The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Jul. 10, 2012
Filed:
Apr. 17, 2008
Naohito Asami, Nara, JP;
Masanori Nishikawa, Nara, JP;
Naohito Asami, Nara, JP;
Masanori Nishikawa, Nara, JP;
Panasonic Corporation, Osaka, JP;
Abstract
A more comfortable seat is provided by detecting whether or not a person is in a seat. A seat has a heating elementa seat surface temperature detectorthat is situated below a seat surface cover and that detects the temperature of the seat surface, and a seating determination unitfor determining whether or not a seat is occupied. A determination is made as to whether or not a seat is occupied according to an amount of temperature change detected by the seat surface temperature detectorfor a predetermined period of time, whereby a determination can be readily made as to whether or not a person is seated. When no one is seated, application of power to the heating elementis stopped, and the like, which in turn contributes to energy saving and enhancement of fuel efficiency.