A thermoelectric module includes a first thermoelectric material, a second thermoelectric material spaced apart from the first thermoelectric material, and a stretching element selectively connected between the first thermoelectric material and the second thermoelectric material, wherein the stretching element is stretchable.

This disclosure describes vehicle climate control systems and methods for more intelligently controlling an occupant comfort level within a vehicle interior in a manner that minimizes energy usage of the vehicle. The climate control system may be automatically controlled in an economical mode (i.e., ECO mode) when certain vehicle conditions are met. For example, the decision to activate the ECO mode of the climate control system may be a function of one or more variables including, but not limited to, vehicle speed, vehicle speed differentials, ambient temperatures, temperature differentials, battery state of charge, predicted low battery state of charge, etc.

A temperature controlled child seat device including a housing member, a coil assembly, a vent assembly, and a temperature control member. The housing member includes a seat cushion and a back rest. The coil assembly is embedded in the housing member and selectively produces heat and cooling in the seat cushion and back rest. The vent assembly is integrated in the housing member and includes a plurality of air openings and a vent line. The temperature control member initiates a two-stage heating or cooling operation in correspondence with a user selection of heating or cooling. The two-stage heating or cooling operation provides direct heating or cooling of the seat cushion and the back rest and provides heated or cooled air blown out of the vent assembly.

A remotely operated control system for energizing vehicular seat heating and cooling system is shown and described. The novel control system uses a remote control originally intended to operate vehicle features other than seat heating and cooling. The remote control issues more than the necessary single control command within a predetermined time period. The control system preferentially recognizes that the extra signals are intended to operate the seat heating or cooling features. Responsively, power is connected to a selected seat heating or cooling feature. The novel control system is conveniently wired to local electrically energized original conductors of the vehicle electrical system to bring power to the seat heaters or coolers.

A system for adjusting properties of a seat for a vehicle, may include thermoelement modules configured to have a structure in which a plurality of flexible thermoelements is connected by conductive wires to each other, and mounted in a seat foam pad of the seat; a property adjustment region input unit configured to select a property adjustment region of the seat foam pad; a property adjustment amount input unit configured to input a target property adjustment amount of the seat foam pad; and a controller connected to the thermoelement modules, the property adjustment region input unit and the property adjustment amount input unit, and configured to control an amount of current supplied to some or all of the flexible thermoelements according to output signals from the property adjustment region input unit and the property adjustment amount input unit

A vehicle seat includes a temperature-control system which is connectable or connected to a temperature-control circuit that conveys a temperature-control medium. The vehicle seat includes at least one temperature-control heat exchanger by which thermal energy can be delivered to and/or absorbed from the environment using the temperature-control medium. The vehicle seat includes at least one electrically operable or electrically operated temperature-control element which is a heating and/or cooling element.

A vehicle seating assembly includes a cushion and a seating surface. A thermally conductive tape includes at least two branches, the two branches coming together at a junction and extending in a direction parallel with the seating surface. The thermally conductive tape includes a plurality of thermoelectric devices and a lower conductor and an upper conductor in thermal contact with the plurality of thermoelectric devices. The thermoelectric devices are secured to the lower conductor and the upper conductor with the thermally conductive adhesive. The thermoelectric devices are configured to change temperature when a voltage is applied to the thermoelectric devices.

A seat air-conditioning system includes a plurality of seat air-conditioning devices respectively disposed for seats. Each of the seat air-conditioning devices achieves comfortable air conditioning in a vehicle interior by a controller controlling a refrigeration circuit, a blower, and a blowing switching portion in each seat air-conditioning device. A coordinating flow path is disposed to fluidly connect the blowing switching portion of one seat air-conditioning device to the blowing switching portion of the other seat air-conditioning device. The seat air-conditioning system performs the air conditioning for one seat by using the two seat air-conditioning devices by supplying conditioned air via the coordinating flow path under control of the controller.

A thermal control system includes a component having a surface. A plurality of thermal generating devices include a first conductive plate, second and third conductive plates, a first semiconductor device arranged between the first conductive plate and the second conductive plate, and a second semiconductor device arranged between the first conductive plate and the third conductive plate. The first semiconductor device and the second semiconductor device have different types of doping. First ones of the plurality of thermal generating devices are arranged with the first conductive plate located adjacent to the surface of the component. Second ones of the plurality of thermal generating devices are arranged with the second and third conductive plates located adjacent to the surface of the component. The first ones and the second ones of plurality of thermal generating devices perform heating and cooling of the surface, respectively.

A seat for a vehicle may include a seat bottom having a top surface, and a seat back, extending upward from the seat bottom, and having a front surface. the seat may also include a seat cooling system including perforations in the front surface connected to air flow passages in the seat back, a thermoelectric device in the seat bottom having a cold side facing the top surface and an opposed hot side facing downward toward a hot side air passage, a duct configured to direct air from the air flow passages into the hot side air passage, and a blower configured to create air flow through the perforations, through the air flow passages, through the duct and through the hot side air passage.