Flexible thermal regulation device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016178251-A1
Application number	US-201414578212-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Dec 19, 2014
Priority date	Dec 19, 2014
Publication date	Jun 23, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A flexible temperature management device that uses powered thermoelectric elements to transfer thermal energy between a user and the environment to thermally regulate the user.

First claim

1 . A flexible and stretchy active temperature control device, comprising:
a thermal energy transfer layer having thermoelectric elements embedded in a functionally-graded material; a thermal energy spreading layer in thermal communication with the thermal energy transfer layer and configured to receive thermal energy from the thermal energy transfer layer and to spread the thermal energy through the thermal energy spreading layer; and a thermal energy exchange layer in thermal communication with the thermal energy spreading layer and configured to exchange the spread thermal energy with the thermal energy spreading layer.

2 . The flexible and stretchy active temperature control device of claim 1 , further comprising an adhesive layer secured to the thermal energy exchange layer and configured to attach the device to a user's skin.

3 . The flexible and stretchy active temperature control device of claim 2 , wherein the adhesive layer has a thermally conductive material disposed thereon, the thermally conductive material in thermal communication with the active thermal energy transfer layer and a user.

4 . The flexible and stretchy active temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein the device is integrated into a user interface element structured to attach the device to a user's skin.

5 . The flexible and stretchy active temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein the thermal energy spreading layer includes a polymeric matrix having thermally conductive particles disposed thereon and configured to spread thermal energy through the thermal energy spreading layer.

6 . The flexible and stretchy active temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein the thermal energy spreading layer has a flexible heat pipe configured to spread the thermal energy through the thermal energy spreading layer.

7 . The flexible and stretchy active temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein the thermal energy exchange layer has a textured, thermally-conductive polymer configured to exchange thermal energy with the thermal energy spreading layer.

8 . The flexible and stretchy active temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein the thermal energy exchange layer includes a thermally conductive base having thermally conductive filled structures disposed thereon, the thermally conductive base is configured to exchange thermal energy with the thermal energy spreading layer.

9 . The flexible and stretchy active temperature control device of claim 1 , further comprising a protective encapsulation secured to the thermal energy exchange layer and configured to protect the layers of the device.

10 . The flexible and stretchy active temperature control device of claim 1 , further comprising at least one wicking tube extending through a portion of the thickness of the device, the wicking tube configured to transfer moisture away from a user's skin.

11 . The flexible and stretchy active temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein the thermal energy transfer layer is disposed on a flexible heat pipe.

12 . The flexible and stretchy active temperature control device of claim 1 , further comprising a power source electrically coupled to the thermoelectric elements and configured to supply power to the thermoelectric elements.

13 . The flexible and stretchy active temperature control device of claim 12 , wherein the power source has inductive power circuitry configured to be powered by a source external to the device.

14 . The flexible and stretchy active temperature control device of claim 12 , wherein the power source is disposed within the device.

15 . A flexible and stretchy active temperature control sticker, comprising:
a user interface layer; an active thermal energy transfer layer bonded to the user interface layer and having thermoelectric elements embedded in a functionally-graded material and inductive power circuitry electrically connected to the thermoelectric elements; a thermal energy spreading layer bonded to the active thermal energy transfer layer; a passive thermal energy exchange layer bonded to the thermal energy spreading layer; and, a plurality of wicking tubes distributed about the control sticker, the plurality of wicking tubes extending through the thickness of the control sticker; each layer of the control sticker in thermal communication with at least one other layer of the control sticker and configured to transfer thermal energy through the control sticker.

16 . The flexible and stretchy active temperature control sticker of claim 15 , wherein the user interface layer has a thermally conductive material disposed thereon, the thermal conductive material in thermal communication with the active thermal energy transfer layer.

17 . The flexible and stretchy active temperature control sticker of claim 15 , wherein the thermal energy spreading layer includes conductive particles disposed thereon and is configured to spread thermal energy through the thermal energy spreading layer.

18 . The flexible and stretchy active temperature control sticker of claim 15 , wherein the thermal energy spreading layer has a flexible heat pipe configured to spread thermal energy through the thermal energy spreading layer

19 . The flexible and stretchy active temperature control sticker of claim 15 , wherein the passive thermal energy exchange layer has a textured, thermally-conductive polymer configured to exchange thermal energy with the thermal energy spreading layer.

20 . The flexible and stretchy active temperature control sticker of claim 15 , wherein the active thermal energy transfer layer is disposed on a flexible heat pipe.

Assignees

• Palo Alto Res Ct Inc

Inventors

• Johnson David Mathew
• Cobb Corie Lynn

Classifications

• A61F7/007 Primary

  characterised by electric heating · CPC title

• F25B21/02

  using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect · CPC title

• A61F2007/0226

  adhesive, self-sticking · CPC title

• A61F2007/0075

  using a Peltier element, e.g. near the spot to be heated or cooled · CPC title

• A61F2007/0246

  with a layer having high heat transfer capability · CPC title