CLIMATE CONTROL SYSTEMS AND METHODS

• US 20110048033A1
• Filed: 11/08/2010
• Published: 03/03/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 03/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Terech, John, Comiskey, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 8,434,314 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.3
• 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

Abstract

A method for thermally conditioning a space adjacent a seat assembly includes activating a heating element positioned within the seat assembly beneath a seat covering. A fluid module that includes a fluid supply device and a thermoelectric element is activated to direct heated air from the fluid module to a space adjacent the seat assembly through a distribution system formed at least partially in the seat cushion. After a period of time, the heating element is deactivated.

Claims

1. A method for thermally conditioning a seat assembly, the method comprising:

providing a seat cushion that defines a support surface and a seat covering that covers the support surface of the seat cushion;

wherein the seat assembly comprises at least one resistive heating element positioned within the seat assembly beneath the seat covering, said at least one resistive heating element configured to conductively heat a space adjacent the seat assembly;

wherein the seat assembly comprises at least one fluid module positioned generally away from the seat covering, said at least one fluid module configured to convectively heat a space adjacent the seat assembly, wherein said at least one fluid module comprises a blower and a thermoelectric device;

receiving instructions from an occupant regarding a desired operational setting for the seat assembly;

sensing a temperature associated with an actual thermal condition at or near the space adjacent the seat assembly using at least one temperature sensor;

providing information regarding the desired operational setting and temperature to a control module, said control module being configured to operate the at least one heating element and the at least one fluid module;

wherein the control module is adapted to selectively regulate the at least one heating element and the at least one fluid module to thermally condition the space adjacent the seat assembly according to a target control scheme;

activating or deactivating at least one of the at least one heating element, the blower and the thermoelectric device based on the target control scheme;

during a first conditioning mode, activating the at least one heating element to conductively heat the space adjacent the seat assembly;

during a second conditioning mode, activating at least one of the blower and the thermoelectric device to convectively heat the space adjacent the seat assembly; and

after a period of time, deactivating the at least one heating element;

wherein the first conditioning mode generally precedes or is used concurrently with the second conditioning mode;

wherein a target desired temperature at the space adjacent the seat assembly is attained more quickly by activating the at least one heating element than by only directing heated air from the at least one fluid module; and

wherein deactivating the at least one heating element helps reduce total power consumption of the seat assembly while maintaining a desired level of comfort for the occupant.

2. A method as in claim 1, wherein the at least one heating element comprises a resistive heater.

3. A method as in claim 1, further comprising generating heat within a space generally beneath the seat covering of the seat assembly.

4. A method as in claim 1, further comprising generating heat within a space generally beneath the seat covering of the seat assembly and generally above the seat cushion of the seat assembly.

5. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of activating the at least one fluid module begins at least 60 seconds after the at least one heating element has been activated.

6. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of activating the at least one fluid module begins at least 120 seconds after the at least one heating element has been activated.

7. A method as in claim 1, wherein the step of activating the at least one fluid module begins after the at least one heating element has been deactivated.

8. A method as in claim 1, wherein the steps of activating the at least one heating element and activating the at least one fluid module occur substantially simultaneously.

9. A method as in claim 1, wherein the at least one heating element and the at least one fluid module are both activated during a period of time, wherein during said period of time the total current supplied to a climate control system of the seat assembly remains substantially constant.

10. A method for selectively heating a space adjacent a seat assembly that includes a seat cushion that defines a support surface and a seat covering that covers the support surface of the seat cushion, the method comprising:

receiving instructions from an occupant regarding a desired operational setting for the seat assembly;

sensing a temperature associated with a level of actual thermal conditioning occurring at the seat assembly using at least one temperature sensor;

providing the desired operational setting and a sensed temperature to a control module;

wherein the control module is adapted to selectively regulate a heating element and a fluid module to thermally condition a space adjacent the seat assembly according to a control scheme, said fluid module comprising a fluid transfer device and a thermoelectric device;

wherein said control scheme comprises a first thermal conditioning mode and at least a second thermal conditioning mode;

during the first thermal conditioning mode, activating the heating element to conductively heat a space adjacent the seat assembly; and

during the second thermal conditioning mode, transferring air using the fluid module to a space adjacent the seat assembly through a distribution system formed in the seat cushion to selectively heat the space adjacent the seat assembly; and

wherein the first thermal conditioning mode and the second thermal conditioning mode are configured to overlap for at least a portion of time so that the heating element and the fluid module are operated concurrently to provide an enhanced heating effect to a seated occupant.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the desired operational setting for the seat assembly comprises a general temperature setting.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the desired operational setting for the seat assembly comprises a specific temperature or temperature range.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein the seat assembly comprises a seat back portion and a seat bottom portion, wherein the desired operational setting for the seat back portion is different that the desired operational setting for the seat bottom portion.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein the heating element comprises a resistive heater.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein the second thermal conditioning mode begins at least 60 seconds after an initiation of the first thermal conditioning mode.

16. The method of claim 10, wherein the second thermal conditioning mode begins at least 120 seconds after an initiation of the first thermal conditioning mode.

17. The method of claim 10, wherein the second thermal conditioning mode begins generally simultaneously with the first thermal conditioning mode.