Vehicle headliner assembly for zonal comfort

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9662962-B2
Application number	US-201414532892-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 4, 2014
Priority date	Nov 5, 2013
Publication date	May 30, 2017
Grant date	May 30, 2017

Abstract

According to some embodiments, a zonal conditioning system for a vehicle comprises a headliner assembly configured to be secured to the top surface of a vehicle interior, wherein the headliner assembly comprises a first side positioned away from the vehicle interior and hidden from the vehicle interior, and a second side positioned toward the vehicle interior, the headliner assembly comprising at least two vents through which air selectively passes. The zonal conditioning system further includes at least two fluid modules positioned along the first side of the headliner assembly, wherein each of the fluid modules comprises a fluid transfer device and an outlet. In some embodiments, at least one property of the air discharged through the first and second vents can be selectively regulated to create separate conditioning zones within the interior of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A zonal conditioning system for a vehicle, comprising:
a headliner assembly configured to be secured to a top surface of a vehicle interior, wherein the headliner assembly comprises a first side positioned away from the vehicle interior and hidden from the vehicle interior, and wherein the headliner assembly comprises a second side positioned toward the vehicle interior, the headliner assembly comprising at least two vents through which air selectively passes;
at least two fluid modules positioned along the first side of the headliner assembly, each of the fluid modules comprising a fluid transfer device and an outlet, each of the at least two fluid modules comprising a thermoelectric device and a waste conduit for transferring waste fluid from the respective fluid module, the fluid transfer device including an inlet that is positioned such that a gap exists between the inlet of the fluid transfer device and the first side of the headliner assembly;
a first fluid conduit placing the outlet of a first fluid module in fluid communication with a first vent of the headliner assembly; and
a second fluid conduit placing the outlet of a second fluid module in fluid communication with a second vent of the headliner assembly;
wherein at least one property of the air discharged through the first and second vents can be selectively regulated to create separate conditioning zones within the vehicle interior of the vehicle.

2. The zonal conditioning system of claim 1 , wherein the waste conduit transfers waste fluid to a location exterior of the vehicle.

3. The zonal condition system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one property of the air discharged through the first and second vents comprises at least one of the following: airflow rate, whether thermal conditioning occurs and a level of thermal conditioning.

4. The zonal condition system of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the fluid modules is automatically regulated using an automated control scheme.

5. The zonal condition system of claim 1 , further comprising a controller for selectively controlling at least one aspect of at least one of the fluid modules.

6. A method of creating at least two separate climate control zones within an interior of a vehicle, the method comprising:
positioning at least two fluid modules along a first side of a headliner assembly of the vehicle, each of the fluid modules comprising a fluid transfer device and an outlet, wherein the first side of the headliner assembly is positioned away from the interior of the vehicle; and
placing a first fluid module in fluid communication with at least one first vent of the headliner assembly, and placing at least a second fluid module in fluid communication with at least one second vent of the headliner assembly, wherein air is delivered from the fluid modules to and through the vents toward the interior of the vehicle, wherein the first and second fluid modules each include a thermoelectric device and a waste conduit that transfers waste fluid from the respective fluid module to a location exterior to the headliner assembly;
wherein at least one property of the air discharged through the first and second vents can be selectively regulated to create separate conditioning zones within the interior of the vehicle.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the waste conduit transfers waste fluid from the respective fluid module to a location exterior of the vehicle.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the at least one property of the air discharged through the first and second vents comprises at least one of the following: airflow rate, whether thermal conditioning occurs and a level of thermal conditioning.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein at least one of the fluid modules is automatically regulated using an automated control scheme.

10. The method of claim 6 , further comprising positioning at least one controller within the vehicle to enable a user to selectively regulate at least one operational aspect of at least of the fluid modules.

Assignees

• Gentherm Inc

Inventors

• Steinman Adam Joseph
• Bunyak Kenneth James
• Orlando Bruno Antonio

Classifications

• F25B21/04

  reversible · CPC title

• B60H1/245 Primary

  located in the roof · CPC title

• B60H1/00564

  of air ducts · CPC title

• B60H1/2225

  arrangements of electric heaters for heating air · CPC title

• B60H2001/00128

  Electric heaters · CPC title