Vehicle interior panel with thermoelectric air conditioning

Abstract

A vehicle interior panel includes a thermoelectric air conditioner capable of providing conditioned air locally within a passenger compartment of a vehicle. Air is drawn from the passenger compartment through an intake port on the panel, locally conditioned along the back side of the panel by a thermoelectric device, and returned to the passenger compartment through an exhaust port on the panel. Additional air flows along the exhaust side of the thermoelectric device and may be exhausted to the exterior of the passenger compartment. The panel may be an inner door panel, and the exhaust side air is exhausted from the inner door panel into a B-pillar of the vehicle body.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention generally relates to vehicle interior panels, and more particularly, to vehicle interior panels having an air conditioning function. Background Art

[0002] Conventional vehicle HVAC systems rely on a central blower train to circulate air in the passenger cabin. Air is drawn from outside the vehicle or from within the passenger cabin and flows along a central heat exchanger to heat or cool the air before delivering it to the passenger cabin. The central heat exchanger is typically a heater core through which hot vehicle engine coolant flows and an evaporator coil through which a compressible refrigerant flows. The problem with such systems is that they have limited ability to heat or cool areas of the passenger cabin that are far from the central heat exchanger and blower, such as the rear seating area of ​​a front-engine vehicle. In order to effectively reach remote areas of the passenger cabin, the volumetric flow of the blower must be much higher than that required to reach the front seating area alone. The problem has become more complicated with the advent of electric and hybrid vehicles, where greater conservation of electrical energy is necessary and where conventional engine-driven air conditioning compressors and engine cooling systems may not be present.

[0003] Dong et al. KR 2015-0113630 discloses a vehicle cabin heating and cooling system that discharges air along surfaces that are contacted by vehicle occupants, such as armrests, shift knobs, and window sills. One example includes a supplemental heat exchange module placed in a vehicle door. However, like the above-mentioned conventional systems, Dong's system relies primarily on the central blower of the vehicle's HVAC system to force air from the front of the vehicle to the rear of the cabin. Summary of the invention

[0004] An illustrative vehicle interior panel includes a thermoelectric air conditioner configured to move air from a passenger cabin along a first side of a thermoelectric device and change the temperature of the air before discharging the air back into the passenger cabin. The thermoelectric air conditioner is further configured to move additional air along an opposing second side of the thermoelectric device and discharge the additional air to a location outside the passenger cabin. The amount of air moved along the first side and the amount of air moved along the second side can be independently controlled.

[0005] In various embodiments, a vehicle interior panel includes a first air mover operable to move air along a first side of a thermoelectric device and a second air mover operable to move additional air along a second side of the thermoelectric device.

[0006] In various embodiments, the vehicle interior panel includes a conditioning duct and a separate exhaust duct along which air moves along a first side of the thermoelectric device and along which additional air moves along a second side of the thermoelectric device.

[0007] In various embodiments, the vehicle interior panel includes an intake port through which air enters the conditioning duct from the passenger cabin and an exhaust port through which air is discharged from the conditioning duct back to the passenger cabin.

[0008] In various embodiments, the vehicle interior panel includes an intake port through which additional air enters the exhaust duct and an exhaust port through which additional air is discharged from the exhaust duct to a location outside the passenger cabin.

[0009] In various embodiments, the additional air moving along the second side of the thermoelectric device is drawn from the passenger cabin.

[0010] In various embodiments, the location exterior to the passenger compartment is within a hollow portion of a structural member of the vehicle body.

[0011] In various embodiments, the panel is an inner door panel and the location outside the passenger compartment is within a hollow portion of a B-pillar of the vehicle body.

[0012] In various embodiments, the vehicle interior panel includes a temperature sensor positioned downstream of the thermoelectric device to sense the temperature of the air before it is discharged back into the passenger compartment.

[0013] In various implementations, the thermoelectric air conditioner is configured to communicate with a controller that receives air temperature information from the air conditioner and controls the air conditioner based on the air temperature information.

[0014] In various embodiments, the controller receives temperature setting value information and controls the air conditioner based on the temperature setting value information.

[0015] In various embodiments, the thermoelectric device includes a first heat sink on a first side and a second heat sink on a second side. The first heat sink extends into a conditioning duct having opposite ends with respective ports connecting the conditioning duct and the passenger compartment. The second heat sink extends into an exhaust duct such that the conditioning duct and the exhaust duct are interconnected by the thermoelectric device.

[0016] In various embodiments, the thermoelectric air conditioner includes a regulating duct, a first air mover, an exhaust duct, and a second air mover. The regulating duct has an intake end and an exhaust end. The first air mover is positioned along the regulating duct to draw air from the passenger cabin through an intake port at the intake end, move air along a first radiator of a thermoelectric device positioned in the regulating duct, and discharge the air back to the passenger cabin through an exhaust port at the exhaust end. The exhaust duct also has an intake end and an exhaust end. The second air mover is positioned along the exhaust duct to draw additional air through an intake port at the intake end of the exhaust duct, move additional air along a second radiator of the thermoelectric device positioned in the exhaust duct, and discharge additional air through an exhaust port at the exhaust end of the exhaust duct. The first air mover and the second air mover can be controlled separately.

[0017] In various embodiments, air drawn through an intake port at the intake end of the exhaust duct of the air conditioner is drawn from the passenger cabin.

[0018] In various embodiments, the vehicle inner panel is an inner door panel, and an exhaust port at an exhaust end of an exhaust duct of the air conditioner is formed through a side wall of the door panel.

[0019] It is contemplated that the features listed above may be combined with any other feature or features of the above-described embodiments or features described below and / or in the drawings, except where the features are incompatible. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] The following will be Figure 1 Illustrative embodiments are described below, wherein like reference numerals refer to like elements and in the accompanying drawings:

[0021] Figure 1 is an inside view of an open vehicle door including an exemplary vehicle interior panel including a thermoelectric air conditioner;

[0022] Figure 2 It is a three-dimensional picture of a thermoelectric air conditioner without hidden decorative parts;

[0023] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 An exploded view of a thermoelectric air conditioner; and

[0024] Figure 4 is a vertical cross-sectional view taken through a thermoelectric air conditioner showing the air intake port along the map pocket of the inner door panel and the exhaust port along the upper portion of the panel. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] Described below is a vehicle interior panel that is capable of providing conditioned air locally within a vehicle cabin. Air can be drawn from the cabin through a portion of the panel, conditioned by a thermoelectric device along the back of the panel, and discharged back into the cabin through the same panel. Additional and independently controllable air can flow along the exhaust side of the thermoelectric device to be discharged to the outside of the cabin. In the following example, the panel is an inner door panel, and the air on the exhaust side is discharged from the inner door panel within the B-pillar of the vehicle body. However, the following teachings apply to other vehicle interior panels, such as instrument panels, seat panels, roof panels, steering wheel panels, console panels, etc., and the air on the exhaust side can be discharged elsewhere, such as outside the vehicle or to different parts of the vehicle when heating or cooling is required.

[0026] Figure 1 1 is a view of the inside of an open vehicle door 10, which includes an exemplary vehicle interior panel 12, including a trim 14 and a thermoelectric air conditioner 16. The vehicle door 10 includes a structural frame of metal or composite material, the interior panel 12 is attached to one side of the structural frame of the metal or composite material, and the exterior body panel is attached to the opposite side of the metal or composite material. The door 10 is attached to the structure of the vehicle, also known as the body-in-white (BIW), by hinges. Figure 1 The door 10 is a rear door attached to a B-pillar 18 of the vehicle body. The B-pillar is a structural member extending between the floor and roof of the vehicle body and between the front and rear door openings of the vehicle body. On a vehicle with front-hinged doors, the front side of the rear door may be hinged to one side of the B-pillar, such as Figure 1 As shown, the rear side of the front door can be latched to the opposite side of the B-pillar.

[0027] In this example, a thermoelectric air conditioner 16 is located in a hollow space between the trim 14 and the outer door panel. Utility components, such as window regulators, speakers, latch mechanisms, wiring, etc., are also housed in this hollow space. Thermoelectric air conditioner 16 is located along the back side of the trim 14, which is opposite to the trim side 20 that faces and defines a portion of the passenger cabin when the door is closed. Air conditioner 16 may be attached to one or both of the trim 14 and the structural portion of the door 10 by fasteners or any other suitable means.

[0028] The trim 14 of the panel 12 may be a multi-layered piece including, for example, an injection molded substrate that generally defines the shape of the panel, and one or more overlying decorative coverings that provide an aesthetic look and feel to the panel 12. The trim 14 conceals the hollow interior of the door 10 and its contents from view, and may itself be constructed as one or more pieces that are assembled together. Figure 1The decorative member 14 is a bottom decorative member that extends vertically between the bottom side of the door 10 and the bottom of the window, and extends longitudinally between the front and rear sides of the door. The upper decorative member can be coordinated with the window or made into one piece with the bottom decorative member.

[0029] Central to the operation of the thermoelectric air conditioner 16 is the thermoelectric device 22. Thermoelectric device 22 is a solid-state electrically driven component that operates according to the Peltier effect, in which heat flow is generated at a junction between certain different types of materials, which are usually semiconductors, when an electric current passes through the junction. The direction of the heat flow depends on the direction of the current passing through the junction. When a DC voltage is applied, one side of the thermoelectric device (or TED) thus rises in temperature, while the temperature of the opposite side drops. When the polarity of the DC voltage is reversed, the heating side and the cooling side are also reversed. TED 22 does not require a liquid / vapor refrigerant, compressor, condenser or evaporator, and can therefore be located anywhere a DC voltage can be used to drive TED 22.

[0030] The thermoelectric air conditioner 16 is configured to move air (A) from the vehicle cabin along a first side of a thermoelectric device 22 to change the temperature of the air before discharging it back into the cabin as conditioned air (C). Here, "conditioning" means heating or cooling relative to the temperature of the air before moving along the TED 22, and an "air conditioner" is thus an air heater and / or air cooler. The thermoelectric air conditioner 16 is also configured to move additional air along an opposite second side of the thermoelectric device 22 and discharge the additional air as exhaust air (W) to a location outside the cabin. In this example, the exhaust air is discharged into the hollow portion of the B-pillar 18 via a port 24 formed through the B-pillar trim. By providing separate first and second air movers 26, 28, the amount of air moved along the first side of the TED 22 and the amount of air moved along the second side of the TED can be controlled separately.

[0031] Figure 2 is with Figure 1 A perspective view of an example of a similarly configured thermoelectric air conditioner 16 shown separated from the trim member 14 of the panel 12, and Figure 3 yes Figure 21 is an exploded view of an air conditioner. The illustrated air conditioner 16 includes the aforementioned first air mover 26 and second air mover 28, a communication conditioning duct 30, a separate exhaust duct 32, an input device 34, and a controller 36. The input device 34 is any component operable to provide temperature set point information to the controller 36, such as a user interface (e.g., a switch and panel), or another vehicle control module that receives or calculates set point information to provide to the controller. The controller 36 is configured to receive information from the input device 34 together with information from the temperature sensor 38, and is configured to control the TED 22, the first air mover 26, and / or the second air mover 28 based on the received information. For example, the controller may increase or decrease the power of the air movers 26, 28 to change the air volume flow in each duct 30, 32. The controller 36 may also increase or decrease the power of the TED 22 or change the voltage polarity of the TED 22 based on the received information. The controller 36 may be integrated as part of the air conditioner 16 and used alone for the air conditioner, or the controller 36 may be a central controller for the vehicle or a vehicle subsystem (e.g., an HVAC system). The temperature sensor 38 may be a thermocouple, a thermistor, an infrared sensor, or any other suitable sensor.

[0032] Figure 2 and Figure 3 The air conditioner 16 is roughly as Figure 1 An orientation is provided wherein air to be conditioned (A) enters from the bottom and exits from the top, and wherein additional air (A') is moved in a direction from the rear side of the door toward the front side of the door at the B-pillar. Other orientations are possible. The conditioning duct 30 has an intake end 40 and an opposing exhaust end 42. In this example, the first air mover 26 is a fan located at the intake end 40 of the duct 30. Other types of air movers may also be used and may be located elsewhere, such as at the exhaust end 42 or between the intake port and the exhaust port. The air mover 26 need only create a pressure differential or otherwise cause air to move along the duct 30 in a desired direction. Figure 1 In the example of FIG. 1 , the first air mover 26 is also located at the inlet end of the conditioning duct 30 , but is oriented vertically to draw cabin air into the duct through a port formed by the map pocket concealing portion of the trim 14 .

[0033] Similarly, the exhaust conduit 32 has an intake end 44 and an opposing exhaust end 46. The second air mover 28 may be a Figure 2 and Figure 3 The fan at the inlet end 44 of the duct 32, or the second air mover 28 is any other type of air mover located elsewhere and operable to move additional air A' along the duct 32 in a predetermined direction. Figure 1 In the example shown, the second air mover 28 is located at the exhaust end of the exhaust conduit 32 .

[0034] The thermoelectric device 22 is located at the junction of the regulating conduit 30 and the exhaust conduit 32, effectively connecting the conduits to each other as an assembly. The TED 22 includes a base thermoelectric unit 48 to which a DC voltage is applied to generate a temperature difference. A first side of the TED 22 includes a first heat sink 50 bonded to one side 52 of the thermoelectric unit 48, and a second side of the TED includes a second heat sink 54 bonded to an opposite side 56 of the thermoelectric unit. A thermal bonding layer 58 (e.g., a thermally conductive paste or tape) is inserted between the thermoelectric unit 45 and the heat sinks 50, 54 to ensure complete thermal contact at the interface. The first heat sink 50 is disposed in the regulating conduit 30, and the second heat sink 54 is disposed in the exhaust conduit 32.

[0035] In the illustrated example, the back side of each heat sink 50, 54 effectively forms the wall of the respective conduit 30, 32 that houses it. The back sides of the heat sinks 50, 54 face each other and are separated by the thickness of the thermoelectric unit 48. A layer of insulating material (not shown) such as EPS or polyurethane foam may be inserted between the two heat sinks 50, 54 and around the periphery of the thermoelectric unit 48 to thermally insulate the opposite sides of the TED 22 from each other. In some embodiments, multiple thermoelectric units 48 may be sandwiched between the heat sinks or otherwise thermally connected to the heat sinks. The heating and / or cooling capacity of the air conditioner may be a function of the number of TEDs 22 or thermoelectric units 48 included.

[0036] Each of the illustrated heat sinks 50, 54 is formed of a thermally conductive material (e.g., an aluminum alloy) and has a series of fins that protrude into and across the interior of the respective conduits 30, 32. The fins are elongated in the direction of airflow and are separated by elongated gaps in the same direction. Other configurations are also possible. Each heat sink 50, 54 functions to quickly transfer thermal energy between the thermoelectric unit 48 and the air in the respective conduits 30, 32. The relatively large surface area of ​​the heat sink fins promotes forced convection energy transfer with the flowing air, while the flat, full-contact surface on the back side of each heat sink promotes conductive energy transfer with the thermoelectric unit 48.

[0037] In the cooling mode of the air conditioner 16, a DC voltage is applied to the thermoelectric unit 48, wherein the polarity of the DC voltage causes a heat flow from the first side 52 to the second side 56 of the unit 48. Thus, heat energy flows from the first radiator 50 to the second radiator 54, which tend to increase and decrease in temperature, respectively, accordingly. Air (A) from the passenger cabin flows along the first radiator 50 under the influence of the first air mover 26, and the radiator 50 absorbs heat energy from the air in the duct 30 until there is no longer a temperature difference between the air in the duct and the radiator. When the passenger cabin is hot, as is typically the case when the air conditioner 16 is first set to the cooling mode, a continuous heat flow flows from the air in the conditioning duct 30 to the radiator 50, and through the thermoelectric unit 48 to the other radiators 54. Thus, as long as the flow of heat energy through the thermoelectric unit 48 is maintained, the conditioned air (C) discharged back to the passenger cabin has less heat energy than the air (A) drawn into the conditioning duct 30.

[0038] The second air mover 28, the exhaust duct 32, and the second heat sink 54 work together to maintain the flow of thermal energy by extracting thermal energy from the second side 56 of the thermoelectric unit 48. The second heat sink 54 absorbs thermal energy from the thermoelectric unit 48, and the additional air (A') flowing along the exhaust duct 32 extracts thermal energy from the heat sink 54 to generate exhaust air (W), which is hotter than the air drawn into the exhaust duct inlet end 44. Without the exhaust duct 32, the second air mover 28, and the second heat sink 54, the second side 56 of the thermoelectric unit 48 would eventually be much hotter than the first side 52, preventing the flow of thermal energy from the first side to the second side.

[0039] Although TEDs may be more commonly used as cooling devices, air conditioner 16 may also be operated in a heating mode by switching the polarity of the DC voltage from a cooling mode. In this case, presumably cool air from the passenger cabin is drawn across the hot side of TED 22 and absorbs thermal energy before being discharged back into the passenger cabin. In some cases, second air mover 28 may be turned off in the heating mode.

[0040] In the illustrated embodiment, the first air mover 26 and the second air mover 28 can be individually controlled by the controller 36 to independently switch the first air mover 26 and the second air mover 28, and / or control the speed or effective flow rate of each of the first air mover 26 and the second air mover 28. Another method of separately controlling the air flowing along the conditioning duct and the additional air flowing along the exhaust duct is by controlling a damper or flapper valve. In this case, a separate air mover can be used to draw air into the conditioning through a common air intake port before the incoming air is separated into the respective conditioning and exhaust ducts by a valve located at a separation point. The conditioned air flows into the conditioning duct 30, and the remaining drawn air becomes the additional air flowing along the exhaust duct 32.

[0041] exist Figure 1 In the example of FIG. 1 , air in two separate ducts 30 , 32 is drawn into the air conditioner 16 at two separate locations. Figure 4 is through Figure 1 1 and 1 . A vertical cross-sectional view of a TED 22 having a similar configuration is shown. In particular, air (A) is drawn from the passenger cabin into the conditioning duct 30 through a first air inlet port 60 formed through the trim 14 under the influence of the first air mover 26, and additional air (A') is drawn from the passenger cabin into the exhaust duct 32 through a second air inlet port 62 also formed through the trim 14 under the influence of the second air mover. The first air inlet port 60 is located along the outer wall of the map pocket of the door panel and is thus partially hidden from view by the inner wall of the map pocket. The second air inlet port 62 is located along the forward wall of the map pocket and is thus partially hidden from view due to its orientation. Each air inlet port 60, 62 is demarcated by a grille across the opening that helps prevent foreign objects from entering the respective duct.

[0042] The exhaust duct 32 in this example comprises a main portion 64 extending in a direction between the front side and the rear side of the door ( Figure 4 In this example, the second radiator 54 is in the main portion 64 of the duct 32. The secondary portion 66 of the exhaust duct 32 interconnects the second intake port 62 and the main portion 64. Of course, each duct 30, 32 can take any shape, that is, generally straight and rectangular are shown here to simplify understanding of the operation of the air conditioner 16. In some cases, the back side of the trim 14 defines at least a portion of the wall of one or both ducts.

[0043] exist Figure 4In the example of FIG. 1 , the first radiator 50 is depicted in phantom for simplicity to better illustrate the conversion of air (A) drawn through the first air intake port 60 into conditioned air (C) as it moves along the conditioning duct 30 and the first radiator 50 before ultimately being discharged back into the passenger compartment through an exhaust port 68 vertically above the corresponding air intake port 60. The exhaust port 68 is also formed through the trim 14 and is depicted with a diffuser grille across the outlet. A similar exhaust port is formed at the exhaust end of the exhaust duct 32 (at Figure 4 (not visible in the figure) is formed by passing through the decorative member 14. Figure 1 As shown, an exhaust port may be formed along the side wall 70 of the trim 14, through which the exhaust gas is discharged into the hollow portion of the B-pillar, or discharged to some other location outside the passenger cabin. When the door 10 is closed and the exhaust gas exhaust port is sealed together with the outlet 24 formed through the B-pillar trim, the side wall 70 is not visible in the passenger cabin. In other embodiments, the exhaust gas (W) is discharged into the hollow portion of the door 10, such as on the opposite side of the insulation panel that separates the radiators 50, 54 from each other.

[0044] It should be understood that the foregoing is a description of one or more embodiments of the present invention. The present invention is not limited to one or more specific embodiments disclosed herein, but is limited only according to the following claims. In addition, except for the terms or phrases clearly defined above, the statements contained in the above description relate to specific embodiments and shall not be interpreted as limitations on the scope of the present invention or the definitions of the terms used in the claims. Various other embodiments and various changes and modifications to the disclosed one or more embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art. All of these other embodiments, changes and modifications are within the scope of the appended claims.

[0045] As used in this specification and claims, when used in conjunction with a list of one or more components or other items, the terms "such as," "for example," "for example," "for example," and "like," and the verbs "comprise," "have," "include," and other verb forms thereof, are each to be interpreted as open-ended, meaning that the list should not be considered to exclude other additional components or items. Other terms should be interpreted using their broadest reasonable meaning unless they are used in a context that requires a different interpretation.

Claims

1. A vehicle interior panel comprising a thermoelectric air conditioner configured to move air from a passenger cabin of a vehicle along a first side of a thermoelectric device to change the temperature of the air before discharging the air back into the passenger cabin, the thermoelectric air conditioner further configured to move additional air along an opposing second side of the thermoelectric device and to discharge the additional air to a location external to the passenger cabin, The vehicle interior panel also includes a first air mover operable to move the air along the first side of the thermoelectric device and a second air mover operable to move the additional air along the second side of the thermoelectric device, in, The first air mover and the second air mover are individually controllable to switch on and off, and to control the speed or effective flow rate of each of the first air mover and the second air mover, and wherein the panel is an inner door panel and the additional air is exhausted to the location exterior to the passenger cabin via an exhaust duct exhaust port formed through a side wall of the door panel.

2. The vehicle interior panel of claim 1 further comprising a conditioning duct and a separate exhaust duct, wherein the air moves along the first side of the thermoelectric device and the additional air moves along the second side of the thermoelectric device.

3. The vehicle interior panel according to claim 2 further includes a regulating duct inlet port and a regulating duct exhaust port, and air enters the regulating duct from the passenger cabin through the regulating duct inlet port and air is discharged from the regulating duct back to the passenger cabin through the regulating duct exhaust port. 4 . The vehicle interior panel of claim 2 , further comprising an exhaust duct intake port through which the additional air enters the exhaust duct.

5. The vehicle interior panel according to claim 1, wherein The additional air moving along the second side of the thermoelectric device is drawn from the passenger cabin.

6. The vehicle interior panel according to claim 1, wherein The exterior location of the passenger compartment is within a hollow portion of a body structural member of the vehicle.

7. The vehicle interior panel according to claim 6, wherein: The vehicle body structural member is a B-pillar.

8. The vehicle interior panel of claim 1, further comprising a temperature sensor positioned downstream of the thermoelectric device to detect a temperature of the air before the air is discharged back into the passenger compartment.

9. The vehicle interior panel according to claim 1, wherein: The thermoelectric air conditioner is configured to communicate with a controller, the controller receives air temperature information from the air conditioner, and controls the air conditioner based on the air temperature information. 10 . The vehicle interior panel according to claim 9 , wherein the controller receives temperature setting value information, and controls the air conditioner based on the temperature setting value information.

11. The vehicle interior panel according to claim 1, wherein The thermoelectric device includes a first radiator at the first side and a second radiator at the second side, the first radiator extending into a regulating duct having opposite ends having a regulating duct inlet port and a regulating duct exhaust port connecting the regulating duct and the passenger compartment, and the second radiator extending into an exhaust duct so that the regulating duct and the exhaust duct are connected to each other through the thermoelectric device.

12. The vehicle interior panel according to claim 1, wherein The thermoelectric air conditioner also includes: a conditioning duct having an inlet end and an outlet end, wherein the first air mover is positioned along the conditioning duct to draw air from the passenger cabin through a conditioning duct inlet port at the inlet end of the conditioning duct, move the air along a first heat sink of the thermoelectric device positioned in the conditioning duct, and exhaust the air back to the passenger cabin through a conditioning duct outlet port at the outlet end of the conditioning duct; and An exhaust duct having an intake end and an exhaust end, wherein the second air mover is positioned along the exhaust duct to draw additional air through an exhaust duct intake port at the intake end of the exhaust duct, move the additional air along a second heat sink of the thermoelectric device positioned in the exhaust duct, and exhaust the additional air through the exhaust duct exhaust port at the exhaust end of the exhaust duct.

13. The vehicle interior panel according to claim 12, wherein: The additional air drawn in through the exhaust duct inlet port at the inlet end of the exhaust duct is drawn from the passenger cabin.

14. The vehicle interior panel according to claim 1, wherein The side walls are vertical side walls.

15. The vehicle interior panel according to claim 1, wherein The exhaust port is formed through the side wall in a horizontal direction when installed in a vehicle including a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

16. The vehicle interior panel of claim 1, further comprising an exhaust duct along which the additional air moves along the second side of the thermoelectric device, wherein: The exhaust duct includes the exhaust duct exhaust port and a main portion extending in a direction between a front side and a rear side of the panel when installed in a vehicle including a passenger compartment of the vehicle.

17. The vehicle interior panel according to claim 1, wherein: When installed in a vehicle comprising a passenger compartment of the vehicle, the side wall is not visible in the passenger compartment when a vehicle door comprising the panel is closed.

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