A vehicle seat includes at least one of a seat back and a seat cushion having a pad member and a skin member covering the pad member, wherein a heater having a sheet configuration and a plurality of air cells are provided between a surface side of the pad member and the skin member.

A refuse vehicle includes a controller having a processor and at least one memory. The controller is in communication with a control console on a first side of a cab and a control console on a second side of a cab. The controller is configured to detect a presence of an operator in a seat on the first side or a seat on the second side based on a signal from a camera, a weight sensor, or an ignition, and in response to detecting the presence of an operator on the first side of the cab, enable a vehicle operator interface of the control console on the first side and disable a vehicle operator interface of the control console on the second side.

An impedance measurement circuit for determining a complex impedance of a capacitive sensor having at least one sense electrode operable in loading mode and at least one guard electrode. The measurement circuit includes: a pulse generator unit for providing a periodic electric measurement signal and a periodic electric guard signal; a signal sensing circuit for sensing a sense current flowing through the at least one sense electrode or the sense electrodes in response to the pulse generator unit measurement signal; and a control and evaluation unit. The control and evaluation unit is configured for determining a complex impedance from the determined sense currents with reference to a complex reference potential.

A conveyance seat includes a seat cushion having a urethane pad member, a bead foam molding member harder than the urethane pad member, a skin material, and a seating sensor sensing a seated occupant's seating load, in which the urethane pad member is formed with a first through hole penetrating the urethane pad member in a height direction, the bead foam molding member is formed with a second through hole penetrating the bead foam molding member in the height direction and at least a part of the second through hole is at a position overlapping the first through hole in a top view, the seating sensor includes at least a sensor main body portion and a cable portion energizing the sensor main body portion or transmitting a signal of the sensor main body portion, and the cable portion is inserted through the first through hole and the second through hole.

Disclosed is a method for detecting the wear of a cushion of a seat or a backrest of a seat, comprising determining the state of wear of the cushion according to a predetermined minimum threshold value of the thickness of the cushion below which the cushion is considered to be worn.

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.

Various implementations include seats and related systems for detecting user proximity and controlling one or more functions based on that proximity detection. In particular cases, the seats include an upper seat section with at least one two-dimensional (2D) contrast indicator that is detectable by a sensor system to indicate a position of the upper seat section.

A vehicle having a horn and a light includes an alarm system secured to a ceiling of the vehicle. The alarm system includes a housing secured to the ceiling; a computer carried within the housing and in data communication with a thermal imaging sensor configured to determine if a party is left behind after the driver leaves the vehicle; a transceiver operably associated with the computer; and a mobile device operably associated with the transceiver. The method to notify a driver and/or third party if a party is left behind in a vehicle includes determining if the party is left behind via the thermal imaging sensor; and wirelessly notifying driver that the party has been left behind.

A vehicle seat system is provided that includes heating, cooling, and occupant sensing functionality in a single unit. The system includes carbon nanotube (CNT) elements disposed adjacent the seat surface. The CNT elements may be woven or stitched to a vehicle seat cover, or may be disposed in a mat that is placed between a seat cushion and the seat cover. The CNT elements may be used for heating, cooling, and occupant sensing, without requiring separate units or circuits. The system may include Peltier elements attached to the CNT elements, with the Peltier elements transferring heat between the CNT elements and a heat bank. The heat bank may be in the form of a heat sink, or the heat bank may be the seat rails of the vehicle seat, with the Peltier elements attached to the seat rails.

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.