Air-generation apparatus for a chair

Abstract

An air-generation apparatus including an airflow manifold couplable to a chair. The airflow manifold including an air inlet formation, an air outlet formation, and an airflow conduit to guide the air from the air inlet formation to the air outlet formation. The air- generation apparatus including a fan unit to direct the air through the airflow manifold; a temperature regulating unit to regulate a temperature of the air exiting the airflow manifold; a temperature sensing arrangement to sense a temperature of the air; an airflow sensing arrangement disposed to sense a rate of flow of the air; a fan control module to control a speed of the fan unit based on a determined rate of flow of the air from the airflow sensing arrangement; and a temperature control module configured to control the temperature regulating unit based on a determined temperature of the air from the temperature sensing arrangement.

Description

AIR-GENERATION APPARATUS FOR A CHAIRTechnical Field

[0001] Various embodiments generally relate to an air-generation apparatus. In particular, various embodiments relate to an air-generation apparatus for a chair.Background

[0002] The shift towards computer-based work environments has become increasingly prevalent, with many individuals engaging in extended periods of sitting for professional tasks, gaming, and leisure activities. As users spend extended hours seated, issues such as environmental factors and physical discomfort have become prominent, impacting productivity and overall comfort.

[0003] The demand for seating solutions to enhance comfort in seated environments is more pressing than ever. Traditional seating arrangements often lead to discomfort that can hinder focus and engagement. Moreover, as the need for a conducive environment in both work and leisure settings grows, so does the demand for seating solutions that maximize user comfort.

[0004] Recognizing these issues, there is a need for improved seating technology which effectively alleviates the physical discomfort associated with prolonged sitting.Summary

[0005] According to various embodiments, there may be provided an air-generation apparatus for a chair. The air-generation apparatus including, an airflow manifold couplable to the chair. The airflow manifold including an air inlet formation for air to enter, an air outlet formation for the air to exit, and an airflow conduit to guide the air to flow within the airflow manifold from the air inlet formation to the air outlet formation. The air-generation apparatus including a fan unit coupled to the airflow manifold. The fan unit being operable to direct the air to enter the air inlet formation of the airflow manifold for the air to flow along the airflow conduit and exit via the air outlet formation. The air-generation apparatus including a temperature regulating unitassociated with the airflow manifold. The temperature regulating unit being operable to perform thermal exchange with the air in a manner so as to regulate a temperature of the air exiting the air outlet formation of the airflow manifold. The air-generation apparatus including_a temperature sensing arrangement disposed to sense a temperature of the air exiting the air outlet formation of the airflow manifold. The air-generation apparatus including_an airflow sensing arrangement disposed to sense a rate of flow of the air exiting the air outlet formation of the airflow manifold. The air-generation apparatus including a fan control module configured to control a speed of the fan unit based on a determined rate of flow of the air from the airflow sensing arrangement. The air-generation apparatus including a temperature control module configured to control the temperature regulating unit based on a determined temperature of the air from the temperature sensing arrangement.

[0006] According to various embodiments, there may be provided a chair assembly. The chair assembly including a seat; a backrest; and the air-generating apparatus as described herein, the air-generating apparatus being coupled to the seat or the backrest.Brief description of the drawings

[0007] In the drawings, like reference characters generally refer to the same parts throughout the different views. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead generally being placed upon illustrating the principles of the invention. In the following description, various embodiments arc described with reference to the following drawings:FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an air-generation apparatus coupled to a chair according to various embodiments;FIG. 2 shows a schematic control-flow diagram of the air-generation apparatus of FIG. 1 according to various embodiments;FIG. 3 shows an example of a relationship between an electrical resistance of a thermal exchange component of the air-generation apparatus of FIG. 1 and a speed of a fan unit of the air-generation apparatus of FIG. 1 according to various embodiments;FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of a chair with an air-generation apparatus coupled to a backrest of the chair according to various embodiments; andFIG. 4B shows a front view of the chair of FIG. 3A, according to various embodiments.Detailed description

[0008] Embodiments described below in context of the apparatus are analogously valid for the respective methods, and vice versa. Furthermore, it will be understood that the embodiments described below may be combined, for example, a part of one embodiment may be combined with a part of another embodiment.

[0009] It should be understood that the terms “on”, “over”, “top”, “bottom”, “down”, “side”, “back”, “left”, “right”, “front”, “lateral”, “up” etc., when used in the following description are used for convenience and to aid understanding of relative positions or directions, and not intended to limit the orientation of any device, or structure or any part of any device or structure. In addition, the singular terms “a”, “an”, and “the” include plural references unless context clearly indicates otherwise. Similarly, the word “or” is intended to include “and” unless the context clearly indicates otherwise.

[0010] Various embodiments generally relate to an air-generation apparatus (or device) for a chair. Particularly, the air-generation apparatus may be configured to be coupled to or integrated with a chair to enhance user comfort through effective temperature regulation. Various embodiments also relate to a chair assembly including a chair with the air-generation apparatus coupled thereto.

[0011] In various embodiments, the air-generation apparatus may be coupled to a backrest portion (e.g. a backrest or a backrest mounting frame) of the chair and / or a seat portion (e.g. seat or seat pan) of the chair and / or an armrest portion of the chair and / or a headrest portion of the chair, enabling targeted temperature control in high-need areas or regions of the chair.

[0012] Furthermore, the air-generation apparatus may be configured to avoid direct contact with a user on the chair - while being coupled to the chair - thereby providing unobtrusive experience that maximizes user comfort during extended periods of sitting.

[0013] Additionally, according to various embodiments, the air-generation apparatus may be configured (e.g. coupled to the chair) in a manner such that it may operate to regulate the flow rate and / or temperature of the air flow generated towards auser sitting in the chair. As a result, the air-generation apparatus may enhance overall comfort and promote sustained focus during prolonged periods of sitting.

[0014] According to various embodiments, the air-generation apparatus may include strategically placed airflow sensing arrangement and / or temperature sensing arrangement (e.g. at the air outlet) for feedback control to regulate the flow rate and / or temperature of the air flow generated. In particular, the air-generation apparatus may be configured with feedback control for regulating the flow rate and / or temperature of the air flow generated. According to various embodiments, the feedback control may provide an efficient control to maintain the flow rate and / or temperature of the air flow generated at the desired pre-set flow rate and / or temperature, as well as enable continuous (or real-time) correction of differences (i.e. errors) between the flow rate and / or temperature of the air flow generated and the desired pre-set flow rate and / or temperature due to factors (e.g. ambient temperature, changes in property of components etc.) affecting the generation of the air flow.

[0015] Additionally, the air-generation apparatus may be configured to be modular, allowing users to selectively attach or detach it relative to the chair as needed. Such flexibility allows the air-generation apparatus to adapt to different environments and personal preferences, making it a versatile enhancement for any chair.

[0016] In various embodiments, the air-generation apparatus may also function or be configured as a temperature-regulation apparatus. For instance, the air-generation apparatus may be configured to output warm or cold air depending on a temperature of the chair and / or a surrounding environment. Thus, in various embodiments, the airgeneration apparatus may be capable of mitigating common hotspots on the chair (e.g. at the backrest portion), providing particular benefits for users (e.g. like gamers), who may experience these during intensive sessions.

[0017] Various embodiments may also relate to a chair assembly (or a chair system) which includes (or combines) the chair (e.g. having a seat and a backrest) and the airgeneration apparatus as a unified and / or integrated assembly (or system).

[0018] FIG. 1 shows a schematic diagram of an air-generation apparatus 102 coupled to a chair 190, according to various embodiments. Together, the air-generation apparatus 102 and the chair 190 may form a chair assembly 100.

[0019] According to various embodiments, there may be provided the airgeneration apparatus (or device) 102 for a chair 190. The chair 190 may be any type ofchair, such as an adjustable chair (e.g. swivel chair, office chair, computer chair, gaming chair, task chair, car seat, etc.) or a non-adjustable chair (e.g. fixed chair or stationary chair).

[0020] According to various embodiments, the air-generation apparatus 102 may be couplable to the chair 190, either permanently (e.g. affixed / fixedly coupled) or removably (e.g. detachably coupled). According to various embodiments, with the airgeneration apparatus 102 coupled to a chair 190, the air-generation apparatus 102 may be configured to output (e.g. deliver, dispense, or direct) air towards a user sitting on the chair 190. For example, as illustrated in FIG. 1, the air-generation apparatus 102 may be coupled to a backrest portion 191 (e.g. backrest or backrest mounting frame) of the chair 190 and may be configured to generate an airflow relative to the backrest portion 191 (e.g. backrest) of the chair 190. According to various embodiments, the airflow generated may be from the backrest portion 191 (e.g. backrest) of the chair 190 towards the user sitting on the chair 190. According to other embodiments, the airgeneration apparatus 102 may be coupled to a seat portion 192 (e.g. seat or seat pan) of the chair 1 0. Accordingly, the airflow generated may be from the seat portion 192 of the chair 190 towards the user sitting on the chair 190. According to other embodiments, the air-generation apparatus 102 may be coupled to an armrest portion or a headrest portion.

[0021] With reference to FIG. 1, according to various embodiments, the airgeneration apparatus 102 may include an airflow manifold 110. The airflow manifold 110 may include an air inlet formation 113 for allowing air to enter the airflow manifold 110, an air outlet formation 116 for the air to exit the airflow manifold 110, and an airflow conduit (or channel) 111 for the air to flow from the air inlet formation 113 to the air outlet formation 116. Accordingly, the airflow conduit 111 of the airflow manifold 110 may guide or direct the air to flow within the airflow manifold 110 from the air inlet formation 113 to the air outlet formation 116).

[0022] According to various embodiments, the air inlet formation 113 may include one or more openings (herein referred to as “air inlet port(s)”), while the air outlet formation 116 may include one or more openings (herein referred to as “air outlet port(s)”) which may be distinct from the air inlet port(s). According to various embodiments, the air inlet port(s) and the air outlet port(s) may be oriented in (or may face) different directions. For example, the air inlet port(s) and the air outlet port(s) maybe facing away from each other (e.g. in opposite or substantially opposite directions). Additionally, according to various embodiments, the air inlet port(s) and the air outlet port(s) may be positioned on different faces (or surfaces or sides) and / or sections of the airflow manifold 110. For example, the air inlet port(s) may be located at a rear face (or rear surface or rear side) and / or at a rear (or rearward) section of the airflow manifold 110, while the air outlet port(s) may be positioned at a front face (or front surface or front side) and / or at a front (or forward) section of the airflow manifold 110. Accordingly, according to various embodiments, the air inlet formation 113 may be disposed at a first region (e.g. first end region) of the airflow conduit 111, while the air outlet formation 116 may be disposed at another region (e.g. a second and / or opposite end region) of the airflow conduit 111. It is also envisaged that, in various other embodiments, the air inlet formation 113 may be disposed at a first region (e.g. a first end region) of the airflow conduit 111, while the air outlet formation 116 (e.g. a plurality of air outlet ports) may be disposed or distributed or arranged along the airflow conduit 111 (e.g. downstream of the air inlet formation 113).[000231 Additionally, according to various embodiments, the air inlet port(s) and the air outlet port(s) may differ in size and / or shape. For example, each (or a respective) air inlet port may be larger than each (or a respective) air outlet port. According to various embodiments, a shape of each (or a respective) air outlet port may also differ from a shape of each (or a respective) air inlet port. For example, an air outlet port may have an elongated shape (e.g. resembling a slot, or having a slot or slot-like shape), while an air inlet port may have another shape (e.g. a circular shape). However, it is also envisaged that, in various other embodiments, the air inlet port(s) and the air outlet port(s) may be sized and / or shaped similarly or identically to one another.

[0024] According to various embodiments, the airflow conduit 111 may form a continuous and / or uninterrupted channel or passage, fluidly connected or coupled to both the air inlet formation 113 and the air outlet formation 116. In some embodiments, the air inlet formation 113 and the ah' outlet formation 116 may be at different locations of the airflow conduit 111. In particular, according to various embodiments, the airflow conduit 111 may be configured to direct or guide air that enters from the air inlet formation 113 to the air outlet formation 116. According to various embodiments, the airflow manifold 110 (or the air inlet formation 113, the air outlet formation 116, and / or the airflow conduit 111) may be configured (or arranged) to establish a unidirectionalflow of air from the air inlet formation 113 to the air outlet formation 116, while preventing or minimizing backflow of the air (e.g. out through the air inlet formation 113).

[0025] According to various embodiments, the airflow conduit 111 may have a uniform cross-sectional area or size (e.g. along a substantial portion or substantially the entire length of the airflow conduit 111). However, it is also envisaged that, in various other embodiments, the airflow conduit 111 may have a non-uniform (or varying) cross-sectional area. For example, in various other embodiments, the airflow conduit 111 may taper from the air inlet formation 113 to the air outlet formation 116. In other words, in various other embodiments, the airflow conduit 111 (or a size or cross-sectional area thereof) may be wider at or proximal to the air inlet formation 113, while being narrower at or proximal to the air outlet formation 116 (or narrower distal from the air inlet formation 113). More specifically, in various other embodiments, the airflow conduit 111 may be wider at a segment at or proximal the air inlet formation 113, while being narrower at another segment at or distal (e.g. further or furthest) from the air inlet formation 113.

[0026] According to various embodiments, with reference to FIG. 1, the airgeneration apparatus 102 may include (e.g. further include) a fan unit 120. As examples, according to various embodiments, the fan unit 120 may include at least one fan, such as an axial fan, centrifugal fan, brushless fan or brushless motor fan, direct current or DC fan, turbine fan, squirrel cage fan, etc., or any other suitable type of fan. As an example, according to various embodiments, the fan unit 120 may include or may be configured as a bladeless fan which may be operable to produce or exhaust a continuous stream of air, for example, via a motor-driven mechanism (e.g. a high-speed motor). According to various embodiments, the fan unit 120 (e.g. a bladeless fan) may be operable to draw in air through its intake side or section, guide and / or compress the air (e.g. by channeling it through a narrower tunnel or passage), and expel the air through its exhaust / outlet side or section (e.g. at an end of the aforesaid tunnel or passage).

[0027] According to various embodiments, the fan unit 120 may be coupled (e.g. directly or indirectly coupled) and / or fluidly connected to the airflow manifold 110, and may be operable to direct air to enter (e.g. by drawing air into, or directing air towards) the air inlet formation 113 of the airflow manifold 110 for the air to flow along theairflow conduit 111 and exit through the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110.

[0028] As an example, according to various embodiments, the exhaust / outlet side of the fan unit 120 may expel air into (e.g. directly into) the air inlet formation 113 of the airflow manifold 110. In particular, the air inlet formation 113 may be positioned downstream of the fan unit 120.

[0029] According to various other embodiments, the fan unit 120 may be located outside of the airflow manifold 110, but positioned proximal to (e.g. upstream of) the air inlet formation 113 of the airflow manifold. According to various embodiments, this configuration may enable the fan unit 120 to exhaust or push air into the air inlet formation 113 and facilitate movement of the air (e.g. propel the air) along the airflow conduit 111 to the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110.

[0030] As yet another illustration, according to various other embodiments, the fan unit 120 may be disposed or positioned within the airflow manifold 110, with the intake side of the fan unit 120 aligned with the air inlet formation 113 of the airflow manifold 110. In this manner, the fan unit 120 may be operable to draw in air via the intake side of the fan unit 120 which, in turn, may cause the air to be drawn into the air inlet formation 113 of the airflow manifold 110. Further, the exhaust side of the fan unit 120 may expel air into the airflow conduit 111 of the airflow manifold 110 such that the air may flow towards the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110 and exit from the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110. In particular, in this configuration, the fan unit 120 may be situated between the air inlet formation 113 and the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110.

[0031] It is also envisaged that, in various other embodiments, the fan unit 120 may be directly coupled (e.g. fastened, bolted etc.) to the chair 190 at any suitable portion of the chair 190 (e.g. to the backrest portion 191 or to a base portion of the chair 190) and may additionally be fluidly connected to the air inlet formation 113 of the airflow manifold 110 (e.g. either directly or indirectly, for instance, via an intermediate air passage or an air duct).

[0032] According to various embodiments, the fan unit 120 of the air-generation apparatus 102 may regulate a rate of flow (or flow rate) of the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110. Accordingly, the fan unit 120 of the airgeneration apparatus 102 may control a volume and / or velocity of air passing throughthe air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110. According to various embodiments, a speed of the fan unit 120 may be varied or adjusted to change the rate of flow of the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110. Thus, the rate of flow (or flow rate) of the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110 may be regulated by varying or adjusting the speed of the fan unit 120.

[0033] According to various embodiments, with reference to FIG. 1, the airgeneration apparatus 102 may include (e.g. further include) an airflow sensing arrangement 130. The airflow sensing arrangement 130 may be disposed to sense the rate of flow of the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110. According to various embodiments, the airflow sensing arrangement 130 may include one or two or three or four or more airflow sensors (e.g. at least one air flow sensor or a plurality of airflow sensor). Each airflow sensor may sense a local rate of flow of the air across said airflow sensor. According to various embodiments, the airflow sensing arrangement 130 may be disposed at the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110 for sensing the rate of flow of the air exiting from the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110. According to various embodiments, the airflow sensor may include, but not limited to, a differential pressure type flow sensor, a thermal type flow sensor, a target type flow sensor, or a turbine type flow sensor.

[0034] According to various embodiments, with reference to FIG. 1, the air generation apparatus 102 may include (e.g. further include) a fan control module 140. The fan control module 140 may be configured to control the speed of the fan unit 120 based on a determined rate of flow of the air from the airflow sensing arrangement 130. According to various embodiments, the fan control module 140 may be electrically or electronically coupled to the airflow sensing arrangement 130 so as to receive a flowrate signal measured by the airflow sensing arrangement 130. Depending on the type and / or configuration of the airflow sensor of the airflow sensing arrangement 130, the flowrate signal may be in the raw analog form (e.g. analog signal such as voltage) or in the digital form (e.g. digital signal). Since the airflow sensing arrangement 130 may be disposed for sensing the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110, the rate of flow of the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110 may then be determined from the flowrate signal from the airflow sensing arrangement 130. Hence, the determined rate of flow of the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110 may be derived using the flow rate signal from the airflowsensing arrangement 130. According to various embodiments, the fan control module 140 may determine the rate of flow of the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110 from the flowrate signal from the airflow sensing arrangement 130. Accordingly, the fan control module 140 may receive the flowrate signal from the airflow sensing arrangement 130, process the flowrate signal and derived the determined rate of flow of the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110.

[0035] According to various embodiments, the fan control module 140 may be electrically or electronically coupled to the fan unit 120 so as to send a speed control signal, generated by the fan control module 140, to the fan unit 120 for controlling the speed of the fan unit 120. Depending on the type and / or configuration of the fan unit 120, the speed control signal may be in the raw analog form (e.g. analog signal such as voltage) or in the digital form (e.g. digital signal). The fan unit 120 may include a motor 122 for driving a rotation of the fan blades 124 of the fan unit 120 so as to generate a flow of the air. The rate of flow of the air may depend on the rotation of the fan blades of the fan unit 120, which in turn is dependent on the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120. Accordingly, the fan control module 140 may vary or adjust the speed control signal so as to change the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120 (i.e. speed of the fan unit 120) as a measure to change the rate of flow of the air generated by the fan unit 120.

[0036] According to various embodiments, a pre-set rate of flow of the air (e.g. a user desired rate of flow of the air from the air generation apparatus 102) may be provided to (or input into) the fan control module 140. The fan control module 140 may be configured to control the speed of the fan unit to generate the flow of the air to achieve the pre-set rate of flow based on the determined rate of flow of the air from the airflow sensing arrangement 130. Accordingly, the determined rate of flow of the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110 may be derived from the flowrate signal from the airflow sensing arrangement 130, and serve as a measure of the actual rate of flow of the air (i.e. serve as feedback on the actual rate of flow of the air). The fan control module 140 may then compare the determined rate of flow of the air against the pre-set rate of flow of the air. From the comparison, the fan control module 140 may determine whether to increase or decrease the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120 (i.e. speed of the fan unit 120) so as to change or adjust or vary theactual rate of flow of the air towards the pre-set rate of flow of the air. According to various embodiments, the fan control module 140 may continuously, in real-time, control the speed of the fan unit to change or adjust or vary the rate of flow of the air towards achieving the pre-set rate of flow based on comparing the determined rate of flow of the air from the airflow sensing arrangement 130 and the pre-set rate of flow of the air. Accordingly, the airflow sensing arrangement 130 may provide real-time feedback on the actual rate of flow of the air, and the fan control module 140 may control the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120 (i.c. speed of the fan unit 120) based on such real-time feedback in comparison to the pre-set rate of flow of the air.

[0037] According to various embodiments, with reference to FIG. 1, the airgeneration apparatus 102 may include (e.g. further include) a temperature regulating unit 150. The temperature regulating unit 150 may be operable to add and / or remove heat (or thermal energy). According to various embodiments, the temperature regulating unit 150 may include a heating cum cooling mechanism; or a combination of an independent heating mechanism and an independent cooling mechanism; a heating mechanism; or a cooling mechanism. According to various embodiments, the temperature regulating unit 150 may be associated with the airflow manifold 110. Accordingly, the temperature regulating unit 150 may be operable to thermally interact with the air flowing through the airflow manifold 110. Hence, the temperature regulating unit 150 may add and / or remove heat (or thermal energy) so as to vary or adjust or change a temperature of the air that interacted with the temperature regulating unit 150.

[0038] According to various embodiments, the temperature regulating unit 150 may be operable to perform thermal exchange with the air so as to add heat to and / or remove heat from the air. Accordingly, adding and / or removing heat to vary or adjust or change the temperature of the air may involve thermal exchange between the temperature regulating unit 150 and the air. For example, to increase the temperature of the air may involve thermal exchange in the form of heat transfer from the temperature regulating unit 150 to the air. Conversely, to decrease the temperature of the air may involve thermal exchange in the form of heat transfer from the air to the temperature regulating unit 150. With the temperature regulating unit 150 being operable to perform thermal exchange with the air flowing through the airflow manifold 110, a temperature of theair exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110 may be regulated by the temperature regulating unit 150.

[0039] According to various embodiments, the temperature regulating unit 150 may include a thermal exchange component 152. The temperature regulating unit 150 may be operable to perform thermal exchange with the air via the thermal exchange component 152. According to various embodiments, the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 may be disposed to directly interact with the air flowing through the airflow manifold 110. Accordingly, the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 may be disposed in a path of flow of the air. The thermal exchange component 152 may provide a thermal exchange surface for heat transfer between the thermal exchange component 152 and the air. According to various embodiments, the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 may be in the form of including, but not limited to, fins or honeycomb or coils or pad or plate, etc. As an examples, the thermal exchange component 152 may include heating elements such as positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater, negative temperature coefficient (NTC) heater, ceramic heater, radiant heater, infrared heater, electric heater, heat pump, etc., and / or cooling elements such as thermoelectric cooler, Peltier cooling device, etc.

[0040] According to various embodiments, with reference to FIG. 1, the airgeneration apparatus 102 may include (e.g. further include) a temperature sensing arrangement 160. The temperature sensing arrangement 160 may be disposed to sense the temperature of the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110. According to various embodiments, the temperature sensing arrangement 160 may include one or two or three or four or more temperature sensors (e.g. at least one temperature sensor or a plurality of temperature sensor). Each temperature sensor may sense a local temperature of the air across said temperature sensor. According to various embodiments, the temperature sensing arrangement 160 may be disposed at the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110 for sensing the temperature of the air exiting from the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110. According to various embodiments, the temperature sensor may include, but not limited to, a thermocouple type temperature sensor, a resistance type temperature sensor, a semiconductor-based temperature sensor, a contact type temperature sensor, or infrared type temperature sensor.

[0041] According to various embodiments, with reference to FIG. 1, the air generation apparatus 102 may include (e.g. further include) a temperature control module 170. The temperature control module 170 may be configured to control the temperature regulating unit 150 (or the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150) based on a determined temperature of the air from the temperature sensing arrangement 160. According to various embodiments, the temperature control module 170 may be electrically or electronically coupled to the temperature sensing arrangement 160 so as to receive a temperature signal measured by the temperature sensing arrangement 160. Depending on the type and / or configuration of the temperature sensor of the temperature sensing arrangement 160, the temperature signal may be in the raw analog form (e.g. analog signal such as voltage) or in the digital form (e.g. digital signal). Since the temperature sensing arrangement 160 may be disposed for sensing the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110, the temperature of the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110 may then be determined from the temperature signal from the temperature sensing arrangement 160. Hence, the determined temperature of the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110 may be derived using the temperature signal from the temperature sensing arrangement 160. According to various embodiments, the temperature control module 170 may determine the temperature of the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110 from the temperature signal from the temperature sensing arrangement 160. Accordingly, the temperature control module 170 may receive the temperature signal from the temperature sensing arrangement 160, process the temperature signal and derived the determined temperature of the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110.

[0042] According to various embodiments, the temperature control module 170 may be electrically or electronically coupled to the temperature regulating unit 150 so as to send a temperature control signal to the temperature regulating unit 150 for controlling the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150. Depending on the type and / or configuration of the temperature regulating unit 150, the temperature control signal may be in the raw analog form (e.g. analog signal such as voltage) or in the digital form (e.g. digital signal). The thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 may be controlled to perform thermaltransfer with the air according to the temperature control signal from the temperature control module 170. According to some embodiments, varying or adjusting a voltage supplied to the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 may vary' the amount of thermal transfer with the air, which may then vary the temperature of the air. Hence, the temperature of the air may be regulated by varying or adjusting the voltage according to the temperature control signal generated and sent from the temperature control module 170.

[0043] According to various embodiments, a pre-set temperature of the air (c.g. a user desired temperature of the air from the air generation apparatus 102) may be provided to (or input into) the temperature control module 170. The temperature control module 170 may be configured to control the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 (e.g. voltage of the thermal exchange component 152) to perform thermal transfer with the air to achieve the pre-set temperature based on the determined temperature of the air from the temperature sensing arrangement 160. Accordingly, the determined temperature of the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110 may be derived from the temperature signal from the temperature sensing arrangement 160, and serve as a measure of the actual temperature of the air (i.e. serve as feedback on the temperature of the air). The temperature control module 170 may then compare the determined temperature of the air against the preset temperature of the air. From the comparison, the temperature control module 170 may determine whether to increase or decrease the amount of thermal transfer between the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 so as to change or adjust or vary the actual temperature of the air towards the pre-set temperature of the air. According to various embodiments, the temperature control module 170 may continuously, in real-time, control the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 (e.g. voltage of the thermal exchange component 152) to change or adjust or vary the temperature of the air towards achieving the pre-set temperature based on comparing the determined temperature of the ah from the temperature sensing arrangement 160 and the pre-set temperature of the air. Accordingly, the temperature sensing arrangement 160 may provide real-time feedback on the actual temperature of the air, and the temperature control module 170 may control the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150(e.g. voltage of the thermal exchange component 152) based on such real-time feedback in comparison to the pre-set temperature of the air.

[0044] According to various embodiments, with reference to FIG. 1, the airgeneration apparatus 102 may include (e.g. further include) an ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180. The ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180 may be disposed to sense the ambient temperature. According to various embodiments, the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180 may include one or two or three or four or more temperature sensors (e.g. at least one temperature sensor or a plurality of temperature sensor). Each temperature sensor may sense a local temperature of the ambient environment. According to various embodiments, the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180 may be disposed at an exterior of the chair 190. According to various embodiments, the temperature sensor may include, but not limited to, a thermocouple type temperature sensor, a resistance type temperature sensor, a semiconductor-based temperature sensor, a contact type temperature sensor, or infrared type temperature sensor.

[0045] According to various embodiments, the temperature control module 170 may be electrically or electronically coupled to the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180 so as to receive an ambient temperature signal measured by the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180. Depending on the type and / or configuration of the temperature sensor of the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180, the temperature signal may be in the raw analog form (e.g. analog signal such as voltage) or in the digital form (e.g. digital signal). Since the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180 may be disposed at the exterior of the chair 190, the temperature of the ambient environment may then be determined from the ambient temperature signal from the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180. Hence, the determined ambient temperature may be derived using the ambient temperature signal from the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180. According to various embodiments, the temperature control module 170 may determine the ambient temperature from the temperature signal from the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180. Accordingly, the temperature control module 170 may receive the ambient temperature signal from the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180, process the temperature signal and derived the determined ambient temperature.

[0046] According to various embodiments, changes in the ambient temperature may affect the regulation of the temperature of the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110 via the temperature regulating unit 150. Accordingly, the temperature control module 170 may control the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 to adjust the amount of thermal transfer with ambient temperature compensation to take into account changes in the ambient temperature based on the determined ambient temperature from the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180. According to various embodiments, the ambient temperature compensation may be derived from the determined ambient temperature from the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180. Further, the temperature control module 170 may apply the ambient temperature compensation during generation of the temperature control signal for controlling the temperature regulating unit 150. With the ambient temperature compensation applied during generation of the temperature control signal, the temperature control module 170 may take into account changes in the ambient temperature while controlling the temperature regulating unit 150. According to various embodiments, the temperature control module 170 may continuously, in real-time, apply the ambient temperature compensation when controlling the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 (e.g. voltage of the thermal exchange component 152) to change or adjust or vary the temperature of the air towards achieving the pre-set temperature. Accordingly, the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180 may provide real-time feedback on the actual ambient temperature, and the temperature control module 170 may apply the ambient temperature compensation based on such real-time feedback.

[0047] According to various embodiments, the “fan control module 140” and the “temperature control module 170” may be implemented as separate processing units or integrated in a single processing unit. In the various embodiments, the “processor unit” may be understood as any kind of a logic implementing entity, which may be special purpose circuitry or a processor executing software stored in a memory, firmware, or any combination thereof. Thus, in an embodiment, a "processor unit" may be a hardwired logic circuit or a programmable logic circuit such as a programmable processor, e.g. a microprocessor (e.g. a Complex Instruction Set Computer (CISC) processor or a Reduced Instruction Set Computer (RISC) processor). A "processor unit” may also be a processor executing software, e.g. any kind of computer program, e.g. a computerprogram using a virtual machine code such as e.g. Java. Any other kind of implementation of the respective functions which will be described in more detail below may also be understood as a "processor unit" in accordance with various embodiments. In various embodiments, the “processor unit” may be part of a computing system or a controller or a microcontroller or any other system providing a processing capability. According to various embodiments, such systems may include a memory which is for example used in the processing carried out by the device. A memory used in the embodiments may be a volatile memory, for example a DRAM (Dynamic Random Access Memory) or a non-volatile memory, for example a PROM (Programmable Read Only Memory), an EPROM (Erasable PROM), EEPROM (Electrically Erasable PROM), or a flash memory, e.g., a floating gate memory, a charge trapping memory, an MRAM (Magnetoresistive Random Access Memory) or a PCRAM (Phase Change Random Access Memory).

[0048] FIG. 2 shows a schematic control-flow diagram of the air-generation apparatus 102 of FIG. 1 according to various embodiments.

[0049] According to various embodiments, the fan control module 140, the fan unit 120 (or the motor 122 of the fan unit 120), and the airflow sensing arrangement 130 may form a feedback loop. The pre-set rate of flow of the air (e.g. a user desired rate of flow of the air from the air generation apparatus 102) may be provided as input to the fan control module 140 as indicated by arrow 141 in FIG. 2. The airflow sensing arrangement 130 may also provide the rate of flow of the air measured by the airflow sensing arrangement 130 as input to the fan control module 140. From the input provided by the airflow sensing arrangement 130 to the fan control module 140, the determined rate of flow of the air may be derived. The fan control module 140 may then determine a difference between the determined rate of flow of the air and the preset rate of flow of the air. According to various embodiments, the fan control module 140 may include a comparator 142 for determining the difference between the determined rate of flow of the air and the pre-set rate of flow of the air. The difference determined by the comparator 142 of the fan control module 140 may then be fed into a controller 144 of the fan control module 140. The controller 144 of the fan control module 140 may then generate and send the fan control signal to the fan unit 120 (or the motor 122 of the fan unit 120) for controlling the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120). Therefore, the fan control module 140 maycontrol the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120) based on the difference between the determined rate of flow of the air and the pre-set rate of flow of the air.

[0050] According to various embodiments, the comparator 142 of the fan control module 140 may continuously, in real-time, determine the difference between the determined rate of flow of the air and the pre-set rate of flow of the air, and control the speed of the fan unit to change or adjust or vary the rate of flow of the ah' towards achieving the pre-set rate of flow based on the difference determined by the comparator 142. Accordingly, the fan control module 140 may determine the difference between the determined rate of flow of the air and the pre-set rate of flow of the air in real-time, and the fan control module 140 may control the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120 (i.e. speed of the fan unit 120) to reduce and / or eliminate the difference in real-time so as to adjust the actual rate of flow of the air towards the pre-set rate of flow of the air.

[0051] According to various embodiments, the fan control module 140 may control the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120) proportionally with respect to the difference between the determined rate of flow of the air and the pre-set rate of flow of the air. Accordingly, the fan control module 140 may increase or decrease the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120) with the same or a constant ratio or relation with respect to the difference between the determined rate of flow of the air and the pre-set rate of flow of the air. Hence, the change in the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120) may be in proportion or correspond to the difference determined by the comparator 142 of the fan control module 140.

[0052] According to various embodiments, the fan control module 140 may control the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120) with derivative action based on a rate of change of the difference between the determined rate of flow of the air and the pre-set rate of flow of the air. Accordingly, the fan control module 140 may take into account how fast the difference between the determined rate of flow of the air and the pre-set rate of flow of the air changes per unit time and take corrective action proportional to the rate of change of the difference. Therefore, with the derivative action, the fan control module 140 may reduce the fan control signal as the determined rate of flow of the air is heading towards the pre-set rate of flow of theair at a rapid rate, and dampen the response of the fan control module 140 to slow down the rate at which tire determined rate of flow of the air approach toward the pre-set rate of flow of the air. Thus, with the derivative action, the fan control module 140 may reduce the oscillatory tendency (with reference to the pre-set rate of flow of the air) resulted from the adjustment of the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120) based on the difference between the between the determined rate of flow of the ah' and the pre-set rate of flow of the air.

[0053] According to various embodiments, the temperature control module 170, the temperature regulating unit 150 (or the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150), and the temperature sensing arrangement 160 may form a feedback loop. The pre-set temperature of the air (e.g. a user deshed temperature of the air from the air generation apparatus 102) may be provided as input to the temperature control module 170 as indicated by arrow 171 in FIG. 2. The temperature sensing arrangement 160 may also provide the temperature of the ah' measured by the temperature sensing arrangement 160 as input to the temperature control module 170. From the input provided by the temperature sensing arrangement 160 to the temperature control module 170, the determined temperature of the ah may be derived. The temperature control module 170 may then determine a difference between the determined temperature of the air and the pre-set temperature of the air. According to various embodiments, the temperature control module 170 may include a comparator 172 for determining the difference between the determined temperature of the air and the pre-set temperature of the air. The difference determined by the comparator 172 of the temperature control module 170 may then be fed into a controller 174 of the temperature control module 140. The controller 174 of the temperature control module 170 may then generate and send the temperature control signal to the temperature regulating unit 150 (or the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150) for controlling the amount of thermal exchange between the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 and the ah'. Therefore, the temperature control module 170 may control the temperature regulating unit 150 (or the thermal exchange of thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150) based on the difference between the determined temperature of the air and the pre-set temperature of the air.

[0054] According to various embodiments, the comparator 172 of the temperature control module 170 may continuously, in real-time, determine the difference between the determined temperature of the air and the pre-set temperature of the air, and control the temperature regulating unit 150 (or the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150) to change or adjust or vary the temperature of the air towards achieving the pre-set temperature based on the difference determined by the comparator 172. Accordingly, the temperature control module 170 may determine the difference between the determined temperature of the air and the pre-set temperature of the air in real-time, and the temperature control module 140 may control the amount of thermal exchange between the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 and the air to reduce and / or eliminate the difference in real-time so as to adjust the actual temperature of the air towards the pre-set temperature of the air.

[0055] According to various embodiments, the temperature control module 170 may control the temperature regulating unit 150 (or the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150) to adjust an amount of thermal transfer proportionally with respect to the difference between the determined temperature of the air and the pre-set temperature of the air. Accordingly, the temperature control module 170 may increase or decrease the amount of thermal transfer with the same or a constant ratio or relation with respect to the difference between the determined temperature of the air and the pre-set temperature of the air. Hence, the change in the amount of thermal transfer may be in proportion or correspond to the difference determined by the comparator 172 of the temperature control module 170.

[0056] According to various embodiments, a thermal exchange property of the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 may be dependent on a flow rate of air across the thermal exchange component 152. Accordingly, an efficiency and / or power and / or effectiveness and / or behavior and / or ability of the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 to perform thermal transfer between the thermal exchange component 152 and the air may vary when the flow rate of the air moving across the thermal exchange component 152 changes. Therefore, changes in the flow rate of tire air moving across the thermal exchange component 152 may affect the results and / or the performance of the temperature regulating unit 150 (or the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150) when the temperature control module 170 controls thetemperature regulating unit 150 (or the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150) without considering the changes in the flow rate of the air.

[0057] Since the fan unit 120 drives the flow of the air through the airflow manifold 110, the flow rate of the air moving across the thermal exchange component 152 may be affected by the change in the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120). Therefore, according to various embodiments, the thermal exchange property of the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 may also be dependent on the changes in the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120), wherein the changes in the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120) may serve as a measure of the changes in the flow rate of the air moving across the thermal exchange component 152.

[0058] According to some embodiment, a material property of the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 may change when the flow rate of the air moving across the thermal exchange component 152 changes resulting in the change in the thermal exchange property of the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150. As an example, an electrical resistance (as a material property) of the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 may be dependent on the flow rate of the air moving across the thermal exchange component 152. Hence, when the flow rate of the air moving across the thermal exchange component 152 changes, the electrical resistance of the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 may correspondingly change. When the temperature control signal provided by the temperature control module 170 is in terms of voltage, the change in the electrical resistance may result in a change of the power of the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 for the same voltage, which in turns affect the thermal exchange property of the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150. Therefore, the material property of the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 may be dependent on the flow rate of the air moving across the thermal exchange component 152. As the changes in the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120) may serve as a measure of the changes in the flow rate of the air moving across the thermal exchange component 152,the material property of the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 may be dependent on the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120). FIG. 3 shows a graph 301 for an example of a relationship between the electrical resistance (as the material property) of the thermal exchange component 152 and the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120). As shown, the electrical resistance of the thermal exchange component 152 may be in a negative slope relationship with the speed of the fan unit 120.[000591 Referring back to FIG. 2, according to various embodiments, the temperature control module 170 may control the the temperature regulating unit 150 (or the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150) to adjust the amount of thermal transfer with a thermal exchange component compensation. The thermal exchange component compensation may take into account the changes of the thermal exchange property (or the changes of the material property, e.g. electrical resistance) of the thermal exchange component 152 due to changes in the flow rate of the air moving across the thermal exchange component 152. As previously described, since the speed of the fan unit 120 may serve as a measure of the flow rate of the air moving across the thermal exchange component 142, the thermal exchange component compensation applied in the various embodiments may be based on the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120). In particular, the thermal exchange property (or the material property, e.g. electrical resistance) of the thermal exchange component 142 may change when the speed of the fan unit 120 changes (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120). According to various embodiments, the temperature control module 170 may continuously, in real-time, apply the thermal exchange component compensation when controlling the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 (e.g. voltage of the thermal exchange component 152) to change or adjust or vary the temperature of the air towards achieving the pre-set temperature. Accordingly, the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120) may serve as real-time feedback on the flow rate of the air moving across the thermal exchange component 152, and the temperature control module 170 may apply the thermal exchange component compensation based on such real-time feedback.

[0060] According to various embodiments, the temperature control module 170 may apply the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120) as a derivative action when controlling the temperature regulating unit 150 (or the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150) to adjust the amount of thermal transfer with the thermal exchange component compensation. Accordingly, the temperature control module 170 may take into account the changes in the thermal exchange property (or the material property, e.g. electrical resistance) of the thermal exchange component 142 and take corrective action proportional to the change. With the thermal exchange component compensation applied as the derivative action, the temperature control signal generated by the temperature control module 170 may be tuned to correct for the required power.

[0061] According to some embodiments, the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120) may be provided to the temperature control module 170 (or the controller 174 of the temperature control module 170) as input by the fan unit 120 (or the motor 122 of the fan unit 120). According to some embodiments, the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120) may be provided to the temperature control module 170 (or the controller 174 of the temperature control module 170) as input by the fan control module 140.

[0062] According to various embodiments, the temperature control module 170 may control the the temperature regulating unit 150 (or the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150) to adjust the amount of thermal transfer with the ambient temperature compensation. The ambient temperature compensation may take into account the changes in the ambient temperature based on the determined ambient temperature from the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180.

[0063] As described previously, changes in the ambient temperature may affect the regulation of the temperature by the temperature regulating unit 150. Accordingly, with the ambient temperature compensation applied during generation of the temperature control signal, the temperature control module 170 may take into account changes in the ambient temperature while controlling the temperature regulating unit 150. In the various embodiments, the ambient temperature compensation may be applied in realtime when controlling the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150 (e.g. voltage of the thermal exchange component 152) to change or adjust or vary the temperature of the air towards achieving the pre-set temperature.

[0064] According to various embodiments, the temperature control module 170 may apply the determined ambient temperature as an integral action when controlling the temperature regulating unit 150 (or the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150) to adjust the amount of thermal transfer with the ambient temperature compensation. With the determined ambient temperature applied as the integral action for ambient temperature compensation, the temperature control module 170 may reduce or remove or eliminate the ambient temperature offset. According to various embodiments, the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180 may provide the ambient temperature signal as input to the temperature control module 170 (or the controller 174 of the temperature control module 170). The determined ambient temperature may be derived using the ambient temperature signal from the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180.

[0065] According to some embodiments, as an example, the comparator 142 of the fan control module 140 may be implemented in the form an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The ADC may receive the pre-set rate of flow of the air as reference and receive the flowrate signal from the airflow sensing arrangement 130 as input. The pre-set rate of flow may be provided as a reference voltage to the ADC. The flowrate signal of the airflow sensing arrangement 130 may be provided as analog voltage signal to the ADC. The ADC may compare the difference between the reference voltage (serving as the pre-set rate of flow the air) and the analog voltage signal (serving as the determined rate of flow of the air), and output the flowrate difference value in the form of a digital data.

[0066] According to some embodiments, the controller 144 of the fan control module 140 may be implemented in the form of a proportional-derivative (PD) controller. The flowrate difference value in the form of the digital data from the ADC iserving as the comparator 142 of the fan control module 140) may be provided as a proportional (P) input for the PD controller. The PD controller may be configured to have a proportional gain (Kp) for determining the ratio of the output response to the flowrate difference value so as to generate a corresponding fan control signal for controlling the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 122). Further, a rate of change of the flowrate difference value may also be provided in the form of the digital data from the ADC (serving as the comparator 142 of the fan control module 140) to the PD controller as a derivative (D) input; or the PD controllermay determine the rate of change from the flowrate difference value in the form of digital data from the ADC and use it as the derivative (D) input. The PD controller may be configured to have a derivative gain (Kd) for dampening the output response to slow down the rate at which the determined rate of flow of the air approaches toward the preset rate of flow of the air. According to various embodiment the output response of the PD controller may be the fan control signal for controlling the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120). In the various embodiments, the output response from the PD controller may be in the digital form. Accordingly, the fan control module 140 may further include a digital-to-analog converter (ADC) for converting the output response into an analog signal serving as the fan control signal. The fan control signal in the analog form may be provided to the fan unit 120 (or the motor 122 of the fan unit 120) for controlling the speed thereof. While it is described that the controller 144 of the fan control module 140 may be implemented in the form of the (PD) controller, it is understood that the controller 144 of the fan control module 140 may also be implemented in the form of a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller, wherein the integral input is un-use or set to zero.

[0067] According to some embodiments, as an example, the comparator 172 of the temperature control module 170 may be implemented in the form an analog-to-digital converter (ADC). The ADC may receive the pre-set temperature of the air as reference and receive the temperature signal from the temperature sensing arrangement 160 as input. Hie pre-set temperature may be provided as a reference voltage to the ADC. The temperature signal of the temperature sensing arrangement 160 may be provided as analog voltage signal to the ADC. The ADC may compare the difference between the reference voltage (serving as the pre-set temperature of the air) and the analog voltage signal (serving as the determined temperature of the air), and output the temperature difference value in the form of a digital data.

[0068] According to some embodiments, the controller 174 of the temperature control module 170 may be implemented in the form of a proportional-integral -dcrivativc (PID) controller. The temperature difference value in the form of the digital data from the ADC (serving as the comparator 172 of the temperature control module 170) may be provided as a proportional (P) input for the PID controller. The PID controller may be configured to have a proportional gain (Kp) for determining the ratio of the output response to the temperature difference value so as to generate acorresponding temperature control signal for controlling the temperature regulating unit 150 (or the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150). Further, the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180 may provide the ambient temperature signal to the PTD controller as an integral (T) input. The ambient temperature signal from the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180 may originally be in the analog form. In some embodiments, an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) may be provided to convert the analog ambient temperature signal into the digital form before feeding into the PID controller. The PID controller may be configured to have an integral gain (Ki) for reducing or removing or eliminating the ambient temperature offset from the output response. In addition, the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120) may be provided to the PID controller as a derivative (D) input. According to some embodiments, the fan unit 120 (or the motor 122 of the fan unit 120) may include a tachometer for measuring the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120). The tachometer may output a speed information in the digital form, which may be directly fed to the PID controller as the derivative (D) input. The tachometer may also output the speed information in the analog form, whereby the speed information is passed through an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) to be converted to the digital form before feeding into the PID controller as the derivative (D) input. In some other embodiment, the PD controller for the fan control module 140 may provide the speed control signal to the PID controller of the temperature control module 170 as the derivative (D) input. The PID controller may be configured to have a derivative gain (Kd) to compensate for the change in the thermal exchange property (or the material property, e.g. electrical resistance) of the thermal exchange component 142 when the flow rate of the air moving across the thermal exchange component 142 changes (wherein the change in speed of the fan unit 120 or the motor 122 of the fan unit 120 is treated as a measure of the change in the flow rate of the air moving across the thermal exchange component 142) in the output response. According to various embodiment, the output response of the PID controller may be the temperature control signal for controlling the temperature regulating unit 150 (or the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150). In the various embodiments, the output response from the PID controller may be in the digital form. Accordingly, the temperature control module 170 may further include a digital-to-analog converter (ADC) for converting the outputresponse into an analog signal serving as the temperature control signal. The temperature control signal in the analog form may be provided to the temperature regulating unit 150 (or the thermal exchange component 152 of the temperature regulating unit 150) for controlling the amount of thermal tran fer thereof.

[0069] FIG. 4A shows a perspective view of a 490 chair with an air-generation apparatus 402 coupled to a backrest of the chair 490 according to various embodiments. FIG. 4B shows a front view of the chair 490 of FIG. 4A according to various embodiments. The air-generation apparats 402 of FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B includes all the elements of the air-generation apparatus of FIG. 1. Accordingly, all features, changes, modifications and variations that are applicable to the air-generation apparatus of FIG.1 are also applicable to the air-generation apparats 402 of FIG. 4A and FIG. 4B. Therefore, elements which are the same as those described earlier are assigned the same reference numerals, and repetition of their explanations is omitted for brevity. The following descriptions focusing on the additional features / elements of the airgeneration apparats 402 of FIG. 4 A and FIG. 4B.

[0070] According to various embodiments, the airflow sensing arrangement 130 may include a plurality of airflow sensors 432. The plurality of airflow sensors 432 may be distributed and disposed at the plurality of air outlet ports 415 of the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110. With the airflow sensing arrangement 130 including the plurality of airflow sensors 432, the determined rate of flow of the air exiting the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110 may be based on an average of the measured temperatures of at least two airflow sensors 432 of the plurality of airflow sensors. Accordingly, the measured temperatures of the at least two airflow sensors 432 may be added together and divided by the number of airflow' sensors 432 to arrive at the determined rate of flow of the air exiting the air outlets formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110. The fan control module 140 may then control the speed of the fan unit 120 (or the speed of the motor 122 of the fan unit 120) based on such determined rate of flow of the air.

[0071] According to various embodiments, the at least two airflow sensors 432 of the plurality of airflow sensors 432 may be located at a distal portion of the airflow manifold 110 w ith respect to the fan unit 120. The distal portion of the airflow manifold 110 may be a portion of the airflow conduit 111 of the airflow manifold 110 furthest from the fan unit 120. According to various embodiments, when the air outlet ports 415are distributed along the airflow conduit 111 of the airflow manifold 110, the at least two airflow sensors 432 may be respectively disposed at the air outlet ports 415 of the air outlet formation 116 furthest away from the fan unit 120.

[0072] According to various embodiments, the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110 may include a first air outlet port 415a and a second air outlet port 415b. The first air outlet port 415a and the second air outlet port 415b may be at two different segments of the airflow conduit 111 of the airflow manifold 110. The airgeneration apparatus 402 may include the temperature regulating unit 150 (i.c. first temperature regulating unit) and a further temperature regulating unit 450 (i.e. second temperature regulating unit). Both the temperature regulating unit 150 and the temperature regulating unit 450 may be associated with the airflow manifold 110. The temperature regulating unit 150 may be operable to perform thermal exchange with the air in a manner so as to regulate a temperature of the air exiting the first air outlet port 415a of the air flow manifold 110. The further temperature regulating unit 450 may be operable to perform thermal exchange with the air in a manner so as to regulate a temperature of the air exiting the second air outlet port 415b of the airflow manifold 110.

[0073] According to various embodiments, the air-generation apparatus 402 may include the temperature sensing arrangement 160 (i.e. first temperature sensing arrangement) and a further temperature sensing arrangement 460 (i.e. second temperature sensing arrangement). The temperature sensing arrangement 160 may be disposed to sense a temperature of the air exiting the first air outlet port 415a of the airflow manifold 110. The further temperature sensing arrangement 460 may be disposed to sense a temperature of the air exiting the second air outlet port 415b of the airflow manifold 110.

[0074] According to various embodiments, the air-generation apparatus 402 may include the temperature control module 170 (i.e. first temperature control module 170) and a further temperature control module 470 (i.e. second temperature control module 470). The temperature control module 170 may be configured to control the temperature regulating unit 150 based on the determined temperature of the air from the temperature sensing arrangement 160. The further temperature control module 470 may be configured to control the further temperature regulating unit 450 based on a determined temperature of the air from the further temperature sensing arrangement 460.

[0075] Accordingly, the air-generation apparatus 402 may have a bifurcated temperature control for two different (or separate) segments of the airflow conduit 111 of the airflow manifold 110.

[0076] According to various embodiments, the air-generation apparatus 402 may include an input mechanism or a user interface (e.g. a touch screen, buttons, etc.), enabling the user to operate the air-generation apparatus 402 (e.g. in a programmable manner). According to various embodiments, the air-generation apparatus 102 may include remote control module, allowing the user to control the air-generation apparatus 402 wirelessly, for instance, via a smartphone application or a dedicated remote controller. According to various embodiments, the input mechanism or the user interface or the remote control module may be configured to enable the user to provide the pre-set rate of flow of the air to the fan control module 140 and / or the pre-set temperature of the air to the temperature control module 170. Further, the user may also make changes to the pre-set rate of flow of the air to the fan control module 140 and / or the pre-set temperature of the air to the temperature control module 170 via the input mechanism or the user interface or the remote control module.

[0077] According to various embodiments, the airflow manifold 110 may be couplable to the chair 490 such that the airflow conduit 111 of the airflow manifold 110 runs alongside a border or rim of the backrest portion 191 or the seat portion 192 of the chair 190. In particular, according to various embodiments, the airflow conduit 111 may form a loop shape (e.g. an annular shape, or a ring shape, etc., or forming a continuous and / or uninterrupted and / or closed loop), as illustrated in FIG. 4B, alongside the border or rim of the backrest portion 191 of the chair 490. In other words, according to various embodiments, the airflow manifold 110 may be configured (e.g. dimensioned, sized and / or shaped, etc.) to run and / or extend alongside (or along and / or adjacent) a border or rim (or circumferential portion or edge) of the backrest portion 191 of the chair 490 (i.e. when the airflow manifold 110 is coupled to the chair 490). Thus, in other words, the airflow manifold 110 may be a loop-shaped airflow manifold. According to various embodiments, the airflow manifold 110 may follow or trace a contour or shape of the border of the backrest portion 191 of the chair 490. hr various embodiments, the airflow manifold 110 may be directly coupled to the backrest portion 191 or a backrest mounting frame of the chair 490. However, it is also envisaged, that in various other embodiments, the airflow manifold 110 may be surround the border of the backrestportion 191 with a gap therebetween. For example, the airflow manifold 110 may be, but is not limited to being, uniformly spaced apart from the border or edge of the backrest portion 191 along an entire length of the airflow manifold 110. As another example, the airflow manifold 110 may be non-uniformly or unevenly spaced from the border of the backrest portion 191 of the chair 490.

[0078] According to various embodiments, the airflow conduit 111 of the airflow manifold 110, which is in the loop shape, may form or define a central opening (e.g. a through-hole) which enables a user to rest directly against the backrest portion 191 while minimizing or eliminating contact with the airflow conduit 111 or the airflow manifold 110. Thus, this central opening may expose the backrest portion 191 or provide access to the backrest portion 191 of the chair 490. The airflow manifold 110 may surround, encircle, or extend around the backrest portion 191 of the chair 290. Additionally, according to various embodiments, a shape and / or size of the central opening of the airflow manifold 110 in the loop shape may correspond to (e.g. may be similar or identical) to or may be larger than that of the backrest portion 191 of the chair 190 for positioning the backrest portion 191 thereat. Thus, according to various embodiments, with the airflow manifold 110 coupled to the chair 490, the backrest portion 191 of the chair 190 may be disposed or positioned at the central opening of the airflow manifold 110.

[0079] According to various embodiments, the air outlet formation 116 of the airflow manifold 110 may include the plurality of air outlet ports 415. The plurality of air outlet ports 415 may be disposed along the airflow conduit 111 of the airflow manifold 110, which may be in the loop shape. According to various embodiments, the plurality of air outlet ports 415 (or at least a sub-set thereof) may be discrete and / or individual air outlet ports. According to various embodiments, the airflow conduit 111 of the airflow manifold 110, which may be in the loop shape, may be partitioned (e.g. by a partitioning member or wall or baffle(s), etc.) into at least two separate segments, and at least two air outlet ports 415 may be respectively disposed at the at least two separate segments. Accordingly, each segment of the airflow conduit 111 of the airflow manifold 110 may have at least one outlet port 415. According to various embodiments, the air outlet formation 116 (e.g. the plurality of air outlet ports 415) may be positioned at a front face (or front surface or front side) of the airflow conduit 111 of the airflow manifold 110. Accordingly, the air outlet formation 116 may be at a side of the airflowconduit 111 of the airflow manifold 210 corresponding to a side of the backrest portion 191 to which the user rests his / her back.

[0080] According to various embodiments, the air outlet formation 116 may include at least a pair of the plurality of air outlet ports 415 that may be opposite each other along the airflow conduit 111 of the airflow manifold 110 when the airflow conduit 111 is in the loop shape. Accordingly, the pair of the plurality of air outlet ports 415 may be on opposite sides of the loop shape (e.g. left and right sides, or upper and bottom regions, or opposite ends or corners, etc.). According to some embodiments, the air outlet formation 116 may include at least a pair of air outlet ports 415 which may be opposing (e.g. directly opposing or facing) each other.

[0081] Referring to FIG. 4A, according to various embodiments, when the airflow conduit 111 of the airflow manifold 110 is looped around the backrest portion 191 of the chair 490, as an example, the air outlet formation 116 may include any one or a combination, but also not limited to, one air outlet port 415 at a top left side of the airflow conduit 111, one air outlet port 415 at a top right side of the airflow conduit 111, one outlet port 415 at a left upper side of the airflow conduit 111, one outlet port 415 at a right upper side of the airflow conduit 111, one outlet port 415 at a left center side of the airflow conduit 111, one outlet port 415 at a right center side of the airflow conduit 111, one outlet port 415 at a left bottom side of the airflow conduit 111, one outlet port 415 at a right bottom side of the airflow conduit 111. In the example, the airflow sensing arrangement may include an airflow sensor at the air outlet port 415 at the top left side of the airflow conduit 111, an airflow sensor at the air outlet port 415 at the top right side of the airflow conduit 111, an airflow sensor at the air outlet port 415 at the left center side of the airflow conduit 111, and an airflow sensor at the air outlet port 415 at the right center side of the airflow conduit 111. Further, in the example, the temperature sensing arrangement 160 (or the first temperature sensing arrangement) may include a temperature sensor 162 at the air outlet port 415 at the top left side of the airflow conduit 111, a temperature sensor 162 at the left center side of the airflow conduit 111, and a temperature sensor 162 at the left bottom side of the airflow conduit 111, while the further temperature sensing arrangement 460 (or the second temperature sensing arrangement) may include a temperature sensor 462 at the air outlet port 415 at the top right side of the airflow conduit 111 , a temperature sensor 462 at the right center side of the airflow conduit 111, and a temperature sensor 462 atthe right bottom side of the airflow conduit 111. The determined rate of flow of the air to be provided to be fan control module 140 may be based on the average of the measured rate of flow from the airflow sensor at the top left side of the airflow conduit 111 and the airflow sensor at the top right side of the airflow conduit 111. The determined temperature of the air to be provided to the temperature control module 170 (or the first temperature control module) may be based on the measured temperature from the temperature sensor at the top left side of the airflow conduit 111. The determined temperature of the air to be provided to the further temperature control module 470 (or the second temperature control module) may be based on the measured temperature from the temperature sensor at the top right side of the airflow conduit 111.

[0082] In various other embodiments, the air outlet formation 116 may include a continuous and / or elongated (or slot type) air outlet port. For example, the continuous and / or elongated air outlet port may extend along a length of the airflow conduit 111 of the airflow manifold 110. When the airflow conduit 111 is in the loop shape, the continuous and / or elongated air outlet port may also follow the airflow conduit 111 to loop around the backrest portion 191 of the chair 190.

[0083] According to various embodiments, when the airflow conduit 111 of the airflow manifold 110 loop around the backrest portion 191 of the chair 190, the air outlet formation 216 (with the plurality of air outlet port 415 or the continuous and / or elongated air outlet port) may direct airflow that converges towards a point in the three-dimensional space so as to provide a flow of air across or over the backrest portion 191 (c.g. over the support surface of the backrest portion 191) of the chair 190.

[0084] According to various embodiments, the air-generation apparatus 402 may include (e.g. further include) a power supply unit 404 configured to supply power to one or more electronic components of the air-generation apparatus 402. For instance, the power supply unit 404 may be configured to supply power to the fan unit 120, the airflow sensing arrangement 130, the fan control module 140, the temperature regulating unit 150, the temperature sensing arrangement 160, the temperature control module 170, and / or the ambient temperature sensing arrangement 180. According to various embodiments, tire power supply unit 404 may draw power from a mains supply. For instance, the power supply unit 402 may include a power supply interface (e.g. a plug) configured to be connectable to a power main for drawing power. According tosome embodiments, the power supply unit 402 may include a battery, a rechargeable power source, a replaceable power source, etc., or any other power source.

[0085] While the air-generation apparatus 402 is described with reference to the backrest portion 191 of the chair 490, it is understood that the air-generation apparatus 402 may be coupled to the seat portion 192 and / or an arm-rest portion 493 of the chair 490 in a similar manner. Repetition of the description is omitted for brevity.

[0086] According to various embodiments, the air-generation appar atus 402 and the chair 490 may together form or be part of a chair assembly 400.

[0087] While the invention has been particularly shown and described with reference to specific embodiments, it should be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes, modification, variation in form and detail may be made therein without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. The scope of the invention is thus indicated by the appended claims and all changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are therefore intended to be embraced.

Claims

1. An air-gcncration apparatus for a chair comprising:an airflow manifold couplable to the chair, the airflow manifold comprising an air inlet formation for air to enter, an air outlet formation for the air to exit, and an airflow conduit to guide the air to flow within the airflow manifold from the air inlet formation to the air outlet formation;a fan unit coupled to the airflow manifold, the fan unit operable to direct the air to enter the air inlet formation of the airflow manifold for the air to flow along the airflow conduit and exit via the air outlet formation;a temperature regulating unit associated with the airflow manifold, the temperature regulating unit being operable to perform thermal exchange with the air in a manner so as to regulate a temperature of the air exiting the air outlet formation of the airflow manifold;a temperature sensing arrangement disposed to sense a temperature of the air exiting the air outlet formation of the airflow manifold;an airflow sensing arrangement disposed to sense a rate of flow of the air exiting the air outlet formation of the airflow manifold;a fan control module configured to control a speed of the fan unit based on a determined rate of flow of the air from the airflow sensing arrangement; anda temperature control module configured to control the temperature regulating unit based on a determined temperature of the air from the temperature sensing arrangement.

2. The air-generation apparatus of claim 1, wherein the fan control module controls the speed of the fan unit based on a difference between the determined rate of flow of the air and a pre-set rate of flow of the air.

3. The air-generation apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fan control module controls the speed of the fan unit proportionally with respect to the difference between the determined rate of flow of the air and the pre-set rate of flow of the air.

4. The air-generation apparatus of claim 3, wherein the fan control module controls the speed of the fan unit with derivative action based on a rate of change of the difference between the determined rate of flow of the air and the pre-set rate of flow of the air.

5. The air-generation apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the temperature control module controls the temperature regulating unit based on a difference between the determined temperature of the air and a pre-set temperature.

6. The air-gcncration apparatus of claim 5, wherein the temperature control module controls the temperature regulating unit to adjust an amount of thermal transfer proportionally with respect to the difference between the determined temperature of the air and the pre-set temperature of the air.

7. The air-generation apparatus of claim 5 or 6, wherein the temperature regulating unit comprises a thermal exchange component, wherein a thermal exchange property of the thermal exchange component is dependent on a flow rate of the air moving across the thermal exchange component.

8. The air-generation apparatus of claim 7, wherein an electrical resistance of the thermal exchange component is in a negative slope relationship with the speed of the fan unit.

9. The air-gcncration apparatus of claim 7 or 8, wherein the temperature control module controls the temperature regulating unit to adjust the amount of thermal transfer with a thermal exchange component compensation to take into account changes of the thermal exchange property of the thermal exchange component due to changes in the flow rate of the air moving across the thermal exchange component, wherein the thermal exchange component compensation applied is based on the speed of the fan unit, whereby the thermal exchange property of the thermal exchange component changes when the speed of the fan unit changes.

10. The air-generation apparatus of claim 9, wherein the temperature control module applies the speed of the fan unit as a derivative action when controlling the temperature regulating unit to adjust the amount of thermal transfer with the thermal exchange component compensation.

11. The air-generation apparatus of any one of claims 5 to 10, further comprising an ambient temperature sensing arrangement disposed to measure an ambient temperature,wherein the temperature control module controls the temperature regulating unit to adjust the amount of thermal transfer with an ambient temperature compensation to take into account changes in the ambient temperature based on a determined ambient temperature from the ambient temperature sensing arrangement.

12. The air-generation apparatus of claim 11, wherein the temperature control module applies the determined ambient temperature as an integral action when controlling the temperature regulating unit to adjust the amount of thermal transfer with ambient temperature compensation.

13. The air-generation apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 12, wherein the airflow sensing arrangement comprises a plurality of airflow sensors, wherein the determined rate of flow of the ah' is based on an average of measured temperatures of at least two airflow sensors of the plurality of airflow sensors.

14. The air-generation apparatus of claim 13, wherein the at least two airflow sensors of the plurality of airflow sensors are located at a distal portion of the airflow manifold with respect to the fan unit.

15. The air-generation apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 14, further comprising a further temperature regulating unit associated with the airflow manifold, wherein the ah outlet formation of the airflow manifold comprises a first air outlet port and a second air outlet port, wherein the further temperature regulating unit is operable to perform thermal exchange with the air in a manner so as to regulate a temperature of the air exiting the second air outlet port of the airflow manifold,wherein the temperature regulating unit is operable to perform thermal exchange with the air in a manner so as to regulate a temperature of the air exiting the first air outlet port of the air flow manifold;a further temperature sensing arrangement disposed to sense a temperature of the air exiting the second air outlet port of the airflow manifold, wherein the temperature sensing arrangement is disposed to sense a temperature of the air exiting the first air outlet port of the airflow manifold;anda further temperature control module configured to control the further temperature regulating unit based on a determined temperature of the air from the further temperature sensing arrangement, wherein the temperature control module controls the temperature regulating unit based on a determined temperature of the air from the temperature sensing arrangement.

16. The air-generation apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the airflow manifold is couplable to the chair with the airflow conduit of the airflow manifold running alongside a border of a scat or a backrest of the chair.

17. The air-generation apparatus of claim 16, wherein the airflow conduit of the airflow manifold forms a loop shape and defines a central opening for exposing the seat or the backrest of the chair.

18. The air-generation apparatus of claim 16 or 17, wherein the air outlet formation of the airflow manifold comprises a plurality of air outlet ports disposed along the airflow conduit of the airflow manifold.

19. The air-generation apparatus of any one of claims 16 to 18, wherein at least a pair of the plurality of air outlet ports are opposite each other along the airflow conduit of the airflow manifold forming the loop shape.

20. The air-generation apparatus of any one of claims 1 to 19, wherein the temperature sensing arrangement and the airflow sensing arrangement are disposed at the air outlet formation of the airflow manifold.

21. A chair assembly comprising:a scat;a backrest; andan air-generating apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 20 coupled to the seat or the backrest.

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