The present disclosure relates to a circuit and a method for carrying out an alternating heating and capacitive measuring mode by a common heating wire, including carrying out a heating mode, wherein, due to a switching by a control circuit, first switching elements and second switching elements are connected in series to the heating wire, and the heating wire is connected, to one of two heating potentials; triggering a switchover from the heating mode into a measuring mode by the control circuit; carrying out the measuring mode, in which the measuring capacitance of the heating wire relative to a reference potential is determined by a detecting circuit by applying to the heating wire an alternating voltage; carrying out a testing phase by a test circuit that is switched by the control circuit that a test impedance is connected to the measuring capacitance.

A system for capacitive object detection. In order to provide means for efficiently using the circuitry of an electrical heating device for capacitive object detection, the system includes: an elongate conductive element extending between a first terminal and a second terminal, wherein the first terminal is coupled to ground via a capacitive element and is connectable to an electrical power source, and the second terminal is connected to ground; and a detection circuit connected to at least one detection node disposed on the conductive element between the first and second terminal. The detection circuit is adapted to capacitively detect the presence of an object in the proximity of the conductive element based on an impedance associated with the object.

The invention relates to a circuit unit for controlling load currents of an electrical load, comprising a circuit logic, at least n switch elements with n≥2, resistance elements with m≥1, wherein the resistance elements can be bridged by means of the switch elements, wherein the circuit logic is designed such that it increases the load current in steps to a final value by means of an activation sequence of the switch elements, and a method for controlling load currents of an electrical load.

A heater device for heating an user's body seated on a seat includes a heat generating portion that is arranged in a recess recessed from a surface of the seat, and generates heat by energization, a distance detection unit that detects a distance between an object around the heat generating portion and the heat generating portion, and a control unit that controls energization of the heat generating portion. A first control portion controls energization amount of the heat generating portion so that the output of the heat generating portion becomes equal to or higher than a predetermined output, when the distance is longer than an offset distance between the heat generating portion and the surface of the seat. A second control portion controls the energization amount so that the output becomes less than the predetermined output, when the distance is equal to or less than the offset distance.

A vehicle seat includes a first heater which heats a first region, a second heater which heats a second region different from the first region, and a controller connected to the first heater and the second heater. The controller is capable of executing PWM control under which current applied to the first heater and the second heater is regulated by setting current-application timeframes within a unit time period, wherein a first current-application timeframe that is a period within the unit time period in which current is applied to the first heater and a second current-application timeframe that is a period within the unit time period in which current is applied to the second heater, as set under the PWM control, are shifted relative to each other when current is applied to the first heater and the second heater.

A heater control system includes a heater driver, a current sensor, a slope calculator, and a mode selector. The heater driver is configured to control current to a heater. The current sensor is configured to sense current supplied to the heater. The slope calculator is configured to calculate a slope of the current supplied to the heater. The mode selector is configured to adjust current supplied to the heater by the heated driver based on the slope of the current.

A method of producing an electric heating device, in particular for automotive application, includes steps of: cutting through a sheet of electrically highly conductive material of appropriate thickness for obtaining a predetermined line pattern having at least one electrically conductive line with electrically conductive bridge members interconnecting portions of the at least one electrically conductive line; depositing a layer of curable adhesive material onto a surface of a dielectric, planar, flexible carrier; placing the obtained line pattern onto the layer of adhesive material; curing the adhesive material below the line pattern with the exception of the adhesive material below the bridge members; cutting through each bridge member at all ends between portions of the at least one electrically conductive line interconnected by the respective bridge member; and removing the cut bridge members.

A vehicle seat includes a first heater which heats a first region, a second heater which heats a second region different from the first region, and a controller connected to the first heater and the second heater. The controller is capable of executing PWM control under which current applied to the first heater and the second heater is regulated by setting current-application timeframes within a unit time period, wherein a first current-application timeframe that is a period within the unit time period in which current is applied to the first heater and a second current-application timeframe that is a period within the unit time period in which current is applied to the second heater, as set under the PWM control, are shifted relative to each other when current is applied to the first heater and the second heater.

A heater drive apparatus functions as a power supply control apparatus, and controls power supply to an electrical heating wire. In the heater drive apparatus, a current output circuit and a detection resistor function as a current detection unit, and detect a current flowing through the electrical heating wire. A microcomputer repeatedly calculates an electrical heating wire temperature relating to the electrical heating wire based on the detected current. A drive circuit functions as a switching unit, and switches a switch on or off in accordance with the calculated electrical heating wire temperature.

A system and a method for controlling a power MOSFET for limiting electromagnetic interference from a load is provided. The system and method include a pulse-width-modulated (PWM) control voltage to operate the power MOSFET in accordance with its Ohmic region (linear mode). By operating the power MOSFET in its Ohmic region, the electromagnetic field generated by the load is reduced, without requiring a dedicated DC/DC converter that would otherwise increase the cost, size, and weight of the power electronics.