Heating arrangement for a vehicle component

Abstract

Heating arrangement (HA) for a vehicle component (FZS, LR, ATB), with the following features: - a heating element (HES, HEL, HEA) comprising a resistance heater consisting of one or more heating conductors (HDS), which is arranged on or in the vehicle component (FZS, LR, ATB) for heating the vehicle component (FZS, LR, ATB); - a sensor device (SBS) for detecting whether a user is in contact with the vehicle component (FZS, LR, ATB) which is connected to the resistance heater and is designed to detect contact of the user with the vehicle component (FZS, LR, ATB) by a change in the resistance of the resistance heater; - a control unit (STE) designed to activate the heating element (HES, HEL, HEA) when the sensor unit (SBS) detects contact between the user and the vehicle component (FZS, LR, ATB), wherein the control unit (STE) is configured to apply a time-varying voltage signal (VS) to the heating element (HES) and wherein a sensor signal from the sensor device (SBS) alone causes the control device (STE) to activate the heating element (HES) by increasing the amplitude of the time-varying voltage signal (VS).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a heating arrangement for a vehicle component, as well as to a vehicle component having such a heating arrangement. Furthermore, it relates to a vehicle having a passenger compartment in which an above-mentioned vehicle component is arranged.

[0002] Modern vehicles today feature a multitude of comfort features. One comfort feature that is particularly pleasant for a user or passenger during colder seasons is heating in vehicle components of the passenger compartment with which the user comes into contact. For example, it is conceivable to provide a heating element in a vehicle seat that heats the seat contact surface (seat surface and / or backrest). The disadvantage of such heating elements is that, in addition to the wiring required to power the heating element, wiring for a switching element for activating / deactivating the heating element is also required.

[0003] DE 41 10 702 A1 discloses a vehicle seat in which a conductor of an electric seat heater arranged in the seat surface and which can be heated by the passage of current forms the first electrode of a sensor comprising two electrodes for seat occupancy detection.

[0004] DE 10 2012 208 593 A1 discloses an HVAC comfort system that operates in the interior of a vehicle. Several vehicle status parameters are measured, including an interior temperature and a seat occupancy configuration.

[0005] Further prior art is known from the documents DE 10 2006 034 466 B4, DE 10 2012 223 342 A1 and DE 11 2012 005 448 T5.

[0006] Thus, the object of the present invention is to provide user comfort, particularly with regard to a heating function, in a vehicle.

[0007] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0008] According to a first aspect of the invention, a heating arrangement for a vehicle component is therefore provided, having the following features. It has a heating element for heating the vehicle component. Furthermore, it has a sensor device for detecting whether a user is in contact with the vehicle component. Finally, it has a control device configured to activate the heating element when the sensor device detects contact between the user and the vehicle component. This automatically activates the heating element, increasing user comfort. Furthermore, additional wiring for a switch for activating / deactivating the heating element can be eliminated.

[0009] According to the invention, the heating element comprises a resistance heater, which can comprise one or more heating conductors (heating wires). This resistance heater operates according to the current-heat law, which states that an electric current in an electrical conductor generates a certain amount of heat. The one or more heating conductors or heating wires can be arranged in a meandering pattern. This provides a simple way to heat a specific area along the meandering pattern.

[0010] According to the invention, the heating element is arranged in or on the vehicle component. This way, the heat is generated at the desired location.

[0011] According to the invention, the sensor device is connected to the heating element or resistance heater and configured to detect user contact with the vehicle component by changing the resistance of the heating element or resistance heater. A change in resistance can be understood as a change in the ohmic resistance, but also as a change in the complex resistance of the resistance heater. For example, if the resistance heater is supplied with a time-varying voltage signal from a separate power supply unit or, for example, via the control device, the complex resistance of the heating element of the resistance heater will change when the vehicle component with the integrated resistance heater is touched.In particular, the change in the value of the complex resistance will become significantly measurable if the shape of the resistance heater also changes due to the contact. Above all, the capacitance of the resistance heater will change upon contact. This change in the complex resistance compared to the resistance of a non-contacted vehicle component can then be detected by the sensor device and passed on to the control unit.

[0012] According to a further embodiment of the heating arrangement, it further comprises a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature in the vicinity of the vehicle component. In particular, the temperature sensor can be provided in a passenger compartment in which the vehicle component is also located.

[0013] According to a further aspect of the invention, a vehicle component with a heating arrangement according to the above illustration or an embodiment thereof is provided. In this case, the vehicle component can in particular comprise a steering wheel or a dashboard. In another embodiment, the vehicle component is designed as a vehicle seat with a heating arrangement shown. In this case, in particular the heating element, the sensor device and the control device can be provided in the vehicle seat in order to create a space-saving design on the one hand and a visually appealing design for a user on the other. In particular, the heating element is advantageously arranged close to a seat contact surface (seat surface and / or backrest) of the vehicle seat in order to heat the seat and accordingly also the user or possibly also to represent an optimal position as a contact sensor.

[0014] According to a further aspect of the invention, a vehicle is provided. This vehicle has a passenger compartment for accommodating passengers, as well as a vehicle component according to the above illustration or an embodiment thereof, which is arranged in the passenger compartment. A vehicle equipped in this way enables a high level of comfort, particularly with regard to a heating function, with minimal device complexity, since no separate wiring is required for any switches for activating the heating element.

[0015] Advantageous embodiments of the heating arrangement are, to the extent applicable to the vehicle component or the vehicle, also to be regarded as advantageous embodiments of the vehicle component or the vehicle, and vice versa.

[0016] In the following, exemplary embodiments of the present invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] It shows: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a vehicle with a passenger compartment in which several vehicle components with heating arrangement are shown.

[0018] If we now consider Fig.1 in more detail, it shows a schematic cross-sectional view of a vehicle FZ, which has a passenger cell FGZ for picking up or accommodating passengers during a journey. Various vehicle components with which a passenger or user comes into contact or can come into contact are arranged in the passenger cell. Viewed from right to left, one vehicle component is a vehicle seat FZS, in which a user or passenger sits during the journey. A steering wheel LR is provided for the driver of the vehicle as a vehicle component for steering the vehicle. Finally, the passenger cell FGZ also contains a dashboard ATB as a further vehicle component with various input and output devices, for example in the form of buttons TAS1 and TAS2, for monitoring or setting certain vehicle functions.

[0019] A seat-side heating element HES is arranged on the vehicle seat FZS in the area of ​​a seat surface SF on which a passenger sits. This heating element HES comprises a resistance heater operating according to the heat transfer law with a meandering heating wire HDS to heat a specific area of ​​the seat surface. The heating element HES is supplied with a heating voltage via a line L from a control device STE. A sensor device SBS, which, as shown in the figure, is inserted into the line L between the heating element HES and the control device STE, detects any possible change in the resistance W of the heating element HES.

[0020] Corresponding heating elements are also provided in the other vehicle components. For example, the steering wheel (LR) contains a steering-wheel-side heating element (HEL), and the dashboard (ATB) contains a dashboard-side heating element (HEA). Both heating elements (HEL and HEA), like the heating element (HES), can be connected to the control unit (STE) via a corresponding sensor and controlled accordingly.

[0021] To operate the seat-side heating element HES (and possibly also the other heating elements HEL and HEA), the control device STE can apply a time-varying voltage signal VS to the heating element HES via appropriate lines, such as line L. In particular, a high-frequency voltage signal can be coupled to the heating element HES or the heating wire HDS. When a user sits on the vehicle seat FZS, they sit more precisely on the seat surface SF, so that the heating element HES and the heating wire HD come into contact and their shape also changes. In other words, when a passenger occupies the vehicle seat FZS, this passenger changes the complex resistance of the heating element HES, particularly by changing the capacitance of the heating element. This change in the complex resistance (referred to as "W") compared to the resistance for an unoccupied seat is detected by the sensor device SBS.

[0022] In a first (simpler) embodiment, a corresponding sensor signal of the sensor device SBS alone can cause the control device STE to activate the heating element HES, ie, for example, to increase the amplitude of the time-varying voltage signal for driving the heating element HES in order to bring about a noticeable heating effect.

[0023] It is also conceivable to activate the heating element (HES) through a complex resistance change pattern. In this regard, it is conceivable that a passenger, for example, briefly taps the seat surface above the heating element (HES) with their hand several times (e.g., two or three times), thus detecting a specific resistance change pattern. The control unit can then use this detected resistance change pattern as a trigger to activate or deactivate the heating element (HES).

[0024] It is also conceivable that a user can also pre-adjust the intensity of the heating power of a heating element using suitable control elements (corresponding to the TAS1 and TAS2 buttons).

[0025] In this way, the heating element HES can be used not only as an actuator, i.e. as an element for heating, but also as a sensor for detecting a touch.

[0026] A heating element (such as the heating element HES), the sensor device SBS and the control device can be referred to as a heating arrangement for a vehicle component, such as the vehicle seat FZS. List of reference symbols: Term in the claim Term in the description FZ vehicle vehicle FGZ passenger compartment passenger compartment FZS Vehicle component, vehicle seat vehicle seat LR Vehicle component, steering wheel steering wheel ATB Vehicle component, dashboard dashboard TAS1 button TAS2 button SF Seat HES heating element heating element HDS Heating conductor heating wire L Line STE Control device Control device SBS Sensor device Sensor device W Resistance HEL heating element heating element HEA heating element heating element VS voltage signal voltage signal HA Heating arrangement

Claims

[1] Heating arrangement (HA) for a vehicle component (FZS, LR, ATB), with the following features: - a heating element (HES, HEL, HEA) having a resistance heater comprising one or more heating conductors (HDS), which is arranged on or in the vehicle component (FZS, LR, ATB) for heating the vehicle component (FZS, LR, ATB); - a sensor device (SBS) for detecting whether a user is in contact with the vehicle component (FZS, LR, ATB), which is connected to the resistance heater and is designed to detect contact of the user with the vehicle component (FZS, LR, ATB) by a change in the resistance of the resistance heater; - a control device (STE) designed to activate the heating element (HES, HEL, HEA) when the sensor device (SBS) detects contact between the user and the vehicle component (FZS, LR, ATB), wherein the control device (STE) is arranged to apply a time-varying voltage signal (VS) to the heating element (HES) and wherein a sensor signal of the sensor device (SBS) alone causes the control device (STE) to activate the heating element (HES) by increasing the amplitude of the time-varying voltage signal (VS). [2] Heating arrangement (HA) according to claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor for measuring a temperature in the environment of the vehicle component (FZS, LR, ATB). [3] Vehicle component (FZS, LR, ATB) with a heating arrangement (HA) according to one of the preceding claims. [4] Vehicle component (FZS, LR, ATB) according to claim 3, which is designed as a vehicle seat (FZS), a steering wheel (LR), a dashboard (ATB). [5] Vehicle (FZ) with the following characteristics: - a passenger compartment (FGZ) for accommodating passengers; - a vehicle component (FZS, LR, ATB) according to one of claims 3 or 4, which is arranged in the passenger compartment (FGZ).

Images