A humidifying device includes a casing that defines a first air passage that guides air to an adsorbent module accommodation portion accommodating an adsorbent module including an adsorbent, and a second air passage through which the air flowing out of the adsorbent module accommodation portion flows. The humidifying device includes a peltier device that has a heat absorbing side and a heat generating side generating heat due to heat transfer from the heat absorbing side. The peltier device is housed in the casing such that the heat generating side is located in the first air passage and the heat absorbing side is located in the second air passage.

A temperature modulation assembly for a motor vehicle's passenger compartment includes an assembly panel having a single or a plurality of solar panels which convert sunlight into electricity and an assembly housing which includes an internal thermoelectric Peltier cooler having a heat sink on its cool side and a heat sink on its hot side and an internal fluid distribution module which draws air into the assembly housing, causes some of the air to be cooled by passing through the cool side heat sink and directed back into the passenger compartment and the rest of the air to be heated by passing through the hot side heat sink and directed back into the passenger compartment. The components of the assembly housing utilize electricity that originates at the assembly panel, and the assembly housing is structured to distribute cooled towards near the passenger seating and heated air towards the windshield.

A system for thermally conditioning and moving a fluid includes a thermoelectric device to convert electrical energy into thermal energy and produce a temperature change in response to an electrical current being applied thereto. The thermoelectric device can include a main-side and a waste side. A fluid moving device can produce a fluid flow that is in thermal communication with the thermoelectric device so that the thermal energy generated by the thermoelectric device is transferred to or from the fluid flow. A flow control valve selectively can direct the fluid flow along a main-side fluid flow path and/or a waste side fluid flow path.

A vehicular temperature regulating system and panel assembly including a touch panel configured to be heated or cooled within a passenger compartment of a vehicle having a support structure are provided. The assembly includes a touch panel made of a substantially rigid or semirigid, thermally conductive, polymeric material. The touch panel is configured to be attached to the support structure. The assembly also includes a thermoelectric heater/cooler including an array of thermoelectric devices in heat transfer relationship with the touch panel and is configured to pump heat when energized by an electrical power source of the vehicle. Heat conductive properties of the polymeric material allow the touch panel to transfer heat either to or from substantially the entire touch surface of the touch panel to heat or cool, respectively, the touch surface via thermal conduction. Thermal comfort of a passenger within the compartment is thereby improved.

A vehicular temperature regulating system and a panel assembly for radiating heat within a passenger compartment of a vehicle are provided. The assembly includes a substrate panel made of a substantially rigid or semi-rigid, thermally conductive, polymeric material. The panel is configured to be attached to a support structure of the vehicle. The assembly also includes a thermoelectric heater having an array of thermoelectric devices in heat transfer relationship with the panel and configured to generate heat when energized by an electrical power source of the vehicle. Heat conductive properties of the polymeric material allow the panel to transfer heat generated by the heater to a front surface of the panel to heat the panel to an elevated temperature via thermal conduction. Substantially the entire front surface of the panel is sized and shaped to radiate the transferred heat in the form of infrared radiation into the passenger compartment.

A system configured to determine a physical state of a vehicle occupant within a vehicle is described herein. The system includes an electrode in contact with the vehicle occupant and containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes and a controller that determines the physical state of the vehicle occupant based on an output of the electrode. The controller initiates a countermeasure based on the physical state of the vehicle occupant. A system configured to generate electricity based upon a temperature difference between a vehicle occupant and a portion of a vehicle interior is also presented herein. This system includes a thermoelectric device containing nano-scale metal fibers or carbon nanotubes. The thermoelectric device has a first side in contact with a vehicle occupant and a second side in contact with a portion of the vehicle interior. The thermoelectric device supplies electrical power to an electrical system of the vehicle.

A climate control device (15) for influencing at least one climatic parameter of a handle (5) of a steering device (2), has an air moving device (21) for providing a stream of air, a handle distributor (26) for distributing a stream of air within at least a part of the handle, an air guidance device (22) for guiding air between the air moving device and the distributor. The air moving device (21) can be or is mounted to an area remaining static in relation to an adjustment movement of the steering device (2). The handle distributor (26) can be or is mounted to an area moving in relation to the static area when the steering device (2) is subject to an adjustment movement. The climate control device (15) is provided with a connecting device (30) allowing the air moving device (21) and the handle distributor (26) to move in relation to each other.

Vehicle air comfort systems and methods. The systems and methods may comprise: (1) a plurality of flow tunnels for passage of a heat-transfer fluid; (2) a thermoelectric cooler in thermal communication with the flow tunnels for thermally conditioning the heat-transfer fluid in the flow tunnels; (3) an air inlet for receiving unconditioned air; (4) a thermal exchange assembly for facilitating thermal exchange between the thermally conditioned heat-transfer fluid and the unconditioned air to result in conditioning of the air; and (5) an air outlet for outputting the conditioned air into the vehicle.

A climate control device (15) for influencing at least one climatic parameter of a handle (5) of a steering device (2), the climate control device (15) having an air moving device (21) for providing a stream of air, a handle distributor (26) for distributing a stream of air towards at least a part of the handle (5). It is planned that the air moving device (21) as well as the handle distributor (26) can be or are mounted to a static area, which remains static in relation to adjustment movements of the steering device (2), the handle distributor (26) has at least one air outlet (35,35) to generate a stream of air from the handle distributor (26) at the static area towards the handle (5).

A vehicle trim assembly comprises a foam bun, an electrically insulative top finish layer above the foam bun, a thermal gradient assembly under the finish trim layer, and a thermal enhancement layer between the thermal gradient assembly and the finish trim layer. The thermal gradient assembly is adapted to generate a thermal gradient when receiving an electric current and has an electrically conductive top layer, an electrically conductive bottom layer, and a semiconductor layer having first and second semiconductor regions between the top and bottom layers. The thermal enhancement layer has a thermal conductivity adapted to direct thermal energy transfer between the thermal gradient assembly and the finish trim layer.