Remote control system for comfort-management device(s)

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11186338-B2
Application number	US-202016735077-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 6, 2020
Priority date	Aug 24, 2017
Publication date	Nov 30, 2021
Grant date	Nov 30, 2021

Abstract

A seat assembly for a vehicle having a longitudinal axis has a seat pan, a cover support adjacent to the seat pan and a seat cover comprising an upper surface and a first longitudinally extending side surface and a second longitudinally extending side surface. A heating and cooling module is disposed at least partially within the cover support. An air inlet is in communication with the heating and cooling module. The air inlet communicates air from a port in the seat cover to the heating and cooling module. An ambient condition sensor generates an ambient condition signal. A user interface generates a user setting corresponding to a comfort condition. A controller is coupled to the ambient condition sensor and the heating and cooling module. The controller controls the heating and cooling module in response to the user setting and the ambient condition signal.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A seat assembly for a vehicle having a longitudinal axis comprising:
a seat pan;
a cover support adjacent to the seat pan;
a seat cover comprising an upper surface and a first longitudinally extending side surface and a second longitudinally extending side surface;
a heating and cooling module disposed at least partially within the cover support;
an air inlet in communication with the heating and cooling module, said air inlet communicating air from a port in the seat cover to the heating and cooling module;
an ambient condition sensor generating an ambient condition signal;
a user interface generating a user setting corresponding to a comfort condition, said user setting comprising a response performance; and
a controller coupled to the ambient condition sensor and the heating and cooling module, said controller controlling the heating and cooling module in response to the user setting and the ambient condition signal.

2. The seat assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the ambient condition sensor comprises an ambient temperature sensor and the ambient condition signal comprises an ambient temperature signal.

3. The seat assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the ambient condition sensor comprises an ambient humidity sensor and the ambient condition signal comprises an ambient humidity signal.

4. The seat assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the ambient condition sensor comprises an air speed sensor and the ambient condition signal comprises airspeed.

5. The seat assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the ambient condition sensor comprises an ambient temperature sensor, an ambient humidity sensor and an airspeed and the ambient condition signal comprises an ambient temperature signal, an ambient humidity signal and an airspeed signal.

6. The seat assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the ambient condition sensor comprises two selected from an ambient temperature sensor, an ambient humidity sensor and an airspeed and the ambient condition signal comprises two selected from an ambient temperature signal, an ambient humidity signal and an airspeed signal.

7. The seat assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the user setting comprises a set temperature.

8. The seat assembly as recited in claim 1 further comprising an occupant condition sensor, said controller controlling a heating and cooling module in response to the user setting, the ambient condition signal and the occupant condition sensor.

9. The seat assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein the occupant condition sensor comprises an occupant temperature sensor and the occupant condition signal comprises an occupant temperature signal.

10. The seat assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein the occupant condition sensor comprises an occupant humidity sensor and the occupant condition signal comprises an occupant humidity signal.

11. The seat assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein the occupant condition sensor comprises an occupant temperature sensor, an occupant humidity sensor and an airspeed and the occupant condition signal comprises an occupant temperature signal, an occupant humidity signal and an airspeed signal.

12. The seat assembly as recited in claim 8 wherein the occupant condition sensor comprises two selected from an occupant temperature sensor, an occupant humidity sensor and an airspeed and the occupant condition signal comprises two selected from an occupant temperature signal, an occupant humidity signal and an airspeed signal.

13. The seat assembly as recited in claim 1 wherein the controller controls at least one of a heater of the heating and cooling module, a cooler of the heating and cooling module and a vent of the heating and cooling module.

14. A method of controlling a seat comprising:
generating ambient condition signal from an ambient condition sensor;
generating an occupant condition signal from an occupant condition sensor;
generating a user setting corresponding to a comfort condition at a user interface;
generating a response rate signal from the user interface; and
controlling a heating and cooling module in response to the user setting, the ambient condition signal and the response rate signal.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein generating the ambient condition signal comprises generating an ambient temperature signal and an ambient humidity signal.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein generating the ambient condition signal comprises generating an ambient temperature signal, an ambient humidity signal and an airspeed signal.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein generating the occupant condition signal comprises generating an occupant temperature signal and an occupant humidity signal.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein generating the occupant condition signal comprises generating an occupant temperature signal, an occupant humidity signal and a heart rate signal.

Assignees

• Polaris Inc

Inventors

• Rafferty Michael W
• Schwintek Scott M
• Underland Kent A
• Carlson Trevor A
• Notaro Joel M

Classifications

• B62J33/00

  Arrangements for warming riders specially adapted for cycles · CPC title

• B62J45/416

  Physiological sensors, e.g. heart rate sensors · CPC title

• B62J50/30

  Means for ventilation within devices provided on the cycle, e.g. ventilation means in a battery container · CPC title

• B62J45/40

  Sensor arrangements (sensors for control of electrically assisted cycles B62M6/50); Mounting thereof · CPC title

• B62J1/08

  Frames for saddles; Connections between saddle frames and seat pillars; Seat pillars (attaching seat pillars to cycle frames B62K19/36) · CPC title