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Apparatus for heating vehicle seat

Apparatus for heating vehicle seat description/claims

The present invention relates to an apparatus for heating a vehicle seat, and more particularly, to an apparatus for heating a vehicle seat capable of attenuating an electromagnetic field generated from a heating element.

A vehicle seat heating apparatus comprises a heating wire, typically having a length between 5 and 8 meters and a resistance between 3 and 5 ohms, installed in a seat cushion of the vehicle. The heating wire is heated using power from the vehicle. When current flows through an electric conductor, an electric field is generated around the conductor. Accordingly, when a driver drives the vehicle while using the heating apparatus for a certain amount of time, the generated electric field will inevitably harm the body of the driver.

Thus, a related art apparatus for attenuating the electric field generated around the conductor to protect the driver has been developed. In this apparatus, when current flows through double-stranded twisted conductors, magnetic fields having opposite phases are generated from the double-stranded twisted conductors, and thereby the magnetic fields the phases of which are opposite each other undergo destructive interference. Conventionally, because a vacuum tube has a supply power ranging from 0.2 W to 2 W. the mere twisting of two strands of heaters causes the magnetic field generated in the vacuum tube to be suppressed for the most part. However, a problem arises when power consumption increases to a range from 10 W to 30 W because twisting the conductors alone is not enough to attenuate the magnetic field.

When the heaters are driven by alternating current (AC) power, the electric field and the magnetic field are generated at the same time. In the case of using AC power, when a current of 1 A at 100V flows through double-stranded twisted heaters, a magnetic flux of 15 mG is detected from the twisted heaters. For heating elements arranged in parallel, a magnetic flux of 30 mG is detected. For heating elements comprising a spiral winding structure, a magnetic flux of 8 mG is detected. Accordingly, these detected results show that the magnetic field is not sufficiently attenuated merely by the simple structure in which the heating elements are twisted. Furthermore, it is difficult to install heating conductors in the vehicle seat so that they have opposite phases.

The present invention is directed to an apparatus for heating a vehicle seat capable of attenuating an electromagnetic field generated from a heating element.

To achieve these and other advantages and in accordance with the purpose of the present invention, as embodied and broadly described, the present invention is embodied in an electric heating element comprising, a core support, an inner wire wound around the core support, an intermediate dielectric layer formed around the inner wire, an outer wire wound around the intermediate dielectric layer, a connector connecting an end of the inner wire to an end of the outer wire, and an outer sheath formed around the outer wire, wherein the inner wire and outer wire are arranged to have opposite phases according to a direction of a current to attenuate electromagnetic fields generated from the inner wire and outer wire when a power is applied to the to inner wire and outer wire.

In one aspect of the invention, the inner wire is wound at a helical pitch of approximately 1 mm. Preferably the inner wire is an enameled copper wire. Preferably, the inner wire has a diameter of approximately 0.23 mm.

In another aspect of the invention, the outer wire is wound at a helical pitch of approximately 1 mm. Preferably, the outer wire is an alloy wire. Preferably, the outer wire has a resistance value substantially equal to the electric heating element.

Preferably, the core support is a glass yarn. Preferably, the intermediate dielectric layer comprises a silicon resin. Preferably, the power applied to the inner wire and outer wire is between 12 V and 24 V.

In accordance with another embodiment of the present invention, an apparatus for heating a vehicle seat comprises an electric heating element mounted in the vehicle seat, the electric heating element comprising a core support, an inner wire wound around the core support, an intermediate dielectric layer formed around the inner wire, an outer wire wound around the intermediate dielectric layer, a connector connecting an end of the inner wire to an end of the outer wire, and an outer sheath formed around the outer wire.

The apparatus further comprises a power supply for transferring power from the vehicle to the inner wire and outer wire, and a switch installed on the power supply for regulating the power transferred from the vehicle to the inner wire and outer wire, wherein the inner wire and outer wire are arranged to have opposite phases according to a direction of a current to attenuate electromagnetic fields generated from the inner wire and outer wire when the power is transferred to the inner wire and outer wire.

In one aspect of the invention, the inner wire is wound at a helical pitch of approximately 1 mm. Preferably, the inner wire is an enameled copper wire. Preferably, the inner wire has a diameter of approximately 0.23 mm.

In another aspect of the invention, the outer wire is wound at a helical pitch of approximately 1 mm. Preferably, the outer wire is an alloy wire. Preferably, the outer wire has a resistance value substantially equal to the electric heating element.

Preferably, the core support is a glass yarn. Preferably, the intermediate dielectric layer comprises a silicon resin. Preferably, the power applied to the inner wire and outer wire is between 12 V and 24 V.

It is to be understood that both the foregoing general description and the following detailed description of the present invention are exemplary and explanatory and are intended to provide further explanation of the invention as claimed.

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention. Features, elements, and aspects of the invention that are referenced by the same numerals in different figures represent the same, equivalent, or similar features, elements, or aspects in accordance with one or more embodiments.

• Provisional Patent
• Utility Patent

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