Multi-zone temperature modulation system for bed or blanket
AssigneeSleep Solutions Inc.
InventorsTara Youngblood, Todd Youngblood, Matthew Holling
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A temperature modulation system for a bed, blanket, or other furniture includes a fluid for moderating temperature change, a number of conduit circuits for directing the fluid through respective zones, a control unit including a thermoelectric device for modulating temperature of the fluid, and a pump. Each of the conduit circuits selectively and independently directs fluid through its respective zone in order to produce a temperature within the zone that is independent of the temperature outside the zone. The system also includes an arrangement of one or more zones in an arrangement in which the control unit is programmed to vary the zone temperature over time according to a schedule.
Claims15
A system for heating or cooling a fluid, comprising:
- a control unit comprising a first section and a second section;
- wherein the first section of the control unit comprises a fluid reservoir connected to a pump;
- wherein the pump is disposed downstream of the fluid reservoir and upstream of a thermoelectric heating/cooling device, the pump being operable to move the fluid from the fluid reservoir into the thermoelectric heating/cooling device that is thermally coupled to the fluid;
- wherein the thermoelectric heating/cooling device includes first and second opposed heat-exchange sides and a set of current-conducting nodes that, when energized, cause the device to heat and/or cool the fluid;
- wherein the second section of the control unit comprises a heat sink connected to the thermoelectric heating/cooling device and a fan;
- wherein the fan generates an air path over the heat sink;
- and
- wherein a partition separates the first section from the second section, such that the air path generated by the fan does not intersect the fluid reservoir or the thermoelectric heating/cooling device.
A system for heating or cooling a fluid, comprising:
- a control unit comprising a first section and a second section;
- a thermally-regulated article connected to the control unit by tubing and configured to receive the fluid from and return the fluid to the control unit via the tubing;
- wherein the first section of the control unit comprises a fluid reservoir connected to an accumulator;
- wherein the accumulator is connected to a pump;
- wherein the pump is disposed downstream of the accumulator and upstream from a thermoelectric heating/cooling device, and the pump is operable to move the fluid from the accumulator into the thermoelectric heating/cooling device that is thermally coupled to the fluid;
- wherein the thermoelectric heating/cooling device includes first and second opposed heat-exchange sides and a set of current-conducting nodes that, when energized, cause the device to heat and/or cool the fluid;
- wherein the second section of the control unit comprises a heat sink connected to the thermoelectric heating/cooling device and a fan;
- and
- wherein the accumulator is operable to receive the fluid returning from the thermally-regulated article.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.