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 thermoelectric fabric may include a plurality of first threads and second threads. The first threads may be alternately formed by p-doped and n-doped thread portions and electrically conductive first thread portions and second thread portions arranged in between. The first thread portions may form a hot side of the fabric, and the second thread portions may form a cold side. The first threads may form one of warp threads or weft threads of the fabric, and the second threads may form the other of the warp threads or weft threads. On at least one of the first thread portions of at least one of the plurality of first threads, a temperature control structure with at least one temperature control element for cooling the hot side may be present.

A vehicular air conditioner includes a first outlet that blows a conditioned air frontward to flow past a neck part of an occupant on a seat, and a second outlet that is provided below the first outlet and blows the conditioned air upward to flow past an armpit part of the occupant. The second outlet blows the conditioned air to merge with the conditioned air blown from the first outlet. The second outlet blows the conditioned air with an airflow volume larger than an airflow volume of the conditioned air from the first outlet such that the conditioned air blown from the second outlet guides the conditioned air blown from the first outlet to flow along a face of the occupant.

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 system is provided that includes heating, cooling, and occupant sensing functionality in a single unit. The system includes carbon nanotube (CNT) elements disposed adjacent the seat surface. The CNT elements may be woven or stitched to a vehicle seat cover, or may be disposed in a mat that is placed between a seat cushion and the seat cover. The CNT elements may be used for heating, cooling, and occupant sensing, without requiring separate units or circuits. The system may include Peltier elements attached to the CNT elements, with the Peltier elements transferring heat between the CNT elements and a heat bank. The heat bank may be in the form of a heat sink, or the heat bank may be the seat rails of the vehicle seat, with the Peltier elements attached to the seat rails.

A ventilation module can be used with a ventilation seat for a vehicle. A thermoelectric air-conditioning part has a thermoelectric unit performing heat absorption and heat generation by using a Peltier effect when electric power is applied, a cooling unit provided at a first side of the thermoelectric unit, and a heat dissipation unit provided at a second side of the thermoelectric unit. The module is configured so that air that is supplied from a blower is cooled by the thermoelectric air-conditioning part, passes through a cooling fin of the cooling unit, and is discharged to an interior of the vehicle through a seat cushion. The module is configured so that air that is supplied from the blower is heated by the thermoelectric air-conditioning part, passes through a heat dissipating fin of the heat dissipation unit, and is discharged through the heat dissipation path.

An example seat climate system includes a seat, a first ventilation device, a second ventilation device, and a ventilation device controller. The seat has a first ventilation layer and a second ventilation layer. The first ventilation device is connected to the first ventilation layer and has an off state and an on state. The first ventilation device moves air through the first ventilation layer when in the on state. The second ventilation device is connected to the second ventilation layer and has an off state and an on state. The second ventilation device moves air through the second ventilation layer when in the on state. The ventilation device controller is connected to the first ventilation device and the second ventilation device and includes a controller and driver.

A vehicle air conditioner includes: a refrigeration cycle in which a refrigerant circulates; a high-temperature cycle in which a first heat medium in liquid form heated by the refrigeration cycle circulates; a low-temperature cycle in which a second heat medium in liquid form cooled by the refrigeration cycle circulates; and a seat that is provided in a vehicle interior and has a warm flow passage and a cold flow passage disposed close to each other. The warm flow passage is provided on the route of the high-temperature cycle, and the cold flow passage is provided on the route of the low-temperature cycle.

A thermoelectric device comprising an elongated panel of two foam layers, and having an inserted thermoelectric string is incorporated into a seat cushion, planting pot, and battery thermal manager. Several enhancements to the string and the panel improve its durability, visual appeal, and tactile appeal over the prior art.

Features for a vapor compression system configured to cool and/or heat (i.e. thermally condition) two or more distinct climate controlled vehicle interior components via a common thermal bus are disclosed. Some embodiments employ a single compressor. Some embodiments employ multiple compressors and/or thermal buses, each servicing components located within respective interior thermal zones of a vehicle, for example a front row seat zone, second and/or third row seat zones, and/or an overhead zone and/or a trunk zone.