Climate controlled seating assembly with sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9335073-B2
Application number	US-201313963216-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 9, 2013
Priority date	Feb 1, 2008
Publication date	May 10, 2016
Grant date	May 10, 2016

Abstract

According to certain embodiments disclosed in the present application, a climate controlled seating assembly includes a thermal module. The thermal module comprises at least one inlet channel, at least one outlet channel and a thermoelectric device (e.g., Peltier circuit) positioned upstream of the outlet channel. In one embodiment, the seating assembly includes a sensor positioned within an interior of the thermal module and configured to detect the presence of a liquid, such as water, relative humidity, condensation or other fluids, on or near said sensor.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method of controlling a thermal module configured for use in a climate controlled seat assembly, comprising:
providing a thermal module configured to provide air to the climate controlled seat assembly, the thermal module comprising:
an inlet and an outlet;
a thermal condition device configured to selectively heat or cool air passing through or adjacent the thermal conditioning device; and
a fluid transfer device configured to transfer air from the inlet to the outlet and past the thermal conditioning device; and

wherein a controller is configured to regulate at least one operational aspect of the thermal module;
operatively coupling a sensor to the controller, the sensor being configured to detect a relative humidity of air being transferred adjacent the sensor;
wherein the controller is configured to reduce a voltage of electrical energy provided to the thermal conditioning device when the sensor detects a relative humidity level of air being transferred that is above a threshold level to avoid condensate formation;
wherein, when the relative humidity level of air being transferred is below a threshold level, the controller is configured to adjust a voltage supplied to the thermal conditioning device to permit the thermal module to operate according to a control algorithm; and
wherein the control algorithm is configured to operate the thermal module within a target comfort zone, wherein the target comfort zone is based on, at least in part, the relative humidity level and a temperature of air being transferred by the thermal module.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is positioned at least partially within thermal module.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensor is positioned outside of the thermal module.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the seat assembly comprises a seat.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the seat assembly comprises a bed.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to at least temporarily discontinue supplying electrical energy to the thermal conditioning device when the sensor detects condensate or a relative humidity level of air being transferred that is above a threshold level.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the thermal conditioning device comprises a thermoelectric device.

8. A climate controlled seating assembly comprising:
a thermal module comprising at least one inlet, at least one outlet and a fluid transfer device for selectively transferring air from the at least one inlet to the at least one outlet;
a thermal conditioning device positioned at least partially within the thermal module, the thermal conditioning device being configured to selectively heat or cool a fluid passing through an interior of the thermal module;
at least one sensor configured to detect a relative humidity of ambient air entering the thermal module;
wherein the thermal module and the at least one sensor are coupled to a controller, wherein the controller is configured to at least partially reduce a voltage supplied to the thermal conditioning device when the at least one sensor detects a threshold level of relative humidity to avoid condensate formation;
wherein, when the relative humidity level of air being transferred is below a threshold level, the controller is configured to adjust a voltage supplied to the thermal conditioning device to permit the thermal module to operate according to a control algorithm; and
wherein the control algorithm is configured to operate the thermal module within a target comfort zone, wherein the target comfort zone is based on, at least in part, the relative humidity level and a temperature of air being transferred by the thermal module.

9. The seating assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least one sensor is positioned at least partially within thermal module.

10. The seating assembly of claim 8 , wherein the at least one sensor is positioned outside of the thermal module.

11. The seating assembly of claim 8 , wherein the seat assembly comprises a seat or a bed.

12. The seating assembly of claim 8 , wherein the thermal conditioning device comprises a thermoelectric device.

Assignees

• Gentherm Inc

Inventors

• Lofy John

Classifications

• F28D15/00

  Heat-exchange apparatus with the intermediate heat-transfer medium in closed tubes passing into or through the conduit walls {; Heat-exchange apparatus employing intermediate heat-transfer medium or bodies (F28D17/00, F28D19/00, F28D20/00 take precedence)} · CPC title

• B60N2/5685

  Resistance · CPC title

• F25B49/00

  Arrangement or mounting of control or safety devices · CPC title

• B60H1/00478 Primary

  Air-conditioning devices using the Peltier effect · CPC title

• F25B21/04 Primary

  reversible · CPC title