Climate controlled beds and methods of operating the same

Abstract

A climate controlled seat, bed or other assembly configured to receive a person includes a blower and two or more thermoelectric devices or other conditioning fluid modules. According to one embodiment of an operational scheme, a control system for the seat or bed is configured to continuously discharge air from the blower through the thermoelectric devices. In one arrangement, the thermoelectric devices are sequenced between an activated and a deactivated position. Consequently, the desired cooling and/or cooling effect can be maintained while reducing energy consumption of the climate control system.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A climate controlled bed assembly configured to receive an occupant, the bed assembly comprising:
 a support structure that defines an interior space and includes at least one opening into the interior space;   an air permeable pad positioned generally above the support structure and comprising a top surface configured to generally face the occupant;   at least one blower positioned within the interior space;   at least two thermoelectric devices positioned within the interior space;   a discharge header positioned within the interior space, the discharge header placing the at least one blower in fluid communication with the at least two thermoelectric devices;   an air distribution device downstream of each thermoelectric device, the air distribution device configured to distribute a volume of air from the thermoelectric device under the air permeable pad and toward the occupant;   a control system that comprises a control module configured to operate the at least two thermoelectric devices and at least one blower according to a control scheme;   a user interface operatively coupled to the control system and configured to receive user inputs;   a power source operatively coupled to the at least one blower, the least two thermoelectric devices and the control system; and   wherein the control scheme is configured to selectively regulate both the thermoelectric devices and the blower to deliver a volume of air through the discharge header, to the at least two thermoelectric devices to the air distribution system, through the air permeable pad and to the occupant.   
     
     
         2 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the control scheme is configured to have at least one thermoelectric device activated at a time to deliver conditioned air to the air distribution system through the air permeable pad and to the occupant. 
     
     
         3 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the control scheme is configured operate the at least one blower without operating the at least two thermoelectric devices to provide ambient air to the air distribution system through the air permeable pad and to the occupant. 
     
     
         4 . The assembly as in  claim 1 , further comprising a housing that encloses the control system for the at least one blower and the at least two thermoelectric devices. 
     
     
         5 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the control scheme is based at least in part on a user selected time feature wherein the blowers and/or the thermoelectric units are turned off after a period of time selected by the user. 
     
     
         6 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the distribution system comprises recesses formed on a lower surface of the air permeable pad. 
     
     
         7 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the control scheme is based at least in part on a user-selected mode of operation that includes a temperature mode and a time setting by the user. 
     
     
         8 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the user-selected mode of operation comprises a plurality of temperature settings. 
     
     
         9 . The assembly of  claim 7 , wherein the user-selected mode of operation comprises a desired temperature value. 
     
     
         10 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the user interface allows the user to select a temperature and/or time setting for a select zone of the device. 
     
     
         11 . The assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the control scheme is based at least in part on a reading from at least one sensor. 
     
     
         12 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises at least one of a group comprising a temperature sensor, a humidity sensor and a condensation sensor. 
     
     
         13 . The assembly of  claim 12 , wherein the temperature sensor is configured to detect the temperature of a volume of air downstream of the thermoelectric device for closed loop control. 
     
     
         14 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the sensor comprises a pressure sensor, the pressure sensor configured to recognize when a user is positioned on a portion of the seat assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The assembly of  claim 11 , wherein the temperature sensor is configured to detect ambient temperature 
     
     
         16 . A method of delivering conditioned air to a climate controlled bed, the method comprising:
 delivering a volume of air into a fluid conduit using a blower;   distributing the volume of air to at least two branches;   conveying a volume of air directed into each branch through a thermoelectric device;   delivering the volume of air from the thermoelectric device through a distribution system positioned under an air permeable pad and then through the air permeable pad to a user situated on the bed; and   controlling the thermoelectric device to regulate blower and the temperature of air entering the fluid distribution device.   
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 16 , further comprising measuring the temperature of air exiting the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the activating or deactivating of thermoelectric device is at least partially regulated by the measured temperature of the air exiting the thermoelectric device. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 17 , wherein the activating or deactivating of thermoelectric device is at least partially regulated by the measured temperature of the ambient environment.