Thermal module for climate-controlled seat assemblies

1. A thermal module configured for use with a climate-controlled seat assembly, comprising:

a housing defining a generally enclosed interior space, said housing comprising a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet;

a thermoelectric device;

a plurality of heat exchange members in thermal communication with the thermoelectric device;

a fluid transfer device configured to transfer a fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet at least partially through the heat exchange members in order to selectively heat or cool the fluid;

at least one sensor configured to sense a temperature condition and to provide a corresponding temperature signal; and

a controller operatively connected to the sensor, said controller configured to control at least one of the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device based at least in part on the temperature signal;

wherein the thermoelectric device, the heat exchange members, the fluid transfer device and the controller are situated within the enclosed interior space of the housing; and

wherein the thermal module is configured for use in a climate-controlled seat assembly with no physically separate independent controllers for controlling the thermal module.

2. The thermal module of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises an opening, the opening being configured to connect at least one wire from outside the housing to the controller.

3. The thermal module of claim 2 , wherein the at least one wire is electrically connected to at least one of the sensor, a power source and a user input device.

4. The thermal module of claim 1 , wherein the fluid outlet is configured to be placed in fluid communication with a fluid distribution system of a climate-controlled seat assembly.

5. The thermal module of claim 4 , wherein the fluid distribution system comprises at least one channel or passage formed in a cushion of the climate-controlled seat assembly.

6. The thermal module of claim 1 , wherein the climate-controlled seat assembly comprises a vehicle seat.

7. The thermal module of claim 1 , wherein the climate-controlled seat assembly comprises a mattress.

8. A conditioning device for selectively providing thermally-conditioned air to a climate-controlled seat assembly, comprising:

a protective casing having at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet, said protective casing defining an enclosed interior space;

a thermoelectric device;

first heat exchangers in thermal communication with a first side of the thermoelectric device;

second heat exchangers in thermal communication with a second side of the thermoelectric device, said second side being generally opposite of the first side of the thermoelectric device;

a fluid pump configured to transfer a fluid from the at least one fluid inlet to the at least one fluid outlet at least partially through the first or second heat exchangers to selectively heat or cool the fluid exiting the at least one fluid outlet; and

a controller for selectively controlling at least one of the thermoelectric device and the fluid pump; and

at least one opening in the protective casing, said opening configured to connect at least one wire from outside the protective casing to the controller;

wherein the thermoelectric device, the first and second heat exchange members, the fluid pump and the controller are situated within the enclosed interior space of the protective casing; and

wherein the device does not require another physically separate independent controller in order to control the thermoelectric device or the fluid pump.

9. The conditioning device of claim 8 , wherein the controller is operatively connected to a user input device, said user input device configured to permit a user to select a control setting or operational mode for the conditioning device.

10. The conditioning device of claim 8 , further comprising at least one sensor configured to sense a temperature condition within the enclosed interior space and to provide a corresponding temperature signal, said at least one sensor being operatively connected to the controller.

11. The conditioning device of claim 8 , wherein the at least one wire is electrically connected to a power source.

12. The conditioning device of claim 8 , wherein the device is positioned within or on a climate-controlled seat assembly and wherein the at least one fluid outlet is in fluid communication with a fluid distribution system of said climate-controlled seat assembly.

13. The conditioning device of claim 12 , wherein the fluid distribution system comprises at least one channel or passage formed in a cushion of the climate-controlled seat assembly.

14. The conditioning device of claim 8 , wherein the climate-controlled seat assembly comprises a vehicle seat or a mattress.

15. A climate controlled seat assembly comprising:

at least one cushion;

a thermal module comprising:

a protective housing separate and independent from the cushion, said protective housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, said protective housing defining an interior space;

a thermoelectric device;

a plurality of heat exchange members in thermal communication with the thermoelectric device;

a fluid transfer device configured to transfer a fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet through or near the heat exchange members to selectively heat or cool the fluid; and

a control module configured to control at least one of the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device based, at least in part, on a temperature signal generated by a sensor positioned within the interior space of the protective housing;

wherein the thermoelectric device, the fluid transfer device and the control module are at least partially situated within the interior space of the protective housing; and

a fluid distribution system comprising at least one channel and an inlet passage, said inlet passage being in fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the thermal module;

wherein the fluid distribution system is positioned at least partially within the at least one cushion of the climate controlled seat assembly;

wherein thermally conditioned fluid entering the fluid distribution system is configured to be distributed toward a seated occupant of the climate controlled seat assembly; and

wherein the thermal module can be installed in the seat assembly and can be properly operated without the need for an independent control unit that is physically separated from the protective housing.

16. The seat assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a user input device, the user input device being operatively connected to the control module of the thermal module.

17. The seat assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a second thermal module, the second thermal module configured to selectively provide thermally conditioned fluid to a different part of the climate controlled seat assembly.

18. The seat assembly of claim 15 , wherein the thermoelectric device comprises a Peltier circuit and the fluid transfer device comprises a fan.

19. The seat assembly of claim 15 , wherein the climate-controlled seat assembly comprises a vehicle seat.

20. The seat assembly of claim 15 , wherein the cushion comprises a mattress.

21. The thermal module of claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the operation of the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device based upon predetermined logic.

22. The thermal module of claim 21 , wherein the controller comprises a single controller configured to adjust operation of the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device based upon predetermined logic.

23. The thermal module of claim 21 , wherein the predetermined logic uses the temperature signal and an occupant input to adjust the operation of the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device.

24. The thermal module of claim 23 , wherein the occupant input includes a temperature setting.

25. The thermal module of claim 1 , further comprising a power control unit configured to provide electrical capacity to the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device.

26. The conditioning device of claim 8 , wherein the controller is configured to adjust the operation of the thermoelectric device and the fluid pump based upon predetermined logic.

27. The conditioning device of claim 26 , wherein the controller comprises a single controller configured to adjust operation of the thermoelectric device and the fluid pump device based upon predetermined logic.

28. The conditioning device of claim 26 , wherein the predetermined logic uses a temperature signal and an occupant input to adjust the operation of the thermoelectric device and the fluid pump.

29. The conditioning device of claim 28 , wherein the occupant input includes a temperature setting.

30. The conditioning device of claim 8 , further comprising a power control unit configured to provide electrical capacity to the thermoelectric device and the fluid pump.

31. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 15 , wherein the control module is configured to adjust the operation of the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device based upon predetermined logic.

32. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 31 , wherein the control module comprises a single controller configured to adjust operation of the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device based upon predetermined logic.

33. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 31 , wherein the predetermined logic uses the temperature signal and an occupant input to adjust the operation of the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device.

34. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 33 , wherein the occupant input includes a temperature setting.

35. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 15 , further comprising a power control unit configured to provide electrical capacity to the thermoelectric device and the fluid transfer device.

36. The climate controlled seat assembly of claim 15 , further comprising at a second seat cushion and a second thermal module associated with the seat cushion, the second thermal module comprising:

a protective housing separate and independent from the cushion, said protective housing having a fluid inlet and a fluid outlet, said protective housing defining an interior space;

a thermoelectric device;

a plurality of heat exchange members in thermal communication with the thermoelectric device;

a fluid transfer device configured to transfer a fluid from the fluid inlet to the fluid outlet through or near the heat exchange members to selectively heat or cool the fluid; and

wherein the thermoelectric device, the fluid transfer device and the control module are at least partially situated within the interior space of the protective housing.