Ford Global Tech.inc

Susan Lynn Foust

Laura Viviana Hazebrouck

Peter Langer

A steering wheel heating assembly,which electively provides a relatively high voltage electrical signal to a heating element,which is coupled to a steering wheel, effective to heat the steering wheel. The assembly,includes a temperature sensor,which senses or monitors the temperature of the steering wheel and which communicates the monitored sensor to a controller,. Should the temperature of the steering wheel be above a certain value, the controller,prevents the relatively high voltage signal from being communicated to the heating element,. The controller,may also monitor the operating speed of the engine and prevent such signal communication when the engine is not being operated. The relatively high voltage signal allows a conventional clockspring wiring assembly,to be utilized since the power can be transferred at a lower current than would be required at a lower voltage, thereby obviating the need for a relatively costly and noisy slip ring assembly and relatively costly additional vehicular wiring.

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Rockwood, MI, United States of America

Susan Lynn Foust