THERMOELECTRIC PERSONAL ENVIRONMENT APPLIANCE

• US 20080250794A1
• Filed: 04/09/2008
• Published: 10/16/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BSST LLC (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Bell, Lon E.
• Granted Patent: US 8,069,674 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.3
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2221/38 Personalised air distribution
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0042 characterised by the application of thermo-electric units or the Peltier effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 2321/0251 by a gas
• CPC Class Codes: F25D 31/007 Bottles or cans
• CPC Class Codes: H10N 10/00 Thermoelectric devices comprising a junction of dissimilar materials, i.e. devices exhibiting Seebeck or Peltier effects integrated devices or assemblies of multiple devices H10N19/00

Abstract

A personal environment appliance is disclosed in which a person in a localized area can individually control the ambient conditions of the person'"'"'s localized area. The control permits highly localized adjustment to suit individual preferences, thereby, reducing the impact of individual environmental preferences on the individuals. In addition to environment conditions, a variety of accessories may be provided such as beverage heaters and/or coolers.

Claims

1. A personal environment appliance that provides heating, cooling, or both heating and cooling in a localized area, the personal environment appliance comprising:

at least one electric motor driving at least one fan;

at least one inlet air path to a low pressure side of the at least one fan;

at least one thermoelectric device;

at least one main side heat exchanger in thermal communication with the at least one thermoelectric device, wherein inlet air passes the heat exchanger along a direction of flow and changes temperature, the heat exchanger comprising a plurality of heat exchanger elements substantially thermally isolated from one another in the direction of flow; and

at least one outlet for air that has passed the heat exchanger to provide temperature control of the localized area.

2. The personal environment appliance of claim 1, including at least one insulative member shaped to provide the at least one inlet air path.

3. The personal environment appliance of claim 1, further comprising at least one air filter demountably disposed to air.

4. The personal environment appliance of claim 1, further comprising at least one flow directing device for the at least one outlet.

5. The personal environment appliance of claim 1, further comprising a user operable control.

6. The personal environment appliance of claim 5, wherein the user operable control adjusts the air flow rate.

7. The personal environment appliance of claim 5, wherein the user operable control selects heating or cooling.

8. The personal environment appliance of claim 5, wherein the user operable control adjusts the amount of heating or cooling.

9. The personal environment appliance of claim 1, further comprising a thermoelectric beverage cooler and heater.

10. The personal environment appliance of claim 1, wherein the appliance is constructed to mount on a computer monitor.

11. The personal environment appliance of claim 10, further comprising an anti-glare screen positioned in front of the computer monitor.

12. The personal environment appliance of claim 1, further comprising a thermoelectric refrigerator.

13. A method of providing heating, cooling, or both heating and cooling in a localized area, the method comprising:

providing a personal environment appliance comprising;

at least one electric motor driving at least one fan;

at least one inlet air path to a low pressure side of the at least one fan;

at least one thermoelectric device;

at least one main side heat exchanger in thermal communication with the at least one thermoelectric device, wherein inlet air passes the heat exchanger along a direction of flow and changes temperature, the heat exchanger comprising a plurality of heat exchanger elements substantially thermally isolated from one another in the direction of flow; and

at least one outlet for air that has passed the heat exchanger to provide temperature control of the localized area; and

controlling the amount of heating or cooling of the localized area by adjusting the air flow rate and the temperature of the air.

14. A personal environment appliance that provides heating, cooling, or both heating and cooling in a localized area, the personal environment appliance comprising:

means for propelling air;

first means for guiding air to the air-propelling means;

thermoelectric means for creating a temperature differential;

means for exchanging heat between the thermoelectric means and air, wherein air passes the heat-exchanging means along a direction of flow and changes temperature, the heat-exchanging means comprising a plurality of elements in thermal communication with the thermoelectric means, the elements substantially thermally isolated from one another in a direction of air flow; and

second means for guiding air from the heat-exchanging means to the localized area.

15. The personal environment appliance of claim 14, wherein the thermoelectric means comprises a thermoelectric element having a first side and a second side, the plurality of elements comprising a first set of elements in thermal communication with the first side of the thermoelectric element, the first set of elements substantially thermally isolated from one another in the direction of air flow.

16. The personal environment appliance of claim 15, wherein the plurality of elements further comprises a second set of elements in thermal communication with the second side of the thermoelectric element, the second set of elements substantially thermally isolated from one another in the direction of air flow.