Abstract: A self-standing sandwich structure includes at least one capacitive sensor member and/or at least one heater member for automotive vehicle application. The self-standing sandwich structure includes an upper protective layer that is attached, for manufacturing and storage purposes, to a carrier film member of sufficiently low surface energy for enabling separating the carrier film member and the upper protective layer in a non-destructive manner, a lower protective layer, a bottom adhesive layer that is attached to the lower protective layer, and at least an upper electrically conductive layer arranged between the upper protective layer and the lower protective layer.

Abstract: A method of producing an electric heating device, in particular for automotive application, includes steps of: cutting through a sheet of electrically highly conductive material of appropriate thickness for obtaining a predetermined line pattern having at least one electrically conductive line with electrically conductive bridge members interconnecting portions of the at least one electrically conductive line; depositing a layer of curable adhesive material onto a surface of a dielectric, planar, flexible carrier; placing the obtained line pattern onto the layer of adhesive material; curing the adhesive material below the line pattern with the exception of the adhesive material below the bridge members; cutting through each bridge member at all ends between portions of the at least one electrically conductive line interconnected by the respective bridge member; and removing the cut bridge members.

Abstract: A flexible electric heating device includes a planar flexible carrier foil, at least two electrically conductive bus lines attached to a surface of the carrier foil, and at least one electric heating member, including first and second electrically conductive electrodes, electrically connected to one of the bus lines. Each electrode has at least one curved edge, wherein the curved edges are located at a distance and are facing each other. The heating member further includes a resistive heater layer, at least partially overlapping the curved edges of the electrodes to form a resistive connecting region. The curved edges are arranged such that locations of the resistive connecting region are facing the first electrode or the second electrode in directions parallel to at least three mutually orthogonal directions that lie in the carrier foil, wherein one of the orthogonal directions is aligned parallel to an edge of the carrier foil.

Abstract: A method of producing an electric heating device, in particular for automotive application, includes steps of: cutting through a sheet of electrically highly conductive material of appropriate thickness for obtaining a predetermined line pattern having at least one electrically conductive line with electrically conductive bridge members interconnecting portions of the at least one electrically conductive line; depositing a layer of curable adhesive material onto a surface of a dielectric, planar, flexible carrier; placing the obtained line pattern onto the layer of adhesive material; curing the adhesive material below the line pattern with the exception of the adhesive material below the bridge members; cutting through each bridge member at all ends between portions of the at least one electrically conductive line interconnected by the respective bridge member; and removing the cut bridge members.

Abstract: An electric heating member, in particular for automotive application, includes an electrically conductive, flat-shaped textile member of uniform thickness and a layer of flexible, polymeric plastic material that is adhesively bonded to a surface of the textile member. The electrically conductive textile member is formed by at least two electrically conductive textile member parts that are arranged side by side and are electrically separated. At least one of the at least two textile member parts is electrically connected to electric terminals that are connectable to an electric heater power supply unit. The electric heating member is particularly intended to be used for heating a vehicle steering wheel.

Abstract: An electric heating device, in particular for automotive application, includes at least one heating member and electric terminals that are provided as electric connections connectable to an electric power supply. The heating member includes at least one dielectric, planar, flexible carrier formed as a textile carrier or as a polymeric foam carrier and having an upper surface and an opposite lower surface arranged in parallel to the upper surface, wherein at least one out of the upper surface and the lower surface is equipped with an attached continuous layer of electrically conductive material, which extends over a major part of an area of the respective surface of the at least one flexible carrier. At least one electric terminal is arranged at and electrically connected to each end of the electrically conductive material layer of each heating member.

Abstract: An electric heating device, in particular for automotive application, includes a dielectric, planar, flexible carrier, at least one electrically resistive conductor line fixedly attached onto a surface of the flexible carrier and, at least for each end of the conductor line, an electrically conductive terminal line. The terminal lines abut and are electrically connected to a respective end of the conductor line, wherein the terminal lines have a width (wT) that is narrower than a width (wR) of the conductor line. At least one electrically conductive shunt member is attached to at least one out of at least a portion of at least one of the terminal lines and a portion of the at least one conductor line for at least partially electrically shunting the respective portion.

Abstract: A flexible electric heating device includes a planar flexible carrier foil, at least two electrically conductive bus lines attached to a surface of the carrier foil, and at least one electric heating member, including first and second electrically conductive electrodes, electrically connected to one of the bus lines. Each electrode has at least one curved edge, wherein the curved edges are located at a distance and are facing each other. The heating member further includes a resistive heater layer, at least partially overlapping the curved edges of the electrodes to form a resistive connecting region. The curved edges are arranged such that locations of the resistive connecting region are facing the first electrode or the second electrode in directions parallel to at least three mutually orthogonal directions that lie in the carrier foil, wherein one of the orthogonal directions is aligned parallel to an edge of the carrier foil.

Abstract: A self-standing sandwich structure includes at least one capacitive sensor member and/or at least one heater member for automotive vehicle application. The self-standing sandwich structure includes an upper protective layer that is attached, for manufacturing and storage purposes, to a carrier film member of sufficiently low surface energy for enabling separating the carrier film member and the upper protective layer in a non-destructive manner, a lower protective layer, a bottom adhesive layer that is attached to the lower protective layer, and at least an upper electrically conductive layer arranged between the upper protective layer and the lower protective layer.

Abstract: Foil-based PTC heaters are self-regulating, i.e. do not need any electronic control unit (ECU) to limit the maximum heating current. In order to establish different heating power levels the present invention proposes to choose different PTC ratio/onset characteristics. In addition, the print design of the PTC ink can be adjusted accordingly.

Abstract: Foil-based PTC heaters are self-regulating, i.e. do not need any electronic control unit (ECU) to limit the maximum heating current. In order to establish different heating power levels the present invention proposes to choose different PTC ratio/onset characteristics. In addition, the print design of the PTC ink can be adjusted accordingly.

Abstract: A PTF (polymer thick film) device (10) comprises a substrate (22, 32), a functional PTF layer (24,34) applied on the substrate and a protective cover (25, 35) applied over the PTF layer, the protective cover being an adhesive tape comprising a carrier layer (27, 37) and a layer of adhesive (26, 36), the carrier layer being coated with the layer of adhesive (26, 36), the layer of adhesive (26,36) having a thickness comprised in the range from 10% to 100% of the print thickness of the PTF layer (24, 34). The PTF layer is a carbon ink layer, a silver ink layer, a graphite ink layer, a carbon-silver ink layer, a carbon-graphite ink layer, a graphite-silver ink layer, a carbon-graphite-silver ink layer or a PTC layer (Positive Temperature Coefficient). The PTF device can be used as an electric heater, e.g for car seats.

Abstract: A sheet-type ohmic heating element (10) comprises a substrate sheet (12) having applied thereon a layer of PTC material (14) and a protective cover sheet (16) laid over the layer of PTC material. The protective cover sheet extends beyond the boundary of the layer of PTC material and is affixed to the substrate sheet circumferentially around the boundary of the layer of PTC material. The protective cover sheet and the layer of PTC material are arranged in non-adhesive contact with each other.

Abstract: A foil-type pressure sensor includes a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance from each other by means of a spacer, the spacer comprising at least one recess defining an active area of the pressure sensor. At least two electrodes are arranged in the active area of the pressure sensor between said first and second carrier foils in such a way that, in response to a pressure acting on the active area of the pressure sensor, the first and second carrier foils are pressed together against the reaction force of the elastic carrier foils and an electrical contact is established between the at least two electrodes. According to the invention, at least one of the carrier foils includes a multi-layered configuration with at least two layers of different materials.

Abstract: A pressure sensor comprises at least one first carrier foil, which is mounted on a supporting element so as to span an active area of said pressure sensor. According to the invention said first carrier foil comprises a material chosen from the group consisting of polyetheretherketone, polyethersulfone, polyphenylsulfone, polysulfone, polycarbonate, copolycarbonate, polyphenylene ether, cyclo-olefin-polymer, polycarbonate/acrylonitrile butadiene styrene, polycarbonate/polybutylene terephthalate, polycarbonate/polyethylene terephthalate, polyphenylene ether/polyamide, or mixtures thereof.

Abstract: A foil-type switching element comprises a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance from each other by means of a spacer, said spacer comprising at least one recess defining an active area of the switching element. At least two electrodes are arranged in the active area of the switching element between said first and second carrier foils in such a way that, in re-sponse to a pressure acting on the active area of the switching element, the first and second carrier foils are pressed together against the reaction force of the elastic carrier foils and an electrical contact is established between the at least two electrodes. According to the invention said spacer comprises at least one first reinforcement layer.

Abstract: A foil-type pressure sensor includes a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance from each other by means of a spacer, the spacer comprising at least one recess defining an active area of the pressure sensor. At least two electrodes are arranged in the active area of the pressure sensor between said first and second carrier foils in such a way that, in response to a pressure acting on the active area of the pressure sensor, the first and second carrier foils are pressed together against the reaction force of the elastic carrier foils and an electrical contact is established between the at least two electrodes. According to the invention, at least one of the carrier foils includes a multi-layered configuration with at least two layers of different materials.

Abstract: A foil-type switching element includes a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a distance from each other by means of a spacer, the spacer including at least one recess defining an active area of the switching element. At least two electrodes are arranged in the active area of the switching element between the first and second carrier foils in such a way that, in response to a pressure acting on the active area of the switching element, the first and second carrier foils are pressed together against the reaction force of the elastic carrier foils and an electrical contact is established between the at least two electrodes.

Abstract: A foil-type switching element includes a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance from each other by means of a spacer, the spacer including at least one recess defining an active area of the switching element. At least two electrodes are arranged in the active area of the switching element between the first and second carrier foils in such a way that, in response to a pressure acting on the active area of the switching element, the first and second carrier foils are pressed together against the reaction force of the elastic carrier foils and an electrical contact is established between the at least two electrodes.

Abstract: A foil-type switching element comprises a first carrier foil and a second carrier foil arranged at a certain distance from each other by means of a spacer 10. The spacer 10 comprises at least one recess 12 defining an active area of the switching element. At least two electrodes and a layer of pressure sensitive material are arranged within the active area of the switching element between said first and second carrier foils in such a way that, in response to a pressure acting on the active area of the switching element, the first and second carrier foils are pressed together against the reaction force of the elastic carrier foils and an electrical contact is established between the at least two electrodes via the pressure sensitive material. According to the invention said active area comprises an inner region 14 and a number of outer regions 18, said inner region having a generally convex shape and said outer regions extending outwardly from said inner region.