US 8,893,329 B2Granted

Control schemes and features for climate-controlled beds

AssigneeGentherm Incorporated

InventorsDusko Petrovski, Barry Steele, Michael Brykalski, John Terech, David Marquette

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Abstract

A climate-conditioned bed includes an upper portion having at least a first climate zone and at least one fluid module associated with such a first climate zone. The fluid module comprises a fluid transfer device for selectively moving a fluid and a thermoelectric device for selectively heating or cooling a fluid. The bed additionally includes one or more control modules configured to regulate the operation of the fluid module, at least one input device configured to allow an occupant to select a setting or mode associated with the first climate zone and at least a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature associated with the first climate zone of the thermally-conditioned bed. In some embodiments, the fluid module is operatively connected to the control module. The control module is configured to adjust at least one operational parameter of the fluid module based on, at least in part, the setting or mode selected by an occupant using the at least one input device, and the temperature detected by the first temperature sensor.

Claims27

Dependent claims

A climate-conditioned bed comprising:

an upper portion having a first climate zone;
at least one fluid module associated with the first climate zone;
wherein the at least one fluid module comprises a fluid transfer device for selectively moving a fluid and a thermal conditioning device configured to selectively heat or cool a fluid;
at least one passageway positioned at least partially through an interior of the upper portion and placing the at least one fluid module in fluid communication with at least one fluid distribution member located on or near a top of the upper portion;
wherein fluid entering the at least one fluid distribution member is delivered above the upper portion along an area defined by the first climate zone;
at least one control module configured to regulate the operation of the at least one fluid module;
wherein the at least one fluid module is operatively connected to the at least one control module;
at least one input device configured to allow an occupant to select a desired climate controlled setting or mode associated with the first climate zone;
wherein the at least one input device is in data communication with the at least one control module, said at least one input device being configured to receive instructions from an occupant regarding the desired climate controlled setting or mode;
at least a first temperature sensor configured to detect a first temperature associated with a level of thermal conditioning occurring to fluid delivered to the first climate zone of the climate-conditioned bed;
and
at least one humidity sensor configured to detect a relative humidity of fluid passing through the at least one fluid module;
wherein, for a particular desired climate controlled setting or mode, the at least one control module is configured to adjust at least one operational parameter of the at least one fluid module based, at least in part, on the first temperature detected by the at least one first temperature sensor, the relative humidity detected by the at least one humidity sensor and a target comfort zone;
wherein the target comfort zone is based on the temperature and relative humidity of fluid thermally conditioned by the at least one fluid module and delivered to the at least one fluid distribution member;
and
wherein the at least one control module is further configured to adjust at least one operational parameter of the at least one fluid module to reduce the likelihood of condensate formation.

13 more elements

A climate-conditioned seating assembly comprising:

at least a first climate zone;
at least one fluid module associated with the first climate zone;
wherein the at least one fluid module is configured to selectively transfer and environmentally-condition a fluid;
a control module configured to regulate the operation of the at least one fluid module;
at least one temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of fluid entering the at least one fluid module;
at least one humidity sensor for detecting the relative humidity of fluid entering the at least one fluid module;
wherein the at least one fluid module is operatively connected to the control module;
at least one user input device configured to allow an occupant to select a desired environmental control setting or mode associated with the first climate zone;
wherein the at least one fluid module is configured to deliver fluids through at least one passageway of the seating assembly, into and through at least one fluid distribution member, and toward a top surface of said seating assembly, the at least one fluid distribution member comprising at least one layer positioned along a top of the seating assembly, wherein the at least one fluid distribution member is air permeable and configured to generally distribute fluid within the at least one fluid distribution member;
wherein, for a particular environmental control setting or mode, the at least one control module is configured to adjust at least one operational parameter of the at least one fluid module based, at least in part, on the first temperature detected by the at least one temperature sensor, the relative humidity detected by the at least one humidity sensor and a target comfort zone;
wherein the target comfort zone is based on the temperature and relative humidity of fluid environmentally conditioned by the at least one fluid module and delivered to the at least one fluid distribution member;
and
wherein the at least one control module is further configured to adjust at least one operational parameter of the at least one fluid module to reduce the likelihood of condensate formation.

10 more elements

A climate-conditioned bed assembly comprising:

a first climate zone and at least a second climate zone;
at least one first fluid module associated with the first climate zone;
at least one second fluid module associated with the second climate zone;
each of the at least one first fluid module and the at least one second fluid module comprising a fluid transfer device and a thermal conditioning device, wherein said fluid transfer device is configured to transfer fluids through the bed assembly, and wherein the thermal conditioning device is configured to selectively thermally-condition such fluids;
wherein the at least one first fluid module is configured to deliver fluids to the first climate zone, the first climate zone comprising at least one first fluid distribution member, the at least one first fluid distribution member comprising at least one layer positioned along a top of the bed assembly, wherein the at least one first fluid distribution member is air permeable and configured to generally distribute fluid within the at least one first fluid distribution member;
wherein the at least one second fluid module is configured to deliver fluids to the second climate zone, the second climate zone comprising at least one second fluid distribution member, the at least one second fluid distribution member comprising at least one layer positioned along a top of the bed assembly, wherein the at least one second fluid distribution member is air permeable and configured to generally distribute fluid within the at least one second fluid distribution member;
at least one control module configured to regulate the operation of the at least one first fluid module and the at least one second fluid module;
wherein each of the fluid modules is operatively connected to the at least one control module;
and
at least one occupant input device configured to allow an occupant to select a climate control setting or mode for at least one of the first climate zone and the second climate zone;
wherein the at least one control module is configured to adjust at least one operational parameter of at least one of the fluid modules based, at least in part, on the climate control setting or mode selected by an occupant, a temperature of fluid entering the fluid modules detected by at least one temperature sensor and a relative humidity of fluid entering the fluid modules detected by at least one humidity sensor;
wherein the control module is configured to adjust at least one operational parameter of at least one of the fluid modules in order to maintain the desired climate control setting or mode in at least one of the first climate zone and the second climate zone along an upper portion of the bed assembly, and wherein the at least one control module is further configured to adjust at least one operational parameter of the at least one fluid module to reduce the likelihood of condensate formation;
and
wherein the first climate zone is configured to be controlled independently of the second climate zone.

11 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/775,347Filed 6 May 2010 · us provisional application
Priority: 6 May 2009
Published: US 2011/0115635 A119 May 2011
Granted: 25 Nov 2014
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification14 codes

A47C 21/044
For ventilating or cooling: with active means, e.g. by using air blowers or liquid pumps
A47C 7/744
For ventilating or cooling: with active means, e.g. by using air blowers or liquid pumps
A47C 7/748
For ventilation, heating or cooling: for heating
A47C 21/048
Devices for ventilating, cooling or heating: for heating