Control method for thermal regulation of a vehicle seat

• US 20070157630A1
• Filed: 01/10/2006
• Published: 07/12/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/10/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Delphi Technologies, Inc. (BorgWarner Incorporated)
• Inventors: Huang, Lin-Jie, Mu, Xiaoxia, Wolfe, Edward, Kadle, Prasad
• Granted Patent: US 7,640,753 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.300
• 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: B60H 2001/003 Component temperature regulation using an air flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5628 coming from the vehicle ventilation system, e.g. air-conditioning system
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5657 blown towards the seat surface

Abstract

Conditioned air discharged from a vehicle heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit is further conditioned by a thermoelectric (TE) air conditioning unit and then directed to air passages in a vehicle seat. Activation of the TE air conditioning unit is based on climate control parameters utilized by the HVAC unit, including a set temperature, radiant heating effects, and cabin air temperature. The climate control parameters are utilized to establish a target seat temperature that optimizes occupant comfort and the transient response of the seat cooling effect.

Claims

1. A method of operation for a thermoelectric air conditioning unit that delivers conditioned air to a passenger seat of a vehicle, where the vehicle additionally includes a heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) unit for thermally conditioning air in a cabin of said vehicle, the method comprising the steps of:

computing a target seat temperature during a cooling mode of said HVAC unit based on a set temperature of said HVAC unit;

measuring a temperature of said seat; and

controlling an operating mode and activation level of said thermoelectric air conditioning unit to bring the measured seat temperature into conformance with said target seat temperature.

2. The method of claim 1, including the steps of:

determining a mean radiant temperature in said cabin; and

computing said target seat temperature based on said set temperature and the determined mean radiant temperature.

3. The method of claim 1, including the steps of:

determining a relative humidity of ambient air; and

adjusting said set temperature based on the determined relative humidity so that the computed target seat temperature varies in inverse relation to the relative humidity.

4. The method of claim 1, including the steps of:

determining a reference cabin air temperature for optimal occupant comfort based on said set temperature and a mean radiant temperature in said cabin;

measuring a temperature of air in said cabin; and

raising the computed target seat temperature when the measured cabin air temperature falls below said reference cabin air temperature.

5. The method of claim 4, including the step of:

raising the computed target seat temperature by an amount based on the mean radiant temperature in said cabin.

6. The method of claim 4, including the steps of:

determining a temperature modifier for the computed target seat temperature; and

progressively applying said temperature modifier to said computed seat temperature.

7. The method of claim 6, including the steps of:

progressively applying said temperature modifier to said computed seat temperature based on an amount by which the measured cabin air temperature falls below said reference cabin air temperature.

8. The method of claim 1, including the steps of:

increasing the activation level of said thermoelectric air conditioning unit to provide more seat cooling when said thermoelectric air conditioning unit is in a cooling mode and said measured seat temperature is above the selected target seat temperature by at least a calibrated value;

decreasing the activation level of said thermoelectric air conditioning unit when said thermoelectric air conditioning unit is in said cooling mode to provide less seat cooling when said measured seat temperature is below the selected target seat temperature by at least said calibrated value; and

changing said thermoelectric air conditioning unit from said cooling mode to a heating mode when said measured seat temperature is below the selected target seat temperature by at least said calibrated value and the activation level of said thermoelectric air conditioning unit has been decreased to a minimum level.

9. The method of claim 1, including the steps of:

increasing the activation level of said thermoelectric air conditioning unit to provide more seat heating when said thermoelectric air conditioning unit is in a heating mode and said measured seat temperature is below the selected target seat temperature by at least a calibrated value;

decreasing the activation level of said thermoelectric air conditioning unit when said thermoelectric air conditioning unit is in said heating mode to provide less seat heating when said measured seat temperature is above the selected target seat temperature by at least said calibrated value; and

changing said thermoelectric air conditioning unit from said heating mode to a cooling mode when said measured seat temperature is above the selected target seat temperature by at least said calibrated value and the activation level of said thermoelectric air conditioning unit has been decreased to a minimum level.

10. The method of claim 1, including the step of:

controlling said thermoelectric air conditioning unit to provide maximum cooling of the air delivered to said passenger seat upon initial activation of said HVAC unit in said cooling mode.