Thermostat device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9434284-B2
Application number	US-201213675444-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 13, 2012
Priority date	Nov 17, 2011
Publication date	Sep 6, 2016
Grant date	Sep 6, 2016

Abstract

The present invention relates to a temperature control device with at least one heat source and, additionally or alternatively, a heat sink and with at least one temperature detector for monitoring the temperature of the temperature control device. It is provided that the temperature control device comprises a sensor temperature control device that can be selectably switched on in order to additionally temper the temperature detector at least in some operating stages.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A temperature control device comprising:
a. at least one heat source heating the temperature control device;
b. at least one temperature detector for monitoring a temperature of the temperature control device, the at least one temperature detector being heated by the at least one heat source; and
c. a sensor temperature control device having a heating part;
wherein the heating part is configured to be selectably switched on in order to additionally heat the at least one temperature detector independently of the at least one heat source at least in some operating stages,
wherein the heating part is selectively switched on and the at least one temperature detector is independently and additionally heated such that a theoretical temperature of the temperature control device detected by the at least one temperature detector is reached before the theoretical temperature has actually been reached so that the at least one heat source is lowered or turned off before the theoretical temperature is reached, and
wherein when the heating part is selectively switched on and the at least one temperature detector is independently and additionally heated, an operating temperature of the at least one heat source is lower than an operating temperature of the at least one heat source when the heating part is not switched on.

2. The temperature control device according to claim 1 , wherein the temperature control device comprises a cooling device in order to cool a controlling zone,
wherein the sensor temperature control device comprises an additional cooling device that can be selectably switched on in addition to the cooling device in order to independently and additionally cool the at least one temperature detector,
wherein the additional cooling device is selectively switched on and the at least one temperature detector is independently and additionally cooled such that a second theoretical temperature of the temperature control device detected by the at least one temperature detector is reached before the second theoretical temperature has actually been reached so that the cooling device is regulated or turned off before the second theoretical temperature is actually reached, and
wherein when the additional cooling device is selectively switched on and the at least one temperature detector is independently and additionally cooled, an operating temperature of the cooling device is higher than an operating temperature of the cooling device when the additional cooling device is not switched on.

3. The temperature control device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one temperature control device comprises a controlling strand that is laid close to a surface under a covering.

4. The temperature control device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one temperature detector is a thermostat or a part of one.

5. A seat comprising: at least one of the temperature control devices in accordance with claim 1 .

6. A vehicle comprising: at least one of the temperature control devices in accordance with claim 1 .

7. The temperature control device according to claim 1 , wherein the at least one temperature detector is a thermostat or a part of one.

8. A method for operating the temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein the method comprises the steps of:
operating the at least one heat source or a cooling device in a first operating stage;
monitoring a temperature of the at least one heat source or the cooling; device using the at least one temperature detector; and
switching on the sensor temperature control device in a second operating stage and adjusting an operating temperature on the temperature control device and/or on the at least one temperature detector before the theoretical temperature is reached.

9. A method comprising:
operating a temperature control device with as temperature detector having at least two different temperature stages, the operating step comprising:
a. operating a heat source or a cooling device in a first operating stage;
b. monitoring a temperature of the heat source or the cooling device using the temperature detector; and
c. selectively switching on a sensor temperature control device in a second operating stage and additionally and independently changing a temperature on the temperature control device such that a theoretical temperature of the temperature control device detected by the temperature detector is reached before the theoretical temperature has actually been reached,
wherein the step of selectively switching on the sensor temperature control device includes independently and additionally heating the temperature detector with an additional heating part so that an operating temperature of the beat source is lower than an operating temperature of the heat source when the sensor temperature control device is not switched on, and/or
wherein the step of selectively switching on the sensor temperature control device includes independently and additionally cooling the temperature detector with the additional cooling device so that an operating temperature of the cooling device is higher than an operating temperature of the cooling device when the sensor temperature control device is not switched on.

10. The temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein the at least one heat source comprises an electrical resistor comprising a single-wire or multi-wire conductor strand with individual strands that are insulated at least in part from one another.

11. The temperature control device of claim 2 , wherein the cooling device comprises a heat sink.

12. The temperature control device of claim 1 , wherein the theoretical temperature is between 28° C. and about 37 °C.

13. The method of claim 8 ,
wherein the step of switching on the sensor temperature control device includes heating the temperature detector with the beating part in addition to the at least one heat source so that the operating temperature of the at least one heat source is lower than the operating temperature of the at least one heat source when the temperature detector is not additionally heated.

14. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sensor temperature control device comprises an additional cooling device,
wherein the step of switching on the sensor temperature control device includes cooling the temperature detector with the additional cooling device in addition to the cooling device so that an operating temperature of the cooling device is higher than an operating temperature of the cooling device when the temperature detector is not additionally cooled.

15. A seat for a vehicle comprising at least one of the temperature control devices of claim 9 .

16. The method of claim 9 , wherein the heat source comprises an electrical resistor comprising a single-wire or multi-wire conductor strand with individual strands that are insulated at least in part from one another, and
wherein the cooling device comprises a heat sink.

17. A temperature control device comprising:
a. a cooling device;
b. at least one temperature detector for monitoring a temperature of the temperature control device, the temperature detector being cooled by the cooling device; and
c. a sensor temperature control device;
wherein the sensor temperature control device comprises an additional cooling device that can be selectably switched on in order to independently and additionally cool the at least one temperature detector, and
wherein the additional cooling device is selectively switched on and the at least one temperature detector is independently and additionally cooled su

Assignees

• Wet Automotive Systems Ag
• Gentherm Gmbh

Inventors

• Voros Gabor

Classifications

• G05D23/1919

  characterised by the type of controller · CPC title

• B60N2/5685 Primary

  Resistance · CPC title

• B60N2/5692

  Refrigerating means · CPC title

• G05D23/19 Primary

  characterised by the use of electric means {(G05D23/1393 takes precedence)} · CPC title