Seat heater and capacitive occupancy sensor combination
US8729430B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Mar 22, 2011 |
| Grant date | May 20, 2014 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Mar 22, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
- CPC primaryB60N2210/30
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A combined seat heater and capacitive occupancy sensor comprises a heater network and a capacitive sensing network. The heater network includes a heating element (10) connected between a first node (21) and a second node (22) to dissipate heat. The capacitive sensing network is connected to the heating element to apply an oscillating current thereto and to derive a capacitive load of the heating element from the voltage resulting on the heating element. The heater network comprises a common mode choke (16) connecting the first and the second node to a third (23) and a fourth (24) node, respectively. The capacitive sensing network further comprises means to sustain the oscillating current in or to drive the oscillating current into the heating element as well as a high-impedance amplifier (32) having an input node operatively connected to the heating element to probe the resulting voltage, and an output node (44) to provide an output signal indicative of the voltage.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.