SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR THERMOELECTRIC PERSONAL COMFORT CONTROLLED BEDDING

• US 20140137569A1
• Filed: 07/30/2013
• Published: 05/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 07/30/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: II-VI Delaware, Inc. (Coherent Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Marlow Industries, Inc. (Coherent Corp.)
• Inventors: Parish, Overton, Recine, Leonard, Garrett, Kevin, Tran, Anthony
• Granted Patent: US 10,047,981 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.2
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/044 with active means, e.g. by using air blowers or liquid pumps
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 21/048 for heating
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 2013/221 to avoid the formation of condensate, e.g. dew
• CPC Class Codes: F24F 5/0042 characterised by the application of thermo-electric units or the Peltier effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/02 using Peltier effect; using Nernst-Ettinghausen effect
• CPC Class Codes: F25B 21/04 reversible

Abstract

A system and method is provided for controlling condensation generation in an air conditioning system for use in a bed (mattress). During active operation of the air conditioning system to generate conditioned air, the relative humidity of ambient air is measured and operation of one or more thermoelectric devices (TEDs) within the air conditioning system in response to the measured relative humidity is adjusted to control condensate buildup. In addition, during a subsequent drying operation, the relative humidity of the ambient air is measured and the drying operation is adjusted or otherwise controlled based on the measurement.

Claims

1. A method for operating an air conditioning system configured to deliver conditioned air to a supporting apparatus, the method comprising:

receiving user input and operating the air conditioning system according to an operation cycle, wherein during the operation cycle the air conditioning system generates conditioned air;

measuring, during the operation cycle, relative humidity of ambient air in which the air conditioning system is disposed; and

adjusting operation of one or more thermoelectric devices (TEDs) within the air conditioning system in response to the measured relative humidity to control condensation generation within the air conditioning system.

2. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein adjusting operation of the one or more TEDs comprises:

adjusting downward a rate of operation of the one or more TEDs when the measured relative humidity is above a predetermined threshold.

3. The method in accordance with claim 1 wherein adjusting operation of the one or more TEDs comprises:

adjusting downward a rate of operation of the one or more TEDs when the measured relative humidity is above a predetermined humidity threshold and a current rate of operation of the one or more TEDs is above a predetermined rate of operation threshold.

4. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

monitoring threshold run time and current run time during the operation cycle; and

wherein adjusting operation of the one or more (TEDs) comprises adjusting operation of the TEDs in response to the measured relative humidity, the threshold run time and the current run time.

5. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

after completion of the operation cycle, operating the air conditioning system in accordance with a drying cycle, wherein during the drying cycle conditioned air is not generated for delivery to the supporting apparatus;

measuring, during the drying cycle, relative humidity of the ambient air in which the air conditioning system is disposed; and

when the measured relative humidity measured during the drying cycle is above a predetermined threshold, adjusting at least one of air flow or amount of time air flows through a condensate reservoir of the air conditioning system.

6. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

after completion of the operation cycle, operating the air conditioning system in accordance with a drying cycle, wherein during the drying cycle conditioned air is not generated for delivery to the supporting apparatus;

measuring, during the drying cycle, relative humidity of the ambient air in which the air conditioning system is disposed; and

controlling operation of the drying cycle by controlling at least one of an amount or a time period of air flow across a condensate reservoir.

7. The method in accordance with claim 1 further comprising:

measuring a first humidity after completion of the operation cycle;

performing humidity measurements periodically after completion of the operation cycle;

calculating an adjusted humidity based on the measured first humidity and one or more of the periodic humidity measurements; and

adjusting operation of the drying cycle based on the calculated adjusted humidity by controlling at least one of an amount or a time period of air flow across a condensate reservoir.

14. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 1 wherein the controller is further configured to:

measure a first humidity after completion of the operation cycle;

perform humidity measurements periodically after completion of the operation cycle;

calculate an adjusted humidity based on the measured first humidity and one or more of the periodic humidity measurements; and

adjust operation of the drying cycle based on the calculated adjusted humidity by controlling at least one of an amount or a time period of air flow across a condensate reservoir.

8. A thermoelectric-based air conditioning system for use with a bed or mattress, the system comprising:

one or more fans for generating an air flow for delivery to the bed or mattress;

one or more thermoelectric devices (TEDs) configured for conditioning the air flow;

an ambient air humidity sensor configured for sensing humidity of ambient air; and

a controller coupled to the one or more fans and the one or more TEDs and configured to;

receive a user input,

control operation of the air conditioning system in accordance with an operation cycle in response to the user input,

receive an ambient air humidity measurement from the humidity sensor during the operation cycle, and

adjust operation of the one or more TEDs in response to the received ambient air humidity measurement to control condensate generated by operation of the one or more TEDs.

9. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 8 wherein the controller is further configured to adjust downward a rate of operation of the one or more TEDs when the ambient air humidity measurement is above a predetermined threshold.

10. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 8 wherein the controller is further configured to adjust downward a rate of operation of the one or more TEDs when the ambient air humidity measurement is above a predetermined humidity threshold and a current rate of operation of the one or more TEDs is above a predetermined rate of operation threshold.

11. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 8 wherein the controller is further configured to;

monitor threshold run time and current run time during the operation cycle; and

adjust operation of the TEDs in response to the ambient air humidity measurement, the threshold run time and the current run time.

12. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 8 wherein after completion of the operation cycle, the controller is configured to:

operate the air conditioning system in accordance with a drying cycle, wherein during the drying cycle conditioned air is not generated for delivery to the supporting apparatus;

measure, during the drying cycle, relative humidity of the ambient air in which the air conditioning system is disposed; and

when the measured relative humidity measured during the drying cycle is above a predetermined threshold, adjust at least one of air flow or amount of time air flows through a condensate reservoir of the air conditioning system.

13. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 8 wherein after completion of the operation cycle, the controller is further configured to:

operate the air conditioning system in accordance with a drying cycle, wherein during the drying cycle conditioned air is not generated for delivery to the supporting apparatus;

measure, during the drying cycle, relative humidity of the ambient air in which the air conditioning system is disposed; and

control operation of the drying cycle by controlling at least one of an amount or a time period of air flow across a condensate reservoir.

15. An air conditioning system for conditioning air for use with a seat or bed, the system comprising:

a housing having a heat transfer device disposed therein;

one or more supply side fans for moving air through one or more air inlets within the housing into a supply side chamber where the air is conditioned by the heat transfer device and for moving the conditioned air through an air supply outlet within the housing;

one or more exhaust side fans for moving air through the one or more air inlets and into an exhaust side chamber where the air is conditioned by the heat transfer device and moving the conditioned air through one or more exhaust vents within the housing;

a removable air filter assembly coupled to the housing and configured for filtering air flowing into the one or more air inlets, the removable air filter assembly comprising,

an air filter housing, and

air filter material; and

an attachment structure configured to removably attach the air filter housing to the housing.

16. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 15 wherein the attachment structure comprises magnetic material.

17. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 15 further comprising:

a bottom tray configured to collect condensate; and

wherein the one or more air inlets comprises a first air inlet positioned on a first side of the housing and a second air inlet positioned on a second side of the housing, and both the first and second air inlets are disposed in position such that air flowing through at least one of the first and second air inlets is drawn near, through or over the bottom tray.