Rapid heating, cooling and massaging for car seats using integrated shape memory alloy actuators and thermoelectric devices

Abstract

An apparatus and method for providing controlled heating, cooling and motion, in a device such as an active robotic automobile seat, are disclosed. A shape memory alloy (SMA) element, which changes shape upon application of a temperature change to the SMA element, is coupled to a thermoelectric device. Heat flows through the TED upon application of an electrical current through the TED. The apparatus is operable in one of a plurality of modes. In a first mode, a current is applied through the TED to cause a temperature change in the SMA element to change the shape of the SMA element. In a second mode, a current is applied to the TED to cause heat flow in a space adjacent to the apparatus. By controlling application of current to the TED, controlled motion, heating and cooling are achieved in the seat.

1 . An apparatus, comprising: 
 a shape memory alloy (SMA) element, the SMA element changing shape upon application of a temperature change to the SMA element;    a thermoelectric device (TED) coupled to the SMA element, heat flowing through the TED upon application of an electrical current through the TED; wherein:    the apparatus is operable in one of a plurality of modes;    in a first mode, a current is applied through the TED to cause a temperature change in the SMA element to change the shape of the SMA element; and    in a second mode, a current is applied to the TED to cause heat flow in a space adjacent to the apparatus.    
   
   
       2 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, in the second mode, the space is heated.  
   
   
       3 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein, in the second mode, the space is cooled.  
   
   
       4 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the current flowing in the TED in the first mode is in a reverse direction to that of the current flowing in the TED in the second mode.  
   
   
       5 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the SMA element is disposed between first and second TEDs.  
   
   
       6 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the SMA element is in the form of a wire in thermal communication with the TED, such that, upon application of a current to the TED, the wire SMA element shortens.  
   
   
       7 . The apparatus of  claim 6 , wherein the wire SMA element is connected to at least one actuating member to provide actuation of the actuating member upon application of the current to the TED.  
   
   
       8 . The apparatus of  claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is located within a seat.  
   
   
       9 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein, in the second mode, the current applied to the TED effects heating of the seat.  
   
   
       10 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein, in the second mode, the current applied to the TED effects cooling of the seat.  
   
   
       11 . The apparatus of  claim 8 , wherein the seat comprises an actuating member, the SMA element being coupled to the actuating member to provide actuation of the actuating member upon application of the current to the TED.  
   
   
       12 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the actuating member provides a rising motion to at least a portion of the seat.  
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , wherein the actuating member provides a sinking motion to at least a portion of the seat.  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 11 , further comprising a plurality of actuating members coupled to at least one SMA element to provide actuation of the actuating members upon application of the current to the TED.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 14 , wherein the actuation provides motion in a predetermined pattern in the seat.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined pattern is a wave motion.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 15 , wherein the predetermined pattern is a pattern of at least one of rising motions and sinking motions.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 17 , wherein the seat is an automobile seat.  
   
   
       19 . A seat comprising: 
 a plurality of actuation regions at which motion can be effected in the seat;    an actuation device coupled to the actuation regions, the actuation device comprising: 
 a shape memory alloy element (SMA), the SMA element changing shape upon application of a temperature change to the SMA element, and  
 a thermoelectric device (TED) coupled to the SMA element, heat flowing through the TED upon application of an electrical current through the TED; wherein:  
   the seat is operable in one of a plurality of modes;    in a first mode, a current is applied through the TED to cause a temperature change in the SMA element to change the shape of the SMA element to actuate at least one of the actuation regions to effect motion in the seat; and    in a second mode, a current is applied to the TED to cause heat flow in the seat.    
   
   
       20 . The seat of  claim 19 , wherein, in the second mode, the seat is heated.  
   
   
       21 . The seat of  claim 19 , wherein, in the second mode, the seat is cooled.  
   
   
       22 . The seat of  claim 19 , wherein, the current flowing in the TED in the first mode is in a reverse direction to that of the current flowing in the TED in the second mode.  
   
   
       23 . The seat of  claim 19 , wherein the SMA element is disposed between first and second TEDs.  
   
   
       24 . The seat of  claim 19 , wherein the SMA element is in the form of a wire in thermal communication with the TED, such that, upon application of a current to the TED, the wire SMA element shortens.  
   
   
       25 . The seat of  claim 19 , wherein the actuation device provides a rising motion to at least a portion of the seat.  
   
   
       26 . The seat of  claim 19 , wherein the actuation device provides a sinking motion to at least a portion of the seat.  
   
   
       27 . The seat of  claim 19 , wherein the actuation device provides motion in a predetermined pattern in the seat.  
   
   
       28 . The seat of  claim 27 , wherein the predetermined pattern is a wave motion.  
   
   
       29 . The seat of  claim 27 , wherein the predetermined pattern is a pattern of at least one of rising motions and sinking motions.  
   
   
       30 . The seat of  claim 19 , wherein the seat is an automobile seat.  
   
   
       31 . A method, comprising: 
 providing a shape memory alloy (SMA) element, the SMA element changing shape upon application of a temperature change to the SMA element;    providing a thermoelectric device (TED) coupled to the SMA element, heat flowing through the TED upon application of an electrical current through the TED;    performing one of two operations in one of two respective modes, wherein:    in a first mode, a current is applied through the TED to cause a temperature change in the SMA element to change the shape of the SMA element; and    in a second mode, a current is applied to the TED to cause heat flow in a space adjacent to the apparatus.    
   
   
       32 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein, in the second mode, the space is heated.  
   
   
       33 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein, in the second mode, the space is cooled.  
   
   
       34 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the current flowing in the TED in the first mode is in a reverse direction to that of the current flowing in the TED in the second mode.  
   
   
       35 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the SMA element is disposed between first and second TEDs.  
   
   
       36 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the SMA element is in the form of a wire in thermal communication with the TED, such that, upon application of a current to the TED, the wire SMA element shortens.  
   
   
       37 . The method of  claim 36 , wherein the wire SMA element is connected to at least one actuating member to provide actuation of the actuating member upon application of the current to the TED.  
   
   
       38 . The method of  claim 31 , wherein the method is carried out within a seat.  
   
   
       39 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein, in the second mode, the current applied to the TED effects heating of the seat.  
   
   
       40 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein, in the second mode, the current applied to the TED effects cooling of the seat.  
   
   
       41 . The method of  claim 38 , wherein the seat comprises an actuating member, the SMA element being coupled to the actuating member to provide actuation of the actuating member upon application of the current to the TED.  
   
   
       42 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the actuating member provides a rising motion to at least a portion of the seat.  
   
   
       43 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein the actuating member provides a sinking motion to at least a portion of the seat.  
   
   
       44 . The method of  claim 41 , wherein a plurality of actuating members are coupled to at least one SMA element to provide actuation of the actuating members upon application of the current to the TED.  
   
   
       45 . The method of  claim 44 , wherein the actuation provides motion in a predetermined pattern in the seat.  
   
   
       46 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the predetermined pattern is a wave motion.  
   
   
       47 . The method of  claim 45 , wherein the predetermined pattern is a pattern of at least one of rising motions and sinking motions.  
   
   
       48 . The method of  claim 47 , wherein the seat is an automobile seat.  
   
   
       49 . A method comprising: 
 providing a plurality of actuation regions at which motion can be effected in a seat;    providing an actuation device coupled to the actuation regions, the actuation device comprising: 
 a shape memory alloy element (SMA), the SMA element changing shape upon application of a temperature change to the SMA element, and  
 a thermoelectric device (TED) coupled to the SMA element, heat flowing through the TED upon application of an electrical current through the TED; wherein:  
   the seat is operable in one of a plurality of modes;    in a first mode, a current is applied through the TED to cause a temperature change in the SMA element to change the shape of the SMA element to actuate at least one of the actuation regions to effect motion in the seat; and    in a second mode, a current is applied to the TED to cause heat flow in the seat.    
   
   
       50 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein, in the second mode, the seat is heated.  
   
   
       51 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein, in the second mode, the seat is cooled.  
   
   
       52 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein, the current flowing in the TED in the first mode is in a reverse direction to that of the current flowing in the TED in the second mode.  
   
   
       53 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the SMA element is disposed between first and second TEDs.  
   
   
       54 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the SMA element is in the form of a wire in thermal communication with the TED, such that, upon application of a current to the TED, the wire SMA element shortens.  
   
   
       55 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the actuation device provides a rising motion to at least a portion of the seat.  
   
   
       56 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the actuation device provides a sinking motion to at least a portion of the seat.  
   
   
       57 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the actuation device provides motion in a predetermined pattern in the seat.  
   
   
       58 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the predetermined pattern is a wave motion.  
   
   
       59 . The method of  claim 57 , wherein the predetermined pattern is a pattern of at least one of rising motions and sinking motions.  
   
   
       60 . The method of  claim 49 , wherein the seat is an automobile seat.