Conductive convective climate controlled seat
AssigneeGentherm Incorporated
InventorsMasahiko Inaba, Keith Alan Lindeman, John D. Lofy
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A climate controlled assembly includes a support member having a first surface configured to support an occupant, a channel within the support, the channel extending from the first surface through a portion of the support, a thermoelectric device positioned within the channel, a heat exchanger conductively coupled to a first side of the thermoelectric device, the heat exchanger positioned within the channel and a flexible conductive member conductively coupled to a second side of the thermoelectric device, a portion of the flexible conductive member extending along the first surface of the support member.
Claims24
An apparatus for controlling climate of a top portion of a seat cushion, the apparatus comprising:
- the seat cushion having the top portion configured to support an occupant;
- a thermoelectric device configured to transfer heat between a main side of the thermoelectric device and a waste side of the thermoelectric device, the thermoelectric device comprising a plurality of semiconductor elements;
- a flexible member comprising a thermally conductive portion in thermal communication with the main side of the thermoelectric device, the thermally conductive portion configured to conductively cool or heat the top portion of the seat cushion;
- and
- a blower configured to move air through the top portion to provide conditioning to the top portion through convection,
- wherein the blower is configured to move air over the waste side that is moved through the top portion configured to support the occupant.
A climate controlled assembly comprising:
- a support member having a support surface configured to support an occupant;
- a thermally conductive flexible member extending along the support surface;
- a thermoelectric device comprising a main side and a waste side, the thermoelectric device comprising a plurality of semiconductor elements, the thermoelectric device configured to transfer heat between the main and waste sides, the main side in thermal communication with the thermally conductive flexible member to provide a cooling or heating effect to the support surface through conduction;
- and
- an air channel in the support member configured to direct air through the support surface,
- wherein the air channel is configured to move air over the waste side that is moved through the support surface.
A climate controlled assembly comprising:
- a support member having a support surface configured to support an occupant;
- a thermoelectric device comprising a main side and a waste side, the thermoelectric device configured to transfer heat between the main and waste sides;
- a heat transfer device in thermal communication with the thermoelectric device to provide a cooling or heating effect, the heat transfer device comprising at least one of graphite or graphene;
- and
- a blower configured to move air through the support surface,
- wherein the blower is configured to move air over the waste side that is moved through the support surface.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.