AUTOMATED LOCAL THERMAL MANAGEMENT SYSTEM

• US 20140353300A1
• Filed: 06/03/2014
• Published: 12/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2013
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Burley, Edward, Bush, Michael J., Fristedt, Tommy, John A. Swiatek, John Mach, William Burgett
• Original Assignee: Burley, Edward, Bush, Michael J., Fristedt, Tommy, John A. Swiatek, John Mach, William Burgett
• Inventors: Swiatek, John A., Burley, Edward, Bush, Michael J., Fristedt, Tommy, Burgett, William, Mach, John
• Application Number:
  US14/295,171
• Publication Number:
  US 20140353300A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/211
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0272 For heating of fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/003 using serpentine layout
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/036 Heaters specially adapted for garment heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2214/04 Heating means manufactured by using nanotechnology
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/145 Carbon only, e.g. carbon black, graphite
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/34 flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs

Abstract

The automated local thermal management system (20) includes a plurality of heated clothing articles (22). A first control device (36) with a first microcontroller (52) having a first memory includes a plurality of output drivers (28) each electrically connected to a vehicle power source and to the heated clothing articles (22) for providing an output current to the heated clothing articles (22). The first control device (36) further includes a Bluetooth transceiver (54) to adjust settings and to monitor operation and a first RF transceiver (64). A second control device (74) with a second microcontroller (94) having a second memory includes a pair of buttons (96) and an accelerometer (112) and a thermistor (106) and a second RF transceiver (108) for wireless communication with said first RF transceiver (64). The second memory contains software instructions for monitoring and processing readings from the buttons (96) and the accelerometer (112) and the thermistor (106) for varying the output current in response to changes in readings from the buttons (96) and thermistor (106) and accelerometer (112).

Claims

1. An automated local thermal management system (20) comprising;

at least one heated clothing article (22) including a plurality of wiring connectors (26) for electrical connection,

a first control device (36) including a processor,

said first control device (36) including at least one output driver (28) producing an output current and electrically connected to said processor and to a power source and to said heated clothing article (22) for providing said output current to said heated clothing articles (22) through said wiring connectors (26), and

said management system (20) including at least one user input and a velocity input and at least one temperature input each in communication with said processor for monitoring and processing readings from said user input and said velocity input and said temperature input for varying said output current of said output driver (28) in response to changes in said user input and said temperature input and said velocity input readings by said processor.

2. An automated local thermal management system (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said processor includes a first microcontroller (52) having a first memory defining a plurality of zones each containing at least one said heated clothing article (22) for temperature adjustment of said heated clothing article (22) by said first microcontroller (52).

3. An automated local thermal management system (20) as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a first RF transceiver (64) electrically connected to said first microcontroller (52) for wireless communication and a second control device (74) including a second microcontroller (94) having a second memory and a second RF transceiver (108) electrically connected to said second microcontroller (94) for wireless communication with said first RF transceiver (64),

said first memory of said first microcontroller (52) containing computer instructions for processing information received by said first RF transceiver (64) and generating a pulse width modulated command to said output drivers (28) to alter the temperature of said heated clothing article (22).

4. An automated local thermal management system (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said first control device (36) further comprising a Bluetooth transceiver (54) electrically connected to said first microcontroller (52) for wireless communication with Bluetooth enabled personal electronic equipment (32) to adjust settings and monitor operation of said first control device (36).

5. An automated local thermal management system (20) as set forth in claim 3 wherein said second memory also includes a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) algorithm and a plurality of PWM lookup tables for processing adjustments to said output current of said output drivers (28) of said first control device (36) and communicating a PWM request to said first control device (36) by said second RF transceiver (108).

6. An automated local thermal management system (20) as set forth in claim 5 wherein said second control device (74) includes a housing defining an interior cavity and a plurality of apertures extending into said interior cavity and said user input includes a pair of buttons (96) protruding through one of said apertures of said housing and electrically connected to said second microcontroller (94) for signaling temperature changes in response to said buttons (96) being depressed and to control temperature in all of said zones.

7. An automated local thermal management system (20) as set forth in claim 6 further comprising a plurality of comfort setting LEDs (102) each protruding through one of said apertures of said housing and electrically connected to said second microcontroller (94) for visual feedback to a user in response to the user depressing said buttons (96) and for visual status feedback to the user of activation of said second control device (74).

8. An automated local thermal management system (20) as set forth in claim 7 wherein said second control device (74) further comprises a micro USB port (98) attached to said second microcontroller (94) and extending through one of said apertures disposed on said bottom (78) of said housing for connection to a personal computer (116) and to personal electronic equipment (32) to reprogram and to configure settings and for connection to an external power supply.

9. An automated local thermal management system (20) as set forth in claim 8 wherein said first control device (36) further comprises an enclosure defining an inside chamber and defining a plurality of openings (48) extending into said inside chamber and a plurality of heater output LEDs (72) each protruding through one of said apertures of said enclosure and electrically connected to said first microcontroller (52) for visual feedback to the user of the output current of said output drivers (28).

10. An automated local thermal management system (20) as set forth in claim 9 further comprising a wiring socket (56) protruding through one of said openings (48) of said enclosure and electrically connected to said output drivers (28) and to said wiring connectors (26) of said heated clothing articles (22) and to a positive and a negative terminal of the power source.

11. An automated local thermal management system (20) as set forth in claim 10 further comprising at least one reverse polarity LED (70) electrically connected to said first microcontroller (52) and protruding through one of said openings (48) of said enclosure for providing visual status feedback to the user in response to the user reversing the attachment of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the power source to said wiring socket (56).

12. An automated local thermal management system (20) as set forth in claim 11 further comprising a reverse battery protection circuit (58) electrically connected to said wiring socket (56) for protecting said first control device (36) from reversal of the positive terminal and negative terminal of the vehicle power source by disabling operation of said first control device (36).

13. An automated local thermal management system (20) as set forth in claim 12 wherein said first memory of said first microcontroller (52) contains computer instructions for processing information received by said first RF transceiver (64) and by said Bluetooth transceiver (54) and controlling said reverse polarity LED (70) and said heater output LEDs (72).

14. An automated local thermal management system (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said heated clothing article (22) includes an interface cable (30) for attachment to personal electronic equipment (32) to enable charging of and communication with the personal electronic equipment (32).

15. An automated local thermal management system (20) as set forth in claim 6 wherein said housing of said second control device (74) including a pair of protrusions (86) extending outwardly from said housing and each defining a longitudinal slot (88) and said automated local thermal management system (20) further comprising a flexible strap (90) having a plurality of hook and loop patches and extending through said longitudinal slot (88) between said protrusions (86) for securing said housing to a wrist of the user and to a vehicle brake reservoir and to a handlebar of a vehicle.

16. An automated local thermal management system (20) as set forth in claim 7 further comprising a light sensor (104) electrically connected to said second microcontroller (94) and aligned with one of said apertures of said housing for detecting ambient light and signaling said second microcontroller (94) to adjust the brightness of said comfort setting LEDs (102).

17. An automated local thermal management system (20) as set forth in claim 16 wherein said second memory of said second microcontroller (94) contains software instructions for monitoring said buttons (96) and said velocity input and said temperature input and said light sensor (104) and processing and transmitting said PWM request to said first control device (36) and being reprogrammable by a personal computer (116) connected to said micro USB port (98) and being reprogrammable by personal electronic equipment (32) connected to said micro USB port (98).

18. An automated local thermal management system (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said temperature input is a thermistor (106).

19. An automated local thermal management system (20) as set forth in claim 1 wherein said velocity input is an accelerometer (112).

20. An automated local thermal management system (20) comprising;

a plurality of heated clothing articles (22) including a plurality of carbon filaments (24) and a plurality of wiring connectors (26) for electrical connection,

a first control device (36) including an enclosure having an upper portion (38) and a lower portion (40) and an anterior portion (42) and a posterior portion (44) and a pair of walls (46) defining an inside chamber and defining a plurality of openings (48) extending into said inside chamber,

a first printed circuit board (50) disposed in said inside chamber of said enclosure,

a first microcontroller (52) having a first memory attached to said first printed circuit board (50),

a plurality of output drivers (28) each having an output current and attached to said first printed circuit board (50) and electrically connected to said first microcontroller (52) and to said heated clothing articles (22) for providing said output current to said heated clothing articles (22) through said wiring connectors (26) and detecting an electrical connection to said heated clothing articles (22),

a first RF transceiver (64) attached to said first printed circuit board (50) and electrically connected to said first microcontroller (52) for wireless communication,

a first antenna (66) attached to said first printed circuit board (50) and electrically connected to said first RF transceiver (64) for transmitting a first radio frequency signal from said first RF transceiver (64) and for receiving radio frequency signals,

a Bluetooth transceiver (54) attached to said first printed circuit board (50) and electrically connected to said first microcontroller (52) for wireless communication with Bluetooth enabled personal electronic equipment (32) to adjust settings and monitor operation of said first control device (36),

at least one status LED (68) attached to said first printed circuit board (50) and protruding through one of said openings (48) disposed on said anterior portion (42) of said enclosure and electrically connected to said first microcontroller (52) for visual feedback to the user of the status of said first control device (36),

a wiring socket (56) attached to said first printed circuit board (50) and protruding through one of said openings (48) disposed on said wall (46) of said enclosure and electrically connected to said output drivers (28) and to said wiring connectors (26) of said heated clothing articles (22) and to a positive and a negative terminal of a vehicle power source,

said first memory of said first microcontroller (52) containing computer instructions for processing information received by said first RF transceiver (64) and controlling said status LED (68) and generating a pulse width modulated command to said output drivers (28) to alter the temperature of said heated clothing articles (22),

a second control device (74) including a housing having a top (76) and a bottom (78) and a front (80) and a back (82) and a pair of sides (84) defining an interior cavity and a plurality of apertures extending into said interior cavity,

a second printed circuit board (92) disposed in said interior cavity of said housing,

a second microcontroller (94) having a second memory attached to said second printed circuit board (92),

a second RF transceiver (108) attached to said second printed circuit board (92) and electrically connected to said second microcontroller (94) for wireless communication with said first RF transceiver (64),

a second antenna (110) attached to said second printed circuit board (92) and electrically connected to said second RF transceiver (108) for transmitting a second radio frequency signal from said second RF transceiver (108) and for receiving the first radio frequency signal from said first antenna (66),

said second memory including a Pulse Width Modulation (PWM) algorithm and a plurality of PWM lookup tables for processing adjustments to said output current of said output drivers (28) of said first control device (36) and communicating a PWM request to said first control device (36) by said second RF transceiver (108)

a micro USB port (98) attached to said second printed circuit board (92) and extending through one of said apertures disposed on said bottom (78) of said housing and electrically connected to said second microcontroller (94) for connection to a computer to reprogram and to configure settings and for connection to an external power supply,

a user input connected to said second control device (74) for user to signal temperature changes,

said heated clothing article (22) including at least one lighted logo (34) having a plurality of integrated lighting elements woven into said heated clothing article (22),

said heated clothing article (22) including an interface cable (30) for attachment to personal electronic equipment (32) to enable charging of and communication with the personal electronic equipment (32),

a reverse battery protection circuit (58) attached to said first printed circuit board (50) and electrically connected to said wiring socket (56) for protecting said first control device (36) from reversal of the positive terminal and negative terminal of the vehicle power source by disabling said first control device (36) operation,

a voltage regulator (60) attached to said first printed circuit board (50) and electrically connected to the vehicle power source for regulating voltage supplied to said first control device (36),

a voltage monitor (62) attached to said first printed circuit board (50) and electrically connected to said first microcontroller (52) and to said wiring socket (56) for monitoring the voltage of the vehicle power source,

at least one reverse polarity LED (70) attached to said first printed circuit board (50) and protruding through one of said openings (48) disposed on said anterior portion (42) of said enclosure for providing visual status feedback to the user in response to the user reversing the attachment of the positive terminal and the negative terminal of the vehicle power source to said wiring socket (56),

a plurality of heater output LEDs (72) attached to said first printed circuit board (50) and each protruding through one of said apertures disposed of said anterior portion (42) of said enclosure and electrically connected to said first microcontroller (52) for visual feedback to the user of the output of said output drivers (28),

said first memory of said first microcontroller (52) containing computer instructions for processing information received by said first RF transceiver (64) and by said Bluetooth transceiver (54) and controlling said reverse polarity LED (70) and said heater output LEDs (72),

a plurality of zones defined by said first memory of said first microcontroller (52) and each containing at least one of said heated clothing articles (22) for temperature adjustment of said heated clothing articles (22) by said first microcontroller (52),

said housing of said second control device (74) including a pair of protrusions (86) each disposed adjacent to one of said sides (84) and extending outwardly from said back (82) of said housing,

said protrusions (86) each defining a longitudinal slot (88) extending from said top (76) of said housing to said bottom (78) of said housing,

a flexible strap (90) having a plurality of hook and loop patches and extending through said longitudinal slots (88) between said protrusions (86) for securing said housing to a wrist of a user and to a vehicle brake reservoir and to a handlebar of a vehicle,

said user input being a pair of buttons (96) attached to said second printed circuit board (92) and each protruding through one of said apertures disposed on said front (80) of said housing and electrically connected to said second microcontroller (94) for user to signal temperature changes in response to said buttons (96) being depressed and used to control temperature in all of said zones,

a mobile battery (100) being rechargeable disposed in said interior portion of said housing and electrically connected to said micro USB port (98) and to said second microcontroller (94) for providing electrical power to said second control device (74) and being recharged by the external power supply through said micro USB port (98),

a plurality of comfort setting LEDs (102) attached to said second printed circuit board (92) and each protruding through one of said apertures disposed on said top (76) of said housing and electrically connected to said second microcontroller (94) for visual feedback to the user in response to the user depressing said buttons (96) and in response to said mobile battery (100) having a low state of charge and for visual status feedback to the user of activation of said second control device (74),

a light sensor (104) attached to said second printed circuit board (92) and aligned with one of said apertures disposed on said top (76) of said housing and electrically connected to said second microcontroller (94) for detecting ambient light and signaling said second microcontroller (94) to adjust the brightness of said comfort setting LEDs (102),

a temperature input attached to said second printed circuit board (92) and electrically connected to said second microcontroller (94) for generating an electrical output proportional to an ambient temperature,

said temperature input being a thermistor (106),

a velocity input attached to said second printed circuit board (92) and electrically connected to said second microcontroller (94) for transmitting a signal indicating a velocity of said housing to said second microcontroller (94),

said velocity input being an accelerometer (112),

said second RF transceiver (108) electrically connected to said second microcontroller (94) for wireless communication of readings from said buttons (96) and said accelerometer (112) and said light sensor (104) and said thermistor (106) to said first control device (36), and

said second memory of said second microcontroller (94) containing software instructions for monitoring said buttons (96) and said accelerometer (112) and said thermistor (106) and said light sensor (104) and processing and transmitting information to said first control device (36) and being reprogrammable by a personal computer (116) connected to said micro USB port (98) and by a smartphone and a tablet and a Bluetooth enabled personal electronic equipment (32).