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 method that includes supplying an amount of power to a thermal system to effect a temperate change of a touch surface; determining a rate of the temperature change of the touch surface; comparing the determined rate of the temperature change to a predetermined rate threshold; and changing the amount of power supplied to the thermal system after the comparing step based on whether the determined rate of temperature change is less than or greater than the predetermined rate threshold.

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.

Various implementations include a vehicle component heating system that includes an electrode disposed within a sensing zone, and a processor. The electrode generates heat for a surface of a vehicle component within the sensing zone and senses proximity of an occupant to the sensing zone. The processor selects a heating percentage of a duty cycle for generating a heating signal, a sensing percentage of the duty cycle for generating and measuring a sensing signal and reporting the measured sensing signal, and an idle percentage of the duty cycle during which neither the heating nor the sensing signal is generated, wherein the sum of the heating, sensing, and idle percentages is 100%. The processor generates the heating signal and/or generates and measures the sensing signal and reports the measurement of the sensing signal based on the selected percentages.

A remotely operated control system for energizing vehicular seat heating and cooling system is shown and described. The novel control system uses a remote control originally intended to operate vehicle features other than seat heating and cooling. The remote control issues more than the necessary single control command within a predetermined time period. The control system preferentially recognizes that the extra signals are intended to operate the seat heating or cooling features. Responsively, power is connected to a selected seat heating or cooling feature. The novel control system is conveniently wired to local electrically energized original conductors of the vehicle electrical system to bring power to the seat heaters or coolers.

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 seat heater is configured to heat a passenger seated on a seat disposed in a vehicle. The seat heater includes is a radiant heater that is disposed in an area of the seat that is not in contact with the passenger seated on the seat and configured to radiant heat toward the passenger seated on the seat. The seat includes a seatback configured to support a back of the passenger. The seatback has linear lateral hanging portions extending in a width direction of the vehicle. The radiant heater is disposed above the most upper one of the plurality of liner lateral hanging portions in a vertical direction of the vehicle.

A component with an integrated occupant contact identification and a heating function having at least one evaluation and control unit and at least two electrical conductors, which are powered independently of one another and which are assigned to various regions of the component, wherein the evaluation and control unit spatially detects an occupant contact of the component by evaluating a change in capacitance of the electrical conductors, wherein the evaluation and control unit increases the electric energy in the assigned electrical conductor based on a detected occupant contact. A method for identifying an occupant contact of a component.

An armrest for an interior equipment part of a motor vehicle includes a decor layer, a support element, a cushion element disposed at least in sections between the support element and the decor layer, and a heating element disposed at least in sections on the decor layer. Furthermore, the armrest includes a sensor element that includes an electrode and a counter electrode. The sensor element is electrically connected to a control unit, wherein the sensor element is designed to send an electric sensor signal to the control unit when the distance between the electrode and the counter electrode changes at least in regions, and the control unit is designed to switch the heating element off and/or on as a function of the sensor signal.

An occupant support comprises a vehicle seat including a seat bottom and a seat back coupled to the seat bottom. The occupant support further comprises a heating system located within the seat back of the vehicle seat. The heating system may be configured to provide a heating sensation to an occupant resting on the vehicle seat.