US 11,718,146 B2
Vehicle microclimate system and method of controlling same
Darren Andrew Schumacher, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Paul Cameron Giberson, Tecumseh (CA); Gregory Leo Steinl, Ann Arbor, MI (US); Wayne Swoyer Kauffman, III, Oak Park, MI (US); and Vincenzo Sebastiano, Tecumseh (CA)
Assigned to Gentherm Incorporated, Northville, MI (US)
Filed by Gentherm Incorporated, Northville, MI (US)
Filed on May 24, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/327,842.
Application 17/327,842 is a continuation of application No. 15/523,209, granted, now 11,014,424, previously published as PCT/US2015/058321, filed on Oct. 30, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/073,589, filed on Oct. 31, 2014.
Prior Publication US 2021/0276393 A1, Sep. 9, 2021
Int. Cl. B60H 1/00 (2006.01); B60N 2/56 (2006.01); B62D 1/06 (2006.01)
CPC B60H 1/00285 (2013.01) [B60H 1/0075 (2013.01); B60H 1/00292 (2013.01); B60H 1/00742 (2013.01); B60H 1/00764 (2013.01); B60H 1/00771 (2013.01); B60H 1/00892 (2013.01); B60N 2/56 (2013.01); B62D 1/065 (2013.01)] 21 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle microclimate system comprising:
a HVAC thermal conditioning system configured to provide a macroclimate environment;
an auxiliary thermal conditioning system that has multiple microclimate devices, the microclimate devices configured to be arranged within an interior space that provides the macroclimate environment to an occupant, the microclimate devices are configured to provide a microclimate environment to the occupant different than the macroclimate environment, the microclimate devices configured to be in close proximity to a region of the occupant; and
a controller in communication with the microclimate devices, the controller is configured to calculate an occupant personal comfort based upon a thermal energy experienced by the occupant from thermal radiation sources, thermal convection sources, and thermal conduction sources;
wherein the controller configured to automatically command the microclimate devices in response to the calculated occupant personal comfort based upon occupant characteristics to achieve a desired occupant personal comfort;
multiple thermal conditioning devices including the HVAC thermal conditioning system and the multiple microclimate devices; and
wherein the automatic command from the controller is configured to control at least two of the multiple thermal conditioning devices that includes at least one of the multiple microclimate devices to adjust and apportion the thermal conduction sources and/or thermal radiation sources experienced by the occupant, to achieve the desired occupant personal comfort.