Patent ID: 8091960

Claim:
A seat assembly, comprising: a seat cushion having a seating surface; a heating element adjacent the seating surface formed of electrically conductive material, wherein the heating element includes a first terminal and a second terminal; a heating circuit coupled to the heating element for supplying an electrical current to the heating element effective for generating heat; an occupant sensing circuit coupled to the heating element and effective for sensing the presence of an occupant near the heating element; an isolation circuit interposed between the heating circuit and the heating element, said isolation circuit effective for isolating the heating circuit from the occupant sensing circuit, wherein the isolation circuit comprises a first electrical component coupling a first heater lead to the first terminal and a second electrical component coupling a second heater lead to the second terminal; a first heating voltage source connected to the first electrical component for applying a first voltage to the first terminal as a reference voltage for establishing a first differential voltage across the first electrical component; and a second heating voltage source connected to the second electrical component for applying a second voltage on the second terminal as a reference voltage for establishing a second differential voltage across the second electrical component, thereby isolating the heating circuit from the occupant sensing circuit.