Patent ID: 7877827

Claim:
A climate controlled bed assembly configured to receive an occupant, the bed assembly comprising: a support structure that defines an interior space and includes at least one opening into the interior space; an air permeable pad positioned generally above the support structure and comprising an outer surface configured to generally face the occupant; at least one blower positioned within the interior space; a first thermoelectric device and at least a second thermoelectric device, said first and at least second thermoelectric devices positioned within the interior space; at least one discharge header positioned within the interior space, the at least one discharge header placing the at least one blower in fluid communication with the thermoelectric devices; a first air distribution device downstream of and in fluid communication with the first thermoelectric device, the first air distribution device configured to distribute a volume of air toward an occupant along a first area of the climate controlled bed assembly; a second air distribution device downstream of and in fluid communication with the second thermoelectric device, the second air distribution device configured to distribute a volume of air toward an occupant along a second area of the climate controlled bed assembly; wherein both the first and second areas extend along a generally unitary top surface of the air permeable pad; wherein said thermoelectric devices are configured to heat and cool air delivered toward the top surface of the air permeable pad; a control system that comprises a control module configured to operate at least one of the first thermoelectric device, the second thermoelectric device and the at least one blower, according to a control scheme; a user interface operatively coupled to the control system and configured to receive at least one user input, said at least one user input associated with a desired climate-control effect along the top surface of the air permeable pad; and a power source operatively coupled to the at least one blower, the thermoelectric devices and the control system; wherein the control scheme is configured to selectively regulate both thermoelectric devices and the blower to deliver a volume of air through the at least one discharge header, past the thermoelectric devices to the first and second air distribution devices, through the air permeable pad and to the occupant; and wherein the control scheme is configured to maintain a generally consistent overall power consumption rate for the climate controlled bed assembly over time by turning on or off or modulating the amount of electrical energy delivered to the first and second thermoelectric devices and the at least one blower.