Smart Adaptive Personalized Wearable Thermal Management System

Abstract

The invention relates to a personalized adaptive thermal management system which includes a heat exchanger, a thermoelectric module, and a wearable interface. The wearable interface is in communication with a contact plate on one side of the thermoelectric module and the heat exchanger is in communication with a contact plate on another side of the thermoelectric module. The thermoelectric module is connected to a user interface which allows for efficient control of the thermoelectric module to enhance efficiency. The wearable interface is an article of clothing such as a vest, hat, helmet, collar, shirt, backpack, or other item and the system leverages data regarding the user and the environment to provide enhanced performance.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A personalized adaptive thermal management system comprising:
 a heat exchanger;   a thermoelectric module in communication with the heat exchanger;   a wearable interface in communication with the thermoelectric module; and   a user interface in communication with the thermoelectric module, wherein the user interface enables control of at least one temperature effect provided by the wearable interface.   
     
     
         2 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 1 , further comprising a first contact plate disposed between the thermoelectric module and the heat exchanger;
 wherein the first contact plate and thermoelectric module permit heat transfer between the heat exchanger and the thermoelectric module; and   a second contact plate disposed between the wearable interface and the thermoelectric module;   wherein the second contact plate and the thermoelectric module permit heat transfer between the wearable interface and the thermoelectric module.   
     
     
         3 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is an air-cooled heat-exchanger. 
     
     
         4 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a multiphase heat exchanger. 
     
     
         5 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a single-phase heat exchanger. 
     
     
         6 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 1 , wherein the heat exchanger is a phase change heat exchanger. 
     
     
         7 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 6 , wherein the phase change heat exchanger comprises a phase change material (PCM). 
     
     
         8 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 7 , wherein the PCM comprises ice. 
     
     
         9 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 2 , wherein the wearable interface further comprises at least one sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 9 , wherein the at least one sensor measures at least one of motion, temperature, acceleration, humidity, and light intensity. 
     
     
         11 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 10 , further comprising a processor, wherein the processor is connected to the at least one sensor and the thermoelectric module, and wherein processor is configured to utilize information from the at least one sensor to control the thermoelectric module. 
     
     
         12 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 11 , wherein processor is configured to use the information from the at least one sensor to calculate a desired voltage to be applied to the thermoelectric module. 
     
     
         13 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 12 , wherein the wearable interface comprises a vest. 
     
     
         14 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 12 , wherein the wearable interface comprises a backpack. 
     
     
         15 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 13 , the vest further comprising an integrated water dispenser system, air circulation system, sensors, and customizable cooling channels for dynamic temperature regulation. 
     
     
         16 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 15 , wherein the water dispenser system includes a reservoir or bladder for holding water, and a network of tubes or channels for distributing the water evenly throughout the vest. 
     
     
         17 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 15 , wherein the air circulation system includes tubes integrated into the vest and connected to an air pump, and further comprising a plurality of openings disposed throughout the vest and configured to allow air flow to evaporate water from a wet vest. 
     
     
         18 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 12 , wherein the processor is configured to utilize sensor data to monitor a user's physiological parameters and at least one environmental data to dynamically adjust a system cooling mode. 
     
     
         19 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 17 , wherein the sensors monitor a user's body temperature, ambient temperature and humidity, and adjust at least one of a water flow and air flow based on the monitoring. 
     
     
         20 . The personalized adaptive thermal management system of  claim 12 , the system further comprising an alarm system to alert a user or a caregiver for the user.