An electric control unit comprising: (a) a plurality of input wires; (b) a connector receiving the plurality of input wires on a first side, the first side of the connector including: (i) a plurality of slots that each receive one of the plurality of wires and (ii) a plurality of prongs having an alternating relationship with the plurality of slots so that the plurality of prongs and the plurality of slots support each of the plurality of input wires; and (c) control circuitry located within the connector and connected to each of the plurality of input wires; and (d) a plurality of output pins located on a second side of the connector that are configured to connect to a thermal element so that the electric control unit assists in powering the thermal element and controlling the thermal element.

A seat heater according to the present invention includes: a heater that is provided between a seat cushioning material and a seat trim cover and includes a heating wire laid on a base material; a temperature detection unit provided in the vicinity of the heating wire of the heater; and a temperature control unit configured to control a temperature of the heater so that it approaches a target temperature, in which the temperature control unit calculates an estimated environment temperature, which is an estimated value of a temperature around the temperature detection unit, based on a rate of increase of a temperature indicating an amount of change of the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit in a period after an elapse of a predetermined time from a start of heating the heater, and corrects the target temperature so that it becomes lower as the estimated environmental temperature becomes lower.

A contact heating apparatus is provided. The heating apparatus includes a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating element integrated into a contact surface, a power controller configured to generate and apply a pulse width modified signal to the PTC heating element, and a controller is configured to adjust a current of the pulse width modified signal of the power controller according to one or more from among a setting parameter and a profile.

A heating apparatus is provided. The heating apparatus includes a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating element and a power controller configured to generate and apply a pulse width modified signal to the PTC heating element. The power controller is configured to vary a current of the pulse width modified signal linearly with respect to a temperature of a space being heated by the PTC heating element.

A method of controlling a heat wire of a seat includes: a classification operation of determining whether or not a passenger rides on a vehicle; a calculation operation of calculating a difference with a target temperature by measuring a current temperature of the seat; and a heating operation of heating the heat wire of the seat by differently setting a heating rate so that the temperature of the seat reaches the target temperature up to a heating target time set differently depending on whether or not the passenger rides on the vehicle.

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.

A system includes a climate control module and a thermal device control module. The climate control module, based on at least one of a user input and a first input from a temperature sensor that measures a temperature of a seat of a vehicle, generates one of (i) a heating command signal indicating an instruction to heat the seat and (ii) a cooling command signal indicating an instruction to cool the seat. The thermal device control module, in response to one of the heating command signal and the cooling command signal, controls at least one of a blower and at least one TED to one of heat and cool the seat based on a second input from at least one sensor that measures at least one of a pressure applied to the seat, a force applied to the seat, and a strain within the seat.

An electrical heating device includes at least one support; at least one ohmic heating resistor; and at least one temperature sensor. The heating resistor includes a heating conductor strand, which is laid out on, or in, the support in a track-like, curving, or meandering pattern to span a heating field. The heating conductor strand includes a measurement loop formed by at least two heating conductor sections that are separated from one another, and, in each case, are connected together electrically conductively at one end, and which are laid out around the temperature sensor and form a delimited measurement field. The temperature sensor is placed in a measurement position within the measurement field spanned by the measurement loop so that it is positioned as a function of a surface area formed by the measurement field at a greater or smaller distance from an opening of the measurement loop.

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.

Embodiments related to moisture abatement during a heating operation of a climate control system are disclosed. In some embodiments, the climate control system includes a thermoelectric device (TED) or other thermal condition device having a hot side and a cold side. In certain embodiments, the thermal conditioning device is operated (e.g., by a processor or a condensate switch) to inhibit or prevent the occurrence of condensation, and/or to abate condensation that has already occurred, on the cold side of the thermal conditioning device during the heating operation.