Patent ID: 8418286

Claim:
A climate controlled bed assembly comprising: a mattress including a top surface, a bottom surface and a core extending at least partially between the top surface and the bottom surface; a fluid passageway extending at least partially through the core of the mattress and being configured to terminate at an opening located along the bottom surface of the mattress; at least one fluid distribution member in fluid communication with the fluid passageway, the fluid distribution member being configured to receive fluid therein and generally distribute said fluid within said at least one fluid distribution member; at least one fluid module in fluid communication with the fluid passageway, wherein fluid discharged by the at least one fluid module is selectively transferred to the fluid distribution member of the mattress through the opening and the fluid passageway; wherein the at least one fluid module comprises a fluid transfer device and a conditioning device, said conditioning device being configured to selectively heat or cool, when activated, fluid being transferred by the fluid transfer device; and at least one temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of fluid being transferred by the at least one fluid module; at least one humidity sensor configured to detect a relative humidity of fluid being transferred by the fluid module; and a control unit configured to receive temperature and relative humidity information detected by the at least one temperature sensor and the at least one humidity sensor, respectively; wherein the control unit is configured to automatically control at least one operational parameter of the at least one fluid module according to an operational scheme; wherein, based at least in part on the operational scheme, the control unit is configured to reduce the likelihood of condensation formation by the conditioning device and to operate the bed assembly within a desired conditioning zone by selectively controlling whether the conditioning device is on or off or by modulating a delivery of power to the conditioning device; and wherein the control unit is configured to operate the bed assembly within a desired conditioning zone device based on, at least in part, the temperature and relative humidity of fluid being transferred b the fluid module.