Motor vehicle heated seat control
US5229579A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 2, 1990 |
| Grant date | Jul 20, 1993 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 2, 2010 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH02H3/12
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A control for a resistive heating element embedded within a motor vehicle seat is disclosed. In one embodiment, a transistor is biased into conduction to energize the heating element when the temperature of the element is below a threshold that is adjusted by the vehicle operator. A fault sensing system monitors operation of the control unit and de-energizes the heating element if a fault is sensed. Sensed faults include both short circuits and undesirable open circuits. Power application to the resistive heating unit can be either pulsed or continuous. In one embodiment, once a fault is detected, the heating system cannot be re-energized until the vehicle ignition switch is turned off and then returned to its on position.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.