured to provide the electrical current to said conductors.

12. The system of claim 9 further comprising a controller being configured to determine presence of an occupant on the seat in response to recognizing the electrical field.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein said at least one bypass conductor is configured to redirect the electrical signal from one of the conductors to another one of the conductors in response to breakage of a portion of one of said conductors.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein said at least one bypass conductor is configured to redirect the electrical current from one of the conductors to another one of the conductors in response to breakage of a portion of one of said conductors.

15. The system of claim 9 further comprising a controller being to detect a change in electrical resistance of said conductors in response to breakage of a portion of one of said conductors.

16. The system of claim 9 wherein said controller is further configured to trigger a warning in response to detecting a change in electrical resistance.

17. A combined heating and occupancy detecting circuit for a vehicle seat, said circuit comprising:

a plurality of conductors arranged in a parallel circuit configuration with respect to each other; and

at least one bypass conductor connected between two of said conductors.

18. The circuit of claim 17 wherein said conductors are arranged in a parallel circuit configuration with respect to a common power source.

19. The circuit of claim 17 wherein each of said two conductors defines a length and wherein said at least one bypass conductor is connected to each of said two conductors at a substantially common location along the length of each conductor.

20. The circuit of claim 17 wherein said conductors have a substantially similar electrical resistance.

21. The circuit of claim 17 wherein said at least one bypass conductor splits an electrical resistance of each of said two conductors into a first resistance and a second resistance.

22. The circuit of claim 21 wherein the first resistance is equal to the second resistance for one or more of said two conductors.

23. The circuit of claim 21 wherein the first resistance is different than the second resistance for one or more of said two conductors.

24. The circuit of claim 17 wherein said at least one bypass conductor and each of said two conductors have a substantially similar electrical resistance.

25. The circuit of claim 17 wherein each of said two conductors has a first electrical resistance and wherein said at least one bypass conductor has a second electrical resistance being greater than the first electrical resistance.