Patent ID: 7827805

Claim:
A method for thermally conditioning a space adjacent a seat assembly that includes a seat cushion that defines a support surface and a seat covering that covers the support surface of the seat cushion, the method comprising: during a first conditioning mode, activating a resistive heating element positioned within the seat assembly beneath the seat covering, thereby conductively heating a space adjacent the seat assembly; during a second conditioning mode, activating a fluid module that includes a fluid supply device and a thermoelectric element; directing heated air from the fluid module to a space adjacent the seat assembly through a distribution system formed at least partially in the seat cushion to convectively heat a space adjacent the seat assembly; and after a period of time, deactivating the resistive heating element; wherein the first conditioning mode generally precedes or is used concurrently with the second conditioning mode; wherein a target desired temperature at a space adjacent the seat assembly is attained more quickly by activating the resistive heating element than by only directing heated air from the fluid module; wherein deactivating the resistive heating element helps reduce total power consumption of the seat assembly while maintaining a desired level of comfort for the occupant; wherein the seat assembly is located within a vehicle; and wherein a control module is configured to receive a signal indicating a status of an ignition system of the vehicle, the control module being adapted to activate at least one of the resistive heating element, the fluid supply device and the thermoelectric device only when the ignition system of the vehicle is running.