Seat heater control device using electrostatic sensor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10086726-B2
Application number	US-201715397213-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 3, 2017
Priority date	Jan 26, 2016
Publication date	Oct 2, 2018
Grant date	Oct 2, 2018

Abstract

The seat heater control device is provided for a vehicle including a vehicle body, a vehicle seat and a seat heater. The seat heater control device includes: an electrostatic sensor provided in the vehicle seat and configured to measure capacitance between the electrostatic sensor and the vehicle body; and a controller configured to control an operation and/or an operational temperature of the seat heater, based on a measured value of the electrostatic sensor. The controller is configured to cause the seat heater to operate at a relative higher temperature when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than a first threshold and lower than a second threshold. The controller is configured to cause the seat heater to operate at a relative lower temperature when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than the second threshold.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seat heater control device provided for a vehicle, the seat heater control device comprising:
a vehicle seat that is provided inside a vehicle body of the vehicle;
a seat heater that is provided inside of the vehicle seat;
an electrostatic sensor provided in the vehicle seat and configured to measure capacitance between the electrostatic sensor and the vehicle body; and
a controller that controls an operation and an operational temperature of the seat heater, based on a measured value of the electrostatic sensor;
wherein
in response to when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than a first threshold and lower than a second threshold, the controller enters into a light passenger mode corresponding with the passenger sitting on the vehicle seat and the passenger being relatively light, and, in the light passenger mode, operates the seat heater at a relative higher temperature, and
in response to when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than the second threshold, the controller enters into a heavy passenger mode corresponding with the passenger sitting on the vehicle seat and the passenger being relatively heavy, and, in the heavy passenger mode, operates the seat heater at a relative lower temperature.

2. The seat heater control device according to claim 1 , further comprising
a distance measuring unit configured to measure a distance between a sitting surface of the vehicle seat and the seat heater,
wherein
the controller is configured to adjust the operational temperature of the seat heater based on a measurement value of the distance measuring unit.

3. The seat heater control device according to claim 2 , wherein
the electrostatic sensor is located in a vicinity of the sitting surface of the vehicle seat and also configured to serve as the distance measuring unit.

4. The seat heater control device according to claim 2 , wherein
in response to when the distance is relatively short, the controller enters into a short distance mode, and, in the short distance mode, causes the seat heater to operate at a relative lower temperature.

5. The seat heater control device according to claim 1 , wherein
in response to when the measured value is lower than the first threshold, the controller enters into a non-heating mode, and, in the non-heating mode, causes the seat heater not to operate.

6. A seat heater control device provided for a vehicle, the seat heater control device comprising:
a vehicle seat that is provided inside a vehicle body of the vehicle;
a seat heater that is provided inside of the vehicle seat;
an electrostatic sensor provided in the vehicle seat and configured to measure capacitance between the electrostatic sensor and the vehicle body; and
a controller that controls an operation and an operational temperature of the seat heater, based on a measured value of the electrostatic sensor;
wherein
in response to when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is lower than a threshold, the controller enters into a light passenger mode corresponding with the passenger sitting on the vehicle seat and the passenger being relatively light, and, in the light passenger mode, operates the seat heater at a relative higher temperature, and
in response to when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than the threshold, the controller enters into a heavy passenger mode corresponding with the passenger sitting on the vehicle seat and the passenger being relatively heavy, and, in the heavy passenger mode, operates the seat heater at a relative lower temperature.

7. A seat heater control device provided for a vehicle, the seat heater control device comprising:
a vehicle seat that is provided inside a vehicle body;
a seat heater that is provided inside of the vehicle seat;
an electrostatic sensor provided in the vehicle seat and configured to measure capacitance between the electrostatic sensor and the vehicle body; and
a controller that controls an operation and an operational temperature of the seat heater, based on a measured value of the electrostatic sensor;
wherein
in response to when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than a first threshold and lower than a second threshold, the controller enters into a small compression mode corresponding with the vehicle seat being compressed to a small extent, and, in the low compression mode, operates the seat heater at a relative higher temperature, and
in response to when the measured value of the electrostatic sensor is higher than the second threshold, the controller enters into a large compression mode corresponding with the vehicle seat being compressed to a large extent, and, in the large compression mode, operates the seat heater at a relative lower temperature.

Assignees

• Mazda Motor

Inventors

• Iwata Kengo
• Kosaka Masanobu
• Yamoto Mitsuhiro
• Takahashi Kiyonobu

Classifications

• G01L1/142

  using capacitors · CPC title

• B60N2/56 Primary

  Heating or ventilating devices · CPC title

• B60N2/002

  Seats provided with an occupancy detection means mounted therein or thereon (detection means responsive to presence or absence of children B60N2/266) · CPC title

• G01B7/14

  for measuring distance or clearance between spaced objects or spaced apertures (G01B7/30 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G01D5/241

  by relative movement of capacitor electrodes · CPC title