Temperature regulation system and a controller for a temperature regulation system

Abstract

Various embodiments relate to an apparatus and a method for temperature regulation system that can be worn by a user. One of the embodiments includes an article of clothing having the functionality to regulate the skin temperature of a portion on a user's body.

1 . A temperature regulation system for regulating the temperature of a user's body, the temperature regulation system comprising:
 a temperature sensors adapted to continuously generate a temperature measurement that relates to a temperature of a portion of a user's body, or a temperature of an environment;   a temperature adjustment element adapted to provide heat and/or cold to a portion of the user's body;   a controller in electronic communication with the temperature sensor and the temperature adjustment element;   the controller configured to continuously receive the temperature measurement of the portion of the user's body or the temperature of the environment, determine an absolute temperature and an actual rate of temperature change, and compare the absolute temperature and the rate of temperature change with a threshold absolute temperature and threshold rate of temperature change, thresholds being unique for each user based on at least the temperature measurement during a calibration process in a comfortable environment;   the controller configured to activate the temperature adjustment element to provide heat or cold to the portion of the user's body when the absolute temperature or the rate of temperature change measured is below or above the threshold, or deactivate the temperature adjustment element when the absolute temperature or the rate of temperature change measured exceeds or is or below the threshold;   wherein the temperature sensor and the temperature adjustment element are positioned on a wearable garment.   
     
     
         2 . A temperature regulation system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the wearable garment is configured to be worn by a user, the temperature sensor and the temperature adjustment element being positioned in an operable position, next to the user's skin. 
     
     
         3 . A temperature regulation system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of temperature adjustment elements are arranged on the wearable garment such that:
 in use, at least one temperature adjustment element is positioned on a forearm of the user,   in use, at least one temperature adjustment element is positioned on an arm of the user,   in use, at least one temperature adjustment element is positioned on the abdomen of the user,   in use, at least one temperature adjustment element is positioned on the chest of the user,   in use, at least one temperature adjustment element is positioned on the back of the user.   
     
     
         4 . A temperature regulation system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of temperature adjustment elements are arranged on the wearable garment such that:
 in use, at least one temperature adjustment element positioned on a thigh of the user,   in use, at least one temperature adjustment element being positioned on a lower leg of the user.   
     
     
         5 . A temperature regulation system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of temperature adjustment elements are arranged on a wearable garment such that,
 in use, at least one temperature adjustment element aligns with a finger of the user, and,   in use, at least one temperature adjustment element aligns with a hand of the user.   
     
     
         6 . A temperature regulation system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the plurality of temperature adjustment elements are arranged on a wearable garment such that, in use, at least one temperature adjustment element aligns with a head of the user. 
     
     
         7 . A temperature regulation system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive the temperature measurement from each temperature sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors, each temperature measurement corresponding to the temperature at a location of the user's body, and wherein each location corresponding to the location a temperature sensor from the plurality of temperature sensors. 
     
     
         8 . A temperature regulation system in accordance with  claim 7 , wherein the controller is configured to compare each temperature measurement from each temperature sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors with a threshold temperature, and the controller selectively activating the temperature adjustment element corresponding to the location where the temperature measurement is less or more than the threshold temperature. 
     
     
         9 . A temperature regulation system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the system further comprises;
 an environmental sensor that is configured to generate an environmental parameter,   the controller is in electronic communication with the environmental sensor, the controller further configured to adjust the threshold temperature based on the environmental parameter.   
     
     
         10 . A temperature regulation system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the system additionally comprises:
 a motion sensor configured to generate a motion measurement that relates to a motion of the user,   the controller in electronic communication with the motion sensor, the controller configured to receive the motion measurement, wherein   the controller being further configured to analyze the user's activity and adjust the threshold temperature based on the motion measurement, and wherein the threshold temperature is related to motion measurement, such that the greater the motion measurement the lower the threshold temperature, the controller being configured to adjust the threshold temperature based on the measured motion.   
     
     
         11 . A temperature regulation system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the controller is configured to receive a user parameter, the controller further configured to adjust the threshold temperature based on the user parameter and, wherein the user parameter is at least one or more of age, gender, personal thermal sensitivity, body height, body mass, cold habituation/acclimation, acute weakness, time of day, season. 
     
     
         12 . A temperature regulation system in accordance with  claim 1 , wherein the controller configured to activate the temperature adjustment element based on comparing the temperature measurement with an adjusted threshold temperature, the adjusted threshold temperature being adjusted based on an environmental temperature measurement, motion measurement and a user parameter. 
     
     
         13 . A temperature regulation system for regulating the temperature of a user's body, the temperature regulation system comprising:
 a plurality of temperature sensors, each temperature sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors adapted to generate a temperature measurement that relates to a temperature of a portion of the user's body,   a plurality of temperature adjustment elements, each temperature adjustment element of the plurality of temperature adjustment elements configured to provide heat and/or cold to a portion of the user's body,   the plurality of temperature sensors and the plurality of temperature adjustment elements adapted to, in use, be positioned on various locations on the user's body, each temperature sensor associated with a temperature adjustment element of the plurality of temperature adjustment elements and positioned in contact with a user's skin and the temperature adjustment element to generate a temperature measurement so as to give immediate feedback,   a controller in electronic communication with each temperature sensor of the plurality of temperature sensors, the controller in electronic communication with each temperature adjustment element of the plurality of temperature adjustment elements,   the controller comparing each temperature measurement with a threshold temperature, and the controller selectively activating a temperature adjustment element of the plurality of temperature adjustment elements that is associated with the temperature sensor that generates the temperature measurement lower than the threshold temperature, the controller selectively activating a temperature adjustment element to provide localized temperature adjustment to the user's body that is at a temperature lower or higher than the threshold temperature.   
     
     
         14 . A temperature regulation system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein a temperature adjustment element and a temperature sensor are arranged such that, in use, a temperature adjustment element and a temperature sensor are disposed at or adjacent to any one or more of: a chest of the user, a back of the user, a finger of the user, a foot of the user, an upper leg of the user, a lower leg of the user, a neck of the user, a shoulder of the user, a head of the user, a hand of the user, an upper arm of the user and a lower arm of the user. 
     
     
         15 . A temperature regulation system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the system further comprises an environmental sensor, the environmental sensor is configured to generate an environmental parameter, the controller in electronic communication with the environmental sensor to receive the environmental parameter, the controller configured to determine the threshold based on the temperature measurements and the environmental parameter. 
     
     
         16 . A temperature regulation system in accordance with  claim 13 , wherein the system further comprises a motion sensor attached to the user, the motion sensor generating a motion measurement, the controller in electronic communication with the motion sensor and configured to determine the threshold temperature based on the motion measurement and at least the temperature measurements; and wherein the threshold temperature is related to the motion measurement. 
     
     
         17 . A temperature regulation system for regulating the temperature of a human body comprising:
 a temperature sensor adapted to generate a temperature measurement that relates to a temperature of a portion of a user's body,   a temperature adjustment element adapted to provide heat and/or cooling to a portion of the user's body,   a controller in electronic communication with the temperature sensor and the temperature adjustment element, the controller configured to compare the temperature measurement with a threshold temperature, the controller further configured to activate the temperature adjustment element to provide heat and/or cold if the temperature measurement is less or more than the threshold temperature,   the threshold temperature being a customized threshold temperature for each user, the controller determining the customized threshold temperature based on an initial temperature measurement, an environmental parameter and at least one user parameter.   
     
     
         18 . A temperature regulation system in accordance with  claim 17 , wherein the threshold temperature is adjusted if the environmental parameter or the user parameter is changed and, wherein the system comprises at least one environmental temperature sensor to determine the environmental temperature, the environmental temperature sensor being in electrical communication with the controller. 
     
     
         19 . (canceled) 
     
     
         20 . A temperature regulation system for regulating the temperature of a user's body comprising:
 a temperature sensor adapted to generate a temperature measurement that relates to a temperature of a portion of a user's body,   a temperature adjustment element adapted to regulate the temperature of the portion of the user's body,   a controller in electronic communication with the temperature sensor and the temperature adjustment element, the controller configured to receive the temperature measurement of the portion of the user's body, the controller configured to compare the temperature measurement with a threshold temperature,   the controller activating or deactivating the temperature adjustment element to provide heat or deliver a cooling effect to the portion of the user's body, when the temperature measurement is above or below the threshold temperature, and   wherein the temperature sensor and the temperature adjustment element is positioned on a wearable garment, next to the skin in an operable position, and the controller to communicating wirelessly with an external device.   
     
     
         21 . A temperature regulation system in accordance with  claim 20  wherein the temperature adjustment element includes a heating element and/or a cooling element. 
     
     
         22 . A temperature regulation system in accordance with  claim 14 , wherein the system further comprises:
 an environmental sensor, the environmental sensor is configured to generate an environmental parameter, the controller in electronic communication with the environmental sensor to receive the environmental parameter, the controller configured to determine the threshold based on the temperature measurements and the environmental parameter;   a motion sensor attached to the user, the motion sensor generating a motion measurement, the controller in electronic communication with the motion sensor and configured to determine the threshold temperature based on the motion measurement and at least the temperature measurements; and   wherein the threshold temperature is related to the motion measurement.   
     
     
         23 . A temperature regulation system in accordance with  claim 22 , wherein the system further comprises:
 the controller is configured to receive a user parameter, the controller further configured to adjust the threshold temperature based on the user parameter, the user parameter being at least one or more of age, gender, personal thermal sensitivity, body height, body mass, cold habituation/acclimation, acute weakness, time of day, season; and   wherein the threshold temperature is at least periodically updated based on data collected on a group of users, on the environmental parameter, motion parameter and user parameters or user manual action to provide an updated threshold temperature, the threshold temperature being constantly updated to account for any changes in the environment, motion of the user or the user parameter.