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.

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 positive temperature coefficient component includes: a substrate (32); a conductive ink (36) disposed over at least a portion of the substrate (32); a positive temperature coefficient layer (38) disposed over at least a portion of the substrate (32) and/or the conductive ink (36); and a topcoat layer (42) formed from a coating composition including a dielectric material disposed over at least a portion of the positive temperature coefficient layer (38) and/or the conductive ink (36).

The invention relates to a heating structure (30) intended in particular for installation inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle, this structure being in particular a radiant panel, the heating structure (30) comprising at least one resistive layer arranged to give off heat when an electric current flows through this layer (31), this structure further comprising an array of electrodes (32) comprising a plurality of contact electrodes (33) that are arranged so as to be in electrical contact with the resistive layer in order to make electric current flow through this resistive layer, at least two of these contact electrodes being in contact with a region of the resistive layer (31), these two contact electrodes facing one another such that electric current can flow from one of these electrodes to the other of the contact electrodes by passing through this region of the resistive layer, these two contact electrodes (33) on either side of said region taking a shape chosen such that the two electrodes get closer to one another over a portion (38) of the electrodes and stay further away at the ends (39) of these electrodes.

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 vehicle seat includes a seat portion having a heating element, such as an electrically conductive wire. A sensing structure having a characteristic that is responsive to a temperature of the heating element is provided adjacent to the heating element, such as by being helically wrapped thereabout or extending parallel thereto. For example, the sensing structure may include an optical fiber, and the characteristic of the sensing structure may be an amount of light transmitted through the optical fiber. A controller is responsive to the characteristic of the sensing structure for determining when the temperature of the heating element exceeds a predetermined value.

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 heating device for a vehicle seat, the heating device includes a carrier element, and an electrically conductive thread arrangement that is fixed on the carrier element. The electrically conductive thread arrangement includes a plurality of thread sections, each of which has a plurality of thread loops. The plurality of thread sections are arranged side by side in an overlapping manner such that the plurality of thread sections cross each other several times.

An occupant support surface heater includes a foundation, a cover, an optional comfort layer, an activation layer, and at least one bus bar secured between the foundation and the cover. The foundation may include a foam pad and the comfort layer includes a conductive material mat that is contiguous with the foundation. The activation layer includes thermally conductive material in the form of an inorganic or organic nanotube structure to provide efficient thermal diffusion and heat delivery for the occupant support. The occupant support surface heater may be used to heat an occupant in the occupant support or to provide heat at a predetermined temperature for a predetermined period of time in order to destroy live viruses or live bacteria at a surface of the unoccupied occupant support.

The invention provides a heating conductive wire-like element comprising a core made from synthetic fibers a plurality of heating conductive wires around said core. The core is twisted in a predetermined direction X and the plurality of heating conductive wires are wound in a predetermined direction Y. The predetermined direction X is different from the predetermined direction Y. A predetermined number of said heating conductive wires are individually covered with a non- electrically conductive material.