JP7811294B2 - Seat heater and vehicle seat - Google Patents

Description

This disclosure relates to a seat heater and a vehicle seat.

The seat heater described in Patent Document 1 has a heater that is installed between the seat cushion material and the seat upholstery and has an electric heating wire laid on a base material; a temperature detection unit that is installed near the electric heating wire on the base material; and a temperature control unit that controls the heater temperature to approach a target temperature in accordance with the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit. The temperature control unit calculates an estimated ambient temperature based on the rate of temperature rise detected by the temperature detection unit over a predetermined period of time after the heater starts heating, and corrects the target temperature so that the lower the estimated ambient temperature, the lower the target temperature.

WO2019/065628

Seat heaters are generally designed to achieve the desired heating performance when the ambient temperature is relatively low, such as below freezing. For example, when the ambient temperature is -20°C, temperature control results are obtained without overshooting or hunting, as shown in Figure 13. In contrast, when the ambient temperature is relatively high, the temperature rises faster than expected, and the control cannot keep up, resulting in overshooting in the temperature control and hunting as shown in Figure 14. Note that Figure 14 shows the temperature control results when the ambient temperature is 15°C as an example.

This disclosure was made in consideration of the above, and aims to provide a seat heater and a vehicle seat that can suppress overshooting and hunting in temperature control when the ambient temperature is relatively high.

The seat heater of the first aspect includes a control unit that performs a first control of energizing a heater provided in the seat until a temperature detected by a temperature detection unit provided in the seat reaches a set control switching temperature, and performs a second control of controlling energization of the heater toward a target temperature after the detected temperature reaches the control switching temperature, and a setting unit that sets the control switching temperature when the ambient temperature is high to a temperature lower than the control switching temperature when the ambient temperature is low .

In the first aspect, the slope a of the change in the detected temperature during the period when the control unit is performing the first control varies depending on the ambient temperature, and the slope a increases as the ambient temperature increases. In the first aspect, the control switchover temperature when the ambient temperature is high is set lower than the control switchover temperature when the ambient temperature is low , so that the second control is started early, thereby preventing overshooting and hunting from occurring in the temperature control when the ambient temperature is relatively high.

The seat heater of the second aspect includes a control unit that performs a first control to energize a heater provided in the seat until a temperature detected by a temperature detection unit provided in the seat reaches a set control switching temperature, and performs a second control to control energization of the heater toward a target temperature after the detected temperature reaches the control switching temperature; a calculation unit that calculates a slope a of the change in the detected temperature during the period when the control unit is performing the first control; and a setting unit that sets the control switching temperature when the slope a calculated by the calculation unit is smaller than a threshold value to a value higher than the control switching temperature when the slope a is equal to or greater than the threshold value.

In the second aspect, the slope a of the change in the detected temperature during the period when the control unit is performing the first control also changes depending on the environmental temperature, and the slope a decreases as the environmental temperature decreases. In the second aspect, the control unit calculates the slope a of the change in the detected temperature during the period when the control unit is performing the first control, and sets the control switching temperature when the slope a is smaller than a threshold value higher than the control switching temperature when the slope a is equal to or greater than the threshold value. This makes it possible to prevent overshooting and hunting from occurring in temperature control when the environmental temperature is relatively high, just as in the first aspect.

The seat heater of the third aspect includes a control unit that performs a first control of energizing a heater provided in the seat until a temperature detected by a temperature detection unit provided in the seat reaches a set control switching temperature, and performs a second control of controlling energization of the heater toward a target temperature after the detected temperature reaches the control switching temperature, and a setting unit that sets the control switching temperature when the ambient temperature is low to a value higher than the control switching temperature when the ambient temperature is high.

In the third aspect, the control switching temperature when the ambient temperature is low is set higher than the control switching temperature when the ambient temperature is high, so that, similar to the first and second aspects, it is possible to prevent overshooting and hunting from occurring in temperature control when the ambient temperature is relatively high.

A moving body seat according to a fourth aspect is provided with the seat heater according to any one of the first to third aspects.

In the fourth aspect, a seat heater of any one of the first to third aspects is provided, and thus, similar to the first to third aspects , it is possible to suppress overshooting and hunting in temperature control when the ambient temperature is relatively high.

This disclosure has the advantage of being able to prevent overshooting and hunting from occurring in temperature control when the ambient temperature is relatively high.

1 is a side view of a vehicle seat according to an embodiment; FIG. 2 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a seat heater ECU and its surroundings. FIG. 2 is a functional block diagram of a seat heater ECU. 4 is a flowchart showing a heater control process executed by a control unit. 5 is a flowchart showing a control switching temperature setting process according to the first embodiment. 10 is a diagram illustrating calculation of a gradient a of a change in temperature detected by a thermistor. FIG. FIG. 10 is a conceptual diagram showing an example of temperature control according to the embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of a temperature control result when the environmental temperature is relatively high (15° C.) in the embodiment. 10 is a flowchart showing a control switching temperature setting process according to a second embodiment. FIG. 10 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the control switching temperature setting process shown in FIG. 9 . 11 is a flowchart showing a control switching temperature setting process according to the third embodiment. 12 is a diagram for explaining the operation of the control switching temperature setting process shown in FIG. 11. FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the result of seat temperature control when the environmental temperature is below freezing (−20° C.); FIG. 10 is a diagram showing an example of the result of seat temperature control when the ambient temperature is relatively high (15° C.).

An example of an embodiment of the present disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings.

First Embodiment
1 includes a seat body 12. The seat body 12 is provided in the interior of a vehicle, which is an example of a moving body, and is seated by an occupant of the vehicle. Note that the vehicle seat 10 is an example of a moving body seat according to the present disclosure, and the seat body 12 is an example of a seat according to the present disclosure.

The seat body 12 includes a seat cushion portion 14, a seat back portion 16, and a headrest portion 18. The headrest portion 18 is attached to the upper end of the seat back portion 16 in the vertical direction of the vehicle so as to be able to slide along the length of the seat back portion 16. The lower end of the seat back portion 16 in the vertical direction of the vehicle is attached to the rear end of the seat cushion portion 14 in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle via a rotation mechanism (not shown), and is able to rotate relative to the seat cushion portion 14 around an axis that runs along the width of the vehicle.

The seat body 12 is also provided with a heater 20. The heater 20 includes a first heater mat 22 laid near the surface of the seat cushion portion 14 and a second heater mat 24 laid near the surface of the seat back portion 16. A thermistor 26 is also provided near the rear end of the seat cushion portion 14 in the vehicle's longitudinal direction. The thermistor 26 is disposed near the heating wire of the heater 20 and detects the temperature of the heating wire of the heater 20. The thermistor 26 is an example of a temperature detection unit in this disclosure.

The vehicle seat 10 also includes a seat heater ECU (Electronic Control Unit) 32, which is housed within the seat cushion portion 14. As shown in FIG. 2, the seat heater ECU 32 includes a CPU (Central Processing Unit) 34 and a memory 36 such as a ROM (Read Only Memory) or a RAM (Random Access Memory). The seat heater ECU 32 also includes a non-volatile storage unit 38 such as an HDD (Hard Disk Drive) or an SSD (Solid State Drive), and an I/F (Interface) unit 40. The CPU 34, memory 36, storage unit 38, and I/F unit 40 are connected to each other via an internal bus 42 so that they can communicate with each other.

The heater 20 is connected to the I/F unit 40 via a heater drive unit 28, and is also connected to a thermistor 26 and a seat heater switch 30. The heater drive unit 28 energizes the heater 20 in response to instructions from a seat heater ECU 32 (a control unit 44 described below). The seat heater switch 30 is turned on and off by an occupant seated in the seat body 12.

The memory unit 38 of the seat heater ECU 32 also stores a seat heater control program 41. The seat heater control program 41 is read from the memory unit 38 and loaded into the memory 36. The seat heater ECU 32 functions as the control unit 44, calculation unit 46, and setting unit 48 shown in FIG. 3 by the CPU 34 executing the seat heater control program 41 loaded into the memory 36.

When the seat heater switch 30 is turned on, the control unit 44 performs heater control processing (described below). In this heater control processing, the control unit 44 performs on/off control to keep the power supply rate of the heater 20 at a predetermined value or above (for example, 90 to 100%) until the temperature T detected by the thermistor 26 reaches the set control switching temperature CT1. After the temperature T detected by the thermistor 26 reaches the control switching temperature CT1, the control unit 44 performs PID control to control the power supply to the heater 20 so that the detected temperature T matches the target temperature CT2. Note that the above on/off control is an example of the first control in this disclosure, and the above PID control is an example of the second control in this disclosure.

The calculation unit 46 calculates the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T during the period when the control unit 44 is performing on/off control. Furthermore, the setting unit 48 sets the control switching temperature CT1 when the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T calculated by the calculation unit 46 is greater than a threshold value to a value lower than the control switching temperature CT1 when the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T is equal to or less than the threshold value.

Next, as an operation of the first embodiment, first referring to FIG. 4, we will explain the heater control process executed by the control unit 44 when the seat heater switch 30 is turned on.

In step 60 of the heater control process, the control unit 44 acquires the control switch temperature CT1 set by the setting unit 48 from the setting unit 48. In step 62, the control unit 44 acquires the temperature T detected by the thermistor 26 from the thermistor 26. In step 64, the control unit 44 determines whether the temperature T acquired in step 62 is equal to or higher than the control switch temperature CT1 acquired in step 60.

If the determination in step 64 is positive, the process proceeds to step 66. In step 66, the control unit 44 executes on/off control of the heater 20 via the heater drive unit 28, supplying electricity to the heater 20 at a power supply rate equal to or greater than a predetermined value. In the next step 70, the control unit 44 determines whether the seat heater switch 30 has been turned off. If the determination in step 70 is negative, the process returns to step 60. Therefore, on/off control of the heater 20 is performed until the temperature T detected by the thermistor 26 reaches the set control switchover temperature CT1.

Furthermore, if the temperature T detected by the thermistor 26 reaches the set control switching temperature CT1, the determination in step 64 is negative and the process proceeds to step 68. In step 68, the control unit 44 executes PID control via the heater drive unit 28 to control the energization of the heater 20 so that the detected temperature T coincides with the target temperature CT2. This PID control continues as long as the seat heater switch 30 is in the ON state. Then, if the seat heater switch 30 is turned OFF, the determination in step 70 is positive and the heater control process ends.

Next, referring to Figure 5, we will explain the control switching temperature setting process performed by the calculation unit 46 and setting unit 48 when the control unit 44 starts executing the heater control process and turns on the heater 20 (power supply to the heater 20 begins).

In step 80 of the control switching temperature setting process, the setting unit 48 provisionally sets the control switching temperature CT1. Note that the provisionally set control switching temperature CT1 may, for example, be a fixed value determined in advance, or the temperature T detected by the thermistor 26 may be obtained prior to provisionally setting the control switching temperature CT1, and the value may be changed in accordance with the obtained detected temperature T. Furthermore, the temperature T detected by the thermistor 26 may be obtained at any time after provisionally setting the control switching temperature CT1 (for example, the time when a first predetermined time t1 has elapsed since the heater 20 was turned on, as described below), and the provisional setting value of the control switching temperature CT1 may be reset in accordance with the obtained thermistor temperature T.

In step 82, the calculation unit 46 determines whether a first predetermined time t1 has elapsed since the heater 20 was turned on. If the determination in step 82 is negative, step 82 is repeated until the determination is affirmative. If the first predetermined time t1 has elapsed since the heater 20 was turned on, the determination in step 82 is affirmative and the process proceeds to step 84. In step 84, the calculation unit 46 acquires the detected temperature T1 from the thermistor 26 and stores the acquired detected temperature T1 in memory 36, etc.

Furthermore, in step 86, the calculation unit 46 determines whether a second predetermined time t2 has elapsed since the heater 20 was turned on. Note that the second predetermined time t2 is greater than the first predetermined time t1. If the determination in step 86 is negative, step 86 is repeated until the determination is affirmative. When the second predetermined time t2 has elapsed since the heater 20 was turned on, the determination in step 86 is affirmative and the process proceeds to step 88. In step 88, the calculation unit 46 acquires the detected temperature T2 from the thermistor 26 and stores the acquired detected temperature T2 in memory 36, etc.

In step 90, the calculation unit 46 substitutes the detected temperatures T1 and T2 stored in the memory 36 or the like into the following equation (1) to calculate the slope a (see also FIG. 6) of the change in the temperature T detected by the thermistor 26 during the period when the control unit 44 is performing on/off control.
a=(T2-T1)/(t2-t1)...(1)

In step 92, the setting unit 48 determines whether the slope a calculated by the calculation unit 46 is less than the slope threshold A. If the slope a is equal to or greater than the slope threshold A, the determination in step 92 is negative and the process proceeds to step 94, where the setting unit 48 lowers the control switchover temperature CT1 provisionally set in the previous step 80. In contrast, if the slope a is less than the slope threshold A, the determination in step 92 is positive and the process proceeds to step 96, where the setting unit 48 raises the control switchover temperature CT1 provisionally set in the previous step 80.

The amount by which the control switching temperature CT1 is changed in steps 94 and 96 may be a fixed value determined in advance, or may be varied in accordance with the detected temperature T obtained from the thermistor 26 at any given time (for example, the detected temperature T1 obtained when the first predetermined time t1 has elapsed since the heater 20 was turned on).

When the gradient a of the change in temperature T detected by the thermistor 26 is large, i.e., when the ambient temperature is estimated to be high, the control switching temperature CT1 is lowered as shown in Figure 7, and PID control of the heater 20 is initiated early. This makes it possible to prevent overshooting and hunting from occurring in temperature control when the ambient temperature is relatively high (Figure 8 shows an example of 15°C), as shown in Figure 8 for example.

Furthermore, if the gradient a of the change in the temperature T detected by the thermistor 26 is small, i.e., if the ambient temperature is estimated to be low, as shown in Figure 7, the control switching temperature CT1 is raised, thereby lengthening the period during which on/off control is performed on the heater 20. This shortens the time it takes for the temperature T detected by the thermistor 26 to reach the target temperature CT2.

As described above, in the first embodiment, the control unit 44 performs first control, which maintains the power supply rate of the heater 20 provided in the seat main body 12 at a predetermined value or higher until the temperature T detected by the thermistor 26 provided in the seat main body 12 reaches the set control switching temperature CT1. After the detected temperature T reaches the control switching temperature CT1, the control unit 44 performs second control, which controls the power supply to the heater 20 so that the detected temperature T matches the target temperature CT2. The calculation unit 46 calculates the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T during the period in which the control unit 44 is performing the first control. The setting unit 48 then sets the control switching temperature CT1 when the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T calculated by the calculation unit 46 is greater than a threshold value to be lower than the control switching temperature CT1 when the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T is equal to or less than the threshold value. This allows the second control to be started early when the ambient temperature is relatively high, thereby preventing overshooting and hunting in the temperature control.

Furthermore, in the first embodiment, the control unit 44 performs PID control as the second control. This makes it possible to more effectively prevent overshooting and hunting in temperature control compared to when other control methods such as PI control are used as the second control.

In addition, in the first embodiment, the calculation unit 46 calculates the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T based on the detected temperature T1 at the time when a first predetermined time t1 has elapsed since the start of the first control, and the detected temperature T2 at the time when a second predetermined time t2 greater than the first predetermined time t1 has elapsed since the start of the first control. This makes it possible to obtain a value that more accurately reflects the environmental temperature as the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T, and to set the control switchover temperature CT1 so as to more effectively prevent overshooting and hunting from occurring in the temperature control.

Second Embodiment
Next, a second embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Since the second embodiment has the same configuration as the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the respective components, and the description of the configuration will be omitted. Next, with reference to FIG. 9 , the control switching temperature setting process according to the second embodiment will be described, focusing only on the differences from the control switching temperature setting process ( FIG. 5 ) described in the first embodiment.

In the control switching temperature setting process according to the second embodiment, the calculation unit 46 calculates the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T in step 90, and then the process proceeds to step 100. In step 100, the setting unit 48 determines whether the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T calculated by the calculation unit 46 in step 90 is smaller than a preset slope threshold A1.

If the determination in step 100 is positive, the process proceeds to step 102. In step 102, the setting unit 48 increases the control switchover temperature CT1 that was provisionally set in the previous step 80, and the process proceeds to step 104. If the determination in step 100 is negative, the process skips step 102 and proceeds to step 104.

In step 104, the setting unit 48 determines whether the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T calculated by the calculation unit 46 in step 90 is greater than a preset slope threshold A2. Note that the slope threshold A2 is greater than the slope threshold A1. If the determination in step 104 is affirmative, the process proceeds to step 106, where the setting unit 48 lowers the control switching temperature CT1 temporarily set in the previous step 80, and ends the control switching temperature setting process. If the determination in step 104 is negative, step 106 is skipped and the control switching temperature setting process ends.

The amount of change in the control switching temperature CT1 in steps 102 and 106 may be a fixed value determined in advance, or may be varied in accordance with the detected temperature T obtained from the thermistor 26 at any given time (for example, the detected temperature T1 obtained when the first predetermined time t1 has elapsed since the heater 20 was turned on).

When the control switching temperature setting process described above is performed and the slope threshold A1 < slope a < slope threshold A2 (as shown in Figure 10(A)), the determinations in steps 100 and 104 are both negative, and the control switching temperature CT1 is not changed. When the slope a > slope threshold A2 (as shown in Figure 10(B)), the determination in step 100 is negative but the determination in step 104 is positive, and the setting unit 48 lowers the control switching temperature CT1. When the slope a < slope threshold A1 (as shown in Figure 10(C)), the determination in step 100 is positive but the determination in step 104 is negative, and the setting unit 48 raises the control switching temperature CT1.

In this way, in the second embodiment, the setting unit 48 provisionally sets the control switching temperature CT1, and sets the control switching temperature CT1 higher than the provisionally set value if the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T is smaller than the slope threshold A1 (this slope threshold A1 is an example of the first threshold A1). Furthermore, the setting unit 48 sets the control switching temperature CT1 lower than the provisionally set value if the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T is greater than the second threshold A2 (this slope threshold A2 is greater than the slope threshold A1, and is an example of the second threshold A2). This creates an insensitive region where the control switching temperature CT1 is not changed from the provisionally set value when the slope a is within the range from the slope threshold A1 to the slope threshold A2, thereby preventing the control switching temperature CT1 from becoming overly sensitive to changes in the slope a.

Third Embodiment
Next, a third embodiment of the present disclosure will be described. Since the third embodiment has the same configuration as the first embodiment, the same reference numerals are used for the respective components, and a description of the configuration will be omitted. Referring to FIG. 11 , the control switching temperature setting process according to the third embodiment will be described, focusing only on the differences from the control switching temperature setting process ( FIG. 9 ) described in the second embodiment.

In the control switching temperature setting process according to the third embodiment, the calculation unit 46 calculates the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T in step 90, and then the process proceeds to step 98. In step 98, the setting unit 48 determines whether the detected temperature T1 stored in the memory 36 or the like is less than a preset temperature threshold n. As an example, 0°C can be used as the temperature threshold n, but other temperatures may also be used. Furthermore, the detected temperature T compared with the temperature threshold n in step 98 is not limited to the detected temperature T1 obtained when the first predetermined time t1 has elapsed since the heater 20 was turned on, but may also be the detected temperature T obtained from the thermistor 26 at any timing.

If the detected temperature T1 is less than the temperature threshold n, the determination in step 98 is affirmative, and the process proceeds to step 100, where the processing described in the second embodiment is performed in steps 100 to 106. On the other hand, if the detected temperature T1 is equal to or greater than the temperature threshold n, the process proceeds from step 98 to step 108.

In step 108, the setting unit 48 determines whether the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T calculated by the calculation unit 46 in step 90 is smaller than a preset slope threshold A1'. Note that in this embodiment, slope threshold A1' ≠ slope threshold A1. If the determination in step 108 is positive, the process proceeds to step 110, where the setting unit 48 increases the control switchover temperature CT1 provisionally set in the previous step 80, and then proceeds to step 112. Note that the amount of change in the control switchover temperature CT1 in step 110 may be the same as or different from the amount of change in the control switchover temperature CT1 in step 102. If the determination in step 108 is negative, step 110 is skipped and the process proceeds to step 112.

In step 112, the setting unit 48 determines whether the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T calculated by the calculation unit 46 in step 90 is greater than a preset slope threshold A2'. Note that in this embodiment, slope threshold A2' ≠ slope threshold A2. If the determination in step 112 is positive, the process proceeds to step 114, where the setting unit 48 lowers the control switching temperature CT1 temporarily set in the previous step 80, and ends the control switching temperature setting process. Note that the amount of change in the control switching temperature CT1 in step 114 may be the same as or different from the amount of change in the control switching temperature CT1 in step 106. If the determination in step 112 is negative, step 114 is skipped and the control switching temperature setting process ends.

When the control switching temperature setting process described above is performed, if the detected temperature T1 ≥ 0°C and the slope threshold A1' < slope a < slope threshold A2' (as shown in Figure 12(A)), the determinations in steps 108 and 112 are both negative, and the control switching temperature CT1 is not changed. Also, if the detected temperature T1 ≥ 0°C and the slope a > the slope threshold A2' (as shown in Figure 12(B)), the determination in step 108 is negative but the determination in step 112 is positive, and the setting unit 48 lowers the control switching temperature CT1. Also, if the detected temperature T1 ≥ 0°C and the slope a < the slope threshold A1' (as shown in Figure 12(C)), the determination in step 108 is positive but the determination in step 112 is negative, and the setting unit 48 raises the control switching temperature CT1.

In this way, in the third embodiment, the setting unit 48 switches the threshold for the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T between the slope thresholds A1 and A2 or the slope thresholds A1' and A2' depending on whether the detected temperature T1 is equal to or greater than the temperature threshold n when the first predetermined time t1 has elapsed since the start of on/off control. This makes it possible to set an appropriate temperature as the control switching temperature CT1 even when the relationship between the ambient temperature and the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T changes depending on the ambient temperature.

In the third embodiment, a single temperature threshold n (e.g., 0°C) is set for the detected temperature T1, and the threshold for the slope a of the change in the detected temperature T is switched between slope thresholds A1, A2 or slope thresholds A1', A2' depending on whether the detected temperature T1 is equal to or greater than the temperature threshold n. However, the present disclosure is not limited to this. Multiple temperature thresholds may be set for the detected temperature T1, such as "-10°C < T1 < 0°C," and the slope threshold may be switched depending on the magnitude relationship between the detected temperature T1 and the multiple temperature thresholds.

Furthermore, in the above embodiment, the present disclosure is described as being applied to a vehicle seat, but the moving body to which the present disclosure relates is not limited to a vehicle, and the present disclosure may also be applied to seats in moving bodies such as trains, airplanes, and ships.

In addition, although the above describes a configuration in which the seat heater control program 41 is pre-stored (installed) in the memory unit 38, the seat heater control program 41 can also be provided in a form in which it is recorded on a non-transitory recording medium such as an HDD, SSD, or DVD.

10 Vehicle seat 12 Seat body 20 Heater 26 Thermistor 32 Seat heater ECU
44 Control unit 46 Calculation unit 48 Setting unit

Claims (4)

a control unit that performs a first control of energizing a heater provided in the seat until a temperature detected by a temperature detection unit provided in the seat reaches a set control switching temperature, and that performs a second control of controlling energization of the heater toward a target temperature after the detected temperature reaches the control switching temperature;
a setting unit that sets the control switching temperature when the environmental temperature is high to be lower than the control switching temperature when the environmental temperature is low;
Includes seat heaters. a control unit that performs a first control of energizing a heater provided in the seat until a temperature detected by a temperature detection unit provided in the seat reaches a set control switching temperature, and that performs a second control of controlling energization of the heater toward a target temperature after the detected temperature reaches the control switching temperature;
a calculation unit that calculates a gradient a of change in the detected temperature during a period in which the control unit is performing the first control;
a setting unit that sets the control switching temperature when the slope a calculated by the calculation unit is smaller than a threshold value to a value higher than the control switching temperature when the slope a is equal to or greater than the threshold value;
Includes seat heaters. a control unit that performs a first control of energizing a heater provided in the seat until a temperature detected by a temperature detection unit provided in the seat reaches a set control switching temperature, and that performs a second control of controlling energization of the heater toward a target temperature after the detected temperature reaches the control switching temperature;
a setting unit that sets the control switching temperature when the environmental temperature is low to be higher than the control switching temperature when the environmental temperature is high;
Includes seat heaters. A vehicle seat equipped with the seat heater according to any one of claims 1 to 3.