Gentherm Gmbh

The Ohio State University

Zt Plus

Vladimir Jovovic

Dmitri Kossakovski

Eric Poliquin

Ellen M Heian

John Walter LaGrandeur

Chad Westerman

Ankit Tiwari

David Marquette

Douglas Todd Crane

Tim Normand

Michael Maass

Shane Kyle Greenwood

Ajay Murgod

Daniel Charles Guerithault

Tyler Myers

Ioannis Androulakis

Denis Michel Miron

Jeremy Swanson

Alan Chewter

Chad Vincent Pacilli

Joseph P Heremans

Jun Yang

Christopher M Jaworski

Fred Harris

Alan James Valentine Chewter

Joseph Dean

A method of controlling an occupant microclimate environment includes determining a heat balance on an occupant in a microclimate environment based upon a thermal model of the heat transfer effects on the occupant, estimating an overall thermal sensation of the occupant based upon the heat balance, referencing a target overall thermal sensation of the occupant, calculating an error between the estimated overall thermal sensation and the target overall thermal sensation, and controlling at least one thermal effector in at least one zone in the microclimate environment to reduce the error in overall thermal sensation while maintaining all effectors within limits of temperature and flow rate that ensure occupant comfort.

Thermophysiologically-based microclimate control system

A method of providing thermal conditioning for a vehicle occupant according to an example of the present disclosure includes determining a respective target temperature for each of a plurality of discrete OPZs. Each OPZ is associated with a different occupant body area. The determining is based on a difference between a first OTS indicative of a target heat flux for the occupant and a second OTS indicative of an estimated heat flux experienced by the occupant, wherein the respective target temperatures differ between the OPZs. The method includes providing thermal conditioning in each OPZ based on the target temperature for the OPZ, which includes utilizing at least one thermal effector in the OPZ. The method also includes receiving a temperature offset value for a particular one of the OPZs from the occupant, and adjusting the target temperature for the particular one of the OPZs based on the temperature offset value.

Vehicle microclimate personalization based on occupant thermophysiology

A method of controlling occupant thermal comfort includes the steps of driving a temperature in a seating zone to a temperature set point (), holding the temperature set point in the seating zone for a predetermined time (), and regulating the temperature in the seating zone to a corrected temperature set point based upon an equivalent homogenous temperature relating to vehicle cabin conditions and occupant gender ().

Automatic seat thermal comfort control system and method

An air distribution system that includes a plenum, which has a bottom wall, a peripheral wall connected to the bottom wall and extending around a periphery of the plenum to define one or more open spaces in the plenum, and one or more connection recesses in the bottom wall adapted to connect to a blower. A top surface of the peripheral wall is configured to contact a bottom surface of a cushion of a vehicle seat to enclose the one or more open spaces.

Single piece plenum

A method of fabricating a thermoelectric device includes providing a thermoelectric device having a thermally conductive first plate, a thermally conductive second plate, and a plurality of thermoelectric elements in a region bounded by and including the first plate and the second plate. The plurality of thermoelectric elements is in thermal communication with the first plate and the second plate. The method further includes forming a polymeric coating in the region on at least one surface of the first plate, at least one surface of the second plate, and at least one surface of the plurality of thermoelectric elements.

Thermoelectric device having a polymeric coating

A thermoelectric module assembly for thermally conditioning a component is includes first and second heat spreaders spaced apart from one another and at least one thermoelectric sub-assembly between and in thermal communication with the first and second heat spreaders. The at least one thermoelectric sub-assembly includes a plurality of thermoelectric devices and a printed circuit board having a plurality of electrical conduits. Each of the thermoelectric devices has a first end portion and a second end portion, the second end portion opposite from the first end portion, the first end portion mechanically coupled to the printed circuit board and in electrical communication with the plurality of electrical conduits, and the second end portion spaced from the printed circuit board.

Thermoelectric module with integrated printed circuit board

A method of autonomously providing thermal comfort to an occupant in contact with a component includes the step of determining a heat flux between the component and the occupant. A heat flux inversion is determined using the heat flux. The heat flux inversion corresponds to a change in occupant thermal comfort. A thermal conditioning device is controlled based upon the heat flux inversion to maintain a desired heat flux.

Climate controlled seat with a thermal conditioning device which is controlled by determining a heat flux

A thermoelectric device includes a thermally conductive first plate and at least one thermoelectric sub-assembly comprises a thermally conductive second plate and a plurality of thermoelectric elements in a region between the first plate and the second plate. The at least one thermoelectric sub-assembly further includes a first material along a first portion of a perimeter of the region and having a first stiffness and a second material along a second portion of the perimeter of the region and having a second stiffness less than the first stiffness.

Thermoelectric device having a plurality of sealing materials

Thermoelectric devices with interface materials and methods of manufacturing the same are provided. A thermoelectric device can include at least one shunt, at least one thermoelectric element in thermal and electrical communication with the at least one shunt, and at least one interface material between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element. The at least one interface material can comprise a plurality of regions comprising a core material with each region separated from one another and surrounded by a shell material. The interface material can be configured to undergo deformation under (i) a normal load between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element or (ii) a shear load between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element. The deformation can reduce interface stress between the at least one shunt and the at least one thermoelectric element.

Thermoelectric devices with interface materials and methods of manufacturing the same

Cartridge-based thermoelectric assemblies and systems are provided which include at least one shunt configured to extend around a conduit, a plurality of thermoelectric elements in thermal communication and in electrical communication with the at least one shunt with at least a portion of the at least one shunt sandwiched between the at least one first thermoelectric element and the at least one second thermoelectric element. The thermoelectric elements are electrically isolated from the conduit. The thermoelectric assemblies and systems further include at least one heat exchanger in thermal communication with the at least one shunt and configured to be in thermal communication with a second fluid.

Cartridge-based thermoelectric systems

A thermoelectric assembly and method are provided. The thermoelectric assembly can extend at least partially around a perimeter of a first fluid conduit. The thermoelectric assembly can include a plurality of thermoelectric sub-assemblies aligned with one another along the perimeter of the first fluid conduit. Each thermoelectric sub-assembly can include a plurality of thermoelectric elements in parallel electrical communication with one another, and at least one shunt a plurality of electrically insulating elements to prevent current flow in a plane perpendicular to the first direction between adjacent thermoelectric sub-assemblies.

Systems and methods for reducing current and increasing voltage in thermoelectric systems

A thermoelectric material and a method of making a thermoelectric material are provided. In certain embodiments, the thermoelectric material comprises at least 10 volume percent porosity. In some embodiments, the thermoelectric material has a zT greater than about 1.2 at a temperature of about 375 K. In some embodiments, the thermoelectric material comprises a topological thermoelectric material. In some embodiments, the thermoelectric material comprises a general composition of (BiSb)(TeSe), wherein 0&#x2266;x&#x2266;1, 0&#x2266;y&#x2266;1, 1.8&#x2266;u&#x2266;2.2, 2.8&#x2266;w&#x2266;3.2. In further embodiments, the thermoelectric material includes a compound having at least one group IV element and at least one group VI element. In certain embodiments, the method includes providing a powder comprising a thermoelectric composition, pressing the powder, and sintering the powder to form the thermoelectric material.

Growing community of inventors

Pasadena, CA, United States of America

Vladimir Jovovic