Patent ID: 6812431
Filing Date: 2004-11-02
Classification: B60N

Abstract:
Apparatus for heating a motor vehicle seat, the apparatus comprising:a heater mat comprising an electrical resistance element connected to two terminals of an electrical power supply; a measurement mat comprising at least one capacitive sensor itself comprising at least two electrodes; control means for disconnecting the power supply to the heater mat and adapted to disconnect the electrical resistance element from at least one of the two terminals of the electrical power supply; and switch means connected to at least two of the electrodes and adapted, in a first state, to charge the sensor electrically by imposing a charging potential to at least one of the electrodes, while taking another electrode to a reference potential, and in a second state, to discharge the sensor into an electric charge measurement circuit, wherein the means for disconnecting the power supply to the heater mat disconnect the electrical resistance element from at least one of the two terminals of the electrical power supply while the switch means of the measurement mat are in the first and second states.