Rivian IP Holdings, LLC

Graham Lloyd Feltham

Kamalesh Bhambare

Danny Jierian

Jake DeBoer

Jon A DeBoer

Sameh Khan

Jon Deboer

A system and method are provided for a ventilation system in, for example, a vehicle. The ventilation system is configured to direct airflow relative to a user's position in the vehicle. The system may determine a first curved flow path and a second curved flow path and cause the ventilation system to direct a first airflow to the first curved flow path and direct a second airflow to the second curved flow path.

HVAC air vent patterns

Systems and methods are provided for determining, by processing circuitry, a vehicle occupant has left a cabin of a vehicle (or that the cabin is unoccupied), where the vehicle comprises a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. In response to determining the vehicle occupant has left the cabin (or the cabin is unoccupied), the processing circuitry may adjust a parameter of the HVAC system.

Adaptive vehicle HVAC system dependent on operator location relative to vehicle

Systems and methods are provided for implementing a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system, and processing circuitry configured to determine to enter a drying mode, retrieve a parameter of the HVAC system for the drying mode, and cause the HVAC system to activate the drying mode to direct thermal energy to a particular portion of the vehicle based on the retrieved parameter.

Vehicle HVAC drying mode

Various embodiments include illustrative vehicle seats, systems, vehicles, and methods for circulating airflow through a vehicle seat. An illustrative vehicle seat includes a cushion. The cushion is adapted to provide airflow therethrough. The cushion defines a primary airflow path directed to a primary outlet formed in a supporting portion of the cushion. The supporting portion of the cushion is adapted to receive direct body contact with a vehicle occupant while the vehicle occupant is seated within the vehicle seat. The cushion also defines a secondary airflow path directed to a secondary outlet formed in a non-supporting portion of the cushion.

Vehicle seat with airflow outlets

A system and method are provided for an air vent system in, for example, a vehicle. The air vent system is configured to direct air flow to a point relative to a user's position in the vehicle. A camera may capture a view of the user and processing circuitry may analyze the captured information to determine a position of the user in the vehicle and control the direction of air flow based on the determined position of the user.

Automatic orientation of hvac air vents to occupant

An apparatus that can include a vehicle compartment with a passage for air extraction is disclosed. The vehicle compartment can define an interior volume of a vehicle. The vehicle compartment can enclose the interior volume from an external environment. The apparatus can include a snorkel. The snorkel can be in fluid communication with the interior volume of the vehicle compartment. The snorkel can be in fluid communication with the external environment. The snorkel can be integrated into a truck bed of the vehicle. The truck bed of the vehicle can define a side wall space of the vehicle. The snorkel can be in fluid communication with the side wall space of the truck bed.

Air extractor for vehicle compartment

Systems and methods are provided for determining, by processing circuitry, a vehicle occupant has left a seat of a vehicle (or the seat is unoccupied), and in response to determining the vehicle occupant has left the seat (or the seat is unoccupied), causing a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system of the vehicle to thermally store energy in the seat.

Vehicle seat for storing thermal energy for occupant comfort

A ventilated seat, a vehicle including the ventilated seat, and a method of controlling airflow in a vehicle having a ventilated seat are provided. The ventilated seat includes a seat cushion assembly and an air duct configured to interface with a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) module of the vehicle and provide conditioned air from the HVAC module to the seat cushion assembly. The HVAC module of the vehicle further provides conditioned air to an interior cabin of the vehicle through at least one air vent.

Ventilated seat integrated into vehicle heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system

Disclosed embodiments include airflow systems, vehicles, and controllers of airflow units. An illustrative airflow system of a vehicle includes an airflow inlet duct, an airflow intake duct, an air intake door, and an airflow unit. The airflow inlet duct is adapted to draw ambient air. The airflow intake duct is adapted to receive airflow from the airflow inlet duct. The air intake door is positioned therebetween. The airflow unit includes a controller configured to close the air intake door and seal off the air intake duct from the airflow inlet duct in response to receipt of at least one signal indicating at least one condition chosen from 1) a presence of water in the airflow inlet duct, 2) a hood of the vehicle being in an open condition, 3) a presence of rain received from a precipitation sensor, and 4) activation of a predetermined speed setting of a windshield wiper.

Automatic air intake sealing

Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative devices, systems, and vehicles for heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) functions for an area remote from an HVAC system. In an illustrative embodiment, a device includes a seat having a first section of duct having a first end, a second section of duct couplable to the first section of duct, and a third section of duct couplable to the first section of duct. The second section of duct connects at a first end to an air supply source and at a second end to the first end of the first section of duct. The third section of duct includes an exhaust vent configured to direct air received from the air supply source in a direction aft of the seat.

Devices, systems, and vehicles for providing ventilation

Disclosed embodiments include apparatuses, vehicles, machines, equipment, and methods for selectively allocating airflow between different heat exchangers. In an illustrative embodiment, an apparatus includes a first heat exchanger configured to dissipate heat from at least one first system. A second heat exchanger is configured to dissipate heat from at least one second system. An airflow controller is configured to receive an intake airflow and to direct an output airflow to selectively direct at least a portion of the output airflow to either or both of the first and second heat exchangers.

Growing community of inventors

Garden City, MI, United States of America

Graham Lloyd Feltham