A capacitive detection system for detecting occupancy of a vehicle seat includes a signal generating unit and a signal evaluation unit. The vehicle seat has a seat heater member configured for receiving time-varying output signals of the signal generating unit. The signal evaluation unit is configured to generate an output signal that is indicative of the seat heater member to be defective, if the sensed capacitance of the seat heater member is less than a second predetermined threshold value for the sensed capacitance.

A device, such as a heated seat cushion device, is provided. Circuitry and other components are used to regulate, control and/or switch electrical power to an electrical element, such as a heating element, of the device. The device may regulate the energy delivered to the electrical element by a processor on an intelligent energy management platform. Accordingly, power may be routed to the electrical element of the heated device in a controlled manner. Control may include turning on and off the power, providing pulsed power, and modulating the power and/or pulsed power delivered to the electrical element.

A heating/cooling system for furnishing employs an electrochemical heat transfer device. An electrochemical heat transfer device may be an electrochemical hydrogen compressor that pumps hydrogen into and out of a tank having a metal hydride forming alloy therein. The absorption of hydrogen by the metal hydride forming alloy is exothermic, produces heat, and the desorption of the hydrogen from the metal hydride forming alloy is endothermic and draws heat in. An electrochemical hydrogen compressor may be configured between to tanks and pump hydrogen back and forth to form a heat transfer device. A heat exchange device may be coupled with the tank or may comprise the outer surface of the tank to transfer heat to an object or to the surroundings. A closed loop may be configured having two tanks and one or two electrochemical hydrogen compressors to pump the hydrogen in a loop around the system.

Powered recliner chairs, assemblies for use in the chairs, and components for use in the assemblies are provided. Electrical systems for use in the chairs, and components for use in the assemblies are provided. Control systems and methods for operating powered recliner chairs are also provided. Any given chair may be locally and/or remotely controlled.

Powered chairs, assemblies for use in the powered chairs, and components for use in the assemblies are provided. Electrical systems for use in the powered chairs, and components for use in the electrical systems are provided. Control systems and methods for operating powered chairs are also provided. Any given chair may be locally and/or remotely controlled.

The present disclosure provides personal multimedia pods that convert from an enclosable premium theater system with seating for one or more users to an unenclosed chair and/or to an output audio/video device capable of connecting (e.g., wirelessly connecting) to other audio/visual equipment.

A seat heater includes a seating heater, a protection device of a non-resettable type, a base material, and a protecting heater. The protection device has a first surface and a second surface opposite to the first surface. The base material is a sheet having a first covering portion covering the first surface and a second covering portion covering the second surface, and is folded so that the first covering portion and the second covering portion face each other. The protecting heater heats the protection device. The protecting heater includes a pair of first heating portions and a second heating portion. The pair of first heating portions are formed as a meandered shape only on a surface, which faces the second covering portion, of the first covering portion. The second heating portion is disposed between the pair of first heating portions, and formed as a meandered shape both on the surface, which faces the second covering portion, of the first covering portion, and on a surface, which faces the first covering portion, of the second covering portion.

A thermal regulating chair, including a main body, including a seat portion to receive a user thereon, and a back portion movably disposed on at least a portion of the seat portion, a first thermal regulating assembly disposed within at least a portion of the seat portion to adjust a temperature level of the seat portion, and a second thermal regulating assembly disposed within at least a portion of the back portion to adjust a temperature level of the back portion.

The present invention relates to a feedback device and a method of providing thermal feedback using the same. A method for calibration of an intensity of a thermal feedback of a feedback device may comprise: outputting the thermal feedback in order from a weak intensity to a strong intensity among a plurality of intensities of the thermal feedback; obtaining a first user input; setting an intensity of the thermal feedback outputted at the time of the obtaining the first user input to a lowest intensity of the thermal feedback; obtaining a second user input; setting an intensity of the thermal feedback outputted at the time of the obtaining the second user input to a highest intensity of the thermal feedback; setting at least one intermediate intensity; and outputting the thermal feedback by using the lowest intensity, the highest intensity and the at least one intermediate intensity.

A power source resident in furniture provides power to at least one charging port or socket used to provide power to an electronic device. The furniture may be an articulated furniture having at least one motor. The furniture may have at least one type of switch that manages the power to the charging port. The switch may reduce wasted energy consumption due to heat lost at the charging port.