Apparatus for condensation reduction in a dynamically cooled air stream

Abstract

A blanket apparatus for accepting and distributing a pressurized flow of conditioned air into a zone around the body of a bed occupant. The apparatus includes an upper layer and lower layer of differing air permeability, joined to form a flow cavity between them for the pressurized air. A plurality of joining methods between the upper and lower layer is provided within the flow area to prevent the blanket from ballooning under the pressurized air flow. The blanket apparatus contains means to cover an entire bed while directing pressurized conditioned air to specific zones of the bed. The invention also contemplates connection of two independent supplies of conditioned air into a single top layer of bedding under which multiple bed occupants sleep, to evenly distribute such independent supplies into specific dual zone areas. The apparatus achieves its function by utilizing materials that are ordinarily used in existing bed linens and comforters. An apparatus and method for providing cooled air to a bed while avoiding generation of condensation. During active operation of the cooling system to generate conditioned air, conditioned air stream is actively measured with a solid state relative humidity sensor and the operation of the thermal cooling device within the apparatus is adjusted up or down to avoid condensation generation. A solid state condensation dew sensor in the conditioned air stream is also proposed as a means to adjust up or down the thermal cooling power of the device.

1 . An apparatus for supplying a variably conditioned air flow to a bed or mattress, the apparatus comprising:
 a blower or fan arranged to generate a pressurized air flow for delivery to the bed or mattress;   at least one cooling element;   means for electrically powering said at least one cooling element at a cooling level, the electrically powered at least one cooling element conditioning the pressurized air flow accordingly at the cooling level;   an air humidity sensor located in the conditioned, pressurized air flow, the air humidity sensor being configured to obtain a conditioned air flow humidity measurement; and   control means for avoiding generation of condensation during the conditioning of the air flow, the control means including a microcontroller coupled to the electrically powered at least one cooling element so as to receive the obtained conditioned air flow humidity measurement, and which, in response to receipt of the obtained conditioned air flow humidity measurement, dynamically adjusts the cooling level of the electrically powered at least one cooling element appropriately up or down relative to a pre-configured sensor set point to thereby avoid generation of the condensation during the conditioning of the air flow.   
     
     
         2 . The apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a heating element arranged to supply heat to the conditioned air stream. 
     
     
         3 . (canceled) 
     
     
         4 . The apparatus as in  claim 1 , further comprising a removable washable air filter material positioned within the air flow. 
     
     
         5 . (canceled) 
     
     
         6 . (canceled) 
     
     
         7 . A an apparatus for supplying a variably conditioned air flow to a bed or mattress, the apparatus comprising:
 a blower or fan for generating a pressurized air flow for delivery to the bed or mattress;   at least one cooling element;   means for electrically powering said at least one cooling element at a cooling level, the electrically powered at least one cooling element conditioning the pressurized air flow accordingly at the cooling level;   a solid state dewing sensor located in the conditioned air flow that obtains a conditioned air dewing measurement; and   control means for avoiding generation of condensation during the conditioning of the air flow, the control means including a microcontroller coupled to the electrically powered at least one cooling element so as to receive the obtained conditioned air dewing measurement and which, in response to receipt of the obtained conditioned air dewing measurement, appropriately dynamically adjusts the cooling level of the electrically powered at least one cooling element up or down relative to a pre-configured sensor set point to thereby avoid generation of the condensation during the conditioning of the air flow.   
     
     
         8 . The apparatus as in  claim 7 , further comprising a heating element arranged to supply heat to the conditioned air flow. 
     
     
         9 . (canceled) 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus as in  claim 7  further comprising a removable washable air filter material positioned within the air flow. 
     
     
         11 . (canceled) 
     
     
         12 . (canceled) 
     
     
         13 . A method for supplying a variably conditioned air flow to a bed or mattress, the apparatus comprising:
 arranging a blower or fan to generate a pressurized air flow for delivery to the bed or mattress;   electrically powering at least one cooling element to condition the pressurized air flow at a cooling level;   locating a sensor in the conditioned air flow, the sensor obtaining a measurement of the conditioned air flow, the sensor being selected from the group consisting of an air humidity sensor that obtains the measurement as a conditioned air humidity measurement of the conditioned air flow and a solid state dewing sensor that obtains the measurement as a conditioned air dewing measurement of the conditioned air flow;   avoiding condensation during conditioning of the air flow by coupling a microcontroller to the electrically powered at least one cooling element so that the microcontroller receives the obtained measurement, and, in response to receipt of the obtained measurement, the microcontroller dynamically adjusts the cooling level of the electrically powered at least one cooling element appropriately up or down relative to a pre-configured sensor set point to thereby avoid the generation of the condensation during the conditioning of the air flow.   
     
     
         14 . The method as in  claim 7 , further comprising heating the conditioned air flow with a heating element within the conditioned air flow. 
     
     
         15 . The method as in  claim 13 , further comprising positioning a removable washable air filter material in the air flow and removing the removable washable air filter material from the air flow. 
     
     
         16 . The method as in  claim 13 , wherein the sensor is the air humidity sensor that provides the measurement as the conditioned air humidity measurement of the conditioned air flow. 
     
     
         17 . The method as in  claim 13 , wherein the sensor is the solid state dewing sensor that provides the measurement as the conditioned air dewing measurement of the conditioned air flow.