Cooling device for automobile seat

Abstract

To provide a cooling device for an automobile seat, which can supply cool air by a simple structure.SOLUTION: A cooling device for an automobile seat according to one aspect of the present disclosure comprises: a duct that is provided within an automobile seat; a fan that is configured to supply air into the duct; an anti-Stokes emitter that is arranged within the duct; and a light source that is configured to irradiate the anti-Stokes emitter with light for making the anti-Stokes emitter perform anti-Stokes light emission.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a cooling device for an automobile seat. [Background technology]

[0002] A seat cooling device that supplies air cooled by using a Peltier element is known (see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 5-277020 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] When an electric current is supplied to a Peltier element, the temperature of the cooling surface decreases, while the temperature of the heat generating surface on the opposite side to the cooling surface increases. Therefore, in addition to an air supply path to supply cool air, a heat exhaust path is also required for the seat cooling device to exhaust heat from the heat generating surface.

[0005] An object of one aspect of the present disclosure is to provide a cooling device for an automobile seat that can supply cool air with a simple structure. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the present disclosure is a cooling device (1) for an automobile seat, comprising: a duct (2) provided inside an automobile seat (100); a fan (3) configured to send air into the duct (2); an anti-Stokes light emitter (4) disposed within the duct (2); and a light source (5) configured to irradiate the anti-Stokes light emitter (4) with light that causes the anti-Stokes light emitter (4) to emit anti-Stokes light.

[0007] According to this configuration, the air inside the duct (2) is cooled by the anti-Stokes luminescence of the anti-Stokes luminous body (4). Therefore, cool air can be supplied to the seated person with a simple structure without providing a heat exhaust path.

[0008] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the anti-Stokes light emitter (4) may have a base layer (41) configured to emit anti-Stokes light by absorbing electromagnetic waves, and an upper layer (42) that is overlaid on the base layer (41) and configured to filter the electromagnetic waves and transmit electromagnetic waves in a certain wavelength band to the base layer (41). With such a configuration, the wavelength band of the light irradiated to the anti-Stokes light emitter (4) can be widened, making it easy to select or adjust the light emitted by the light source (5).

[0009] In one aspect of the present disclosure, the light source (5) may be a light emitting diode. With such a configuration, it is possible to stably supply light of a wavelength that the anti-Stokes illuminant (4) is likely to emit.

[0010] Note that the symbols in the above parentheses are examples showing the correspondence with the specific configurations etc. described in the embodiments described below, and the present disclosure is not limited to the specific configurations etc. shown by the symbols in the above parentheses. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0011] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a sheet in an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of a cooling device for an automobile seat according to an embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of an anti-Stokes luminous body in the cooling device for an automobile seat of FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0012] Hereinafter, embodiments to which the present disclosure is applied will be described with reference to the drawings. [1. First embodiment] [1-1. Configuration] A cooling device 1 for an automobile seat (hereinafter, simply referred to as "cooling device 1") shown in FIG. 1 is attached to a seat 100 set in a passenger vehicle.

[0013] The cooling device 1 is configured to supply cool air to an occupant of the seat 100. The cooling devices 1 are arranged on a seat cushion 101 and a seat back 102 of the seat 100, one each.

[0014] As shown in FIG. 2, the cooling device 1 includes a duct 2, a fan 3, an anti-Stokes illuminator 4, and a light source 5.

[0015] <Duct> The duct 2 is provided inside the seat cushion 101 or the seat back 102 of the seat 100. The duct 2 has an exhaust port 21 and an intake port 22.

[0016] The exhaust port 21 communicates with an opening provided on the upper surface of the seat cushion 101 or the front surface of the seat back 102. The air supply port 22 communicates with an opening provided on the bottom surface of the seat cushion 101 or the rear surface of the seat back 102.

[0017] <Fan> The fan 3 is configured to send air to the duct 2. The fan 3 is disposed near the air intake port 22 in the duct 2. The fan 3 draws in air from the air intake port 22 and exhausts the air from the exhaust port 21. The fan 3 is rotated by, for example, a motor.

[0018] <Anti-Stokes Luminous Object> The anti-Stokes luminous body 4 is disposed inside the duct 2. Specifically, the anti-Stokes luminous body 4 is a sheet-like member fixed to the inner circumferential surface of the duct 2. Note that the anti-Stokes luminous body 4 may be a mesh-like member stretched so as to intersect with the air flow direction.

[0019] As the anti-Stokes luminous body 4, for example, one described in US Patent Application Publication No. 2019 / 0154316 can be used. Specifically, as shown in Fig. 3, the anti-Stokes luminous body 4 has a base layer 41 and an upper layer 42. Note that the anti-Stokes luminous body 4 may have other layers, such as an adhesive layer and an air layer, disposed between the base layer 41 and the upper layer 42.

[0020] The base layer 41 is a cooling layer configured to generate anti-Stokes luminescence (i.e., anti-Stokes fluorescence) by absorbing electromagnetic waves (i.e., light). The base layer 41 is disposed farther from the light source 5 than the upper layer 42.

[0021] The electromagnetic waves that enter the base material layer 41 interact with the active component contained in the base material layer 41, and are scattered with greater energy than when they entered the base material layer 41. Energy is supplied to the electromagnetic waves by phonons of the active component. In this way, heat is converted into light, and the temperature of the base material layer 41 decreases. As a result, the air in the duct 2 is cooled.

[0022] Examples of the material of the base layer 41 include cadmium sulfide, gallium arsenide (GaAs) quantum well, ytterbium-doped lithium yttrium fluoride (Yb:YLF) crystal, ytterbium-doped tungstate (Yb:KGW) crystal, and 1 mass % Yb 3+ Doped fluorozirconate glass (ZBLANP), 9 Be + , cesium, CdSe / ZnS, etc.

[0023] The upper layer 42 is overlaid on the surface of the base layer 41 facing the light source 5. The upper layer 42 is a filter layer configured to filter electromagnetic waves and transmit electromagnetic waves in a certain wavelength band to the base layer 41.

[0024] The wavelength band of the electromagnetic waves transmitted by the upper layer 42 to the base layer 41 is a recommended wavelength band suitable for exciting ground level electrons contained in the base layer 41 to an excited level. The upper layer 42 passes only electromagnetic waves in the recommended wavelength band and does not pass electromagnetic waves outside the recommended wavelength band.

[0025] Examples of the material of the upper layer 42 include acrylic acid polymers, olefin polymers (particularly, polyethylene (PE), polypropylene (PP), high density polyethylene (HDPE), medium density polyethylene (MDPE), linear low density polyethylene (LLDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE), very low density polyethylene (VLDPE), ultra high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE), ultra low molecular weight polyethylene (ULMWPE or PE-WAX), high molecular weight polyethylene (HMWPE), high density cross-linked polyethylene (HDXLPE), cross-linked polyethylene (PEX or XLPE), chlorinated polyethylene (CPE), polyvinyl chloride (PVC), metallocene linear low density polyethylene (m-LLDPE), polycarbonate, etc. Examples of polymer compounds that can be used include polyvinyl chloride (PC), polyvinyl alcohol (PVA), ethylene-vinyl acetate copolymer (EVA) resin, etc.), polyester polymers (PSR) (particularly, polylactic acid (PLA), polycaprolactone (PCL), polyethylene adipate (PEA), polybutylene adipate (PBA), polyethylene terephthalate (PET), polybutylene terephthalate (PBT), polyethylene naphthalate (PEN), etc.), styrene polymers (particularly, polystyrene (PS), styrene butadiene polymer, polyurethane (PUR), polyurethane foam, etc.), fluororesins (particularly, Teflon (registered trademark), nylon 6.6, nylon 6), polymer resins, acrylic resins, and combinations of these polymer compounds.

[0026] The upper layer 42 using these polymer compounds may constitute a matrix that supports the active ingredient of the base layer 41. Rare earth ions, crystals, or semiconductor crystallites may be embedded in the polymer compounds.

[0027] In addition, the material of the upper layer 42 is not limited to polymer compounds, and for example, aluminum hydroxide, calcium carbonate, titanium oxide, zinc oxide, silica, quartz, chlorothalonil, polysiloxane, nepheline syenite, silane, methyltri(ethylmethylketoxime), octamethylcyclotetrasiloxane, amorphous silica, organic pigments, inorganic pigments, ceramic pigments, iron oxide, oxides, ceramic microparticles, calcium carbonate, hydrocarbons, cycloalkanes, etc. may be used.

[0028] The upper layer 42 can be formed on the surface of the base layer 41 by, for example, painting, vapor deposition, etc. The base layer 41 and the upper layer 42 may be provided on a wafer made of, for example, silicon.

[0029] <Light source> The light source 5 shown in FIG. 2 is configured to irradiate the anti-Stokes luminous body 4 with light that causes the anti-Stokes luminous body 4 to emit anti-Stokes light.

[0030] Specifically, the light source 5 irradiates the surface of the upper layer 42 with light including a wavelength that causes the base layer 41 of the anti-Stokes light emitter 4 to emit anti-Stokes light. The wavelength of the light emitted by the light source 5 is appropriately selected depending on the material of the base layer 41, and is generally in the range of 300 nm to 1100 nm.

[0031] A light emitting diode (LED) is preferable as the light source 5. By using a light emitting diode as the light source 5, light of a wavelength that the anti-Stokes luminous body 4 easily emits can be stably supplied.

[0032] 2, the light source 5 is disposed upstream of the anti-Stokes light emitter 4, but the light source 5 may be disposed downstream of the anti-Stokes light emitter 4. In addition, the position of the light source 5 in the radial direction of the duct 2 is not particularly limited.

[0033] [1-2. Effects] According to the embodiment described above in detail, the following effects can be obtained. (1a) The air in the duct 2 is cooled by the anti-Stokes light emission of the anti-Stokes light emitter 4. Therefore, cool air can be supplied to the seated person with a simple structure without providing a heat exhaust path.

[0034] (1b) Since the anti-Stokes luminous body 4 has the upper layer 42, the wavelength band of the light irradiated to the anti-Stokes luminous body 4 can be broadened, so that the light emitted by the light source 5 can be easily selected or adjusted.

[0035] 2. Other embodiments Although the embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it goes without saying that the present disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiments and can take various forms.

[0036] (2a) In the cooling device for an automobile seat of the above embodiment, the anti-Stokes luminous body does not necessarily have to have an upper layer.

[0037] (2b) The cooling device for an automobile seat of the above embodiment can also be applied to seats used in automobiles other than passenger cars.

[0038] (2c) The function of one component in the above embodiments may be distributed as multiple components, or the functions of multiple components may be integrated into one component. In addition, a part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be omitted. In addition, at least a part of the configuration of the above embodiments may be added to or substituted for the configuration of another of the above embodiments. Note that all aspects included in the technical idea identified from the wording described in the claims are embodiments of the present disclosure. [Explanation of symbols]

[0039] 1... automobile seat cooling device, 2... duct, 3... fan, 4...Anti-Stokes illuminator, 5...Light source, 21...Exhaust port, 22...Air intake port, 41...Base material layer, 42...Upper layer, 100...seat, 101...seat cushion, 102...seat back.

Claims

1. A duct provided inside a seat for an automobile; a fan configured to blow air through the duct; an anti-Stokes emitter disposed within the duct; a light source configured to irradiate the anti-Stokes emitter with light that causes the anti-Stokes emitter to emit anti-Stokes light; A cooling device for an automobile seat comprising:

2. 2. The cooling device for an automobile seat according to claim 1, The anti-Stokes phosphor is A base layer configured to emit anti-Stokes light by absorbing electromagnetic waves; an upper layer that is overlaid on the base layer and configured to filter electromagnetic waves and transmit electromagnetic waves in a certain wavelength band to the base layer; A cooling device for an automobile seat comprising:

3. 3. The cooling device for an automobile seat according to claim 1 or 2, The cooling device for an automobile seat, wherein the light source is a light emitting diode.

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