A vehicle seat includes a temperature-control system which is connectable or connected to a temperature-control circuit that conveys a temperature-control medium. The vehicle seat includes at least one temperature-control heat exchanger by which thermal energy can be delivered to and/or absorbed from the environment using the temperature-control medium. The vehicle seat includes at least one electrically operable or electrically operated temperature-control element which is a heating and/or cooling element.

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.

A seat assembly may include a seat having a seat base and a seat back, a temperature control unit disposed at least partially in the seat back, and/or an ECU connected with the temperature control unit. The ECU may be configured to receive an input related to (i) a first state corresponding to symptoms and/or discomfort associated with dysmenorrhea and/or (ii) a second state corresponding to symptoms and/or discomfort associated with sciatica. The ECU may be configured to operate the seat assembly according, at least in part, to the input.

A seat assembly may include a seat, a biomedical sensor, a bladder assembly, a pulsed electromagnetic field (PEMF) coil assembly, and/or an electronic control unit (ECU) connected with the biomedical sensor. The ECU may be configured to control the bladder assembly and the PEMF coil assembly, and/or to determine if a user occupying the seat is in a first state or a second state. The first state may correspond to one or more small user movements. Small user movements may include movements having magnitudes below a specified value or threshold. The second state may correspond to one or more large user movements. Large user movements may include movements having magnitudes above the specified value or threshold. The ECU may operate in a first mode when said user is in the first state and operate in a second mode when said user is in the second state.

A seat assembly may include a seat including a seat base and a seat back, a sensor, a vent unit disposed at least partially within the seat back, and/or an electronic control unit (ECU) connected with the sensor and the vent unit. The ECU may be configured to determine, via the sensor, if a user of the seat exhibits symptoms of fatigue. The ECU may be configured to operate the vent unit in a first mode and a second mode. When the vent unit is in the first mode, the vent unit may provide cool air to said user of the seat. When the vent unit is in the second mode, the vent unit may provide warmer and/or less air to said user of the seat. The ECU may automatically switch the vent unit between first and second modes to reduce symptoms of fatigue.

A heating and cooling device is disclosed comprising at least one integral low voltage heating and cooling source and an efficient flexible heat distribution means having a thermal conductivity of from 375 to 4000 W/mK for distributing the heat and cool across a surface. Further aspects include thermal interface compounds to provide full thermal contact as well as the use of a phase change material to provide a long lasting heating and/or cooling effect without the use of external electrical input. Preferred applications include automotive and furniture seating heating and cooling, along with outdoor garments having distributed heating and cooling effects.

A back panel of a motor vehicle seat element successively includes a layer of paint, a layer of non-expanded foam, at least one thermal device, and a layer of expanded foam.

A ventilation and massage device for a seat, may include a seat foam pad including a plurality of air discharge holes formed in the seat foam; an air distribution duct mounted in a space in a rear surface of the seat foam pad and fluidically-connected to the plurality of air discharge holes, the air distribution duct being configured to distribute air to the air discharge holes; massage units mounted on a bottom surface of the air distribution duct, the massage units being configured to move forwards and backwards to open or close the air discharge holes or penetrate the air discharge holes; and a controller electrically connected to the massage units and configured to control an amount of movement of the massage units based on information related to a body pressure of an occupant accommodated in the seat and information related to a temperature and humidity at a contact portion between the occupant and the seat.

A vehicle seat air-conditioning device includes: a blower that is included in a seat; at least one of an inlet duct or an outlet duct, the inlet duct being a duct through which air is led to be drawn in from a surface of the seat by the blower, and the outlet duct being a duct through which the air led by the blower is discharged from a surface of the seat; and a controller that is electrically connected to the blower. The blower includes a current detection circuit that detects a current consumption of the blower. The controller determines whether an occupant is sitting on the seat, based on the current consumption detected by the current detection circuit.

A heating and cooling device is disclosed comprising at least one integral low voltage heating and cooling source and an efficient flexible heat distribution means having a thermal conductivity of from 375 to 4000 W/mK for distributing the heat and cool across a surface. Further aspects include thermal interface compounds to provide full thermal contact as well as the use of a phase change material to provide a long lasting heating and/or cooling effect without the use of external electrical input. Preferred applications include automotive and furniture seating heating and cooling, along with outdoor garments having distributed heating and cooling effects. Additional aspects include a thermal pad wrap and a thermally conductive liquid system for heat/cool distribution.