Climate-Controlled Bed Zoning for Localized Heating and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing climate control systems fail to provide individualized temperature modification for beds, leading to discomfort in varying environmental conditions, as they often rely on heating or cooling entire spaces rather than focusing on specific areas like beds.
Innovation Solution
A climate-controlled bed system featuring a cushion member with recessed areas, a flow conditioning member, and a fluid temperature regulation system that includes a thermoelectric device and conduit system to distribute temperature-conditioned air or fluid directly to the occupant, ensuring personalized comfort.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a bed is situated in a hot, poorly-ventilated environment, then the ambient space temperature is high, but the occupant experiences discomfort and sweating on the bed
Solution Approach 1:
The bed is divided into multiple temperature zones with independent control, allowing different regions (head, foot, sides) to be cooled or heated separately. This segmentation enables individualized climate control for each occupant position, resolving the contradiction between maintaining comfortable bed surface temperature and adapting to ambient environmental conditions.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies temperature control locally at the bed surface level rather than uniformly across the entire room. Flow conditioning members deliver conditioned air directly to specific bed zones, creating localized thermal environments that differ from the ambient space, thus enabling individualized climate control independent of room temperature.
2Temperature
If normal air-conditioning is used in a hot environment, then the overall room temperature is reduced, but the bed occupant's back and pressure points remain sweaty
Solution Approach 1:
A flow conditioning member acts as an intermediary between the conditioned air source and the occupant's body. This mediator distributes cooled air directly across the bed surface and pressure points, ensuring uniform cooling coverage that eliminates sweating areas while maintaining overall room temperature through standard air-conditioning.
3Temperature
If heating units are used in winter to warm indoor space, then the overall room temperature increases slowly, but the bed needs to be warmed quickly for occupant comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system is segmented into localized bed-level heating zones with independent control, allowing rapid warming of the bed surface without needing to heat the entire room. This enables quick comfort achievement at the bed level while the ambient space warms more slowly.
Solution Approach 2:
The system applies heating action selectively and intensively to the bed surface area rather than distributing heating uniformly throughout the room. This concentrated partial action achieves rapid bed warming for immediate occupant comfort without the time penalty of heating the entire space.
4Adaptability or versatility
If temperature-conditioned air is distributed to extensive areas, then the entire building or room is cooled, but individualized climate control for specific beds cannot be achieved
Solution Approach 1:
The climate control system is segmented into independent bed-level units with localized air distribution, allowing individualized temperature control for each bed without conditioning entire rooms or buildings. This reduces energy consumption by limiting conditioned air delivery only to occupied bed areas.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides locally differentiated climate control at each bed position rather than uniform conditioning of extensive spaces. Flow conditioning members deliver temperature-conditioned air directly to specific bed zones, enabling individualized control while minimizing energy use to only necessary areas.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution allows for precise temperature control, enhancing comfort by selectively heating or cooling the bed area, regardless of the ambient environment, thereby improving occupant comfort and convenience.
Implementation Method 1
a thermoelectric device and a conduit system generally configured to transfer a fluid from the fluid transfer device to the thermoelectric device
Data Source
AI summary
A climate controlled bed comprises a cushion member having an outer surface comprising a first side for supporting an occupant and a second side, the first side and the second side generally facing in opposite directions. In some embodiments, the cushion member includes one or more recessed areas along its first side or its second side. In one embodiment, the bed further includes a support structure having a top side configured to support the cushion member, a bottom side and an interior space generally located between the top side and the bottom side, the top side and the bottom side of the support structure generally facing in opposite directions, a flow conditioning member that may be at least partially positioned with the recessed area of the cushion member, an air-permeable topper member positioned along the first side of the cushion member and a fluid temperature regulation system. The fluid temperature regulation system includes a fluid transfer device, a thermoelectric device and a conduit system generally configured to transfer a fluid from the fluid transfer device to the thermoelectric device. The fluid temperature regulation system is configured to receive a volume of fluid and deliver it to the flow conditioning member and the topper member.