Interactive comfort system, especially for vehicles

Abstract

The invention relates to an interactive comfort system, in particular intended to be installed inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, the system comprising: a heating structure comprising at least one touch zone in contact with which a person can place a part of the person's body, this part being for example an arm, an elbow, a hand or a finger of the person, this heating structure, a contact detector arranged to detect the contact of a part of the person's body with the touch zone of the heating structure, this contact detector comprising a sensor, for example a capacitive sensor, a control unit configured so that, when the contact detector detects the contact of a part of the person's body with the touch zone of the heating structure,activate a thermal conduction heating mode (Hmode) of the heating structure in order to heat by thermal conduction the part of the person's body in contact with the touch zone. Abstract figure: Figure 16,

Description

Title of the invention: Interactive comfort system, in particular for vehicles

[0001] The present invention relates to an interactive comfort system, in particular for a vehicle. The vehicle may be of the land, sea or air type.

[0002] Heating panels are known which comprise a plurality of electrodes configured to deliver heat by Joule effect by supplying electric current to a conductive coating. For example, reference may be made to document US2016059669.

[0003] In particular, there is a need to improve the desired thermal comfort, in particular through greater responsiveness of the system.

[0004] The invention thus relates to an interactive comfort system, in particular intended to be installed inside the passenger compartment of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, the system comprising: - a heating structure comprising at least one touch zone in contact with which a person can place a part of the person's body, this part being for example an arm, an elbow, a hand or a finger of the person, this heating structure comprising: • at least one resistive layer arranged to produce heat when this layer is traversed by an electric current, this resistive layer being in particular a carbon-based sheet deposited on a substrate, • at least two electrodes in electrical contact with the resistive layer so as to allow an electric current to flow through the resistive layer between these two electrodes, - a contact detector arranged to detect the contact of a part of the person's body with the touch zone of the heating structure, this contact detector comprising a sensor, for example a capacitive sensor, - a control unit configured to, when the contact detector detects contact of a part of the person's body with the touch zone of the heating structure, activate a heat conduction heating mode of the heating structure in order to heat by heat conduction the part of the person's body in contact with the touch zone.

[0005] According to one aspect of the invention, the control unit is configured to activate the thermal conduction heating mode only when the contact detector detects contact of a part of the person's body for a duration which is greater than to a predetermined duration, for example the predetermined duration being equal to 800 ms (milliseconds).

[0006] When contact with the touch area is very brief, for example a contact lasting less than 800 ms, the control unit does not activate the thermal conduction heating mode. This makes it possible to avoid activating the thermal conduction heating mode when the person touches the touch area in an untimely movement.

[0007] On the other hand, when the person, for example, leaves their hand on the touch zone of the heating structure continuously (for example for a duration greater than 800 ms), the control unit activates the thermal conduction heating mode, which makes it possible to heat the person's hand by thermal conduction.

[0008] In other words, the control unit is configured to activate the heat conduction heating mode only in the event of continuous contact of a part of the person's body on the touch zone.

[0009] The invention is particularly advantageous in a motor vehicle left in a cold environment. When a person gets into the vehicle, the invention makes it possible to quickly heat, for example, a hand of the person getting into the vehicle. To do this, the person places their hand on the touch zone of the heating structure which, following contact detection, is brought to a predetermined temperature, which makes it possible to heat the person's hand by thermal conduction. Heating by thermal conduction is significantly more effective for quickly heating hands (or other parts of the body), compared, for example, to heating by thermal radiation (infrared radiation).

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, the control unit is configured to maintain the thermal conduction heating mode as long as contact is detected on the touch zone by the contact detector.

[0011] The invention is thus advantageous insofar as the thermal conduction heating mode is only triggered in the event of detection of contact with a part of the person's body. Thus the invention allows that in the absence of contact, for example of a hand, on the touch zone of the heating structure, this heating structure is not activated in conduction heating mode, which allows energy savings to be made.

[0012] In other words, the invention makes it possible to activate the heating by thermal conduction only when a contact is detected on the touch zone, and this for as long as the touch is present on the touch zone.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, in thermal conduction heating mode, the heating structure is configured to heat so that the temperature on the touch zone is less than or equal to a threshold temperature.

[0014] This threshold temperature is for example established by taking into account the ISO 13732-1:2006 standard which gives temperature threshold values ​​at which burns occur when the skin of a human being comes into contact with a hot solid surface.

[0015] The choice of the threshold temperature in the present invention makes it possible to avoid any burns in the event of prolonged contact with the touch zone of the heating structure.

[0016] According to one aspect of the invention, the heating structure is configured to heat in the event of detection of contact on the touch zone so that the touch zone is brought to a temperature, for example between 40°C and 45°C, being for example equal to 40°C.

[0017] The heating structure may see the resistive layer heated to a temperature of, for example, 50°C or even higher, and the touch zone, which is on a different layer from the resistive layer, is brought to a temperature of 40°C and 45°C.

[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, the control unit is configured to, as long as a contact is detected on the touch zone, maintain the temperature of the touch zone at a predetermined temperature, for example a temperature of 40°C or 45°C.

[0019] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the touch detection in the touch zone is configured to trigger the thermal conduction heating mode in this touch zone and additionally in another touch zone of the heating structure.

[0020] For example, when an interior door handle is detected as being touched by a part of the person's body, the armrest is also put into heat conduction heating mode, even if this touch area is not yet in contact with a part of the person's body.

[0021] This makes it possible to anticipate the possibility that the person not only places his hand on the handle, but also places his arm on the armrest.

[0022] According to one aspect of the invention, the heating structure may comprise a plurality of touch zones, in particular arranged side by side, and the control unit is configured to activate only one or some of the touch zones in thermal conduction heating mode, namely the one which is touched by the part of the person's body.

[0023] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the touch zone(s) not touched by a part of the person's body may be activated in a heating mode by thermal radiation (infrared radiation).

[0024] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the control unit is configured to selectively activate the touch zone(s) either in the thermal conduction heating mode or in the thermal radiation heating mode.

[0025] According to one aspect of the invention, in the thermal radiation heating mode (in the absence of touching with a part of the person's body), the touching area is brought to a higher temperature than in the thermal conduction heating mode, for example to a temperature of 70°C or 80°C.

[0026] According to one aspect of the invention, the contact detector comprises a capacitive sensor.

[0027] According to one aspect of the invention, the contact detector is a capacitive sensor and is placed in line with the touch zone of the heating structure.

[0028] Alternatively, the contact detector comprises at least one camera configured to determine, by image analysis, whether contact occurs between a part of the person's body and the touch zone.

[0029] According to one aspect of the invention, the heating structure comprises a decorative layer, for example made of leather or PMMA, and the touch zone is formed on this decorative layer.

[0030] Alternatively, the heating structure comprises heating wires configured to heat the touch zone, in particular in place of a resistive layer arranged to produce heat when this layer is traversed by an electric current, this resistive layer being in particular a carbon-based sheet deposited on a substrate.

[0031] According to one aspect of the invention, the heating structure is part of a vehicle interior component chosen from: - a component designed to be integrated into a vehicle door, in particular a handle, - a component designed to be integrated into a dashboard, - an armrest, - a steering wheel, - a component of a glove box.

[0032] The invention also relates to a method for managing an interactive comfort system, in particular intended to be installed inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, the system comprising a heating structure comprising at least one touch zone in contact with which a person can place a part of the person's body, this part being for example an arm, an elbow, a hand or a finger of the person, the method comprising the following steps: - detect the contact of a part of the person's body with the touch zone of the heating structure, - if contact between a part of the person's body and the touch zone of the heating structure is detected, activate a heating mode by thermal conduction of the heating structure in order to heat by thermal conduction the part of the person's body in contact with the touch zone.

[0033] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description given below for information purposes in relation to drawings in which:

[0034] - [Fig. 1][Fig. 1] is a schematic representation of a vehicle interior in car equipped with a heating and lighting device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention,

[0035] - [Fig.2][Fig.2] is a schematic representation, in section, of the device of heating and lighting according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0036] - [Fig.3][Fig.3] is a schematic representation of a heating structure of the heating and lighting device of [Fig.2];

[0037] - [Fig.4][Fig.4] is a schematic representation of a heating structure according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0038] - [Fig.5][Fig.5] is a schematic representation of a light structure of the heating and lighting device of [Fig.2];

[0039] - [Fig.6][Fig.6] is a schematic representation of a light structure according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0040] - [Fig.7][Fig.7] is a schematic representation of the light structure of the [Fig.6], on the other side;

[0041] - [Fig.8][Fig.8] is a detailed view of the textile sheet of the light structure of [Fig.6];

[0042] - [Fig.9][Fig.9] is a schematic representation, in section, of a system of interactive comfort according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0043] - [Fig. 10] [Fig. 10] schematically illustrates a capacitive sensor equipping the interactive comfort system of [Fig.9];

[0044] - [Fig. 11] [Fig. 11] is an electrical diagram of the interactive comfort system of the [Fig.9] ;

[0045] - [Fig. 12] [Fig. 12] illustrates the control signals used in the diagram electric of [Fig. 11];

[0046] - [Fig. 13][Fig. 13] is an electrical diagram of an interactive comfort system according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0047] - [Fig. 14] [Fig. 14] illustrates a structure for visualizing a parasitic capacitance,

[0048] - [Fig. 15][Fig. 15] shows steps of a method for managing the system of interactive comfort according to an example of implementation of the invention,

[0049] - [Fig. 16] [Fig. 16] shows two curves, the upper one representing the signals of touch detection by the contact detector and the bottom curve representing the activation / deactivation of the heating structure, within the framework of the method of [Fig.15].

[0050] [Fig.l] shows a passenger compartment 100 of a motor vehicle V. Doors 101 and the roof 102 of the passenger compartment are also shown. Seats 103 for passengers are also visible.

[0051] In the example described, heating and lighting devices 1 are integrated into the roof 102 of the passenger compartment.

[0052] As illustrated in [Fig.2], each heating and lighting device 1 is fixed to a roof structure 105 and comprises, in a stack, successively:

[0053] a light structure 10 capable of emitting visible light, placed against the roof structure 105,

[0054] a heating structure 50,

[0055] a rigid substrate 80, which is, in the example described, a structural part made of translucent plastic material, or of transparent plastic material,

[0056] a layer of flexible material 90, here a layer of foam, arranged to give the heating and lighting device 1 a feeling of softness to the touch, this layer 90 being able to be omitted if necessary,

[0057] a mask 100 made of a material which blocks the light coming from the light structure 10 and comprising openings to let this light pass according to a pattern conferred by these openings, this mask 100 being able to be omitted if necessary,

[0058] a decoration 110 which can be of the textile, leather, wood or plastic type.

[0059] Each heating and lighting device 1 has a panel shape, with a functional face 2 towards which heat H produced by the heating structure 50 and light L produced by the light structure 10 can be sent, this functional face 2 being configured to diffuse the heat H and light L thus received towards the passenger compartment 100.

[0060] The functional face 2 is thus an external face of the heating and lighting device 1 on which the heating and lighting functions are manifested, to heat an area of ​​the passenger compartment 100 and / or to illuminate an area of ​​this passenger compartment 100 or to create a light effect visible from the passenger compartment 100.

[0061] The heating and lighting device 1 may be flexible, i.e. it may be shaped to take a predetermined shape.

[0062] The heating structure 50 and the light structure 10 are assembled by lamination.

[0063] As described with reference to [Fig. 5], the light structure 10 comprises light sources 11, here in a row of LEDs (light emitting diodes). Only two LEDs 11 are shown in [Fig. 5].

[0064] The visible light emitted by the light structure 10 is a light visible by the human eye.

[0065] In the example of [Fig.5], the light structure 10 comprises for example a light engine 12 which is an electronic device with printed circuit 13, comprising the LEDs 11 and a light guide 14 for guiding the light emitted by the LED(s).

[0066] The light guide 14 comprises a plate 15 in which light can propagate, this plate comprising a light emission face 16.

[0067] The plate 15 has a complex curved shape with a main face 19 approaching a flat surface.

[0068] This plate 15 comprises facets 17 for injecting the light from the LEDs 11, these facets 17 being at the end of narrowed, bent regions 18 of the plate 15.

[0069] The plate 15 is made of plastic-based material, with a predetermined shape, namely that it does not deform or does not deform substantially when it is integrated into the heating and lighting device 1.

[0070] The plate 15 has two faces separated by the thickness of the plate, one of these faces having optical activation reliefs 20 arranged to cause the deflection of the light towards the light emission face 16 which is opposite the face on which the reliefs 20 are made.

[0071] Thus, the plate 15 forms a surface light source.

[0072] The emission face 16 is opposite the heating structure 50.

[0073] With reference to Figures 6 and 7, a light structure 30 has been illustrated, which can, in another example of implementation of the invention, be used instead of the light structure 10 previously described, in the heating and lighting device 1.

[0074] In this example, the light structure 30 comprises a woven sheet 31.

[0075] [Fig.6] represents the face 32 of the luminous structure 30 which is opposite the heating structure 50.

[0076] [Fig.7] represents the face 33 of the luminous structure 30 which is opposite the face 32.

[0077] The textile sheet 31 comprises interlaced textile threads 35 and optical fibers 36, as illustrated in [Fig.8].

[0078] The textile threads 35 comprise threads in a natural material such as vegetable threads, and / or threads in an artificial or synthetic material.

[0079] The optical fibers 36, called warp threads, are woven with textile threads 35, in weft.

[0080] In another exemplary embodiment of the invention, not illustrated, the textile sheet may comprise optical fibers 36 in weft woven with textile threads 35, in warp.

[0081] The textile sheet 31 may comprise textile threads 35, arranged in warp and weft according to a canvas-type reinforcement.

[0082] The optical fibers 36 are then punctually linked to the textile threads of the frame 35 by means of textile threads, the optical fibers 36 being substantially positioned on a surface parallel to the surface defined by the frame 35.

[0083] The frame 35 is flexible, that is to say capable of taking a predetermined shape by deformation.

[0084] The textile sheet 31 has a thickness of between 0.1 mm and 0.7 mm.

[0085] The optical fibers 36 may each be formed by a core sheathed in a fluoropolymer. The core of the optical fibers may be formed from a material chosen from polymethyl methacrylate (PMMA) and polycarbonate (PC). Alternatively, the optical fibers may each be formed by a glass fiber yarn.

[0086] The textile threads 35 may be formed from a material chosen from wool, aramid, polyamide, polyester and cotton.

[0087] Due to the weaving pattern, the optical fibers 36 extend mainly on the face 32 of the sheet 31, without being unduly masked by the textile threads 35 which cover more of the opposite face 33.

[0088] The optical fibers 36 are arranged to emit light laterally towards the outside of the fiber.

[0089] One or more LEDs 11 supply the optical fibers 36 which are arranged in a convergent manner towards this or these LEDs 11.

[0090] We will now describe, in more detail, the heating structure 50.

[0091] As illustrated in [Fig. 3], this heating structure 50 comprises a resistive layer 51 arranged to produce heat when this layer is traversed by an electric current I, this resistive layer being made of a material capable of allowing light emitted by the luminous structure 10 or 30 to pass through.

[0092] The heating structure 50 further comprises two distribution electrodes 52, which are in electrical contact with the resistive layer 51 so as to allow an electric current I to flow through the resistive layer 51 between these two electrodes 52.

[0093] These electrodes 52 have parallel sections 53 between which the resistive layer 51 is located, and transverse sections 54 which are connected to electrical supply wires 55.

[0094] The material of the resistive layer 51 contains a transparent conductive oxide (TCO) chosen from indium-tin oxide (ITO) and zinc oxide (ZnO).

[0095] Thus the resistive layer 51 is both transparent to the light of the luminous structure 30, and allows heat to be generated by the Joule effect.

[0096] In the example described, the entire heating structure 50 is placed between the face functional face 2 and the light structure 30 so that light from this light structure 30 passes through the resistive layer 51 of the heating structure before reaching the functional face 2.

[0097] The electrodes 52 and the resistive layer 51 are carried on a substrate 58 made of a flexible material capable of taking a predetermined shape by deformation, this substrate being in particular also extensible.

[0098] The electrodes 52 are deposited on the substrate 58 by printing, screen printing or lamination of several materials.

[0099] The electrodes 52 are made of conductive material, in particular metallic material such as ink charged with conductive particles, in particular silver or copper particles.

[0100] Furthermore, the resistive layer 51 is deposited on the substrate by printing, screen printing or lamination of several materials.

[0101] The resistive layer 51 is present on one face of the substrate 58, opposite the functional face of the device 1.

[0102] The substrate 58 is of the textile type, woven or knitted, or of the non-woven type.

[0103] The nonwoven may comprise a mixture of polypropylene fibers and / or polyester fibers. Other fibers may be used, for example natural fibers.

[0104] Alternatively, the substrate 58 may be a flexible plastic sheet or a foam such as TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane).

[0105] The substrate 58 has a thickness of less than 1 cm, and an area of ​​at least 10 cm2, or at least 50 cm2, or at least 500 cm2.

[0106] In another example illustrated in [Fig.4], the heating structure 50 can be replaced, in the heating and lighting device 1, by a heating structure 70 which comprises an array of electrodes 71 as described below.

[0107] This network of electrodes 71 comprises two rectilinear distribution electrodes 72 and a plurality of contact electrodes 73 supplied with electric current by the distribution electrodes 72.

[0108] The distribution electrodes 72 can be seen as “parent” electrodes and the contact electrodes 73 as “child” electrodes.

[0109] Several contact electrodes 73 are connected to the same distribution electrode 72, along a right angle.

[0110] The contact electrodes 73 are parallel to each other, and form pairs each associated with a resistive layer 75.

[0111] These layers 75 are separated from each other and form several heating zones, for example with repetitive patterns.

[0112] In another example not illustrated, the distribution electrodes 72 may have different shapes, in particular curved with rounded edges.

[0113] The heating and lighting device 1 comprises the decoration 110 which is visible from the interior of the passenger compartment 100, this decoration 110 being a covering of the passenger compartment, such as for example a fabric, a leather or an aesthetic covering.

[0114] The heating structure 50 or 70, the light structure 30 and the decoration 110 form stacked layers.

[0115] The device 1 thus makes it possible to carry out, in addition to the heating and lighting functions, a decorative function, for example with a predetermined leather or fabric zone, visible from the passenger compartment.

[0116] Generally, the device 1 can be used to form a component 120 chosen from one of the following habitable components:

[0117] a component arranged to be integrated into a vehicle door,

[0118] a component arranged to be integrated into a dashboard,

[0119] a foot cellar cladding component,

[0120] a component for trimming a roof or passenger compartment roof,

[0121] an armrest trim component,

[0122] a component of a glove box,

[0123] a pillar cladding component.

[0124] [Fig.l] shows the use case in a vehicle roof.

[0125] The passenger compartment component 120 which comprises the heating and lighting device is independent of a seat 103 of the vehicle.

[0126] The passenger compartment component 120 which includes the heating and lighting device 1 is arranged to heat by thermal radiation or by thermal conduction or thermal contact, and not by heating by heat transported by air in forced movement within the passenger compartment.

[0127] Another example embodiment of the invention will now be described with reference to Figures 9 and 10.

[0128] In this example, the interactive comfort system 400 comprises:

[0129] a heating structure 401 comprising:

[0130] a resistive layer 402 in the form of a carbon-based ink sheet, similar to the resistive layer 51 previously described,

[0131] electrodes (not shown in [Fig.9]) in electrical contact with the resistive layer 402 so as to allow an electric current to flow through the resistive layer 402 between these two electrodes.

[0132] The interactive comfort system 400 further comprises a capacitive sensor 403 arranged to detect, in a detection zone 404, a presence of a part of a passenger, for example an arm, an elbow, a hand or a finger of the passenger.

[0133] The capacitive sensor 403 is arranged to detect without contact a part of a passenger, for example an arm, an elbow, a hand or a finger FG of the passenger. alternatively, this detection can be carried out with contact.

[0134] As can be seen in [Fig. 10], the capacitive sensor 403 comprises, on a flexible support 406, several electrical armatures 405 forming capacitive electrodes 405 distributed on this flexible support 406 made for example of transparent or translucent plastic material, for example in the form of a film. The electrical armatures 405 can be made of PEDOT, silver mesh or even ITO.

[0135] Certain capacitive electrodes 405, of substantially square shape, form capacitive control buttons 408 associated for example with different setpoint temperature settings for controlling the heating of the heating structure 50.

[0136] Other capacitive electrodes 405 form a sliding control bar 409, namely these capacitive electrodes 405 are aligned, side by side with a small space between them, in a rectilinear row. This sliding control bar 409, also called "Slider" in English, can be controlled by passing a finger FG nearby, without contact, or in physical contact. The sliding movement of the finger along this sliding control bar 409 makes it possible to control the desired type of adjustment, depending on the capacitive electrode 405 above which the sliding movement of the finger FG stops.

[0137] There are thus, on the flexible support 406, buttons 408 and sliding control bars 409, to allow the passenger to control different functions.

[0138] Each capacitive electrode 405 is arranged to measure the capacitance that appears between two surfaces. The value of this capacitance increases as the distance between the two surfaces decreases. Each capacitive electrode 405 acts as a first conductive surface and a part of the human body, at a capacitive coupling distance with the capacitive electrode 405, acts as a second conductive surface. Changes in distance between the two conductive surfaces modify the capacitance which is detectable by a control unit 410.

[0139] The capacitive sensor 403 is arranged here to acquire a setting temperature entered by a passenger, and the control unit 410 is arranged to deliver a set temperature value as a function of this setting temperature entered by the passenger.

[0140] The capacitive sensor 403 is in the form of a flexible component which is interposed between the resistive layer 402 and an external layer 411, which serves as protection and / or decoration, in particular made of PMMA, or polymethyl methacrylate. Of course, any other electrically insulating protection and / or decoration material can be used.

[0141] Layers of adhesive 412 are provided to ensure the cohesion of the stack. 414. These adhesive layers 412 are for example each a double-sided adhesive sheet.

[0142] The stack 414 also comprises a foam layer 415.

[0143] The stack 414 thus successively comprises:

[0144] the foam layer 415,

[0145] one of the adhesive layers 412,

[0146] the resistive layer 402,

[0147] one of the adhesive layers 412,

[0148] the capacitive sensor 403,

[0149] one of the adhesive layers 412,

[0150] the outer layer 411 in PMMA.

[0151] The capacitive electrodes 405 are obtained by screen printing or printing on the flexible support 406.

[0152] We will now describe with reference to [Fig. 11] an electrical diagram of the interactive comfort system 400, diagram on which we see the heating structure 401 symbolized by an associated resistor and one of the capacitive electrodes 405, these elements being connected to the control unit 410.

[0153] To protect the operation of the capacitive electrode 405 from electrical disturbances, the control unit 410 is arranged to generate an electrical control signal for the heating structure 401, this electrical control signal being selectively of a first type SP1 configured to operate the heating structure 401 in heating mode for a duration T1 (see [Fig. 12]) and of a second type SP2 configured to operate the heating structure 401 in electrical protection mode, for a duration T2 (see [Fig. 12]), in which the intensity of an electric field between the resistive layer 402 of the heating structure 401 and the electrical armature 405 of the capacitive sensor 403 is actively reduced using the control signal SP2, as explained below.

[0154] The phases T1, for example of 10 milliseconds (ms), and T2, for example of 2 ms, follow one another, with modulations SP1 and SP2 which are a function of the heating and capacitive detection requirements.

[0155] [Fig. 12] represents, as a function of time TM, at the top, the electrical control signal SP1 for heating the resistive layer 402 alternating with the electrical control signal SP2 for electrical protection and, at the bottom, steps 417 for acquiring the capacitive signal from the capacitive sensor 403 to detect the approach, for example, of a finger FG.

[0156] As illustrated in [Fig.14], in the absence of such an electrical protection mode, a strong electric field may appear between the resistive layer 402 of the heating structure 401 and the electrical armature 405 of the capacitive sensor 403, which is accompanied by a high parasitic capacitance Cp which prevents the capacitance Cx from being measured between the electrical armature 405 of the capacitive sensor and the part of the human body, for example the finger FG. Indeed, the value Cp can be very large (in particular due to its carbon nature and its relatively large dimensions) compared to the value Cx so that small variations in the value Cx are difficult to detect. The value Cx, due to the presence of the external layer 411 in PMMA which prevents the finger FG from coming into contact with the electrode 405, is limited.

[0157] Further explanations of this phenomenon are given below.

[0158] The electrical armature 405 of the capacitive sensor 403 is at an electrical potential, for example 3 Volts, necessary for its operation. The finger FG and the resistive layer 402 of the heating structure 401 are assimilated to the ground plane, at 0 Volts. Due to the potential difference between the electrode 405 and the user's finger FG, an electric field is established. The capacitive sensor 403 detects the variations in intensity of this field due to the approach of the finger FG, through the electrical capacitance Cx established between the finger FG and the electrode 405. If the invention is not implemented, it is observed that between the electrode 405 and the resistive layer 402 there is a potential difference and a parasitic electric field and electrical capacitance Cp are created. The capacitance Cp adds to the capacitance Cx, which disrupts the operation of the capacitive sensor 403.The manifestation is generally a strong decrease in the sensitivity of the capacitive sensor 403, which can cause it to deactivate. A critical case can occur when the electrical potential of the resistive layer 402 is not constant. This situation occurs when the resistive layer 402 is switched on. To modulate the heating power, the resistive layer 402 is supplied with a PWM voltage. These potential variations create a disturbance of the capacitive sensor 403 which is more difficult to filter. The capacitance Cp is all the greater as the surface area of ​​the resistive layer 402 is large. For comparison, an electrode 405 can have dimensions of the order of 10 mm x 10 mm, while the resistive layer 402 can measure, for example, 100 mm x 500 mm.

[0159] The field between the finger FG and the electrode 405 is a desired effect while that between the electrode 405 and the resistive layer 402 is a parasitic factor.

[0160] Thanks to the invention, in the protection mode, the intensity of the electric field between the resistive layer 402 of the heating structure 401 and the electrical armature 405 of the capacitive sensor 403 is reduced, which has the consequence of having a low or very low effect of the parasitic capacitance on the side of the resistive layer 402 of the heating structure. The synchronization of the control signals on the heating structure 401 and the capacitive sensor 403 makes it possible to avoid parasitic currents between them and therefore to avoid disturbances in Cx measurements. In the invention, the resistive layer 402 itself plays a protective role during the duration T2, without having to resort to a separate device dedicated to this protection.

[0161] In the example of the invention, in heating mode of the heating structure 401 (for example over the duration T1 of [Fig. 12]), the control signal SP1 is a PMW signal whose duty cycle is adjustable according to the required heating power. The control signals allow voltage control.

[0162] In electrical protection mode, the control signal SP2 of the heating structure 401 is identical to the control signal of the capacitive sensor 403, as can be seen in [Fig. 12].

[0163] This synchronization makes it possible to reduce the intensity of the electric field between the resistive layer 402 of the heating structure and the electrical armature 405 of the capacitive sensor.

[0164] The control signal of the resistive layer 402 is a copy of the signal applied to the capacitive electrode 405 of the capacitive sensor.

[0165] As visible in [Fig. 11], to enable the protection mode described above, the system 400 comprises a follower amplifier 420, of gain 1, with high input impedance, configured to produce a copy of the signal SP2 coming from a control circuit 421 of the capacitive sensor 403, this copied signal being applied to the heating structure 401.

[0166] An electrical power control module 422 associated with the heating structure 401 is configured to control, in heating mode, two switches 424 on the basis of a PWM control signal.

[0167] The switches 424 are at the two terminals of the heating structure 401.

[0168] In protection mode, these two switches 424 are open and it is the copied signal which controls the heating structure 401.

[0169] In heating mode, the follower amplifier 420 is disabled (high impedance output), and one of the two switches 424 is held closed and the other of these switches 424 is operated by the heating PWM signal.

[0170] According to another embodiment of the invention illustrated in [Fig.13], the system comprises a switch 425 formed by a transistor, associated with the capacitive sensor 403, and two switches 426 and 427 respectively at the input of the heating structure 401 and at its output.

[0171] In this example, in heating mode, switch 425 is open, and one of the two switches 426 and 427 is kept closed and the other of these switches 426 and 427 is operated by the heating PWM signal.

[0172] In protection mode, switch 425 and switch 426 are controlled alternately, synchronously with capacitive sensor 403, while switch 427 is open.

[0173] We will now describe, with reference to figures 15 and 16, a method for managing the interactive comfort system 400 described above.

[0174] The capacitive sensor 403 serves, in the present example, as a contact detector within the meaning of the invention, this contact detector 403 being arranged to detect the contact of a part of the person's body with a touch zone TZ (visible in [Fig.9]) of the heating structure 401.

[0175] The control unit 410 is configured to, when the contact detector 403 detects the contact of a part of the person's body with the touch zone TZ of the heating structure 401, activate a heat conduction heating mode of the heating structure 401 in order to heat by heat conduction the part of the person's body in contact with the touch zone TZ.

[0176] The thermal conduction heating mode of the heating structure 401 allows heating by touch with the touch zone TZ of the heating structure 401.

[0177] The control unit 410 is configured to activate the thermal conduction heating mode only when the contact detector 403 detects contact of a part of the person's body for a duration which is greater than a predetermined duration, for example the predetermined duration being equal to 800 ms (milliseconds).

[0178] When the contact with the touch zone TZ is very brief, for example a contact that lasts less than 800 ms, the control unit 410 does not activate the thermal conduction heating mode. This makes it possible to avoid activating the thermal conduction heating mode when the person touches the touch zone TZ in an untimely movement.

[0179] On the other hand, when the person leaves, for example, their hand on the touch zone TZ of the heating structure 401 continuously / prolongedly (for example for a duration greater than 800 ms), the control unit 410 activates the thermal conduction heating mode, which makes it possible to heat the person's hand by thermal conduction (therefore by touching the hand with the touch zone TZ of the heating structure 401).

[0180] In other words, the control unit 410 is configured to activate the thermal conduction heating mode only in the event of continuous / prolonged contact of a part of the person's body on the touch zone TZ.

[0181] The invention is particularly advantageous in a motor vehicle left in a cold environment. When a person boards the vehicle, the invention makes it possible to quickly heat, for example, a hand of the person getting into the vehicle. To do this, the person places their hand on the touch zone TZ of the heating structure 401 which, following contact detection, is brought to a predetermined temperature, which makes it possible to heat the person's hand by thermal conduction. Heating by thermal conduction is significantly more effective for quickly heat hands (or other parts of the body), compared for example to heating by thermal radiation (infrared radiation).

[0182] The control unit 410 is configured to maintain the thermal conduction heating mode as long as a contact is detected on the touch zone TZ by the contact detector 403.

[0183] The invention is thus advantageous insofar as the thermal conduction heating mode is only triggered in the event of detection of contact with a part of the person's body. Thus the invention allows that in the absence of contact, for example of a hand, on the touch zone TZ of the heating structure 401, this heating structure 401 is not activated in conduction heating mode, which allows energy savings to be made.

[0184] In other words, the invention makes it possible to activate the heating by thermal conduction only when a contact is detected on the touch zone TZ, and this for as long as the touch is present on the touch zone TZ.

[0185] In thermal conduction heating mode, the heating structure 401 is configured to heat so that the temperature on the touch zone TZ is less than or equal to a threshold temperature Ts.

[0186] This threshold temperature Ts is for example established by taking into account the ISO 13732-1:2006 standard which gives temperature threshold values ​​at which burns occur when the skin of a human being comes into contact with a hot solid surface.

[0187] The choice of the threshold temperature Ts in the present invention makes it possible to avoid any burns in the event of prolonged contact with the touch zone TZ of the heating structure 401.

[0188] The heating structure 401 is configured to heat in the event of contact detection on the touch zone TZ so that the touch zone TZ is brought to a temperature, for example between 40°C and 45°C, being for example equal to 40°C.

[0189] The heating structure 401 can see the resistive layer heated up to a temperature of, for example, 50°C, or even more, and the touch zone TZ which is on a different layer from the resistive layer, is brought to a temperature of 40°C and 45°C.

[0190] The control unit 410 is configured to, as long as a contact is detected on the touch zone TZ, maintain the temperature of the touch zone TZ at a predetermined temperature, for example a temperature of 40°C or 45°C.

[0191] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the detection of touch in the touch zone TZ can trigger the thermal conduction heating mode in this touch zone TZ and additionally in another touch zone TZ of the heating structure 401.

[0192] For example, when an interior door handle is detected as being touched by a part of the person's body, the armrest is also put into heat conduction heating mode, even if this touch zone TZ is not yet in contact with a part of the person's body.

[0193] This makes it possible to anticipate the possibility that the person not only places his hand on the handle, but also places his arm on the armrest.

[0194] The heating structure 401 may comprise a plurality of touch zones, in particular arranged side by side, and the control unit 410 is configured to activate only one of the touch zones in thermal conduction heating mode, namely the one which is touched by the part of the person's body.

[0195] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the touch zone(s) not touched by a part of the person's body may be activated in a heating mode by thermal radiation (infrared radiation).

[0196] In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the control unit 410 is configured to selectively activate the touch zone(s) either in the thermal conduction heating mode or in the thermal radiation heating mode.

[0197] In the thermal radiation heating mode (in the absence of touching with a part of the person's body), the touch zone TZ is brought to a higher temperature than in the thermal conduction heating mode, for example to a temperature of 70°C or 80°C.

[0198] Here, the sensor is a capacitive sensor and is placed at the right of the touch zone TZ of the heating structure 401.

[0199] Alternatively, the contact detector 403 comprises at least one camera configured to determine, by image analysis, whether contact occurs between a part of the person's body and the touch zone TZ.

[0200] The heating structure 401 comprises a decorative layer, for example made of leather or PMMA, and the touch zone TZ is formed on this decorative layer.

[0201] Alternatively, the heating structure 401 comprises heating wires configured to heat the touch zone TZ.

[0202] The heating structure 401 is part of a vehicle passenger compartment component chosen from: - a component designed to be integrated into a vehicle door, in particular a handle, - a component designed to be integrated into a dashboard, - an armrest, - a steering wheel, - a component of a glove box.

[0203] As illustrated in [Fig. 15], the method of managing the interactive comfort system 400 thus includes the following steps: - leave the heating structure 401 inactive (step El), which can be a default state, - detecting the contact of a part of the person's body with the touch zone TZ of the heating structure 401 (step E2), - in the event of detection of contact of a part of the person's body with the touch zone TZ of the heating structure 401, activate the thermal conduction heating mode of the heating structure 401 in order to heat by thermal conduction the part of the person's body in contact with the touch zone TZ (step E3), - maintain the heating mode by thermal conduction as long as a contact is detected on the touch zone TZ by the contact detector 403 (step E4), - detect the absence of contact, for example of a hand, on the touch zone TZ of the heating structure 401 (step E5), - if there is no contact, interrupt the heating of the heating structure 401 (step El).

[0204] Two curves are illustrated in [Fig. 16], the upper one representing the touch detection signals by the contact detector 403 and the lower curve representing the activation / deactivation of the heating structure 401.

[0205] We see on these curves that the thermal conduction heating mode (Hmode) is triggered for a prolonged touch (ProlongTouch) detected by the contact detector 403, but is not triggered by brief touches (BriefTouch).

Claims

Claims

1.

2. Interactive comfort system (400), in particular intended to be installed inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, the system comprising: a heating structure (401) comprising at least one touch zone (TZ) in contact with which a person can place a part of the person's body, this part being for example an arm, an elbow, a hand or a finger of the person, this heating structure (401) comprising: at least one resistive layer arranged to produce heat when this layer is traversed by an electric current, this resistive layer being in particular a carbon-based sheet deposited on a substrate, at least two electrodes in electrical contact with the resistive layer so as to allow an electric current to flow through the resistive layer between these two electrodes, a contact detector (403) arranged to detect the contact of a part of the person's body with the touch zone (TZ) of the heating structure (401), this contact detector (403) comprising a sensor, for example a capacitive sensor, a control unit (410) configured to, when the contact detector (403) detects the contact of a part of the person's body with the touch zone (TZ) of the heating structure (401), activate a thermal conduction heating mode (Hmode) of the heating structure (401) in order to heat by thermal conduction the part of the person's body in contact with the touch zone (TZ). The system of claim 1, wherein the control unit (410) is configured to activate the thermal conduction heating mode only when the contact detector (403) detects contact of a part of the person's body for a duration which is greater than a predetermined duration, for example the predetermined duration being equal to 800 ms.

3. System according to the preceding claim, in which the control unit (410) is configured to maintain the heating mode by thermal conduction as long as a contact is detected on the touch zone (TZ) by the contact detector (403).

4. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein, in thermal conduction heating mode, the heating structure (401) is configured to heat so that the temperature on the touch zone (TZ) is less than or equal to a threshold temperature (Ts).

5. System according to the preceding claim, in which the heating structure (401) is configured to heat in the event of detection of contact on the touch zone (TZ) so that the touch zone (TZ) is brought to a temperature, for example between 40°C and 45°C, being for example equal to 40°C.

6. System according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the control unit (410) is configured to, as long as a contact is detected on the touch zone (TZ), maintain the temperature of the touch zone (TZ) at a predetermined temperature, for example a temperature of 40°C or 45°C.

7. System according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the touch detection in the touch zone (TZ) is configured to trigger the thermal conduction heating mode in this touch zone (TZ) and additionally in another touch zone (TZ) of the heating structure (401).

8. System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the heating structure (401) comprises a plurality of touch zones (TZ), in particular arranged side by side, and the control unit is configured to activate only one or some of the touch zones in thermal conduction heating mode, namely the one which is touched by the part of the person's body.

9. System according to the preceding claim, wherein the control unit (410) is configured to selectively activate the touch zone(s) (TZ) either in the thermal conduction heating mode or in the thermal radiation heating mode.

10. System according to one of the preceding claims, in which, in a mode of heating by thermal radiation, in particular in the absence of touching with a part of the person's body, the touching zone (TZ) is heated to a higher temperature than in the thermal conduction heating mode, for example to a temperature of 70°C or 80°C.

11. System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the contact detector (403) is a capacitive sensor and is placed in line with the touch zone (TZ) of the heating structure (401).

12. System according to one of claims 1 to 10, in which the contact detector (403) comprises at least one camera configured to determine, by image analysis, whether contact occurs between a part of the person's body and the touch zone (TZ).

13. System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the heating structure (401) comprises a decorative layer, for example made of leather or PMMA, and the touch zone (TZ) is formed on this decorative layer.

14. System according to one of the preceding claims, in which the heating structure (401) is part of a vehicle interior component chosen from: - a component arranged to be integrated into a door of the vehicle, in particular a handle, - a component arranged to be integrated into a dashboard, - an armrest, - a steering wheel, - a component of a glove box.

15. Method for managing an interactive comfort system (400), in particular intended to be installed inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle, the system comprising a heating structure (401) comprising at least one touch zone (TZ) in contact with which a person can place a part of the person's body, this part being for example an arm, an elbow, a hand or a finger of the person, the method comprising the following steps: - detecting the contact of a part of the person's body with the touch zone (TZ) of the heating structure (401), - in the event of detection of contact of a part of the person's body with the touch zone (TZ) of the heating structure (401), activating a conduction heating mode thermal conduction of the heating structure (401) in order to heat by thermal conduction the part of the person's body in contact with the touch zone (TZ).

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