Seat with temparature control and ventilation and safety system for a vehicle

• US 20040118555A1
• Filed: 01/17/2003
• Published: 06/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lear Corporation
• Original Assignee: Kongsberg Automotive Ab (Kongsberg Automotive ASA)
• Inventors: Josefsson, Daniel, Fristedt, Tommy
• Granted Patent: US 6,892,807 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 165/202
• CPC Class Codes: A61P 35/00 Antineoplastic agents
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00285 for vehicle seats vehicle seats with heating or ventilation means independent from the HVAC system of the vehicle B60N2/56
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0244 with logic circuits
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/0268 using sensors or detectors for adapting the seat or seat part, e.g. to the position of an occupant
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5692 Refrigerating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2210/30 Temperature sensors
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 27/02 characterised by the use of electric means

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a seat such as a vehicle seat are disclosed. The apparatus includes an electrical heater disposed in the seat, a cooling unit such as a cooling element and a fan, a detector for detecting the temperature associated with the electrical heater, and a controller for controlling the electrical heater and the cooler based upon the detected temperature and upon the humidity algorithm comprising a predetermined set of calculations of the humidity of air at different temperatures.

Claims

1. Device for temperature control and ventilation of a seat (2), wherein the device comprises an electrical heater (3) placed in the seat, a cooling device (1) comprising a cooling element (5) and a fan (6, 9), and a detector unit (8) in connection with the electrical heater (3) for detection of a temperature (T) at said electrical heater (3), characterized in that

the cooling device (1) and the electrical heater (3) are arranged to be activated in dependence of at least the detected temperature (T) which represents both conductive and convective cooling from the cooling device (1) and conductive heat from the electrical heater (3).

2. Device according to claim 1 comprising a control unit (4), characterized ion that the control nit (4) is arranged to activate the cooling device (1) and the heating element (3) dependent on the detected temperature (T).

3. Device according to claim 1 comprising a control unit (4), characterized in that the control unit (4) is arranged to activate the cooling device (1) and the heating element (3) dependent on a humidity algorithm comprising calculations of the humidity of air at different temperatures.

4. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cooling device (1) of the seat (2) is arranged in connection with the seat (2).

5. Device according to any of claims 1-3, where an air conditioning device (10) is arranged in connection with said seat (2) characterized in that the cooling device (1) of the seat (2) is arranged in connection with the air conditioning equipment (10).

6. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the fan (9) is arranged in connection with the air conditioning equipment (10).

7. Device according to any one of claims 1-3, characterized in that the seat'"'"'s (2) cooling device (1) consists of an air conditioning equipment (10) arranged in connection with the seat (2).

8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the cooling device (1) comprises a fan (9) that is arranged in connection with the air conditioning equipment (10).

9. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fan (6, 9) is directed in such a way that air is blown in the direction from the lower side of the seat (2) towards the seat'"'"'s sitting surface (7).

10. Device according to any of claims 1-8, characterized in that the fan (26, 29) is directed in such a way that air is sucked in the direction from the sitting surface (7) of the seat towards the seat'"'"'s lower side.

11. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that a humidity sensor (28) is arranged in connection with the sitting surface (7) of the seat (2) for detection of humidity.

12. Device according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the detector unit (8) comprises at least a first temperature sensor (8a) on or in the vicinity of the heating element (3) with at least an additional temperature sensor (8b) at a predetermined distance from the heating element (3).

13. Device according to claim 12, characterized in that the temperature sensors (8a, 8b) are connected such that a superposed detected value is acquired that is fed to the control unit (4).

14. Device according to any one of claims 12 or 13, characterized in that central connection (14) is placed between the two temperature sensors (8a, 8b), where the central connection is arranged to give information about the temperature sensors (8a, 8b) to a control unit (4).

15. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a detector (15) which is arranged to detect deviations from a determined standard of a driver or deviations from a determined standard of the running conditions of the vehicle, where the detector (15) is arranged to activate at least one cooling device (1) after having detected said deviation.

16. Method for temperature control and ventilation of a seat (2), wherein the seat (2) comprises an electrical heater (3) and a detector unit (8) in connection with the electrical heater (3) where;

the detector unit (8) detects a temperature (T) at said electrical heater (3), characterized in that;

a cooling device (1) and the electrical heater (3) are activated in dependence of at least the detected temperature (T) which represents both conductive and convective cooling from the cooling device (1 and conductive heat from the electrical heater (3), where the method also comprises;

detection of a first temperature,

supply of a certain power (Ph) to the electrical heater (13),

detection of a second temperature a certain time (t) after the detection of said first temperature,

determination of a temperature difference (Δ

T) from said first and second temperature,

determination of the humidity content of the air starting from said first and second temperature and said power (Ph),

determination of a time period (Δ

_Time) starting from the humidity content of the air and said first and second temperature and said power (P),

control of the electrical heater (3) and the cooling device (1) in dependence of said time period (Δ

_Time) to eliminate the humidity content of the air.

17. Method according to claim 16, characterized in that:

a humidity control algorithm uses the knowledge that certain air flows in combination with a certain temperature change corresponds to air mainly free of humidity, where;

the humidity algorithm gives information, and where;

the information is fed to a control unit (4) concerning control of the electrical heater (3) and/or the fan (6) and/or the cooling element (5) during during of the seat (2).

18. Method according to claim 16 or 17, characterized in that the method comprises the steps of;

detection of a temperature (T1) in on or in the vicinity of the heating element (2);

detection of a second temperature (T2) at a predetermined distance from the heating element (2);

where;

the temperatures together give rise to a temperature value (T), and where;

the temperature value (T) is compared to a desired temperature value (T_B) when performing said control.

19. Method according to claim 18, characterized in that the measured temperature values (T1, T2) are added to a superposed common temperature value in the interval between said measured temperature values.

20. Method according to any one of claims 16-19, characterized in that;

a detector (15) detects deviations from a determined standard of a driver of deviations from a determined standard of the running conditions of the vehicle, and;

where the detector (15) activates at least the cooling device (1) after having detected said deviation.