A sensor arrangement for capacitive detection of an object, including: an electrode arrangement having a heating element as an electrode; a detection device providing a detection signal to a sensor electrode and capacitively detecting the presence of an object near the sensor electrode; a high-side switch connected between a heating power source having a first potential and the heating element; a low-side switch connected between the heating element and a second potential; and a gate controller closing the high-side switch and low-side switch in a heating mode and opening the high-side switch and low-side switch in a detection mode. A decoupling MOSFET is connected between the high-side switch and heating element. The gate controller closes the MOSFET in the heating mode and opens the MOSFET in the detection mode. During the detection mode, the decoupling circuit provides a third potential at a first node between the high-side switch and MOSFET.

This disclosure describes vehicle climate control systems and methods for more intelligently controlling an occupant comfort level within a vehicle interior in a manner that minimizes energy usage of the vehicle. The climate control system may be automatically controlled in an economical mode (i.e., ECO mode) when certain vehicle conditions are met. For example, the decision to activate the ECO mode of the climate control system may be a function of one or more variables including, but not limited to, vehicle speed, vehicle speed differentials, ambient temperatures, temperature differentials, battery state of charge, predicted low battery state of charge, etc.

A method of controlling occupant thermal comfort includes the steps of driving a temperature in a seating zone to a temperature set point (54), holding the temperature set point in the seating zone for a predetermined time (56), and regulating the temperature in the seating zone to a corrected temperature set point based upon an equivalent homogenous temperature relating to vehicle cabin conditions and occupant gender (58).

To better fulfill a sleep-inducing function for a seated person, a seat device includes a pressing device provided in a seat back and configured to press a back or a waist of a seated person to induce breathing; at least one of a temperature adjusting device configured to change a temperature of a seat cushion and/or the seat back and a shape adjusting device configured to change a surface shape of the seat cushion and/or the seat back; and a controller configured to control the pressing device to press the back or the waist of the seated person at a set cycle corresponding to a breathing cycle of a person at a sleeping time, and control the at least one of the temperature adjusting device and the shape adjusting device.

A wire harness connected to a sensor is positioned on a back surface of a pad of a vehicle seat supported by a panel. The vehicle seat (1) includes a panel (4); a pad (11, 51) supported by the panel; a skin material (12, 52) covering a front surface of the pad; and a sensor (32) provided between the front surface of the pad and the skin material for acquiring information on a seat occupant, wherein the pad is provided with a through hole (35, 58) passed from the front surface of the pad to a back surface of the pad, and a recess (45, 61) formed in the back surface of the pad and connected to the through hole, the wire harness connected to the sensor extending in the through hole and the recess.

A capacitive detection device includes a capacitive sensor having a sense electrode and an auxiliary electrode that are arrangeable in the vicinity of an electric heater member for mutual capacitive coupling. The capacitive detection device has a signal voltage source providing an alternating measurement voltage, a complex impedance measurement circuit for measuring complex sense currents and for determining a complex impedance based on the measured complex sense current, and for electrically connecting the auxiliary electrode either with the reference voltage or with the guard signal. The method includes providing the measurement signal to the sense electrode and electrically connect the auxiliary electrode selectively either to the reference voltage or to the guard voltage; determining capacitance values in the two different connection states of the auxiliary electrode; and calculating a compensated capacitance value as a weighted sum of the two determined capacitance values, wherein the weighting factors are predefined constant values.

A ventilated seat, a vehicle including the ventilated seat, and a method of controlling airflow in a vehicle having a ventilated seat are provided. The ventilated seat includes a seat cushion assembly and an air duct configured to interface with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) module of the vehicle and provide conditioned air from the HVAC module to the seat cushion assembly. The HVAC module of the vehicle further provides conditioned air to an interior cabin of the vehicle through at least one air vent.

A vehicle occupant air curtain system includes a seat that has a seat cushion and a seat back. The seat back has a region that is configured to be arranged above an occupant shoulder. An air vent is supported on the seat back and is arranged in the region. The air vent is configured to be directed adjacent to a seated occupant's head and neck.

An insert comprising: (a) a cover layer; (b) a spacer layer located below the cover layer; (c) a connection material that is adapted to extend between and connect the cover layer to a trim layer so that the insert is fixed to the trim layer.

A thermoelectric fabric may include a plurality of first threads and second threads. The first threads may be alternately formed by p-doped and n-doped thread portions and electrically conductive first thread portions and second thread portions arranged in between. The first thread portions may form a hot side of the fabric, and the second thread portions may form a cold side. The first threads may form one of warp threads or weft threads of the fabric, and the second threads may form the other of the warp threads or weft threads. On at least one of the first thread portions of at least one of the plurality of first threads, a temperature control structure with at least one temperature control element for cooling the hot side may be present.