System and method for thermoelectric personal comfort controlled bedding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional air conditioning systems and fans are impractical for personal comfort due to noise, high operating costs, and inability to effectively regulate body temperature, especially for sleep, as they fail to directly manage excess body heat or provide supplemental heating, and existing solutions do not adequately address the need for temperature control during sleep.
Innovation Solution
A thermoelectric-based air conditioning system that includes fans and thermoelectric devices (TEDs) for conditioning air, with a humidity sensor and controller to adjust TED operation, providing user-controlled delivery of conditioned air to a bed or mattress, allowing for temperature regulation and humidity management.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If conventional air conditioning systems are used for personal comfort, then cooling capability is provided, but noise and operating cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the air conditioning function into a centralized outdoor unit and multiple portable indoor units, allowing distributed, localized cooling that reduces the need for high-power conventional systems and enables quieter operation at the point of use
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces conventional vapor-compression refrigeration with thermoelectric cooling (Peltier effect) in the portable units, eliminating noisy compressors and mechanical moving parts while providing sufficient cooling for personal comfort applications
2Speed
If fans are used for air circulation, then air movement is provided, but hot air is merely recirculated without effective cooling
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines fan-driven air circulation with thermoelectric cooling elements in the portable units, so that air movement and active cooling work together synergistically rather than separately, ensuring that circulated air is actually cooled at the source
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces thermoelectric cooling elements as an intermediary between the air circulation system and the ambient environment, enabling effective heat transfer from the circulated air to the surroundings without relying solely on fan-driven convection
3Temperature
If conventional air conditioning is used, then cooling is provided, but ability to directly remove excess body heat from bedding surface is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places portable air conditioning units directly at the bedside or integrated into the bedding system, providing localized cooling precisely where body heat is generated and where it needs to be removed most effectively
Solution Approach 2:
The patent incorporates temperature and humidity sensors that continuously monitor the microclimate around the user and automatically adjust the cooling output of the portable units to maintain optimal conditions for heat removal
4Temperature
If thermoelectric devices are operated for air conditioning, then temperature control is improved, but condensation generation occurs
Solution Approach 1:
The patent captures the condensate produced by thermoelectric cooling and repurposes it for humidification, converting what would be waste or a nuisance into a beneficial feature that maintains optimal humidity levels in the sleeping environment
Solution Approach 2:
The patent recovers the thermal energy and condensate from the thermoelectric cooling process, using the condensate for humidification and potentially recovering heat for pre-conditioning incoming air, thereby reducing overall energy consumption
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 effectively regulates body temperature, enhancing sleep quality by providing user-controlled, quiet, and energy-efficient temperature management, directly addressing the limitations of conventional systems by integrating humidity sensing and thermoelectric technology for personalized comfort.
Implementation Method 1
one or more thermoelectric devices (TEDs) configured for conditioning the air flow
Implementation Method 2
An ambient air humidity sensor is configured for sensing humidity of ambient air
Implementation Method 3
adjust operation of the one or more TEDs in response to the received ambient air humidity measurement to control condensate generated by operation of the one or more TEDs
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method provides for controlling condensation generation in an air conditioning system for use in a bed (mattress). During active operation of the air conditioning system to generate conditioned air, the relative humidity of ambient air is measured and operation of one or more thermoelectric devices (TEDs) within the air conditioning system in response to the measured relative humidity is adjusted to control condensate buildup. During a subsequent drying operation, the relative humidity of the ambient air is measured and the drying operation is adjusted or otherwise controlled based on the measurement.