A heater/sensor assembly is configured to perform heating and proximity sensing and includes a heater carrier substrate including first and second surfaces. A heater wire is arranged in a predetermined pattern adjacent to and in contact with the first surface of the heater carrier substrate, wherein the heater wire is insulated. A proximity sensor includes a conductive thread attaching the heater wire to the first surface of the heater carrier substrate.

A heater control system includes: a resistance heater; and a boost converter that is electrically connected to the resistance heater. The boost converter outputs, to the resistance heater, a boost voltage that is higher than a power supply voltage of a power source that is electrically connected to the boost converter.

Described herein are methods for forming resistive heaters and force sensing elements on a flexible substrate, and devices that include these elements to provide a force responsive conductive heater, such as a seat heater in a vehicle. The methods include printing a conductive ink on a flexible substrate that is heated to 30? C. to 90? C. before and/or during the printing process and curing the substrate to produce a conductive pattern thereon. The conductive inks generally include a particle-fee metal-complex composition formulated from at least one metal complex and a solvent, and optionally, a conductive filler material.

An occupant support includes a vehicle seat including a cushion and trim arranged to extend around the cushion. An occupant-comfort system includes a heat-transfer station located in spaced-part relation from the trim and configured to move heat to the occupant in a heating mode and from the occupant in a cooling mode.

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.

An embodiment integrated warmer control system includes warmers disposed in and around a seat, a main controller configured to derive a command signal according to a temperature of an operation stage or a plurality of operation stage-specific operation temperatures of each of the warmers based on situation-specific information, and sub-controllers configured to receive the command signal according to the temperature of the operation stage or the plurality of operation stage-specific operation temperatures derived through communication with the main controller and to control the warmers to operate in response to the command signal.

A system (10) comprising: means for determining the heat flux (12) from or to an occupant (14) of a seat (16); and means for controlling heating means (18) and/or cooling means (20) in dependence upon determined heat flux (12) from or to the occupant of the seat.

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 fabric heating element including an electrically conductive, non-woven fiber layer having a plurality of conductive fibers collectively having an average length of less than 12 mm. The fabric heating element also including at least two conductive strips electrically connected to the fiber layer over a predetermined length, positioned adjacent opposite ends of the fiber layer, and configured to be electrically connected to a power source.

A carbon fiber plate heating element and a method for producing the same are provided. The carbon fiber plate heating element includes a core wire positioned at a substantial center and an electrode body that includes a plurality of electrode fine lines twisted around the core wire. A stitching portion fixes the electrode body to a main panel at regular intervals. The method includes arranging a core wire at the substantial center; twisting a plurality of electrode fine lines around the core wire to form an electrode body; and fixing the electrode body to a main panel by stitching the electrode body at regular intervals.