Bedding climate control apparatus and method to operate thereof with a programmable application from a wireless network
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing bed climate control systems fail to provide rapid and efficient heating or cooling of bedding while maintaining safety and quiet operation, and lack remote control functionality for temperature adjustment.
Innovation Solution
A bedding climate control apparatus that uses forced heated or cooled air, delivered through a system with an oversized fan, ceramic thermal elements, and a flexible hose, controlled via wireless protocols to adjust temperature and humidity between a bed sheet and a fitted mattress sheet, with remote operation and safety features to prevent overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Speed
If forced heated air is delivered rapidly to heat bedding, then heating speed is improved, but risk of skin burns increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary heating of the bedding to a target temperature before the user enters, then automatically reduces the heating power or shuts off the heater once the target temperature is reached, preventing overheating and skin burns while maintaining rapid heating capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates temperature sensors that continuously monitor the bedding temperature and provide feedback to the control system, which automatically adjusts the heating power to maintain safe temperature levels, resolving the contradiction between rapid heating and burn prevention
2Productivity
If high power heating elements are used to heat bedding quickly, then heating efficiency is improved, but noise level increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces traditional mechanical convection heaters with ceramic heating elements that provide rapid heating through radiant and conductive heat transfer, significantly reducing noise levels while maintaining high heating efficiency
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses ceramic heating elements with different resistance values to control heating power levels, allowing efficient heating at lower noise levels by optimizing the electrical parameters of the heating elements
3Ease of operation
If wireless remote control is added to adjust temperature, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates automatic temperature maintenance and safety shutdown features that operate without user intervention, allowing simple remote control operation while the system handles complex temperature regulation and safety monitoring autonomously
Solution Approach 2:
The control system integrates multiple functions including temperature adjustment, timing, safety monitoring, and automatic regulation into a single microcontroller unit, reducing overall system complexity despite adding remote control capabilities
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
The system efficiently heats or cools the bedding to a comfortable temperature quickly and safely, maintaining a constant temperature, and can be controlled remotely, providing comfort and convenience while preventing skin burns and noise pollution.
Implementation Method 1
imparting heating power with a thermal element or PTC heater element to the forced airflow
Implementation Method 2
A bedding climate control apparatus has a housing, a centrifugal fan that receives air from an air source within the housing
Implementation Method 3
effecting the delivery of the forced airflow into the space subsequent to attaining the inflated configuration
Implementation Method 4
delivering heated or chilled fluid contained within tubes within a mattress
Data Source
AI summary
An apparatus and method to selectively create a heat transfer effect and sensation of cooling within bedding on a mattress. A programmable application is accessible on a wireless network and is programmed to provide appropriate settings to attain changes over time of a space within bedding that pertain to at least one of heating the space and realizing a cooling sensation within the space. A wireless receiver is configured to receive commands in a wireless manner that are indicative of the appropriate settings provided by the programmable application to effect changes over time of the space within the bedding attributed to heat transfer with respect to the at least one of heating the space and realizing a cooling sensation within the space. The heat transfer occurs as a result of fluid flow either within a mattress or within space in bedding over the mattress.