A capacitive occupancy or proximity detector (10) comprises a heating circuit, an impedance measurement circuit (34, 36, 40) and a diagnostic circuit. The heating circuit includes a heating element (12). The impedance measurement circuit is connected to the heating element so as to measure impedance between the heating element and a node at ground potential. The diagnostic circuit is configured for measuring electrical resistance across the heating circuit and includes a heating current sensor (42), configured for sensing a heating current across the heating circuit, a current supply device (48) for driving a diagnostic current across the heating circuit and a current limiting ground path (50), configured for draining the diagnostic current and for blocking the heating current.

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.

According to various implementations, a sensor mat includes a mat substrate, a sensor electrode, and a shield electrode. At least a portion of the sensor and shield electrodes are spaced apart from and parallel to each other on a first surface of the mat substrate. The shield electrode is electrically coupled to a voltage source to create a capacitance between the shield electrode and the sensor electrode, and the sensor electrode is used to detect a change in the capacitance. The shield electrode may also be alternately used for heating the surface of the vehicle part adjacent the mat. For example, the sensor may be disposed adjacent a portion of a steering wheel or a seat assembly and is used for sensing presence of an occupant's hands or body adjacent the steering wheel or seat assembly.

A massaging chair assembly includes a pad that is positionable on a seat in a vehicle. A plurality of massage units is each integrated into the pad and each of the massage units abuts the user when the user sits on the pad. Each of the massage units orbits about a central point when the massage units are turned on to massage the user. A heating element is integrated into the pad and the heating element heats the pad to warm the user when the user sits on the pad. A control unit is integrated into the pad and the control unit is in electrical communication with each of the massage units and the heating element. A remote control is provided and the remote control is in wireless communication with the control unit for controlling operational parameters of the massage units and the heating element.

A vehicle device system for a motor vehicle, having at least one vehicle device, in particular a vehicle seat or vehicle table, and comprising a mount fastened or fastenable to a vehicle body for detachably locking the vehicle device to the vehicle body, and comprising a key-operated switch, which establishes or interrupts at least one electrical contact between the vehicle device and the vehicle depending on its switching position. It is provided that the key-operated switch is fastened on the vehicle device, which is longitudinally displaceably mounted/mountable on the mount, and interacts with a contact carriage, which is longitudinally displaceably mounted on the mount.

A vehicle interior component with a heater/heating element is disclosed. The component may comprise an assembly with the heating element produced in a mold tool by a process comprising assembling the heating element between a cover layer and a fiber layer to provide a pre-form assembly; consolidating the pre-form assembly (e.g. including trimming/compressing and/or heating); forming the pre-form assembly in the mold tool into a compression-formed body with a shape; applying a cover to the compression-formed body to provide a compression-formed panel. The compression-formed panel may be provided with the shape and an external surface provided by the cover. The texture/feel at the external surface of the compression-formed panel for the component may obscure the presence of the heating element within the component. The component may comprise a console; floor console; tunnel console; armrest; instrument panel; door; door panel; trim component; or panel.

A vehicle seat including: a seat cushion configured to support buttocks and thighs of a seated occupant; a temperature changing section that is provided at the seat cushion and is switchable between a first state in which the temperature changing section operates so as to warm the seated occupant from a front end portion of the seat cushion, and a second state in which the temperature changing section does not operate so as to warm the seated occupant from the front end portion of the seat cushion and a control section configured to control the temperature changing section so as to alternate repeatedly between the first state and the second state in a state in which an occupant is sitting on the seat cushion.

A vehicle seating assembly includes a seat base that has a first heating element. A seat back has a second heating element. A sensor is coupled to the seat base and is configured to obtain a weight data. A user-interface assembly is operably coupled to the first and second heating elements. A controller is in communication with the sensor to receive the weight data. The controller is configured to control the first and second heating elements in response to the weight data.

A vehicle seat power consumption control device and method therefor, may reduce a voltage supplied to a heating wire or air blower provided in a vehicle seat based on at least one of a position of the vehicle seat, body information related to an occupant, and power consumption time (operation time of a heating wire or an air blower) of the vehicle seat to reduce power consumption of a battery while maintaining a sensory temperature of an occupant at a certain level, improving fuel efficiency of the vehicle. To this end, the vehicle seat power consumption control device may include a sensor that obtains an angle of a vehicle seat and a controller that adjusts a voltage supplied to an electric device provided in the vehicle seat according to the angle of the vehicle seat.

Energy management techniques for heating or cooling a surface of a component of a vehicle comprise determining a heating lag time indicative of a lag time for a surface element of the vehicle component to heat to a first target temperature in response to a power on-off or power off-on modulation of a heat transfer component, determining a cooling lag time indicative of a lag time for the surface element to cool to a second target temperature in response to a power on-off or power off-on modulation of the heat transfer component, and controlling power-on and power-off times of the heat transfer component based on the determined heating and cooling lag times so as to not require a temperature sensor for feedback-based temperature control.