Apparatus For Determining The Temperature Of A Resistance Heating Device

Abstract

A device for determining a temperature of a resistance heating device, the device includes: a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of the resistance heating device; and an electronic data processing and/or control device configured to calculate a temperature change of the resistance heating device on a basis of a change in a resistance value of the resistance heating device and a relationship between the resistance value and the temperature of the resistance heating device, the electronic data processing and/or control device configured to validate the temperature of the resistance heating device detected by the temperature sensor, taking into account the calculated temperature change of the resistance heating device.

Claims

1) A device for determining a temperature of a resistance heating device, the device comprising: a temperature sensor configured to detect the temperature of the resistance heating device; and an electronic data processing and/or control device configured to calculate a temperature change of the resistance heating device on a basis of a change in a resistance value of the resistance heating device and a relationship between the resistance value and the temperature of the resistance heating device, the electronic data processing and/or control device configured to validate the temperature of the resistance heating device detected by temperature sensor, taking into account the calculated temperature change of the resistance heating device.

2) The device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic data processing and/or control device is configured to compare a sensor-detected temperature change of the resistance heating device with the calculated temperature change of the resistance heating device to validate a sensor-detected temperature of the resistance heating device.

3) The device according to claim 1, wherein the relationship used by the electronic data processing and/or control device between the electrical resistance and the temperature of the resistance heating device is a device-specific relationship determined specifically for the resistance heating device between the electrical resistance and the temperature of the resistance heating device.

4) The device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic data processing and/or control device is configured to determine and/or to initially store the relationship used for the temperature calculation between the electrical resistance and the temperature of the resistance heating device as part of a setup routine.

5) The device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic data processing and/or control device is configured to subsequently update the relationship between the electrical resistance and the temperature of the resistance heating device used for the temperature calculation.

6) The device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic data processing and/or control device is configured to derive the relationship between the electrical resistance and the temperature of the resistance heating device from at least two pairs of values, wherein a first pair of the values assigns an associated first resistance value of the resistance heating device to a first temperature value of the resistance heating device and second pair of the values assigns a second resistance value of the resistance heating device to a second temperature value of the resistance heating device.

7) The device according to claim 6, wherein the device is configured to determine the first pair of the values and/or the second pair of the values itself.

8) The device according to claim 1, wherein an initial relationship between the electrical resistance and the temperature of the resistance heating device is stored in a memory of the electronic data processing and/or control device, wherein the electronic data processing and/or the control device is configured to check the stored initial relationship between the electrical resistance and the temperature of the resistance heating device during commissioning and/or to adapt it specifically for the resistance heating device.

9) The device according to claim 8, wherein the electronic data processing and/or control device is configured before or during commissioning of the device to determine the initial relationship between the electrical resistance and the temperature of the resistance heating device and to store it in the memory, from a first initial pair of values stored in the memory, which first initial pair of values assigns an associated first resistance value of the resistance heating device to a first temperature value of the resistance heating device, and a calculated second initial pair of values, which assigns an associated second resistance value of the resistance heating device to a second temperature value of the resistance heating device.

10) The device according to claim 1, wherein the electronic data processing and/or control device is configured to compare at least one pair of values of the relationship between the electrical resistance and the temperature of the resistance heating device during operation with a pair of values which is determined by the device during operation of the device.

11) The device according to claim 1, wherein an electrical measuring circuit is configured to detect the current resistance value of the resistance heating device.

12) A heating system for use in a vehicle, having: the resistance heating device; and the device according to claim 1.

13) The heating system according to claim 12, wherein the resistance heating device is designed as a heating conductor system and comprises one or more heating conductors.

14) A method for operating the heating system according to claim 12, comprising: detecting the temperature of a resistance heating device of the heating system by means of a temperature sensor of the heating system; calculating the temperature change of the resistance heating device on the basis of the change in the resistance value of the resistance heating device and a relationship between the electrical resistance and the temperature of the resistance heating device by means of the electronic data processing and/or control device; validating the temperature of the resistance heating device detected by the temperature sensor, taking into account the calculated temperature change of the resistance heating device.

15) The method according to claim 14, wherein the electronic data processing and/or control device compares a sensor-detected temperature change of the resistance heating device with the calculated temperature change of the resistance heating device.

16) The method according to claim 14, comprising at least one of the following steps: determining the relationship used for the temperature calculation between the electrical resistance and the temperature of the resistance heating device as part of a setup routine, by the electronic data processing and/or control device; initially storing the relationship used for the temperature calculation between the electrical resistance and the temperature of the resistance heating device as part of a setup routine, by the electronic data processing and/or control device; subsequently updating the relationship used for the temperature calculation between the electrical resistance and the temperature of the resistance heating device as part of a setup routine, by the electronic data processing and/or control device.

17) The method according to claim 14, comprising at least one of the following steps: checking an initial relationship between the electrical resistance and the temperature of the resistance heating device, which relationship is stored in a memory of the electronic data processing and/or control device, by the electronic data processing and/or control device when the heating system is commissioned; specifically adapting an initial relationship between the electrical resistance and the temperature of the resistance heating device, which relationship is stored in a memory of the electronic data processing and/or control device, by the electronic data processing and/or control device when the heating system is commissioned; determining an initial relationship between the electrical resistance and the temperature of the resistance heating device from a first initial pair of values stored in a memory of the electronic data processing and/or control device, which pair of values assigns an associated first resistance value of the resistance heating device to a first temperature value of the resistance heating device, and a calculated second initial pair of values which assigns an associated second resistance value of the resistance heating device to a second temperature value of the resistance heating device, by the electronic data processing and/or control device, before or when the heating system is commissioned; storing the determined initial relationship between the electrical resistance and the temperature of the resistance heating device in the memory of the electronic data processing and/or control device; comparing at least one pair of values of the relationship between the electrical resistance and the temperature of the resistance heating device with a pair of values that is determined by the heating system during operation of the heating system; detecting the current resistance value of the resistance heating device by an electrical measuring circuit of the heating system.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] Preferred embodiments of the invention are explained and described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. Shown are:

[0033] FIG. 1 illustrates an embodiment of the heating system according to the invention in a schematic representation;

[0034] FIG. 2 illustrates a resistance heating device and a measuring circuit of a device according to the invention for determining the temperature of the resistance heating device;

[0035] FIG. 3 illustrates a relationship between the electrical resistance and the temperature of a resistance heating device determined within the scope of the method according to the invention; and

[0036] FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C illustrate different relationships between the electrical resistance and the temperature of a resistance heating device, stored on a device according to the invention, before and after commissioning.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a heating system 100 which can be used in connection with a vehicle. For example, the illustrated heating system 100 can be at least partially integrated into a vehicle seat in order to implement a heating function on the vehicle seat.

[0038] The heating system 100 has a resistance heating device 102 designed as a heating conductor system. Accordingly, the resistance heating device 102 has one or more heating conductors. In addition, the heating system 100 comprises a device 10 for determining the temperature of the resistance heating device 102.

[0039] The device 10 allows redundant temperature detection, so that the risk of incorrect temperature detection is minimized. The device 10 has a temperature sensor 12 arranged in the vicinity of the resistance heating device 102. Alternatively, the temperature sensor 12 can also be arranged directly on the resistance heating device 102 and be in contact with the resistance heating device 102. The thermal coupling of the temperature sensor 12 and the resistance heating device 102 allows the temperature of the resistance heating device 102 to be detected by sensor by means of the temperature sensor 12. The temperature sensor 12 and the resistance heating device 102 are electrically conductively connected to an electronic data processing and/or control device 14 of the device 10. The electronic data processing and/or control device 14 can be designed as a microcontroller and is used, among other things, for validating the temperature of the resistance heating device 102 detected by sensor by the temperature sensor 12.

[0040] To validate the temperature of the resistance heating device 102 detected by sensor by the temperature sensor 12, the electronic data processing and/or control device 14 calculates a temperature change of the resistance heating device 102 on the basis of a change in the resistance value of the resistance heating device 102 and a relationship 26, 26a-26c between the electrical resistance R and the temperature T of the resistance heating device 102. The temperature change of the resistance heating device 102 calculated on the basis of the change in resistance is compared with a temperature change of the resistance heating device 102 detected by sensor as part of the measured value validation. If the temperature change of the resistance heating device 102 detected by sensor by the temperature sensor 12 corresponds to the temperature change of the resistance heating device 102 calculated by the electronic data processing and/or control device 14 or does not exceed a tolerance deviation, a first group of malfunctions of the temperature sensor 12 can already be excluded within the scope of the validation. Malfunctions that lead to dynamic or varying measured value deviations, such as a short circuit or an open circuit in the region of the temperature sensor 12, can be reliably determined by comparing the temperature change determined and calculated by the sensors.

[0041] The electronic data processing and/or control device 14 is further designed to update the relationship 26, 26a-26c used for the temperature calculation between the electrical resistance R and the temperature T of the resistance heating device 102 during operation. A constant recalibration of the electronic data processing and/or control device 14 takes place during the operation of the device 10 due to the constant updating of the relationship 26, 26a-26c between the electrical resistance R and the temperature T of the resistance heating device 102. In this way, a constant temperature deviation or a constant temperature offset can also be identified by the temperature sensor 12 in the sensor-based temperature detection. The first validation process, which is implemented by comparing the temperature changes detected by sensor and the calculated temperature changes, is thus supplemented by constantly recalibrating the electronic data processing and/or control device 14 for updating the relationship 26, 26a-26c between the electrical resistance R and the temperature T of the resistance heating device 102. Overall, a reliable measurement value validation can thus be implemented without the need for additional temperature sensors.

[0042] The relationship 26, 26a-26c used by the electronic data processing and/or control device 14 between the electrical resistance R and the temperature T of the resistance heating device 102 is a device-specific relationship, determined specifically for the resistance heating device 102, between the electrical resistance R and the temperature T of the resistance heating device 102. This relationship 26, 26a-26c, specially adapted to the resistance heating device 102, between the electrical resistance R and the temperature T of the resistance heating device 102, can be determined as part of a setup routine of the device 10 by the manufacturer or automatically when the device 10 is commissioned.

[0043] The heating system 100 can be integrated into an electrical system of a vehicle via the line 104.

[0044] FIG. 2 shows an electrical measuring circuit 16 by means of which the current resistance value of the resistance heating device 102 can be detected. The electrical measuring circuit 16 comprises a high-side switch 18 designed to switch the positive supply voltage. Furthermore, the electrical measuring circuit 16 comprises a low-side switch 20 designed to switch the negative supply voltage. In addition, the electrical measuring circuit 16 comprises an electrical resistor 22 and a field effect transistor 23 which generate an overlay voltage or an overlay current. In addition, the electrical measuring circuit 16 comprises a voltage divider 24 used to protect the electronic data processing and/or control device 14.

[0045] FIG. 3 shows a relationship 26 between the electrical resistance R and the temperature T of a resistance heating device 102 used by the electronic data processing and/or control device 14 for calculating the temperature. The electronic data processing and/or control device 14 derives the relationship 26 between the electrical resistance R and the temperature T of the resistance heating device 102 from two pairs of values. The first pair of values assigns an associated first resistance value R.sub.1 of the resistance heating device 102 to a first temperature value T.sub.1 of the resistance heating device 102. A second pair of values assigns an associated second resistance value R.sub.2 of the resistance heating device 102 to a second temperature value T.sub.2 of the resistance heating device 102. The temperature measured values T.sub.1, T.sub.2 of the resistance heating device 102 can be detected by means of the temperature sensor 12 of the device 10 and/or calculated via the electronic data processing and/or control device 14 of the device 10. The resistance values R.sub.1, R.sub.2 of the resistance heating device 102 can be detected by means of the measuring circuit 16 of the device 10.

[0046] From the two pairs of values, the electronic data processing and/or control device 14 calculates the linear relationship 26 between the electrical resistance R and the temperature T of the resistance heating device 102, wherein this is a linear resistance temperature characteristic curve in the present case.

[0047] FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 4C show three different relationships 26a-26c between the electrical resistance R and the temperature T of a resistance heating device 102 at different points in time I-III in FIG. 4A, the point in time I relates to the point in time at which the manufacturing process of the device 10 is completed. In FIG. 4B, the point in time II relates to the commissioning of the device 10, that is, to the point in time when the device 10 is used for the first time. In FIG. 4C, the point in time III relates to a later operating point in time after the device 10 has been commissioned.

[0048] The electronic data processing and/or control device 14 is designed to determine a first initial pair of values from a resistance value R.sub.1a and a temperature value T.sub.1a after completion of the manufacturing process and to store it in a memory of the electronic data processing and/or control device 14. The temperature value T.sub.1a of the first initial pair of values relates, for example, to the ambient temperature of the device 10 at the end of the manufacturing process, that is, to the hall temperature of the manufacturing site. The second initial pair of values from the temperature value T.sub.2a and the resistance value R.sub.2a is calculated by the electronic data processing and/or control device 14 before the device 10 is commissioned on the basis of known properties of the undamaged resistance heating device 102. The temperature value T.sub.2a relates, for example, to a set-point temperature which is likely to be set during the later operation of the device 10.

[0049] The electronic data processing and/or control device 14 can thus determine an initial relationship 26a between the electrical resistance R and the temperature T of the resistance heating device 102 even before the device 10 is commissioned. This initial relationship 26a between the electrical resistance R and the temperature T of the resistance heating device 102 allows a quick test of the temperature sensor 12 after the manufacturing process has been completed and the device 10 has actually been commissioned (see FIG. 4A).

[0050] FIG. 4B shows a relationship 26b between electrical resistance R and temperature T of resistance heating device 102, which relationship is determined when the device 10 is commissioned by electronic data processing and/or control device 14 and is used for updating the diagram 26a. The electronic data processing and/or control device 14 determines two resistance values R.sub.1b, R.sub.2b at two different temperatures T.sub.1b, T.sub.2b when it is commissioned. During commissioning, the electronic data processing and/or control device 14 thus causes an update of the initial relationship 26a stored within the framework of the setup routine by the relationship 26b determined when the device 10 was commissioned.

[0051] In addition, the electronic data processing and/or control device 14 is designed to compare at least one pair of values of the relationship 26b between the electrical resistance R and the temperature T of the resistance heating device 102 when the device 10 is in operation with a pair of values that is determined in the device 10. If a creeping offset development is determined in the temperature detection by the temperature sensor 12, the electronic data processing and/or control device 14 causes the relationship 26b to be updated again, wherein the new relationship 26c is determined as part of the update. Two pairs of values T.sub.1c, R.sub.1c and T.sub.2c, R.sub.2c are again determined and used to calculate the new resistance temperature characteristic curve 26c.

[0052] Because the electronic data processing and/or control device 14 can update the relationship 26a, 26b, 26c between the electrical resistance R and the temperature T of the resistance heating device 102, a reliable validation process of the temperature measurement values determined by the temperature sensor 12 can be ensured even with changing device properties. The temperature calculation thus continues to be precise, both in the delivery state of the device 10 and after the occurrence of closure, so that additional temperature sensors for the purpose of validation can be completely dispensed with.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0053] 10 device

[0054] 12 temperature sensor

[0055] 14 electronic data processing and/or control device

[0056] 16 measurement circuit

[0057] 18 high-side switch

[0058] 20 low-side switch

[0059] 22 resistor

[0060] 23 field effect transistor

[0061] 24 voltage divider

[0062] 26, 26a-26c relationships

[0063] 100 heating system

[0064] 102 resistance heating device

[0065] 104 line

[0066] T temperature

[0067] T.sub.1, T.sub.2 temperature values

[0068] T.sub.1a, T.sub.2a temperature values

[0069] T.sub.1b, T.sub.2b temperature values

[0070] T.sub.1c, T.sub.2c temperature values

[0071] R electrical resistance

[0072] R.sub.1, R.sub.2 resistance values

[0073] R.sub.1a, R.sub.2a resistance values

[0074] R.sub.1b, R.sub.2b resistance values

[0075] R.sub.1c, R.sub.2c resistance values

[0076] I-III points in time