Patent Publication Number: US-2021168907-A1

Title: Vehicular eat heating and cooling and control therefor

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to vehicular seat heating and cooling and control thereof. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     Passenger automobiles are optionally provided with seat heaters and in some cases, seat coolers by the manufacturer. These accessories are controlled by switches provided by the manufacturer and also built into the vehicle. To initiate operation of a seat heater or cooler, a remote control engine starter is used. For this to successfully initiate heater or cooler operation, the vehicle operator must have remembered to turn the factory proided switch to the “on” position. Also, the vehicle must be in a location suitable for engine operation; that is, in a location ventilated to the outdoors, to preclude potential build-up of exhaust fumes and particularly, carbon monoxide. These conditions are to be considered when starting a seat heating and/or cooling system 
     A further consideration is that of excessive operation. That is, a system must be prevented from operating indefinitely. One consequence of long term uncontrolled operation is depletion of the vehicle battery. Another consequence is that of localized overheating, which could burn out a heater or potentially cause a fire. 
     Seat heating and cooling systems may be original to the vehicle or alternatively, provided as an “aftermarket” device, where “aftermarket” refers to an accessory purchased by the vehicle owner or operator separately from purchasing the vehicle. Aftermarket devices may be the product of the vehicle manufacturer, or alternatively, may be the product of an unrelated party. 
     There exists a need for a control system which works with both vehicle manufacturer and aftermarket seat heating and cooling installations. Another need is to avoid a necessity of turning the engine of the vehicle on when operating seat heaters and coolers. A further need is that of limiting operation of a seat heater or cooler to avoid hazards of excess temperature and battery depletion. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention addresses the above identified needs by providing a novel control system which works with pre-existing equipment to expand control options made possible by the pre-existing equipment. 
     The novel control system may utilize pre-existing features of the vehicle, where these pre-existing features may be either original factory equipment or alternatively, aftermarket equipment. Notably, the novel control system senses command signals ordinarily intended to operate vehicle features to derive a new signal for controlling seat heating and cooling equipment. More particularly, a remote control conventionally controlling pre-existing features such as door locks, vehicle lighting, window position, and others may be exploited to operate the seat heating and cooling equipment. This may be accomplished by varying the number of command signals sent by the remote control from that number used for conventional control. Illustratively, remotely opening door locks, illuminating vehicle running lights and/or headlamps, or opening closed windows typically requires only one command signal. If more than one command signal is sent to a pre-existing feature, the novel control system will read that not as a command to operate the pre-existing feature, but to operate the seat heating and cooling system. 
     A pre-existing heating and/or cooling switch may be left in the “on” position, so that the vehicle owner or operator is not obliged to remember to leave the switch on each time the vehicle is parked. 
     A further advantage of the novel control system is that it works with a pre-existing remote control device which may be either factory equipment or alternatively, aftermarket equipment. 
     The novel control system has a built in timing feature which inhibits seat heating or cooling for more than a predetermined time period. This avoids excessive depletion of the vehicle battery. 
     The present invention provides improved elements and arrangements thereof by apparatus for the purposes described which is inexpensive, dependable, and fully effective in accomplishing its intended purposes. 
     These and other objects of the present invention will become readily apparent upon further review of the following specification and drawings. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Various objects, features, and attendant advantages of the present invention will become more fully appreciated as the same becomes better understood when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which like reference characters designate the same or similar parts throughout the several views, and wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a diagrammatic view of a motor vehicle having a seat heater and/or cooler to be controlled by the novel system; and 
         FIG. 2  is a diagrammatic rendition of a control module and remote controller usable therewith, to control the seat heater and/or cooler of the motor vehicle of  FIG. 1 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring first to  FIG. 1 , according to at least one aspect of the invention, there is shown a motor vehicle  100 , a battery  102 , a plurality of seats  104 , seat temperature adjusters  106 , and a remotely operable original feature  108 . Seat temperature adjuster  106  is a seat heater, a seat cooler, or a combination of the two. Reference to seat temperature adjuster  106  may refer to only one such device, or alternatively, to any number of such devices provided to motor vehicle  100 . The seat heater may utilize resistive heat, or alternatively, may comprise a convertible hear and cooler such as a thermoelectric heater/cooler function of which can be converted or changed by changing polarity of operating electrical power. Remotely operable original feature  108  is any apparatus provided by the manufacturer of motor vehicle  100  or any apparatus installed on motor vehicle  100  after manufacture and prior to installation of a seat temperature system of the present invention. As depicted herein, the remotely operable original feature  108  is a solenoid operated door lock system, graphically represented as a door lock operator. 
     In one aspect, the invention is a remotely operable seat temperature system for operating at least one of a seat heating and cooling function of motor vehicle  100  having battery  102 , seat temperature adjuster  106 , remotely operable original feature  108 , and a remote control  110  (see  FIG. 2 ) adapted to control remotely operable original feature  108 . The remotely operable seat temperature system may comprise at least one seat temperature adjuster  106 , power supply circuitry  112  (see  FIG. 2 ) connected to battery  102  of motor vehicle  100 , power output circuitry  114  (see  FIG. 2 ) connected to the at least one seat temperature adjuster  106 , and a control module  116 . Control module  116  may further comprise a microprocessor  118  including an inhibitor  120  operable to limit operating time of seat temperature adjuster  106 , an automatic switch  122  electrically connected to power supply circuitry  112  and power output circuitry  114  to energize power output circuitry  112  by a control signal, and a remote signal receiver  124  communicating with microprocessor  118 . Microprocessor  118  may have a memory  126  with computer instructions loaded therein in a non-transitory computer-readable medium that when executed, are configured to instruct microprocessor  118  to connect power output circuitry  114  to electrical power from power supply circuitry  112  responsive to the control signal. 
     Power supply circuitry  112  and power output circuitry  114  are shown diagrammatically rather than literally, and hence will be understood to include all necessary conductors, switches, and other components to enable operation as described herein. 
     Control module  116  is shown herein as a discrete or unitary component for convenience of explanation. However, components of control module may be separated from one another if desired. The various components of control module  116  will be understood to include all necessary internal (or optionally, external) connections to enable operation as described. 
     Inhibitor  120  may comprise a timer (not separately shown) or a sensor (not separately shown), the latter for sensing temperatures achieved by seat temperature adjuster  106 . If a predetermined upper or lower temperature is reached, inhibitor  120  is operable to open automatic switch  122 , thereby inhibiting further temperature gain or loss by electrical power. Inhibitor  120  also reduces installation of seat temperature adjuster  106  (where not originally provided by the manufacturer of motor vehicle  100 ) because any wiring or other conductors permanently connected to battery  102  may be exploited for operating power. There is no need to route dedicated supply conductors back to or near battery  102 . Also, some sensitive accessory wires that can trigger vehicle computer errors need not be identified or located. Rear seat installation of seat temperature adjusters  106  is facilitated for similar reasons. 
     Automatic switch  122  may comprise an electromechanical or solid state relay for example. 
     Remote signal receiver  124  may be conventional, and will be compatible with signals transmitted by remote control  110  (e.g., infrared, radio frequency, or other radiated energy). 
     Motor vehicle  100  may have a pre-existing manual switch  128  connecting power supply circuitry  112  to power output circuitry  114 . Pre-existing manual switch  128  is electrically in series with automatic switch  122 . 
     In summary, the invention has thus far been described as a remotely operable seat temperature system for operating at least one of a seat heating and cooling function of motor vehicle  100 . 
     The invention may include remote controller  110 , where motor vehicle  100  does not have a remote controller from the manufacturer or supplied by a supplier of seat temperature adjuster  106 , where the latter is an aftermarket product. Alternatively, where either the manufacturer of motor vehicle  100  or the supplier of seat temperature adjuster  106  has provided a remote controller, the invention may omit remote controller  110 . 
     Where a remote controller has been provided by the manufacturer of motor vehicle  100  or by the supplier of seat temperature adjuster  106 , operation of control module may be determined by the number of signal pulses employed. Ordinarily, a user presses a button (e.g., button  130  in  FIG. 2 ) to operate remotely operable original feature  108 . This action sends a singular signal or pulse to motor vehicle  100 . Software in memory  126  is arranged to ignore a singular signal or pulse. For purposes of the invention, remote control  110  is operated to generate more than one signal or pulse within a predetermined time interval (e.g., four seconds). The software in memory  126  reads plural signals actively, in that plural signals are recognized to operate seat temperature adjuster  106 . Two signals or pulses may operate seat temperature adjuster  106  for example. The system may optionally be arranged to require more than two signals or pulses. For example, it is possible that a human user using remote control  110  will be distracted and lose count of signals, or may be interrupted by other people, environmental objects, and other influences which might cause that user to inadvertently press button  130  more than once. To forestall unintended operation of seat temperature adjuster  106 , then, the system may be arranged to respond only to three signals or pulses, or another number of signals or pulses. 
     The number of pulses or signals may be used by the system for other purposes. For example, more than a minimum number of pulses in the time interval may be used for progressive (increasing or decreasing) levels of temperature adjustment. Alternatively, the number of pulses in the time interval may be used to activate additional seat temperature adjusters  106 , where more than one is provided (and as shown in  FIG. 1  for example). 
     The invention may also be understood to comprise seat temperature adjuster(s)  106  in combination with a control system therefor. The combination may or may not include remote control  110 . 
     The invention may also be thought of as a pulse controlled seat temperature system for operating at least one of a seat heating and cooling function of motor vehicle  100  having battery  102 , seat temperature adjuster  106 , remotely operable original feature  108 , and remote control  110  adapted to control remotely operable original feature  108 . The remotely operable seat temperature system may comprise control module  116  further comprising power supply circuitry  112 , power output circuitry  114 , microprocessor  118  connected to power supply circuitry  112  and to power output circuitry  114 , inhibitor  120  operable to limit operating time of seat temperature adjuster  106 , automatic switch  122  electrically connected to power supply circuitry  112  and to power output circuitry  114 , and remote signal receiver  124  communicating with microprocessor  18 , wherein microprocessor  118  has installed in memory  126  computer instructions loaded therein in a non-transitory computer-readable medium that when executed, are configured to instruct microprocessor  118  to connect power output circuitry  114  to electrical power from power supply circuitry  112  responsive to a control signal. The control signal is that generated by remote control  110 , and includes pulses a count of which has different meanings to the software in memory  126 . The control system in this latter understanding of the invention would vary the number of seat temperature adjusters  106  which are activated, and/or will vary the degree of temperature adjustment, all responsive to pulse count within the predetermined time interval. 
     In this understanding of the invention, the pulse controlled seat temperature system may further comprise remote control  110  adapted to provide command signals to control module  116  via remote signal receiver  124 . 
     A further feature which is optionally provided is confirmation of operation of seat temperature adjuster  106 . Initiation of operation can be signaled by control module  116  by for example running lights  132  (or by other lights or by horn). 
     While the present invention has been described in connection with what is considered the most practical and preferred embodiment, it is to be understood that the present invention is not to be limited to the disclosed arrangements, but is intended to cover various arrangements which are included within the spirit and scope of the broadest possible interpretation of the appended claims so as to encompass all modifications and equivalent arrangements which are possible.