Variable temperature pillow and heat pump

Abstract

A heat pump for use in a variable temperature pillow includes a housing with an inlet and a blower motor to draw in outside air to a two stage Peltier effect module that forms a sealed wall between a sub-cool side and a warm side of the housing. At the bottom of the housing are a pair of outlets and a condensate trap spanning across that facilitates condensate transfer from the cool side to the warm side for evaporation out of the warm side outlet. The heat pump also preferably includes a heat pipe from the warm side to the cool side to transfer heat and reheat the air (at a lower relative humidity) exiting through the cool outlet. An air conditioned pillowcase includes a pair of air impervious layers connected together forming a plenum with tubular spacer material inside and having a plurality of outlet vents around the perimeter. A multi-channel air duct connects the plenum to the heat pump, and further there is an optional noise cancellation system, both to minimize noise from operation of the heat pump.

1 . A variable temperature pillowcase for use with a heat pump and a pillow comprising: 
 a pair of fabric layers connected together to form a plenum containing a layer of tubular spacer material;    the pillowcase having an opening on one end sized to receive the conventional pillow below the tubular spacer layer; and,    a ducting means mounted to extend inside the plenum from the heat pump.    
   
   
       2 . The variable temperature pillowcase of  claim 1  further comprising a plurality of outlet vents around the perimeter of the plenum;  
   
   
       3 . The variable temperature pillowcase of  claim 1  wherein the ducting means has multiple channels.  
   
   
       4 . The variable temperature pillowcase of  claim 1  further comprising: 
 a noise cancellation system connected to the pillowcase comprising a microphone in communication with a processor in communication with a speaker for detecting a noise waveform and broadcasting a waveform 180 degrees out of phase with the noise waveform.    
   
   
       5 . The variable temperature pillowcase of  claim 1  further comprising a batting layer above the tubular spacer layer to enhance the user's comfort.  
   
   
       6 . The variable temperature pillow system comprising: 
 a pair of fabric layers connected together to form a plenum containing a layer of tubular spacer material and a plurality of outlet vents around the perimeter of the plenum;    the pillowcase having an opening on one end sized to receive a conventional pillow below the tubular spacer material; and,    a ducting means mounted to extend inside the plenum from the heat pump and the ducting means has multiple channels.    a batting layer above the tubular spacer material to enhance the user's comfort. and,    means releasably connected to the air ducting means for selectively cooling or heating a pressurized air stream.    
   
   
       7 . The variable temperature pillow system of  claim 6  further comprising: 
 a noise cancellation system connected to the pillowcase comprising a microphone in communication with a processor in communication with a speaker for detecting a noise waveform and broadcasting a waveform 180 degrees out of phase with the noise waveform a noise cancellation system connected to the pillowcase comprising a microphone in communication with a processor in communication with a speaker for detecting a noise waveform and broadcasting a waveform 180 degrees out of phase with the noise waveform.