Individual HVAC climate control seats

Abstract

An automotive vehicle includes a seat assembly with one or more seat outlets for exhausting conditioned air to an occupant seat therein. A HVAC assembly operates in a warm-up mode and a cool-down for generating heated and cooled air to achieve a predetermined air temperature. An air selection module controls airflow from the HVAC assembly to air ducts for delivering air from the air selection module to the seat assembly. At least one seat valve moveable between open and closed positions controls air flow from the air selection module to one or more seat ducts. A purge valve moveable between open and closed positions vents air from the air selection module. The vehicle further includes a control system for closing the purge valve and opening at least one seat valve in response to the air temperature of the air from the HVAC assembly being at least the predetermined air temperature.

1 . An automotive vehicle comprising;
 a body defining a cabin,   a seat assembly disposed in said occupant cabin for holding an occupant and including at least one seat outlet for delivering air upon the occupant,   a temperature selector operable by the occupant for selecting a predetermined air temperature,   a HVAC assembly operable to achieve said predetermined air temperature in at least one of a warm-up mode in response to a warm-up signal for generating heated air and a cool-down mode in response to a cool-down signal for generating cooled air,   an air temperature sensor disposed downstream from said HVAC assembly for sensing an air temperature of the air from said HVAC assembly,   an air selection module for controlling airflow from said HVAC assembly,   an HVAC duct for delivering air from said HVAC assembly to said air selection module,   at least one seat duct for delivering air from the air selection module to the seat assembly,   at least one seat valve moveable between an open position for allowing air through said at least one seat duct to said seat assembly and a closed position for blocking airflow through said at least one seat duct to said seat assembly,   a purge valve moveable between an open position for venting air from said air selection module and a closed position to block airflow therethrough,   a control system being in signal communication with said air temperature sensor and said temperature selector and said air selection module for opening said purge valve while closing said at least one seat valve in response to said air temperature being less than said predetermined air temperature and for closing said purge valve while opening said at least one seat valve to deliver air from said air selection module to said at least one seat duct in response to said air temperature being at least said predetermined air temperature.   
   
   
       2 . The automotive vehicle as set forth in  claim 1  wherein said control system includes a HVAC controller being in signal communication with said air temperature sensor for receiving said air temperature and said air selection module for outputting a plurality of control signals to control said air selection module and being in signal communication with said HVAC assembly for outputting said warm-up mode signal in response to the occupant selecting said warm-up mode and said cool-down mode signal in response to the occupant selecting said cool-down mode. 
   
   
       3 . The automotive vehicle as set forth in  claim 2  wherein said seat assembly includes a seat bottom and a seat back with each of said seat bottom and said seat back including said plurality of seat outlets for delivering air to the occupant. 
   
   
       4 . The automotive vehicle as set forth in  claim 3  wherein said seat bottom includes a seat bottom inlet for receiving air and for delivering air within said seat bottom to said plurality of seat outlets of said seat bottom and wherein said seat back includes a seat back inlet for receiving air and for delivering air within said seat back to said plurality of seat outlets of said seat back. 
   
   
       5 . The automotive vehicle as set forth in  claim 4  further comprising a seat bottom duct extending from said air selection module to said seat bottom inlet for delivering air from said air selection module to said seat bottom inlet and a seat back duct extending from said air selection module to said seat back inlet for delivering air from said air selection module to said seat back inlet. 
   
   
       6 . The automotive vehicle as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said air selection module includes said seat valve disposed between said air selection module and each of said seat bottom duct and said seat back duct for opening and closing in response to at least of said plurality of control signals generated by said HVAC controller to regulate the delivery of air to each of said seat bottom and said seat back ducts. 
   
   
       7 . The automotive vehicle as set forth in  claim 5  wherein said air selection module includes a seat bottom valve disposed between said seat bottom duct and said air selection module for opening and closing in response to at least one of said plurality of control signals generated by said HVAC controller to regulate the delivery of air to said seat bottom duct. 
   
   
       8 . The automotive vehicle as set forth in  claim 7  wherein said air selection module includes a seat back valve disposed between said seat back duct and said air selection module for opening and closing in response to at least one of said plurality of control signals generated by said HVAC controller to regulate the delivery of air to said seat back duct. 
   
   
       9 . The automotive vehicle as set forth in  claim 8  wherein said plurality of control signals output by said HVAC controller include a purge open signal for opening said purge valve and a seat bottom close signal for closing said seat bottom valve and a seat back close signal for closing seat back valve wherein said HVAC controller outputs said purge open signal and said seat bottom close signal and said seat back close signal in response to said air temperature being less than said predetermined air temperature. 
   
   
       10 . The automotive vehicle as set forth in  claim 9  wherein said plurality of control signals output by said HVAC controller include a purge close signal for closing said purge valve and a seat bottom open signal for opening said seat bottom valve and a seat back open signal for opening said seat back valve wherein said HVAC controller outputs said purge close signal and said seat bottom open signal and said seat back open signal in response to at least one of said air temperature being at least said predetermined air temperature. 
   
   
       11 . The automotive vehicle as set forth in  claim 2  further comprising a heat element assembly disposed in said seat assembly for heating said seat assembly to warm the occupant. 
   
   
       12 . The automotive vehicle as set forth in  claim 11  wherein said heat element assembly includes a power supply for generating current and a plurality of heating elements connected to said power supply and being disposed within each of said seat bottom and said seat back for dissipating heat in response to the current generated by said power supply. 
   
   
       13 . The automotive vehicle as set forth in  claim 12  further comprising at least one seat temperature sensor disposed within said seat assembly for sensing a seat temperature (T SEAT ) of the said seat assembly and for outputting a seat temperature signal in response to sensing the seat temperature (T SEAT ). 
   
   
       14 . The automotive vehicle as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said at least one seat temperature includes a first seat temperature sensor disposed in said seat bottom and second seat temperature sensor disposed in said seat back. 
   
   
       15 . The automotive vehicle as set forth in  claim 13  wherein said HVAC controller is in signal communication with said at least one seat temperature sensor and said power supply of said heat element assembly for outputting an energizing signal to switch on said power supply in response to the occupant selecting said warm-up mode for delivering the current to said plurality of heating elements and for outputting a de-energizing signal to switch off said power supply in response to at least one of the occupant selecting said cool-down mode and the seat temperature (T SEAT ) of said seat assembly is at least a predetermined seat temperature and said air temperature being at least said predetermined air temperature. 
   
   
       16 . An automotive vehicle comprising;
 a body defining a occupant cabin,   a seat assembly disposed in said occupant cabin and including a seat bottom and a seat back for holding an occupant,   each of said seat bottom and said seat back including a plurality of seat outlets for delivering air to the occupant seated in said seat assembly,   said seat bottom having a seat bottom inlet for receiving air and for delivering air within said seat bottom to said to said plurality of seat outlets of said seat bottom,   said seat back having a seat back inlet for receiving air and for delivering air within said seat back to said plurality of seat outlets of said seat back,   a temperature selector operable by the occupant for selecting a predetermined air temperature,   a HVAC assembly supported by said body operable to achieve said predetermined air temperature in at least one of a warm-up mode in response to a warm-up signal for generating heated air and a cool-down mode in response to a cool-down signal for generating cooled air,   an air temperature sensor disposed downstream from said HVAC assembly for sensing an air temperature of the air from said HVAC assembly,   an air selection module supported by said body and disposed beneath said seat assembly for controlling airflow from said HVAC assembly,   an HVAC duct extending from said HVAC assembly to said air selection module for delivering air from said HVAC assembly to said air selection module,   a seat bottom duct extending from said air selection module to said seat bottom inlet for delivering the air from said air selection module to said seat bottom inlet,   a seat back duct extending from said air selection module to said seat back inlet for delivering the air from said air selection module to said seat back inlet,   a heat element assembly disposed in said seat assembly for heating said seat assembly in response to an energizing signal to warm the occupant,   said heat element assembly including a power supply for generating current and a plurality of heating elements connected to said power supply and disposed within each of said seat bottom and said seat back for dissipating heat in response to the current generated by said power supply,   said heat element assembly including a seat temperature sensor disposed within said seat assembly for sensing a seat temperature of the said seat assembly and for outputting a seat temperature signal in response to sensing said seat temperature,   said air selection module including at least one seat valve moveable between an open position for allowing air through said at least one seat duct and a closed position for blocking airflow through said at least one seat duct,   said at least one seat valve including a seat bottom valve disposed between said seat bottom duct and said air selection module for opening in response to a seat bottom open signal and for closing in response to a seat bottom close signal,   said at least one seat valve including a seat back valve disposed between said seat back duct and said air selection module for opening in response to a seat back open signal and for closing in response to a seat back close signal,   said air selection module including a purge duct extending along said body and beneath said seat assembly for exhausting air from said air selection module and for diverting air away from said at least one seat duct,   said air selection module including a purge valve moveable between an open position for venting air from said air selection module and a closed position for blocking airflow therethrough,   said purge valve disposed between said purge duct and said air selection module for opening in response to a purge open signal and for closing in response to said purge close signal to control the delivery of air to said purge duct,   a control system being in signal communication with said air temperature sensor and said temperature selector for opening said purge valve while closing said at least one seat valve in response to said air temperature being less than said predetermined air temperature and for closing said purge valve to block airflow through said purge vent while opening said at least one seat valve and to deliver air from said air selection module to said at least one seat duct in response to said air temperature being at least said predetermined air temperature,   said control system including a HVAC controller being in signal communication with said HVAC assembly for outputting said warm-up signal in response to the occupant selecting said warm-up mode and for outputting said cool-down signal in response to the occupant selecting said cool-down mode,   said HVAC controller being in signal communication with said temperature selector for receiving said predetermined air temperature,   said HVAC controller being in signal communication with said air selection module for outputting a purge open signal and a seat bottom close signal and a seat back close signal in response to said air temperature being less than said predetermined air temperature and for outputting a purge close signal and a seat bottom open signal and a seat back open signal in response to said air temperature being at least said predetermined air temperature,   said HVAC controller being in signal communication with said seat temperature sensor and said power supply of said heat element assembly for outputting a energizing signal to switch on said power supply in response to the occupant selecting said warm-up mode and for outputting a de-energizing signal to switch off said power supply in response to at least one of said air temperature being at least said predetermined air temperature and said seat temperature being at least a predetermined seat temperature and the occupant selecting said cool-down mode.   
   
   
       17 . A method of heating and cooling an occupant located in a occupant cabin of an automotive vehicle including a seat assembly having seat outlets for delivering air existing at a predetermined air temperature to the occupant seated therein and having a heat element assembly disposed in the seat assembly for emitting heat in response to current for heating the seat assembly and including a temperature selector operable by the occupant for selecting the predetermined air temperature and including a HVAC assembly for generating air to achieve the predetermined air temperature and being operable in at least one of a warm-up mode selectable by the occupant for generating heated air in response to a warm-up signal and a cool-down mode selectable by the occupant for generating cooled air in response to a cool-down signal and including an air selection module having a purge vent for venting air from the air selection module comprising the steps of;
 selecting a predetermined air temperature,   generating air from the HVAC assembly for achieving the predetermined air temperature,   flowing the air generated in said generating step to the air selection module,   sensing an air temperature of the air generated in said generating step,   venting the air generated in said generating step from the air selection module while blocking airflow to the seat assembly in response to the air temperature sensed in said sensing step being less than the predetermined air temperature selected in said selecting step.   
   
   
       18 . A method as set forth in  claim 17  further comprising the step of delivering the air from the air selection module to the seat assembly to deliver air from the seat outlets in response to the air temperature sensed in said sensing step being at least the predetermined air temperature selected in said selecting step. 
   
   
       19 . A method as set forth in  claim 18  further comprising the step of inhibiting airflow to the purge vent while delivering air to the seat assembly in response to the air temperature sensed in said sensing step being at least the predetermined air temperature selected in said selecting step. 
   
   
       20 . A method as set forth in  claim 17  further comprising the steps of choosing one of the warm-up mode and the cool-down mode of the HVAC assembly and heating the seat assembly in response to the occupant choosing said warm-up mode. 
   
   
       21 . A method as set forth in  claim 20  wherein said step of heating the seat assembly includes energizing the heat element assembly for transferring heat from the heat element assembly to the seat assembly. 
   
   
       22 . A method as set forth in  claim 21  further comprising the step of de-energizing the heat element assembly in response to one of the air temperature being sensed in said sensing step being at least the predetermined air temperature selected in said selecting step and the occupant choosing the cool-down mode. 
   
   
       23 . A method as set forth in  claim 22  further comprising the steps of detecting a seat temperature of the seat assembly and de-energizing the heat element assembly in response to the seat assembly being at least a predetermined seat temperature. 
   
   
       24 . A method of heating and cooling an occupant located in a occupant cabin of an automotive vehicle including a seat assembly having seat outlets for delivering air having a predetermined temperature to the occupant seated therein and having a heat element assembly disposed in the seat assembly for emitting heat in response to current to heat the seat assembly and including a temperature selector operable by the occupant for selecting the predetermined air temperature and including a HVAC assembly for generating air to achieve the predetermined air temperature and being operable in at least one of a warm-up mode selectable by the occupant for generating heated air in response to a warm-up signal and a cool-down mode selectable by the occupant for generating cooled air in response to a cool-down signal and including an air selection module having a purge vent for venting air from the air selection module comprising the steps of;
 choosing one of the warm-up mode and the cool-down mode of the HVAC assembly,   selecting a predetermined air temperature,   generating at least one of heated air and cooled air from the HVAC assembly for achieving the predetermined air temperature,   flowing the air generated in said generating step to the air selection module,   sensing an air temperature of the air generated in said generating step,   venting the air generated in said generating step from the air selection module while blocking airflow to the seat assembly in response to the air temperature sensed in said sensing step being less than the predetermined air temperature selected in said selecting step,   said method further comprising the step of delivering the air generated in said generating step from the air selection module to the seat assembly while inhibiting airflow to the purge vent in response to the air temperature being at least the predetermined air temperature selected in said selecting step,   said method further comprising the step of electrically heating the seat assembly in response to the occupant choosing said warm-up mode,   said step of electrically heating the seat assembly further defined as energizing the heat element assembly for transferring heat from the heat element assembly to the seat assembly,   said method further comprising the step of de-energizing the heat element assembly in response to one of the air temperature sensed in said sensing step being at least the predetermined temperature selected in said selecting step and the occupant choosing said cool-down mode,   said method further comprising the step of detecting a seat temperature of said seat assembly,   said step of de-energizing the heat element assembly further defined as de-energizing the heat element assembly in response to said seat assembly being at least a predetermined seat temperature.