Occupant clothing predictor for thermal effector control

Inventors

Androulakis, Ioannis • Martin, Blake Thomas

Assignees

Gentherm Inc

Abstract

A microclimate control system for a seated occupant includes a seat having a cushion and a back respectively including a first array of pressure sensors and a second array of pressure sensors. The first array of pressure sensors provides a cushion occupant output. The second array of pressure sensors provides a back occupant output. The cushion and back occupant outputs correspond to load distributions from the seated occupant. At least one thermal effector is configured to provide thermal conditioning to the seated occupant. A controller is in communication with the first and second arrays of pressure sensors and with the at least one thermal effector. The controller includes an occupant personal parameters algorithm configured to extract occupant personal parameters based upon the cushion and back occupant outputs. The occupant personal parameters include at least two of an occupant weight, an occupant height, and an occupant gender. The occupant personal parameter algorithm estimates an occupant clothing insulation value from the occupant personal parameters. The controller is configured to regulate the at least one thermal effector based upon the occupant clothing insulation value.

Core Innovation

The invention provides a microclimate control system for a seated occupant. The system uses a seat including a cushion and a back that respectively include a first array of pressure sensors and a second array of pressure sensors, and these outputs correspond to load distributions from the seated occupant.

Computing hardware in communication with the pressure sensor arrays and at least one thermal effector utilizes an occupant personal parameters algorithm to extract occupant personal parameters based upon the cushion and back occupant outputs. The occupant personal parameters include at least two of an occupant weight, an occupant height, and an occupant gender, and the computing hardware then estimates an occupant clothing insulation value from the occupant personal parameters.

The computing hardware regulates the at least one thermal effector based upon the occupant clothing insulation value. The system provides thermal conditioning to the seated occupant, and the document also describes optional use of outside air temperature and outside humidity from an environmental sensor, and contextual inputs including vehicle location.

Claims Coverage

The document contains two independent claims covering an occupant microclimate control system and a corresponding method. Across these independent claims, the core inventive features are centered on deriving occupant personal parameters from seat pressure distributions, estimating occupant clothing insulation value, and regulating thermal effector(s) accordingly.

Both independent claims require measuring occupant pressure distributions on a seat cushion and seat back, extracting occupant personal parameters using an occupant personal parameters algorithm, estimating an occupant clothing insulation value, and regulating at least one thermal effector based on that estimated clothing insulation value.

Stated Advantages

Documented Applications