DE202011004140U1 - MFP - Google Patents

Abstract

Multifunction product (1) for providing at least two functions in a functional zone, characterized in that the multifunction product (1) has at least two different types of functional device from the following group: a temperature control device (110), a cooling device, a heating device (100), an air conditioning device , a ventilation device and an electrical circuit.

Description

Background of the invention

An article according to the present invention is a multifunctional product according to the preamble of claim 1.

State of the art

Out US 7500536 is known a seat heater, which is provided with a pressure sensor for passenger detection. It is desirable to further optimize such systems in terms of their functionality and production costs.

Subject of the invention

Against this background, a technical concept with the features of claim 1 is proposed. Further advantageous embodiments are the further claims and the following description can be removed.

MFP 1 for providing at least two functions in a functional zone, characterized in that the multifunction product 1 at least two different types of functional device from the following group: a tempering 110 , a cooling device, a heating device 100 , an air conditioning device, a ventilation device and an electrical circuit. This allows a compact, easy to handle and coordinated combination of functional elements in an assembly.

MFP 1 according to claim 1, characterized in that the multifunction product 1 essentially formed by a combination of two or more functional devices. This allows a simple modular design without relevant additional material costs.

Multifunction product according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that it is a heating device 100 with at least one carrier 9 has, at the at least one electrical heating resistor 4 is arranged. This allows electrical heating of a functional zone.

MFP 1 according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that it comprises a detector device 30 for detecting at least one measured variable whose value is based on the presence of a person in the vicinity of the detector device 30 depends. This allows presence, posture, position, weight, size and / or identity of a person to be determined.

MFP 1 according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one functional device is provided with at least one electrical conductor, which as a coating on a support 9 is provided. This allows a cost-effective and simple electrical power supply.

MFP 1 according to any one of claims 1-5, characterized in that there is at least one heating device 100 with at least one electrically conductive filament as a heating resistor 4 that there is at least one detector device 30 having at least one conductor track, that of the components filament and conductor at least one along a carrier 9 is arranged and that the carrier 9 is arranged running between filament and conductor track. The arrangement of filament and conductor on mutually different sides of the carrier makes it possible to safely electrically separate the electrical conductors of the two devices even without electrical insulation, even if electrical restoring forces should cause the filament to shift its position.

MFP 1 according to any one of claims 1-6, characterized in that at least one detector device 30 at least temporarily at least one as a heating resistor 4 serving conductor used as a transmitter. This allows the saving of material.

MFP 1 according to any one of claims 1-7, characterized in that the detector device 30 at least one first measuring point 31 in a mechanically loaded area 10 and at least one second measuring point 32 in a second, unloaded area 10 ' having. This allows a self-checking of the detector device and its self-calibration even with highly variable conditions of use.

The invention is particularly suitable for heating and detecting as well as use for all upholstered objects, in particular vehicle seats, seat covers, trim elements of passenger compartments, armchairs or, for example, office equipment.

characters

In the following, details of the invention are explained. These embodiments are intended to make the invention understandable. However, they have only exemplary character. Of course, within the scope of the invention as defined by independent claims, one or more features described may also be omitted, modified or supplemented. Also, the features of different embodiments of course be combined with each other. It is crucial that the concept of the invention is essentially implemented. If a feature is to be fulfilled at least in part, then this implies that this feature is also completely or substantially completely fulfilled. "Essentially" means, in particular, that the implementation allows the desired benefits to be achieved to a noticeable extent. In particular, this may mean that at least 50%, 90%, 95% or 99% of the corresponding characteristic is met. If a minimum quantity is specified, it goes without saying that more than this minimum quantity can also be used. If the number of a component is specified with at least one, this also includes in particular embodiments with two, three or any other multiplicity of components. What is described for an object can also be applied to the majority or the entirety of all other similar objects. Unless otherwise stated, intervals include their edge points.

Hereinafter, reference will be made to:

1 Motor vehicle with multifunction product 1 in partial longitudinal section

2 MFP 1 from 1 enlarged in plan view

3 First embodiment of a detector device of a multifunction product 1 from 2 in cross section

4 Second embodiment of a detector device of a multifunction product 1 from 2 in cross section

Description of the invention

1 shows a vehicle 150 , It may be z. As an aircraft, a rail vehicle, a ship or act as here to a motor vehicle.

The vehicle 150 has at least one object to be conditioned 200 on. These are understood in doubt all components with which a user of the passenger compartment can come into contact, such. As a steering device for vehicles, a dashboard, an armrest, a door trim, a seat cover, a blanket, a vehicle roof, a cushion 8th , a reference 400 or like a seat here 300 ,

The object to be conditioned 200 preferably has at least one pad 8th and / or at least one reference 400 on.

The object to be conditioned 200 and / or the vehicle 1000 has at least one multifunctional product 1 on. This is a product that serves to fulfill at least two functions. In particular, it may be a combination of a heater 100 and a detector device 30 act, in particular for the detection of the presence or position of persons. The product can also be an air handling device 120 , a cooling device, a humidity measuring device, a magnetic field therapy device and / or another additional function.

The multifunction product 1 is preferably an insert component, which is preferably substantially two-dimensional or planar z. B. is designed as a single or multi-layered module. Preferably, it is arranged on, under or in a functional zone, that is to say an area which is to be tempered, monitored or otherwise acted upon.

It is preferably formed essentially by its functional units, possibly supplemented by a carrier, a casing device and / or a holding device.

An object to be air conditioned 200 or a multifunction product 1 preferably has at least one air conditioner 140 on. It serves z. As the heating, cooling, ventilation and / or dehumidification of user-contacted areas in the passenger compartment of a vehicle.

The climate conditioning device 140 has at least one tempering device 110 and / or at least one air guiding device 120 , Under tempering device 110 is understood any device that can be used to specifically change the temperature in their environment, eg. B. any device that has at least one electrical heating resistor 4 , a Peltier element and / or an air movement device, for. B. a fan, comprises or is formed therefrom substantially. Under air guide device is understood to mean any device that can be used to selectively change the air composition or the air currents in a certain area or space area for air exchange, such. B. on-board air conditioning, at least partially air-permeable spacing media, spacer knitted fabric and / or air conditioning insert.

Preferably, at least one climate conditioning device 140 at least one tempering device 110 on, the z. B. according to 2 is designed as a flat, flexible, substantially textile or foil-like heating element. A textile is a fabric of threads or fibers. The tempering device 110 can z. B. as a depositor in the upholstery of an interior furnishing object, z. B. a seat 300 be integrated.

At least one multifunction product 1 has at least one carrier 9 on. Carrier means any device that serves for the positioning, alignment and / or mounting of a functional component at its place of use. A carrier may be composed of one, but also of several components, for. Example of one or more layers that can be connected to each other over the entire surface, linear or selective. The carrier can be z. B. part of a tempering 110 and / or at least one object to be conditioned 200 be. It is preferably flat and at least partially formed of a textile, knitted fabric, knitted fabric, woven fabric, non-woven, flexible thermoplastics, air-permeable material and / or a closed, perforated or dimpled film. He can but z. B. also by an object to be tempered, z. B. the object to be conditioned 200 , or at least formed part of its surface. The carrier 9 is preferably permeable to air, z. B. by perforations with air passage holes.

Preferably, at least one carrier 9 at least partially made of polyester, in particular made of a polyester film. Preferably, the carrier 9 or the polyester is temperature-stabilized, ie insensitive to temperatures usually occurring during heating operation (eg by chemical and / or thermal pretreatment). In particular, the length of the carrier changes 9 in the temperature range from -20 ° C to 100 ° C by a maximum of 0.1% of its total length.

The tempering device 110 in particular has at least one heating resistor 4 on, at, on and / or in the vehicle 9 is arranged. Preferably, a plurality of heating resistors 4 provided, which are preferably arranged electrically parallel to each other. The fixation of at least one heating resistor 4 on the carrier 9 happens partially or completely, z. B. by an adhesive.

It is particularly preferred that at least one heating resistor 4 as a conductor by applying, for. B. printing, an electrically conductive resistive layer on a support 9 which is made of foil. Preferably, at least one heating resistor 4 PTC properties (positive temperature coefficient) to a controller or a temperature control of the heater 100 to simplify or make redundant.

However, it can also have at least one heating resistor 4 be provided without PTC characteristic. At least one heating resistor 4 has preferably been prepared using a graphite-containing polymer paste.

The tempering device 110 preferably has at least one electrode 5 to turn on electricity in at least one heating resistor 4 feed. Here are two electrodes 5 . 5 ' provided, close to the edge along the carrier 9 and spaced apart. They have tines here 50 . 50 ' on, leaving the two electrodes 5 . 5 ' are executed comb-like and interlocking without electrical contact with each other on the support 9 are positioned. At least one of the electrodes 5 . 5 ' has at least one electrical conductor, which is preferably at least partially formed of copper or other metal, of a metallic or metallic coated film, metallic fibers or plastic fibers with a metallic coating. The electrode 5 . 5 ' may be formed from one or more at least partially electrically conductive contact strands and / or an electrically conductive textile, for. B. knitted fabric, fabric, knitted fabric and / or non-woven. Preferably, it is as a conductor on a support 9 made of foil and z. Example by printing an electrically conductive paste (eg., With silver or other metal particles).

In some embodiments, only a portion of an area of heating elements to be heated is 4 painted over. Also through the electrodes 5 . 5 ' There are gaps in the heated area. Therefore, it may be appropriate if the heater 100 has at least one heat dissipation layer, the z. B. over the tempering 110 and arranged parallel to it by the heating resistors 4 to distribute generated heat quickly and evenly. Such a layer can be at least partially z. B. be aluminum.

The object to be conditioned 200 or the multifunctional product 1 is with at least one detector device 30 provided for the recognition of persons on the seat. This can be a mere detection of the presence of a user or his assignment to certain types of person (baby seat, child, adult, ...) and / or a determination of its properties such as position or mass.

The detector device 30 has at least one sensor 35 to record the presence of a person, their position, height, weight, posture and possibly other related parameters.

The sensor 35 may be an electrical capacitance, a capacitance change, an electrical resistance 4 and / or detect an electrical resistance change that occurs or is affected by the presence and nature of a person; z. B. in that the body of the person as a dielectric between two in a seat 300 provided capacitor films and thus changes the electrical capacitance of a capacitor formed by the capacitor films. Or by the fact that that Weight of the person to a mechanical stretching one on the wearer 9 arranged strain gauges and thus leads to an electrical resistance increase. Or by the fact that the mass of the person leads to a change in temperature or a thermal insulation and thus to a changed heat flow.

However, there are also other detection principles, eg. B. an optical detection, z. B. by a darkening of optical fibers in the seat, conceivable.

Preferably, the measurement results of the personal sensor are used to identify or classify the user to determine a particular mode of operation or particular operating parameters depending thereon. This can be z. For example, the selection of a personal climate profile, the automatic operation of a system (eg, the seat heating) or the shutdown of an airbag when detecting a child seat. The detection can z. B. on the basis of predetermined values for person weight, weight distribution over the seat, Temperaturleitwerte, temperature distributions over the seat o.

Based on the measurement results can then z. B. at least one heater 100 , at least one air conditioning device, at least one fan and / or at least one massage device are switched on or off. Also, the measurement result can be used to activate a headrest or adjust their position, or to keep them in the event of a collision for a forward adjustment ready. An adjustment of fan speed, massage pressure, massage, foam hardness and seat contour would be z. B. possible.

For contacting at least one sensor 35 is preferably at least one electrode 5 or conductor track provided in their kind the electrodes 5 the heater 100 can correspond.

At least one sensor 33 is a surface to be monitored 10 assigned. This can be z. B. be done by the sensor 33 z. B. in the form of a film, the entire surface of the surface to be monitored 10 is arranged sweeping. Preferably, it is substantially the same size as a surface to be conditioned. He can z. B. be arranged in a seat or backrest surface or in a lumbar support.

The detector device 30 preferably has at least one carrier 9 ' , This is preferably similar to the carrier 9 at least one heating device 100 executed. Preferably, the carrier 9 ' at least one detector device 30 identical to at least one carrier 9 at least one heating device 100 , It may additionally form part of the wall of an air-guiding device or be connected to it.

At least one heating resistor 4 and at least one sensor 35 can be arranged in the same plane, preferably on a user-facing side of a carrier 9 , In this case, both are preferably at least one heating resistor 4 and at least one sensor 35 at least partially on a carrier 9 printed from foil and preferably also printed electrodes 5 contacted.

Depending on the components used, however, an arrangement (not shown) of sensor and heating resistors on mutually different levels may also be expedient. This is, for example, when using heating resistors made of stranded wire (in particular steel) of the case, since such heating resistors have a tendency to leave their predetermined lines by the spring forces in the strand. Here is recommended z. B. to attach at least one heating resistor on a user facing top of a carrier. At least one sensor is preferably arranged on a side facing away from the user back of the carrier, preferably printed. Such a sensor is preferably designed as a capacitive sensor, since its conductor is more permanent and accurate positioning.

It can also be provided different carriers 9 . 9 ' to use and z. B. spaced apart, z. B. to heat a seat and to monitor a backrest surface.

At least one heater 100 and at least one detector device 30 can be arranged in a common circuit. However, they can also be arranged in two separate circuits or switched together as needed.

It can be provided that at least one carrier 9 . 9 ' , at least one heating device 100 and / or at least one detector device 30 at least one transponder for signal transmission or for signal reception, at least one integrated circuit or chip and / or at least one electrical memory, for. B. a capacitor or accumulator is arranged.

It can be provided that as in 2 several sensors 35 on a flat heating device 100 are arranged. These sensors 35 can at measuring points 31 . 32 of particular interest within heated areas 10 ' or as in 2 shown outside heated surfaces 10 '' be arranged.

Preferably, a sensor 35 as in 3 shown at least two electrodes 5 between which an electrical resistance in the form of a printed heating resistor 4 is arranged. electrodes 5 and heating resistor 4 are at the same time part of the heating device 100 , If the system is now loaded by the load of a user, the heat distribution and / or the heat flow through a cushion changes 8th , This leads to changes in the local temperature and / or the current flow through the heating resistor 4 , Both can be from the sensor 35 be recorded.

To enhance the effect described, a cover layer 22 , z. B. as part of the multifunctional product 1 be provided in the ground state by one or more spacers 7 from the heating resistor 4 and the electrodes 5 is spaced. Does it come to a load on the sensor 35 , the spacers become 7 compressed and the top layer 22 comes in contact with the heating resistor 4 and / or the electrodes 5 , The resulting heat distribution can also be detected.

Is the topcoat 22 at least partially made of an electrically conductive material, it can also serve as a switch and the heating resistor 4 between both electrodes 5 bridged. This current flow can also be detected and used as a measured variable.

In an embodiment according to 4 can be a sensor 35 ' also two own electrodes 5 '' have that over a heating resistor 4 are arranged. In the ground state they become by spacers 7 from the heating resistor 4 spaced so that no current flows through it. Under mechanical stress, the electrodes become 5 '' of the sensor 35 to the heating resistor 4 pressed. The sensor 35 ' detects a changed voltage or a current flow. In the heating resistor 4 Depending on the design, a temperature change and / or a changed current flow occurs. All these changes can be used as a measure of person recognition.

In an embodiment according to 2 can also measure points 31 on a carrier 9 be printed on which a Meßheizstrom and / or the temperature occurring to be monitored. A comparison of measured values of measuring points 31 within a surface to be monitored 10 with measured values of measuring points 32 outside of a user-loaded zone then gives an indication of the degree of coverage or load of the area to be monitored. A heat radiation in loaded areas is, for. B. because of a compression of foam, significantly higher than in unloaded areas.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

MFP

4

heating resistor

5, 5 ', 5' '

electrode

7

spacer

8th

pad

9, 9 '

carrier

10, 10 ', 10' '

area

22

topcoat

30

detector device

31, 32

measuring points

33

Sensor of the area to be monitored

35, 35 '

sensor

50, 50 '

prong

100

heater

110

tempering

120

Air guide device

140

Air-conditioning device

150

vehicle

200

To be air conditioned object

300

Seat

400

reference

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• US 7500536 [0002]

Claims (8)

Multifunction product ( 1 ) for providing at least two functions in a functional zone, characterized in that the multifunctional product ( 1 ) has at least two different types of functional device from the following group: a tempering device ( 110 ), a cooling device, a heating device ( 100 ), an air conditioning device, a ventilation device and an electrical circuit. Multifunction product ( 1 ) according to claim 1, characterized in that the multifunctional product ( 1 ) is essentially formed by a combination of two or more functional devices. Multifunction product according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has a heating device ( 100 ) with at least one carrier ( 9 ), on which at least one electrical heating resistor ( 4 ) is arranged. Multifunction product ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a detector device ( 30 ) for detecting at least one measurand whose value depends on the presence of a person in the vicinity of the detector means ( 30 ) depends. Multifunction product ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one functional device is provided with at least one electrical conductor track, which is coated on a carrier ( 9 ) is provided. Multifunction product ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it has at least one heating device ( 100 ) with at least one electrically conductive filament as a heating resistor ( 4 ) has at least one detector device ( 30 ) having at least one conductor track that of the components filament and conductor track at least one along a carrier ( 9 ) and that the carrier ( 9 ) is arranged extending between the filament and conductor track. Multifunction product ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one detector device ( 30 ) at least temporarily as at least one heating resistor ( 4 ) used conductor track as a transmitter. Multifunction product ( 1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detector device ( 30 ) at least one first measuring point ( 31 ) in a mechanically loaded area ( 10 ) and at least one second measuring point ( 32 ) in a second, unloaded area ( 10 ' ) having.

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