Patent ID: 7274007

Claim:
A controller for controlling one or more components of an automotive vehicle comprising; at least one control module in signaling communication with an energy source, a sensor, a power stage and a switch wherein the energy source provides power to a heater as dictated by the power stage, the sensor senses a temperature associated with the heater and the switch turns the heater on and off and wherein the control module includes: i) programming for comparing representative values originating from the sensor to a set of n set point values (V 1 . . . V n ) wherein the representative values are representative of temperatures (T s ) sensed by the temperature sensor, the n set-point values are representative of n predetermined temperatures (T 1 . . . T n ) and n is a whole number greater than 1, wherein n is at least 5; ii) programming for allowing n different amounts of energy (E 1 . . . E n ) to be applied to the heater depending upon the representative values, the amounts of energy changing during a heat up of the heater based upon repeated temperature sensing, which is also done during an initial heat up time period once the heater is turned on; wherein each of the different amounts of energy are based on the temperatures sensed and wherein as the temperatures (T s ) sensed by the temperature sensor become progressively higher, the amounts of energy being applied to the heater become smaller as (T s ) approaches T n ; wherein the heater is selected from a seat heater or a steering wheel heater of the automotive vehicle.