초록 ▼

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 thermoelec

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A method for operating an air conditioning system configured to deliver conditioned air to a supporting apparatus, the method comprising: generating an air flow for delivery to a bed or mattress using at least one fan;guiding the air flow from the at least one fan through at least one channel con

1. A method for operating an air conditioning system configured to deliver conditioned air to a supporting apparatus, the method comprising: generating an air flow for delivery to a bed or mattress using at least one fan;guiding the air flow from the at least one fan through at least one channel containing at least one thermoelectric device using a plurality of channels;conditioning the air flow using the at least one thermoelectric device;measuring a relative humidity of ambient air using an ambient air humidity sensor;receiving a user input;operating the air conditioning system according to an operation cycle in response to the user input;receiving, during the operation cycle, a first relative humidity measurement of ambient air in which the air conditioning system is disposed;adjusting, during the operation cycle, operation of at least one thermoelectric device within the air conditioning system in response to the received first relative humidity measurement to control condensation generation within the air conditioning system;deactivating the at least one thermoelectric device after a duration of the operation cycle while the at least one fan remains operating for a drying cycle;receiving a second relative humidity measurement after the at least one thermoelectric device have been deactivated; andwhen the second relative humidity measurement is above a predetermined threshold, adjusting, during the drying cycle, at least one of an air flow rate across a condensate reservoir or a duration of air flow across the condensate reservoir of the air conditioning system, wherein the at least one thermoelectric device are deactivated during the drying cycle. 2. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein adjusting operation of the at least one thermoelectric device comprises: adjusting downward a rate of operation of the at least one thermoelectric device when the received relative humidity measurement is above a predetermined threshold. 3. The method in accordance with claim 1, wherein adjusting operation of the at least one thermoelectric device comprises: adjusting downward a rate of operation of the at least one thermoelectric device when the received relative humidity measurement is above a predetermined humidity threshold and a current rate of operation of the at least one thermoelectric device is above a predetermined rate of operation threshold. 4. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: monitoring a current run time compared to a threshold run time during the operation cycle; andwherein adjusting operation of the at least one thermoelectric device comprises adjusting operation of the at least one thermoelectric device in response to the received relative humidity measurement, the threshold run time and the current run time. 5. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: after completion of the operation cycle, operating the air conditioning system in accordance with a drying cycle, wherein, during the drying cycle, conditioned air is not generated for delivery to the supporting apparatus;measuring, during the drying cycle, the relative humidity of the ambient air in which the air conditioning system is disposed. 6. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: after completion of the operation cycle, operating the air conditioning system in accordance with a drying cycle, wherein, during the drying cycle, conditioned air is not generated for delivery to the supporting apparatus;measuring, during the drying cycle, the relative humidity of the ambient air in which the air conditioning system is disposed; andcontrolling operation of the drying cycle by controlling at least one of an air flow rate across the condensate reservoir or the duration of air flow across the condensate reservoir. 7. The method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising: measuring a first humidity after completion of the operation cycle;performing humidity measurements periodically after completion of the operation cycle;calculating an adjusted humidity based on the measured first humidity and at least one of the periodic humidity measurements; andadjusting operation of the drying cycle based on the calculated adjusted humidity by controlling at least one of an air flow rate across the condensate reservoir or the duration of air flow across the condensate reservoir. 8. A thermoelectric-based air conditioning system for use with a bed or mattress, the system comprising: at least one fan configured to generate an air flow for delivery to the bed or mattress;at least one thermoelectric device configured to condition the air flow;a plurality of channels configured to guide the air flow from the at least one fan through at least one channel containing the at least one thermoelectric device;an ambient air humidity sensor configured to measure a relative humidity of ambient air; anda controller coupled to the at least one fan, the at least one thermoelectric device, and the ambient air humidity sensor, the controller configured to: receive a user input,control operation of the air conditioning system in accordance with an operation cycle in response to the user input,receive a first relative humidity measurement from the ambient air humidity sensor during the operation cycle,adjust operation of the at least one thermoelectric device in response to the received first relative humidity measurement to control condensate generated by operation of the at least one thermoelectric device,deactivate the at least one thermoelectric device after a duration of the operation cycle while the at least one fan remains perating for a drying cycle,receive a second relative humidity measurement after the at least one thermoelectric device have been deactivated, andwhen the second relative humidity measurement is above a predetermined threshold, adjust, during the drying cycle, at least one of an air flow rate across a condensate reservoir or a duration of air flow across the condensate reservoir of the air conditioning system, wherein the at least one thermoelectric device are deactivated during the drying cycle. 9. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust downward a rate of operation of the at least one thermoelectric device when the relative humidity measurement is above a predetermined threshold. 10. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to adjust downward a rate of operation of the at least one thermoelectric device when the relative humidity measurement is above a predetermined humidity threshold and a current rate of operation of the at least one thermoelectric device is above a predetermined rate of operation threshold. 11. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to: monitor a current run time compared to a threshold run time during the operation cycle; andadjust operation of the at least one thermoelectric device in response to the relative humidity measurement, the threshold run time and the current run time. 12. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 8, wherein after completion of the operation cycle, the controller is configured to: operate the air conditioning system in accordance with the drying cycle, wherein, during the drying cycle, conditioned air is not generated for delivery to a supporting apparatus; andmeasure, during the drying cycle, the relative humidity of the ambient air in which the air conditioning system is disposed. 13. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 8, wherein after completion of the operation cycle, the controller is further configured to: operate the air conditioning system in accordance with a drying cycle, wherein, during the drying cycle, conditioned air is not generated for delivery to a supporting apparatus;measure, during the drying cycle, the relative humidity of the ambient air in which the air conditioning system is disposed; andcontrol operation of the drying cycle by controlling at least one of an air flow rate across the condensate reservoir or the duration of air flow across the condensate reservoir. 14. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to: measure a first humidity after completion of the operation cycle;perform humidity measurements periodically after completion of the operation cycle;calculate an adjusted humidity based on the measured first humidity and at least one of the periodic humidity measurements; andadjust operation of the drying cycle based on the calculated adjusted humidity by controlling at least one of an air flow rate across the condensate reservoir or the duration of air flow across the condensate reservoir. 15. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the controller is further configured to determine an amount of time for the duration based on the humidity. 16. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 8, wherein the at least one fan comprises: a blower configured to operate in the operation cycle and to generate the air flow for delivery to the bed or mattress; andan axial fan configured to operate in drying mode and remove condensate from the air conditioning system. 17. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 8, further comprising a liquid level or a float switch configured to provide an indication of a level of condensate in the condensate reservoir. 18. An air conditioning system for conditioning air for use with a seat or bed, the system comprising: a housing having a thermoelectric device disposed therein;at least one supply side fan for moving air through at least one air inlet within the housing into a supply side chamber where the air is conditioned by the thermoelectric device and for moving the conditioned air through an air supply outlet within the housing;at least one exhaust side fan for moving air through the at least one air inlet and into an exhaust side chamber where the air is conditioned by the thermoelectric device and moving the conditioned air through at least one exhaust vent within the housing;a removable air filter assembly coupled to the housing and configured for filtering air flow into the at least one air inlet, the removable air filter assembly comprising, an air filter housing, andair filter material;an attachment structure configured to removably attach the air filter housing to the housing,wherein the thermoelectric device is configured to condition the air flow;an ambient air humidity sensor configured to sense humidity of ambient air; anda controller coupled to the at least one supply side fan, the exhaust side fan, the at least one thermoelectric device, and the ambient air humidity sensor, the controller configured to: receive a user input,control operation of the air conditioning system in accordance with an operation cycle in response to the user input,receive a first relative humidity measurement from the ambient air humidity sensor during the operation cycle,adjust operation of the thermoelectric device in response to the received first relative humidity measurement to control condensate generated by operation of the thermoelectric device;deactivate the thermoelectric device after a duration of the operation cycle while the one or more fans remain operating for a drying cycle;receive a second relative humidity measurement after the thermoelectric device have been deactivated; andwhen the second relative humidity measurement is above a predetermined threshold, adjusting, during the drying cycle, at least one of an air flow rate across a condensate reservoir or a duration of air flow across the condensate reservoir of the air conditioning system, wherein the thermoelectric device are deactivated during the drying cycle. 19. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 18, wherein the attachment structure comprises magnetic material. 20. The air conditioning system in accordance with claim 18, further comprising: a bottom tray configured to collect condensate; andwherein the at least one air inlet comprises a first air inlet positioned on a first side of the housing and a second air inlet positioned on a second side of the housing, and both the first and second air inlets are disposed in position such that air flowing through at least one of the first and second air inlets is drawn near, through or over the bottom tray.