CN-121989774-A - Uniform multi-zone seat heater

Abstract

A system includes a seat heater having at least first and second heating circuits defining at least first and second heating zones. The first heating circuit includes a first heating coil, and the second heating circuit includes a second heating coil that intersects the first heating coil such that the first heating zone and the second heating zone at least partially overlap each other.

Inventors

• Sumans Musyala
• M - tish Kesh
• Adrienne Cedric Ceballos
• Vellachslav Ivanov
• S. Ziorkovsky

Assignees

• 李尔公司

Dates

Publication Date

20260508

Application Date

20251104

Priority Date

20241107

Claims (17)

1. 1. A system, comprising: A seat heater comprising at least first and second heating circuits defining at least first and second heating zones, the first heating circuit comprising a first heating coil and the second heating circuit comprising a second heating coil interdigitated with the first heating coil such that the first and second heating zones at least partially overlap one another for uniform heating across the first and second heating zones.
2. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein the first heating coil comprises a first heating coil return, the second heating coil comprises a second heating coil return, and the second heating coil return is interdigitated with the first heating coil return.
3. 3. The system of claim 2, wherein the first heating coil return is a left turn return and the second heating coil return is a left turn return.
4. 4. The system of claim 2, wherein the first heating coil return is a double return and the second heating coil return is a single return.
5. 5. The system of claim 1, wherein the first heating coil and the second heating coil are independently selected from the group consisting of pure copper, steel, copper-nickel, copper-magnesium, and copper-tin.
6. 6. The system of claim 1, wherein the heating coils are independently selected from the group consisting of CuSn0.3, cuSn0.6, and CuSn 6.
7. 7. The system of claim 1, wherein the heating coils have wires with different diameters from each other.
8. 8. The system of claim 1, wherein the heating circuits are independent such that each heating circuit can be independently turned on/off.
9. 9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a single carrier pad carrying the first and second heating circuits.
10. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein the ratio of heating coils of the first circuit interdigitated with the heating coils of the second circuit is 1:1 to 5:1.
11. 11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a seat comprising the seat heater.
12. 12. A system, comprising: A seat; a single carrier pad in the seat; A seat heater comprising at least first and second heating circuits carried on the carrier mat, the first and second heating circuits defining at least first and second heating zones that at least partially overlap one another for uniform heating across the first and second heating zones.
13. 13. The system of claim 12, wherein the first heating circuit comprises a first heating coil and the second heating circuit comprises a second heating coil interdigitated with the first heating coil.
14. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein the first heating coil comprises a first heating coil return, the second heating coil comprises a second heating coil return, and the second heating coil return is interdigitated with the first heating coil return.
15. 15. The system of claim 14, wherein the first heating coil return is a double return and the second heating coil return is a single return.
16. 16. The system of claim 14, wherein the heating circuits are independent such that each heating circuit can be independently turned on/off.
17. 17. The system of claim 16, wherein the heating coils have wires with different diameters from each other.

Description

Uniform multi-zone seat heater Background Automotive seats and other types of seats may include a seat bottom, a seat back, and a headrest mounted on the seat back. Many seats also include additional features for the comfort of the seat occupant. For example, seats are known that have inflatable airbags to adjust occupant support and provide massage. Some seats also include temperature controls to provide thermal comfort. Drawings The various features and advantages of this disclosure will become apparent to those skilled in the art from the following detailed description. The drawings that accompany the detailed description can be briefly described as follows. Fig. 1 shows an example of a seating system. Fig. 2 shows a seat heater for a seating system. Detailed Description Reference will now be made in detail to embodiments, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. In the following detailed description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the various described embodiments. It will be apparent, however, to one of ordinary skill in the art that the various described embodiments may be practiced without these specific details. In other instances, well-known methods, procedures, components, circuits, and networks have not been described in detail so as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the embodiments. "One or more" includes a function performed by one element, a function performed by more than one element (e.g., in a distributed fashion), a number of functions performed by one element, a number of functions performed by a number of elements, or any combination of the preceding. It will be further understood that, although the terms first, second, etc. may be used herein to describe various elements in some cases, these elements should not be limited by these terms. These terms are only used to distinguish one element from another element. For example, a first contact may be referred to as a second contact, and similarly, a second contact may be referred to as a first contact, without departing from the scope of the various described embodiments. Both the first contact and the second contact are contacts, but they are not the same contacts. The terminology used in the description of the various described embodiments herein is for the purpose of describing particular embodiments only and is not intended to be limiting. As used in the description of the various described embodiments and the appended claims, the singular forms "a," "an," and "the" are intended to include the plural forms as well, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise. It will also be understood that the term "and/or" as used herein refers to and encompasses any and all possible combinations of one or more of the associated listed items. It will be further understood that the terms "comprises," "comprising," "includes," and/or "including" when used in this specification, specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and/or components, but do not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, components, and/or groups thereof. As used herein, the term "if" is optionally interpreted to mean "when..once..once more" or "when..once more" or "in response to a determination" or "in response to a detection", depending on the context. Similarly, the phrase "if determined" or "if detected [ the condition or event ]" is optionally interpreted to mean "upon determination" or "in response to determination" or "upon detection [ the condition or event ]" or "in response to detection [ the condition or event ]" depending on the context. FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary seating system 20 for an automobile. In this example, the seating system 20 includes a seat back 22, a seat cushion 24, and a headrest 26 mounted on the seat back 22. While the exemplary seating system 20 is for use with an automobile, it should be appreciated that the examples are applicable to seats for other types of vehicles such as, but not limited to, motorcycles, buses, boats, game chairs, aircraft, or locomotives. The seat system 20 also includes a seat heater 28 for providing thermal comfort to the seat occupant. The seat heater 28 is positioned to provide heating in the seat back 22, but may additionally or alternatively provide heating in the seat cushion 24. As will be appreciated from the examples herein, the seat heater 28 is configured to provide uniform heating across multiple heating zones. Fig. 2 shows the seat heater 28 without the rest of the seat. The seat heater 28 is carried on a single carrier pad 30, such as a woven or nonwoven fabric. The seat heater 28 includes at least a first heating circuit 32a and a second heating circuit 32b. A "heating circuit" is a current path, such as a resistive heating element wire. By way of example, the heating element wire is independently selected from pure copper