Abstract: A system including an assembly arranged in at least one of a seat and a steering wheel of a vehicle and a measurement circuit. The assembly includes a sensor and a heater arranged adjacent to the sensor. The measurement circuit is configured to output an excitation signal to the measurement circuit and the assembly and measure a resonant frequency of the measurement circuit and the assembly in response to the excitation signal. The measurement circuit is configured to determine a capacitance value based on the resonant frequency and determine whether a body part is in proximity to the sensor based on the capacitance value.

Abstract: A system including an assembly arranged in at least one of a seat and a steering wheel of a vehicle and a measurement circuit. The assembly includes a sensor and a heater arranged adjacent to the sensor. The measurement circuit is configured to output an excitation signal to the measurement circuit and the assembly and measure a resonant frequency of the measurement circuit and the assembly in response to the excitation signal. The measurement circuit is configured to determine a capacitance value based on the resonant frequency and determine whether a body part is in proximity to the sensor based on the capacitance value.

Abstract: A capacitance measuring system detecting an occupant of a vehicle. A sensor/heater assembly is arranged in at least one of a seat or a steering wheel of a vehicle and includes a sensor and a heater arranged adjacent to the sensor. A measurement circuit is configured to output an excitation signal to the measurement circuit and the sensor/heater assembly, measure a resonant frequency of the measurement circuit and the sensor/heater assembly in response to the excitation signal; determine at least one capacitance value based on the resonant frequency; and determine whether a body part is in proximity to the sensor based on the at least one capacitance value.

Abstract: A heater comprising: (a) a film; (b) one or more coverings that extends along one or more sides of the film; and (c) one or more power application portions that apply power to the film so that the film heats up; wherein the film is a graphite film.

Abstract: A capacitance measuring system detecting an occupant of a vehicle. A sensor/heater assembly is arranged in at least one of a seat or a steering wheel of a vehicle and includes a sensor and a heater arranged adjacent to the sensor. A measurement circuit is configured to output an excitation signal to the measurement circuit and the sensor/heater assembly, measure a resonant frequency of the measurement circuit and the sensor/heater assembly in response to the excitation signal; determine at least one capacitance value based on the resonant frequency; and determine whether a body part is in proximity to the sensor based on the at least one capacitance value.

Abstract: An improved heating element, comprising: (a) an electrically insulated resistive heating wire; (b) a flexible substrate that supports the electrically insulated resistive wire: (c) one or more electrical connection for an operational component of the heating element, the electrical connection including at least two wires that are joined together; (d) a spacer controlling spacing between the at least two wires approaching the electrical connection; wherein at least a portion of the electrical connection including the spacer is encapsulated in a shrunken heat shrinkable sheath that includes at least one mass of hot melt adhesive within the sheath so that the electrical connection is insulated from fluid penetration.

Abstract: A heater comprising: (a) a non-woven heating layer having: a forward surface, a rearward surface, and a plurality of edges around a periphery of the heating layer; (b) two or more connections to a power source; wherein the heating layer is made up of a plurality of individual fibers that are randomly oriented; and wherein substantially all of the non-woven heating layer produces heat when power is to the non-woven heating layer.

Abstract: A system comprising: a heater located within a steering wheel and a heater located within a vehicle seat; wherein the steering wheel is a first plate and the vehicle seat is a second plate and a shift in a signal is monitored from the first plate, the second plate, or both so that a presence and absence of an occupant is detected, and wherein the heater in the steering wheel and the heater in the vehicle seat are a sensor.

Abstract: A combination heater and sensor comprising: (a) a heating layer, a sensing layer, or both; (b) one or more power application portions, one or more sensing application portions, or both; wherein the heating layer and the sensing layer are located within the same plane; and wherein the heating layer is a nonwoven layer that is comprised of a plurality of metallized fibers that are randomly oriented forming the heating layer so that upon application of power the heating layer provides heat.

Abstract: A heater comprising: (a) a resistive substrate that produces heat upon an application of power; (b) a substrate adhesive including a portion that extends into the resistive substrate and a portion that extends from one or more sides of the resistive substrate so that one side of the resistive substrate is free of the substrate adhesive and one or more sides is covered by a layer of the substrate adhesive; (c) one or more power application portions connected to the resistive substrate on the side of the resistive substrate that is free of the substrate adhesive; (d) one or more attachment devices that connect the one or more power application portions to the resistive substrate; (e) a closing layer including: (i) a closing backing and (ii) a backing adhesive that includes a portion that extends into the closing backing and a portion that extends from one or more sides of the closing backing so that one side of the closing backing is free of the backing adhesive and one or more sides is covered by a layer of th

Abstract: A system comprising: a heater located within a steering wheel and a heater located within a vehicle seat; wherein the steering wheel is a first plate and the vehicle seat is a second plate and a shift in a signal is monitored from the first plate, the second plate, or both so that a presence and absence of an occupant is detected, and wherein the heater in the steering wheel and the heater in the vehicle seat are a sensor.

Abstract: A system comprising: a heater located within a steering wheel and a heater located within a vehicle seat; wherein the steering wheel is a first plate and the vehicle seat is a second plate and a shift in a signal is monitored from the first plate, the second plate, or both so that a presence and absence of an occupant is detected, and wherein the heater in the steering wheel and the heater in the vehicle seat are a sensor.

Abstract: A combination heater and sensor comprising: (a) a heating layer, a sensing layer, or both; (b) one or more power application portions, one or more sensing application portions, or both; wherein the heating layer and the sensing layer are located within the same plane; and wherein the heating layer is a nonwoven layer that is comprised of a plurality of metallized fibers that are randomly oriented forming the heating layer so that upon application of power the heating layer provides heat.

Abstract: A combination heater and sensor comprising: (a) a heating layer, a sensing layer, or both; (b) one or more power application portions, one or more sensing application portions, or both; wherein the heating layer and the sensing layer are located within the same plane; and wherein the heating layer is a nonwoven layer that is comprised of a plurality of metallized fibers that are randomly oriented forming the heating layer so that upon application of power the heating layer provides heat.

Abstract: A heater comprising: a heater layer including: (a) a thermoplastic elastomer; and (b) a plurality of conductive fillers mixed within the thermoplastic elastomer, wherein the conductive fillers are a metal coated material or entirely made of metal; and wherein the heater layer is made up of about 30 percent or less conductive fillers.

Abstract: A system comprising: a heater located within a steering wheel and a heater located within a vehicle seat; wherein the steering wheel is a first plate and the vehicle seat is a second plate and a shift in a signal is monitored from the first plate, the second plate, or both so that a presence and absence of an occupant is detected, and wherein the heater in the steering wheel and the heater in the vehicle seat are a sensor.

Abstract: A combination heater and sensor comprising: (a) a heating layer, a sensing layer, or both; (b) one or more power application portions, one or more sensing application portions, or both; wherein the heating layer and the sensing layer are located within the same plane; and wherein the heating layer is a nonwoven layer that is comprised of a plurality of metallized fibers that are randomly oriented forming the heating layer so that upon application of power the heating layer provides heat.

Abstract: An improved heating element, comprising: (a) an electrically insulated resistive heating wire; (b) a flexible substrate that supports the electrically insulated resistive wire: (c) one or more electrical connection for an operational component of the heating element, the electrical connection including at least two wires that are joined together; (d) a spacer controlling spacing between the at least two wires approaching the electrical connection; wherein at least a portion of the electrical connection including the spacer is encapsulated in a shrunken heat shrinkable sheath that includes at least one mass of hot melt adhesive within the sheath so that the electrical connection is insulated from fluid penetration.