Air supply mechanism for a vehicle seat, and method for the operation thereof

A method for operating an air supply mechanism for a vehicle seat having an air discharging opening located in the upper region of the vehicle seat, via which the head, shoulder and neck region of an occupant of the vehicle seat can be subjected to an air flow with reduced draft phenomena, a control device adapted to regulate the air flow by controlling a blower speed of a fan, and a heating element adapted to heat the airflow, said method comprising:

• reading at least one information signal from one of a closing device, a door sensor and a folding-top switch regarding one of unlocking of the vehicle, opening of a vehicle door and actuation of a folding-top switch for opening a folding top;
• determining whether there is a situation for which the air supply mechanism is likely to be switched on either manually or automatically and if not, returning to the step of reading at least one information signal;
• otherwise, reading at least one external or internal temperature of the vehicle;
• reading at least one stored threshold value for the external or internal temperature;
• determining whether the read external or internal temperature lies above the stored threshold value, and if so, returning to the step of reading at least one information signal;
• otherwise, preconditioning the heating element by switching the heating element on and off cyclically;
• subsequently determining whether there is a manual or automatic switching-on signal for the air supply mechanism, and if not, returning to the step of preconditioning the heating element;
• otherwise, ending the preconditioning operation and switching on the heating element and the fan, regulating the operation of the heating element and of the fan as a function of driving speed and external temperature.