Control system for thermal module in vehicle

• US 7,587,901 B2
• Filed: 01/31/2005
• Issued: 09/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
• Inventors: Petrovski, Dusko
• Primary Examiner(s): Jones; Melvin
• Application Number:
  US11/047,077
• Publication Number:
  US 20060130490A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,688 Days
• Field of Search: 62/33, 62/37, 62/36.1, 622/61
• US Class Current: 62/3.3
• 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 to a climate controlled seat assembly, 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 or from the fluid flow;

a protective casing configured to be positioned within or adjacent the climate controlled seat assembly, the protective casing defining an interior space and having an outlet and an inlet through which the fluid flow is directed, the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device being positioned within the interior space of the protective casing;

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

a control unit positioned within the protective casing 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; and

electrical wires connected to the control unit and extending through an opening in the protective casing.

2. The 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, wherein the second thermoelectric device, the second fluid transfer device and the second control unit are situated within a second protective casing.

3. The device as in claim 2, wherein the control unit is operatively connected to the second control unit and the control unit is configured to at least partially control the second thermoelectric device and the second fluid transfer device based upon the set point signal and the temperature signal.

4. The device as in claim 2, in combination with a seat assembly, the seat assembly comprising a backrest portion and a seat portion.

5. The device as in claim 4, wherein the backrest portion includes a first distribution system in fluid communication with the first fluid transfer device and the seat portion includes a second distribution system in fluid communication with the second fluid transfer device.

6. A method for thermally conditioning an area adjacent to a seat assembly, comprising:

transmitting an input signal from an input device to a first control unit of a first thermal module, the first thermal module comprising an outer housing enclosing an interior space, the first control unit being positioned within the interior space;

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 first control unit of the first thermal module to a second 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;

wherein the first thermal module comprises a thermoelectric device and a fluid transfer device, the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device being positioned within the interior space of the housing; and

further comprising coupling the housing to the seat assembly;

wherein the first control unit is configured to control at least one of the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device based in part on the input signal from the input device.

7. The method as in claim 6, additionally comprising sensing a temperature of thermally conditioned air that is delivered to the first portion of the seat assembly.

8. The method as in claim 7, additionally comprising controlling the first thermal module based at least in part upon the sensed temperature of thermally conditioned air that is delivered to the first portion of the seat assembly.

9. The method as in claim 6, additionally comprising sensing a temperature of thermally conditioned air that is delivered to the second portion of the seat assembly.

10. The method as in claim 9, additionally comprising transmitting the sensed temperature of thermally conditioned air that is delivered to the second portion of the seat assembly to the second control unit.

11. The method as in claim 10, additionally comprising transmitting a signal regarding the sensed temperature of thermally conditioned air that is delivered to the second portion of the seat assembly to the first control unit, the transmission of such signal being configured to occur through at least one electrical wire, the electrical wire electrically connecting the first control unit to the second control unit.

12. A self-contained thermal module configured for use with a climate controlled seat assembly, comprising:

a housing having an enclosed interior space, the housing comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;

a thermoelectric device;

a plurality of heat exchange members in thermal communication with the thermoelectric device;

a fluid transfer device configured to transfer a fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet at least partially through the heat exchange members in order to selectively heat or cool the fluid;

a sensor adapted to provide a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the fluid that has been transferred through the heat exchange members; and

a controller operatively connected to the sensor, the controller configured to control at least one of the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device control based at least in part on the temperature signal;

wherein the thermoelectric device, the heat exchange members, the fluid transfer device and the controller are situated within the enclosed interior space of the housing;

wherein the self-contained thermal module can be installed in a climate controlled seat assembly without the need for an independent control unit that is physically separated from the housing.

13. The thermal module of claim 12, wherein the housing further comprises an opening, the opening being configured to connect at least one wire from outside the housing to the controller.

14. The thermal module of claim 13, wherein the wire is electrically connected to a power source, the sensor or a user input device.

15. The thermal module of claim 12, wherein the fluid outlet is configured to be placed in fluid communication with at least one fluid distribution member of a climate controlled seat assembly.

16. A method of adapting a seat assembly with a temperature control device, the method comprising:

providing a seat assembly having a seat back portion and a seat bottom portion, at least one of the seat back portion and the seat bottom portion comprising a fluid distribution member configured to receive fluid and generally distribute it toward a seated occupant;

securing a first self-contained thermal module to the seat back portion or the seat bottom portion, said first thermal module comprising;

a housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;

a thermoelectric device;

a fluid transfer device configured to transfer a fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet past the thermoelectric device to selectively heat or cool the fluid;

a controller configured to control at least one of the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device control;

wherein the thermoelectric device, the fluid transfer device and the controller are positioned within an interior space of the housing; and

wherein the housing comprises an opening for routing at least one electrical connection therethrough;

providing a user input device configured to permit a user to select a desired temperature setting;

coupling the first thermal module to the seat assembly; and

electrically connecting the controller of the first thermal module to the user input device and a power supply using wire connections routed through the opening of the housing;

wherein the first thermal module can operate without the need of an independent control unit that is physically separated from the housing.

17. The method of claim 16, further comprising providing a sensor in data communication with the controller of the thermal module, the sensor being adapted to provide a temperature signal indicative of a temperature of the fluid that has been transferred past the thermoelectric device.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising securing a second self-contained thermal module to one of the seat back portion and the seat bottom portion, the second thermal module being configured to operate without the need of an independent control unit.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the second thermal module comprises a second controller that is in data communication with the controller of the first thermal module.

20. A climate controlled seat assembly comprising:

a seat back portion and a seat bottom portion;

a first thermal module comprising;

a protective housing separate and independent from the seat back portion and the seat bottom portion, the protective housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, the protective housing defining an interior space;

a thermoelectric device;

a fluid transfer device configured to transfer a fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet through or near the thermoelectric device to selectively heat or cool the fluid; and

a control module configured to control the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device depending at least partially on a temperature signal, the temperature signal being based on the a temperature of thermally conditioned fluid that has been transferred through or near the thermoelectric device;

wherein the thermoelectric device, the fluid transfer device and the control module are at least partially situated within the interior space of the protective housing; and

a fluid distribution member having an entry passage, the entry passage being in fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the first thermal module;

wherein the fluid distribution member is positioned within at least one of the seat back portion and the seat bottom portion of the seat assembly, and wherein thermally conditioned fluid entering the entry passage of the fluid distribution member is configured to be distributed toward a seated occupant of the seat assembly;

wherein the first thermal module can be installed in the seat assembly and can be properly operated without the need for an independent control unit that is physically separated from the protective housing.

21. The seat assembly of claim 20, further comprising a user input device, the user input device being operatively connected to the control module of the first thermal module.

22. The seat assembly of claim 20, further comprising a second thermal module, the second thermal module configured to provide thermally conditioned fluid to a different part of the seat assembly.

23. The seat assembly of claim 20, wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a Peltier circuit and the fluid transfer device comprises a radial fan.