Device for controlling the temperature of the neck region of a user of a vehicle seat

• US 10,933,780 B2
• Filed: 02/10/2017
• Issued: 03/02/2021
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Gentherm GmbH (Gentherm Incorporated)
• Inventors: Rappl, Alexander, Pfaff, Jochen
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Hung D
• Application Number:
  US16/072,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20190031060A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,481 Days
• Field of Search: 219200, 219202, 219217, 2971801, 29718012, 29718013, 29718014
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00285 for vehicle seats vehicle seats with heating or ventilation means independent from the HVAC system of the vehicle B60N2/56
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00407 for open or convertible vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00742 by detection of the vehicle occupants' presence; by detection of conditions relating to the body of occupants, e.g. using radiant heat detectors
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/00792 Arrangement of detectors B60H1/00742, B60H1/0075, B60H1/00785 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/246 located in the interior of the vehicle or in or below the floor
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5671 forming a windbreak, e.g. warm air blown on the neck of the passenger of an open vehicle
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5685 Resistance

Abstract

A device for controlling the temperature of the neck region of a user of a vehicle seat. The device includes an air conveying device that is configured to convey air to a temperature control region, a temperature control device that is configured to control the temperature of the air to be conveyed to the temperature control region, and a control device that is configured to automatically control the air conveying device and the temperature control device.

Claims

1. A device for controlling a temperature of a neck region of a user of a vehicle seat, comprising:

an air conveying device, which is configured to convey air to a temperature control region;

a temperature control device, which is configured to control a temperature of the air to be conveyed to the temperature control region; and

a control device that is configured to control the air conveying device and the temperature control device automatically;

wherein the control device is configured to adjust to a preheat operating mode upon activation of the device and/or when an ambient temperature is below a temperature threshold;

wherein in the preheat operating mode, the air conveying device is deactivated and the temperature control device is activated;

wherein the control device is configured to maintain the preheat operating mode for a duration of a preheating period and/or until a predefined difference between the ambient temperature and an air temperature of a temperature-controlled air is reached;

wherein the temperature control device comprises one or more PTC heating resistors, the control device is configured to determine the duration of the preheating period on a basis of a resistance value of the one or more PTC heating resistors.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to determine the duration of the preheating period on a basis of one or more ambient parameters and/or one or more operating parameters of the temperature control device.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to automatically adjust to a start-up operating mode, in which the air conveying device and the temperature control device are activated.

4. The device according to claim 3, wherein the control device is configured to adjust an electrical parameter that influences a conveyance rate of the air conveying device and/or to adjust a fluid flow during the start-up operating mode.

5. The device according to claim 4, wherein the electrical parameter and/or the fluid flow is/are adjusted by increasing the electrical parameter and/or the fluid flow from an initial value to a setpoint value over a start-up time period, and

wherein the control device is configured to increase the electrical parameter and/or the fluid flow linearly, hyperbolically or asymptotically, at least in stages.

6. The device according to claim 5, wherein the control device is configured to increase the electrical parameter and/or the fluid flow on a basis of one or more ambient parameters, a temperature in the temperature control region, and/or one or more operating parameters of the temperature control device.

7. The device according to claim 4, wherein the control device is configured to increase the electrical parameter and/or the fluid flow on the basis of the resistance value of the one or more PTC heating resistors and/or a gradient of the resistance value of the one or more PTC heating resistors, and

wherein the control device is configured to maintain a target resistance value for the one or more PTC heating resistors once the target resistance value is reached.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the control device is configured to automatically adjust to a continuous operating mode, in which the air conveying device and the temperature control device are operated substantially constantly in a desired state.

9. A headrest for a vehicle seat, comprising a device for controlling a temperature of a neck region of a user of the vehicle seat, the device comprising:

an air conveying device, which is configured to convey air to a temperature control region;

a temperature control device, which is configured to control a temperature of the air to be conveyed to the temperature control region; and

a control device that is configured to control the air conveying device and the temperature control device automatically;

wherein the control device is configured to adjust to a preheat operating mode upon activation of the device and/or when an ambient temperature is below a temperature threshold;

wherein in the preheat operating mode, the air conveying device is deactivated and the temperature control device is activated;

wherein the control device is configured to maintain the preheat operating mode for a duration of a preheating period and/or until a predefined difference between the ambient temperature and an air temperature of a temperature-controlled air is reached;

wherein the temperature control device comprises one or more PTC heating resistors, the control device is configured to determine the duration of the preheating period on a basis of a resistance value of the one or more PTC heating resistors.

10. A control method for operating a device for controlling a temperature of a neck region of a user of a vehicle seat, comprising the following steps:

conveying air to a temperature control region by means of an air conveying device; and

controlling by means of a temperature control device, of a temperature of the air conveyed to the temperature control region;

automatically controlling the air conveying device and the temperature control device by means of a control device,

wherein the control device is configured to adjust to a preheat operating mode upon activation of the device and/or when an ambient temperature is below a temperature threshold;

in the preheat operating mode, the air conveying device is deactivated and the temperature control device is activated;

wherein the control device is configured to maintain the preheat operating mode for a duration of a preheating period and/or until a predefined difference between the ambient temperature and an air temperature of a temperature-controlled air is reached;

wherein the temperature control device comprises one or more PTC heating resistors, the control device is configured to determine the duration of the preheating period on a basis of;

i) a resistance value of the one or more PTC heating resistors, and/or

ii) a gradient of the resistance value of the one or more PTC heating resistors.

11. The control method according to claim 10, comprising at least one of the following steps:

automatically adjusting the device by means of the control device to a start-up operating mode, in which the air conveying device and the temperature control device are activated and an operating state of the air conveying device and/or the operating state of the temperature control device change(s) at least temporarily;

automatically adjusting the device by means of the control device to a continuous operating mode, in which the air conveying device and the temperature control device are operated substantially constantly in a desired state.

12. The control method according to claim 11, comprising at least one of the following steps:

activating the device;

detecting the ambient temperature;

wherein the preheat operating mode is set upon activation of the device and/or when the ambient temperature is below a temperature threshold.

13. The control method according to claim 11, comprising at least one of the following steps:

automatically switching from the preheat operating mode to the start-up operating mode once the preheating period has elapsed; and

wherein the duration of the preheating period is determined on the basis of one or more ambient parameters and/or one or more operating parameters of the temperature control device.

14. The control method according to claim 10, wherein in a start-up operating mode, at least one of the following steps is carried out:

adjustment of an electrical parameter that influences a conveyance rate of the air conveying device and/or a fluid flow;

increasing the electrical parameter and/or the fluid flow from an initial value to a desired value, over a start-up time period;

increasing the electrical parameter and/or the fluid flow linearly, hyperbolically or asymptotically, at least in stages;

increasing the electrical parameter and/or the fluid flow on a basis of one or more ambient parameters, a temperature in the temperature control region and/or one or more operating parameters of the temperature control device.

15. The control method according to claim 10, wherein in a start-up operating mode, at least one of the following steps is carried out:

detecting one or more ambient parameters;

detecting the temperature control region;

detecting one or more operating parameters of the temperature control device;

wherein an influencing electrical parameter and/or a fluid flow is/are increased on the basis of the detected resistance value and/or the detected gradient of the resistance value.

16. The control method according to claim 10, wherein the control device is configured to determine the duration of the preheating period on the basis of both:

i) the resistance value of the one or more PTC heating resistors, and ii) the gradient of the resistance value of the one or more PTC heating resistors.