Steering wheel heating system

A steering wheel heating system comprising:

• a heating element disposed on a portion of a steering wheel, said heating element arranged to receive an electrical current;
• a sensor arranged to sense an ambient temperature within a passenger cabin of a motor vehicle and provide a first signal indicative of said ambient temperature;
• a temperature setting device arranged to provide a second signal indicative of a first user-input temperature setting for said steering wheel, said temperature setting device permitting variable adjustment of said first user-input temperature setting;
• and
• a controller arranged to receive said first and second signals, said controller for controlling said electrical current such that said electrical current is proportional to a difference between said first user-input temperature setting and said ambient temperature.

A steering wheel heating system comprising:

• a heating element disposed on a portion of a steering wheel, said heating element arranged to receive an electrical current;
• a temperature setting device for setting a preselected temperature for said steering wheel, said heating element serving to heat said steering wheel to at least said preselected temperature, said temperature setting device comprising an adjustable device so as to permit a user to adjust the preselected temperature;
• and
• a remote control receiver arranged to receive a remote signal originating external to a motor vehicle and initiate electrical current upon receipt of said remote signal.

A method of controlling a flow of current to a steering wheel heating element, comprising:

• sensing a first temperature on a steering wheel to provide a first signal indicative of said first temperature;
• sensing a user-input temperature setting to provide a second signal indicative of said user-input temperature setting for said steering wheel;
• and
• controlling a flow of current to a heating element on said steering wheel such that said electrical current is proportional to a difference between said first user-input temperature setting and said first temperature.

A method of controlling a flow of current to a steering wheel heating element, comprising:

• sensing an ambient temperature within a passenger cabin of a motor vehicle to provide a first signal indicative of said ambient temperature;
• sensing a user-input temperature setting to provide a second signal indicative of said user-input temperature setting for said steering wheel;
• and
• controlling a flow of current to a heating element on said steering wheel such that said electrical current is proportional to a difference between said first user-input temperature setting and said ambient temperature.

A steering wheel heating system comprising:

• a heating element disposed on a portion of a steering wheel, said heating element arranged to receive an electrical current for heating of said steering wheel;
• a first sensor disposed on said steering wheel for generating a first signal which represents a temperature of said steering wheel;
• a second sensor for placement in a passenger cabin of a vehicle for generating a second signal representative of ambient temperature within said passenger cabin;
• a temperature setting device in which first and second temperature settings are inputted by a user, said first temperature setting being a desired steering wheel temperature, said second temperature setting being a desired ambient cabin temperature, said first temperature setting being represented by a third signal and said second temperature setting being represented by a fourth signal;
• a first module control unit for receiving said first and third signals, said first module control unit generating a first control signal when said steering wheel temperature is less than said first temperature setting;
• a second module control unit for receiving said second and fourth signals, said second module control unit generating a second control signal when said ambient temperature is less than said second temperature setting;
• and
• a module controller for receiving said first and second control signals and for generating a heater signal which permits electrical current to flow to said heater element for heating thereof, said heater signal being generated when said module controller receives at least one of said first and second control signals.