In at least some implementations, a heating apparatus includes a first temperature control source having a first substrate and a first heating element that is coupled to the first substrate, and a second temperature control source having a second substrate, and a second heating element that is coupled to the second substrate. The first and second heating elements are coupled electrically in series with one another. The first heating element may be sewn to the first substrate, and the second heating element may be sewn to the second substrate. An electrical circuit may be defined that includes a single current loop, wherein the first and second heating elements are coupled electrically in series with one another using one or more electrical connection segments.

A vehicle cockpit component (10, 12, 14, 16, 18) with a heating device that comprises a polyurethane-based foam charged and/or impregnated with an electrically conductive filler (1) which is directly connected to means for generating a potential difference (7a, 7b; 11a, 11b; 13a, 13b) for generating heat by Joule effect is provided. The polyurethane-based foam charged and/or impregnated with an electrically conductive filler (1) is used for manufacturing the padding or the upholstery of the vehicle cockpit component (10, 12, 14, 16, 18) or one or more portions of the padding or upholstery. The heating device is intrinsic to the vehicle cockpit component and does not require the provision of additional, separate components.

A heater control system includes a heater driver, a current sensor, a slope calculator, and a mode selector. The heater driver is configured to control current to a heater. The current sensor is configured to sense current supplied to the heater. The slope calculator is configured to calculate a slope of the current supplied to the heater. The mode selector is configured to adjust current supplied to the heater by the heated driver based on the slope of the current.

A heating apparatus is provided. The heating apparatus includes a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating element and a power controller configured to generate and apply a pulse width modified signal to the PTC heating element. The power controller is configured to vary a current of the pulse width modified signal linearly with respect to a temperature of a space being heated by the PTC heating element.

A vehicle interior assembly, such as a vehicle seat or a steering wheel, includes a cover assembly covering a frame. The cover assembly includes a vinyl or non-woven textile cover and an electrically conductive coating layer (“ECCL”) within an A-surface of the cover. The ECCL may function as a heater, a capacitive touch control, or lighting. Another cover assembly includes first and second ECCLs within an A-surface of a cover. The first ECCL functions as a heater and the second ECL functions as a capacitive touch control. Another cover assembly includes an ECCL and a Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) coating layer within an A-surface of a cover. The ECCL functions as a heater dependent on current received from a power source via the PTC coating layer. The PTC coating layer regulates the current received by the ECCL from the power source dependent on a temperature of the PTC coating layer.

A method of heating a vehicle member, comprising at least one first electrical heating unit and at least one second electrical heating unit, the method comprising: a first step with a step consisting of supplying current to the first electrical heating unit until at least one zone reaches a setpoint temperature, and with a step consisting of determining a first electrical energy supplied to the first electrical heating unit, a second step with a step consisting of supplying the first electrical heating unit in order to keep the priority area of the member at the setpoint temperature and with a step consisting of delivering to the second electrical heating unit a second electrical energy, calculated based on the first electrical energy.

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-free metal-complex composition formulated from at least one metal complex and a solvent, and optionally, a conductive filler material.

An electronic control unit for a heating device of a vehicle seat that includes: a printed circuit board on which one or more heat sources are arranged; a printed circuit board temperature sensor which is thermally coupled to at least one of the one or more heat sources on the printed circuit board; and at least one heating wire temperature sensor configured to be thermally coupled to a heating wire of the heating device; and a data processing device configured to determine a temperature of the heating wire based on temperature measured values of the printed circuit board temperature sensor and of the at least one heating wire temperature sensor.

A heater element having an electrically insulating substrate, a buss layer made of a conductive material, and a resistive layer that includes a first patch of a first resistive material. The first buss layer has a first buss and a second buss extending from terminals of the heater element to a heating area of the heater element. The first resistive material is applied in a first selected location in the heating area so as to provide electrical communication between the first buss and the second buss and to enable an electrical current to flow through the first resistive material. The resistive layer includes a second patch of a second resistive material. The second patch is applied in a second selected location in the heating area so as to provide electrical communication between the first buss and the second buss, the second selected location being different from the first selected location.

A seat heater for a motor vehicle is shown and described. An electronic controller receives input signals from a manual switch controlling separate seat and seatback heating elements. One type of signal, such as that resulting from one depression of the switch, effects energizing of both seat and also seatback heating elements. A second type of signal, such as two depressions of the switch, effects energizing of only the seatback heating element. The input signals provide operating power to the electronic controller. Optionally, energizing of the seatback heating element may be stopped should any other pattern of switch operation occur. Optionally, energizing of only the seatback heating element may be indicated audibly, visibly, or both. Optionally, energizing of only the seatback heating element may be limited to a predetermined time interval.