System and method for thermoelectric personal comfort controlled bedding

Abstract

A personal comfort system, for use with a bedding assembly having a mattress includes an air conditioning system configured to condition air within an air flow and a delivery system to receive and provide the conditioned air to a mattress or other desired device. The air conditioning system coupled with a housing and fan, a thermal transfer device having a thermoelectric engine operable for conditioning air within the air flow.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A personal comfort system for use with a mattress, the personal comfort system comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 a cover including a plurality of first air inlets configured to draw first air from ambient air outside the housing, 
 a tray including a plurality of second air inlets configured to draw second air from the ambient air outside the housing, 
 an air supply outlet configured to output supply air, and 
 an exhaust vent configured to output exhaust air; 
   a thermoelectric core positioned within an internal chamber between the cover and the tray, the thermoelectric core configured to:
 condition the supply air from the first air and the second air, and 
 condition the exhaust air from the first air and the second air; and 
   a delivery system configured to provide at least a portion of the supply air to the mattress.   
     
     
         2 . The personal comfort system of  claim 1 , wherein the housing further includes a divide that separates the internal chamber into a supply side chamber and an exhaust side chamber. 
     
     
         3 . The personal comfort system of  claim 2 , wherein the thermoelectric core is positioned in the divide. 
     
     
         4 . The personal comfort system of  claim 1 , further comprising a supply side fan configured to:
 draw the first air from the cover and the second air from the tray through a supply side of the internal chamber; and   output the supply air through the air supply outlet.   
     
     
         5 . The personal comfort system of  claim 4 , further comprising an exhaust side fan configured to:
 draw the first air from the cover and the second air from the tray through an exhaust side of the internal chamber; and   output the exhaust air through the exhaust vent.   
     
     
         6 . The personal comfort system of  claim 5 , wherein the exhaust side fan is further configured to provide a lower pressure and a higher flow rate for the exhaust air than the supply side fan provides for the supply air. 
     
     
         7 . The personal comfort system of  claim 5 , wherein the housing further includes a center section structured from a first center section and a second center section that are identical. 
     
     
         8 . The personal comfort system of  claim 5 , wherein:
 a center section includes the internal chamber,   the supply side fan is positioned in a first side of the center section; and   the exhaust side fan is positioned in a second side of the center section.   
     
     
         9 . The personal comfort system of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the cover is located on top of the center section and includes an opening that provides the first air to the first side of the center section and the second side of the center section, and   the tray is located on bottom of the center section and includes an opening that provides the second air to the first side of the center section and the second side of the center section.   
     
     
         10 . The personal comfort system of  claim 8 , wherein the first side of the center section is opposite to the second side of the center section. 
     
     
         11 . A personal comfort system comprising:
 a mattress; and   an air conditioning system comprising:
 a housing comprising:
 a cover including a plurality of first air inlets configured to draw first air from ambient air outside the housing, 
 a tray including a plurality of second air inlets configured to draw second air from the ambient air outside the housing, 
 an air supply outlet configured to output supply air, and 
 an exhaust vent configured to output exhaust air; 
 
 a thermoelectric core positioned within an internal chamber between the cover and the tray, the thermoelectric core configured to:
 condition the supply air from the first air and the second air, and 
 condition the exhaust air from the first air and the second air, and 
 
 a delivery system configured to provide at least a portion of the supply air to the mattress. 
   
     
     
         12 . The personal comfort system of  claim 11 , wherein the housing further includes a divide that separates the internal chamber into a supply side chamber and an exhaust side chamber. 
     
     
         13 . The personal comfort system of  claim 12 , wherein the thermoelectric core is positioned in the divide. 
     
     
         14 . The personal comfort system of  claim 11 , further comprising a supply side fan configured to:
 draw the first air from the cover and the second air from the tray through a supply side of the internal chamber; and   output the supply air through the air supply outlet.   
     
     
         15 . The personal comfort system of  claim 14 , further comprising an exhaust side fan configured to:
 draw the first air from the cover and the second air from the tray through an exhaust side of the internal chamber; and   output the exhaust air through the exhaust vent.   
     
     
         16 . The personal comfort system of  claim 15 , wherein the exhaust side fan is further configured to provide a lower pressure and a higher flow rate for the exhaust air than the supply side fan provides for the supply air. 
     
     
         17 . The personal comfort system of  claim 15 , wherein the housing further includes a center section structured from a first center section and a second center section that are identical. 
     
     
         18 . The personal comfort system of  claim 17 , wherein:
 a center section includes the internal chamber,   the supply side fan is positioned in a first side of the center section, and   the exhaust side fan is positioned in a second side of the center section.   
     
     
         19 . The personal comfort system of  claim 18 , wherein:
 the cover is located on top of the center section and includes an opening that provides the first air to the first side of the center section and the second side of the center section, and   the tray is located on bottom of the center section and includes an opening that provides the second air to the first side of the center section and the second side of the center section.   
     
     
         20 . The personal comfort system of  claim 18 , wherein the first side of the center section is opposite to the second side of the center section.