INTEGRATED SEAT CONDITIONING AND MULTI-COMPONENT CONTROL MODULE

• US 20090082927A1
• Filed: 08/26/2008
• Published: 03/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Wet Automotive Systems AG (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Beska, Jan, Jarnevic, Robert, Bajic, Goran, Lazanja, Marinko
• Application Number:
  US12/198,295
• Publication Number:
  US 20090082927A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/48
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5657 blown towards the seat surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance

Abstract

An integrated control unit for a vehicle comprising a housing adapted to package an air fluid mover, a plurality of microprocessors in electrical communication with and a plurality of connectors and the connectors are adapted send and receive electrical signals to and from the plurality of microprocessors and at least one other component within the vehicle. The housing also including at least one opening, for fluidly communicating air fluid to the air fluid mover from the vehicle, and at least one other opening for fluidly communicating air fluid from the air fluid mover to the vehicle.

Claims

1. An integrated control unit for a vehicle comprising:

a housing adapted to package an air fluid mover, a plurality of microprocessors in electrical communication with and a plurality of connectors;

wherein, the housing includes at least one opening for fluidly communicating air fluid to the air fluid mover from the vehicle, further wherein the housing includes at least one opening for fluidly communicating air fluid from the air fluid mover to the vehicle, wherein the connectors are adapted send and receive electrical signals to and from the plurality of microprocessors and at least one other component within the vehicle.

2. The integrated control unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microprocessors includes at least one memory storage processor.

3. The integrated control unit of claim 1, wherein the plurality of microprocessors includes at least one control processor.

4. The integrated control unit of claim 1, further including an air fluid conditioner in fluid communication with the air fluid mover for providing conditioned air fluid to the vehicle through a seat.

5. The integrated control unit of claim 1, wherein the at least one other component within the vehicle includes:

a lumbar, a heater, a power pedal, a memory input device, a seat conditioner, a adjustable steering wheel, a heated steering wheel, an adjustable side mirror, a seat adjustment mechanism, a seat belt adjustment mechanism, a power adjusted head restraint, or any combination thereof.

6. An integrated control unit for a vehicle comprising:

a housing adapted to package an air fluid mover in fluid communication with an air fluid conditioning device, a plurality of microprocessors in electrical communication with and a plurality of connectors;

wherein, the housing includes at least one opening for fluidly communicating air fluid to the air fluid mover from the vehicle, further wherein the housing includes at least two openings for fluidly communicating air fluid from the air fluid conditioning device to the vehicle, wherein the connectors are adapted send and receive electrical signals to and from the plurality of microprocessors and at least one other component within the vehicle.

7. The integrated control unit of claim 6, wherein the plurality of microprocessors includes at least one memory storage processor.

8. The integrated control unit of claim 6, wherein the plurality of microprocessors includes at least one control processor.

9. The integrated control unit of claim 6, wherein the at least one other component within the vehicle includes:

a lumbar, a heater, a power pedal, a memory input device, a seat conditioner, a adjustable steering wheel, a heated steering wheel, an adjustable side mirror, a seat adjustment mechanism, a seat belt adjustment mechanism, a power adjusted head restraint, or any combination thereof.

10. An integrated control unit for a vehicle comprising:

a housing adapted to package an air fluid mover in fluid communication with an thermoelectric air fluid conditioning device, a plurality of control microprocessors in electrical communication with and a plurality of connectors, the control microprocessors communicatively connected to a plurality of memory storage microprocessors, and a power supply connector adapted to receive electrical power from the vehicle and provide power to the microprocessors,

wherein, the housing includes at least one opening for fluidly communicating air fluid to the air fluid mover from the vehicle, further wherein the housing includes at least two openings for fluidly communicating air fluid from the thermoelectric air fluid conditioning device to a seat, wherein the connectors are adapted send and receive electrical signals to and from the plurality of control microprocessors and at least one other component within the vehicle.

11. The integrated control unit of claim 10, wherein the at least one other component within the vehicle includes:

a lumbar, a heater, a power pedal, a memory input device, a seat conditioner, a adjustable steering wheel, a heated steering wheel, an adjustable side mirror, a seat adjustment mechanism, a seat belt adjustment mechanism, a power adjusted head restraint, or any combination thereof.

12. A method of conditioning a vehicle and controlling vehicle component functions, including the steps of:

(a) providing a integrated control unit that houses an air fluid mover in fluid communication with an air fluid conditioner, a plurality of microprocessors in electrical communication with a plurality of connectors, at least one of the plurality of connectors in electrical communication with at least one other vehicle component;

(b) inputting power to the plurality of microprocessors, the air fluid mover, and the air fluid conditioner via at least one of the plurality of connectors;

(c) providing air fluid from a vehicle environment to the air fluid mover;

(d) conditioning the air fluid in the air fluid conditioner;

(e) outputting the air fluid from the air fluid conditioner to the vehicle environment;

(f) inputting an input signal to the at least one of the plurality of microprocessors via the electrical communication from at least one of the other vehicle component; and

(g) outputting an output signal from at least one of the plurality of microprocessors via the electrical communication to control the at least one other vehicle component.