Patent ID: 8434314

Claim:
A method for thermally conditioning a seat assembly, the method comprising: providing a seat cushion defining a support surface, and a seat covering that covers the support surface of the seat cushion; wherein the seat assembly comprises at least one resistive heating element positioned within the seat assembly beneath the seat covering, said at least one resistive heating element configured to conductively heat a space adjacent the seat assembly; wherein the seat assembly comprises at least one fluid module positioned generally away from the seat covering, said at least one fluid module configured to convectively heat a space adjacent the seat assembly, wherein said at least one fluid module comprises a blower and a thermoelectric device; receiving instructions from an occupant regarding a desired operational setting for the seat assembly; sensing a temperature associated with an actual thermal condition at or near the space adjacent the seat assembly using at least one temperature sensor; providing information regarding the desired operational setting and temperature to a control module, said control module being configured to operate the at least one heating element and the at least one fluid module; wherein the control module is adapted to selectively regulate the at least one heating element and the at least one fluid module to thermally condition the space adjacent the seat assembly according to a target control scheme; activating or deactivating at least one of the at least one heating element, the blower and the thermoelectric device based on the target control scheme; during a first conditioning mode, activating the at least one heating element to conductively heat the space adjacent the seat assembly; during a second conditioning mode, activating at least one of the blower and the thermoelectric device to convectively heat the space adjacent the seat assembly; and after a period of time, deactivating the at least one heating element; wherein the first conditioning mode generally precedes or is used concurrently with the second conditioning mode; wherein a target desired temperature at the space adjacent the seat assembly is attained more quickly by activating the at least one heating element than by only directing heated air from the at least one fluid module; and wherein, when both the at least one heating element and the and the at least one fluid module are activated, deactivating the at least one heating element helps reduce total power consumption of the seat assembly while maintaining a desired level of comfort for the occupant.