Control system for thermal module vehicle

• US 20060130490A1
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Published: 06/22/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Petrovski, Dusko
• Granted Patent: US 7,587,901 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 62/3.300
• CPC Class Codes: A47C 7/74 for ventilation, heating or cooling actuated by rocking the chair A47C3/02
• 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 1/00478 Air-conditioning devices using the Peltier effect for air-conditioning in general F24F5/0042; for refrigeration F25B21/02; electric devices exhibiting the Peltier effect H10N10/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 1/2218 controlling the operation of electric heaters
• CPC Class Codes: B60H 2001/003 Component temperature regulation using an air flow
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5614 by liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5635 coming from the passenger compartment
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5642 with circulation of air through a layer inside the seat
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5657 blown towards the seat surface
• CPC Class Codes: B60N 2/5692 Refrigerating means

Abstract

A climate control device includes a first and a second thermal module. The first module is configured to provide climate conditioned air to a first portion of a seat. The second module is configured to provide climate conditioned air to a second portion of the seat. A control system is provided for controlling the climate control device. The control system includes an input device for providing a set point for the system. A first control unit of the control system is provided for the first thermal module and a second control unit is provided for the second thermal module.

Claims

1. A device for thermally conditioning and moving a fluid, comprising:

a thermoelectric device to convert electrical energy into thermal energy producing a temperature change in response to an electrical current being applied thereto,

a fluid transfer device to produce a fluid flow that is in thermal communication with the thermoelectric device so that the thermal energy generated by the thermoelectric device is transferred to the fluid flow;

a housing having an outlet and an inlet through which the fluid flow is directed, the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device being positioned at least partially within the housing;

a sensor configured to provide a temperature signal that is indicative of the temperature of the fluid flow; and

a control unit coupled to the housing and operatively connected to the sensor, the control unit configured to receive a set point signal that is indicative of a desired temperature of the fluid flow and, based upon the set point signal and the temperature signal, to control the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device.

2. A device as in claim 1, wherein the control unit is disposed at least substantially within the housing.

3. A device as in claim 1, additionally comprising a second thermoelectric device to convert electrical energy into thermal energy producing a temperature change in response to an electrical current being applied thereto, a second fluid transfer device to produce a fluid flow that is in thermal communication with the thermoelectric device so that the thermal energy generated by the thermoelectric device is transferred to the fluid flow, and a second control unit for operating the second thermoelectric device and the second fluid transfer device.

4. A device as in claim 3, wherein the control unit is operatively connected to the second control unit and the control unit is configured to control the second thermoelectric device and the second fluid transfer device based upon the set point signal and the temperature signal.

5. A device as in claim 3, in combination with a seat assembly, the seat assembly comprising a backrest and a seat portion.

6. A device as in claim 5, wherein the backrest includes a distribution system in communication with the first fluid transfer device and the seat portion includes a distribution system in communication with the second fluid transfer device.

7. A device for thermally conditioning and moving a fluid, comprising:

a thermoelectric device to convert electrical energy into thermal energy producing a temperature change in response to an electrical current being applied thereto,

a fluid transfer device to produce a fluid flow that is in thermal communication with the thermoelectric device;

a sensor configured to provide a temperature signal that is indicative of the temperature of the fluid flow; and

a control unit operatively connected to the sensor, the control unit configured to receive a set point signal that is indicative of a desired temperature of the fluid flow and, based upon the set point signal and the temperature signal, to control the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device, the control unit also configured to receive a second temperature signal from a second sensor, the second temperature signal being indicative of the temperature of the fluid flow within a second device for thermally conditioning and moving a fluid, the control unit configured to control the second device based upon the set point signal and the second temperature signal so as to control the temperature and fluid flow within the second device.

8. The device as in claim 7, additionally comprising a casing that generally surrounds the fluid the thermal electric device and the fluid transfer device.

9. The device as in claim 8, wherein the control unit is coupled to the casing.

10. The device as in claim 8, wherein the control unit is disposed at least substantially within the casing.

11. A climate controlled seat assembly, comprising:

a seat cushion including a ventilation system;

a main control unit that is configured to generate a mode signal for the seat assembly;

a first thermal module that is configured to thermally condition air that is delivered to a first portion of the ventilation system;

a first sensor configured to sense a condition of the first thermal module and to provide a condition signal corresponding to the sensed condition;

a first control unit that is operatively connected to the main control unit, the first sensor and the first thermal module, the first control unit configured to drive the first thermal unit based upon the mode signal and the condition signal;

a second thermal module that is configured to thermally condition air that is delivered to a second portion of the ventilation system;

a second control unit that configured to drive the second thermal module; and

a communication line configured to operatively connect the second control unit to the first control unit;

wherein the first control unit is configured to control the second control unit based upon the mode signal and the condition signal.

12. The seat assembly as in claim 11, wherein the seat cushion includes a backrest cushion and a seat cushion and the distribution system includes a backrest portion and a seat portion.

13. The seat assembly as in claim 12, wherein first thermal module provides conditioned air to the seat portion of the distribution system.

14. The seat assembly as in claim 12, comprising a housing in which the first thermal module is generally disposed.

15. The seat assembly as in claim 14, wherein the first control unit is coupled to the housing.

16. The seat assembly as in claim 14, wherein the first control unit is disposed generally within the housing.

17. The seat assembly as in claim 11, comprising a second sensor configured to sense a condition of the second thermal module and to provide a second condition signal corresponding to the sensed condition of the second thermal module.

18. The seat assembly as in claim 17, wherein the second sensor is operatively connected to the first control unit.

19. The seat assembly as in claim 18, wherein the first control unit is configured to drive the second control unit based in part on the second condition signal.

20. A method for thermally conditioning a space adjacent a seat assembly, comprising:

transmitting an input signal from an input device to a control unit of a first thermal module;

controlling the first thermal module based at least in part upon the input signal to deliver thermally conditioned air to a first portion of a seat assembly; and

transmitting a control signal from the control unit of the first thermal module to a control unit of a second thermal module so as to control the second thermal module and deliver thermally conditioned air to a second portion of the seat assembly based at least in part upon the input signal from the input device.

21. A method as in claim 20, additionally comprising sensing a temperature of the thermally conditioned air that is delivered to the first portion of the seat assembly.

22. A method as in claim 21, additionally comprising controlling the first thermal module based at least in part upon the sensed temperature of the thermally conditioned air that is delivered to the first portion of the seat assembly.

23. A method as in claim 20, additionally comprising sensing a temperature of the thermally conditioned air that is delivered to the second portion of the seat assembly.

24. A method as in claim 23, additionally comprising transmitting the sensed temperature of the thermally conditioned air that is delivered to the second portion of the seat assembly to the control unit of the first thermal module.

25. A method as in claim 24, additionally using the sensed temperature of the thermally conditioned air that is delivered to the second portion of the seat assembly to generate the control signal that is transmitted to the control unit of the second thermal module.

26. A climate controlled seat assembly, comprising:

a seat cushion including a ventilation system having a first portion and a second portion;

a main control unit that is configured to generate a mode signal for the seat assembly;

a first thermal module that is configured to thermally condition air that is delivered to the first portion of the ventilation system, the first thermal module comprising a first sensor configured to sense a condition of the first thermal module and to provide a condition signal corresponding to the sensed condition and a first control unit that is operatively connected to the main control unit, the first sensor and the first thermal module, the first control unit configured to drive the first thermal unit based upon the mode signal and the condition signal of the first thermal module; and

a second thermal module that is configured to thermally condition air that is delivered to the second portion of the ventilation system, the second thermal module comprising a second sensor configured to sense a condition of the second thermal module and to provide a condition signal corresponding to the sensed condition and a second control unit that is operatively connected to the main control unit, the second sensor and the second thermal module, the second control unit configured to drive the second thermal unit based upon the mode signal and the condition signal of the second thermal module.

27. The seat assembly as in claim 26, wherein the seat cushion includes a backrest cushion and a seat cushion and the distribution system includes a backrest portion and a seat portion and wherein the first thermal module provides conditioned air to the seat portion of the distribution system and the second thermal module provides conditioned air to the backrest portion of the distribution system.

28. The seat assembly as in claim 26, comprising a first housing in which the first thermal module and the first control unit are generally disposed and a second housing in which the second thermal module and the second control unit are generally disposed.