Patents by Inventor Masahiko Inaba
Masahiko Inaba has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).
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Patent number: 11240882Abstract: A climate controlled assembly includes a support member having a first surface configured to support an occupant, a channel within the support, the channel extending from the first surface through a portion of the support, a thermoelectric device positioned within the channel, a heat exchanger conductively coupled to a first side of the thermoelectric device, the heat exchanger positioned within the channel and a flexible conductive member conductively coupled to a second side of the thermoelectric device, a portion of the flexible conductive member extending along the first surface of the support member.Type: GrantFiled: January 23, 2019Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATEDInventors: Masahiko Inaba, Keith Alan Lindeman, John D. Lofy
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Patent number: 11240883Abstract: A climate controlled assembly includes a support member having a first surface configured to support an occupant, a channel within the support, the channel extending from the first surface through a portion of the support, a thermoelectric device positioned within the channel, a heat exchanger conductively coupled to a first side of the thermoelectric device, the heat exchanger positioned within the channel and a flexible conductive member conductively coupled to a second side of the thermoelectric device, a portion of the flexible conductive member extending along the first surface of the support member.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2019Date of Patent: February 1, 2022Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATEDInventors: Masahiko Inaba, Keith Alan Lindeman, John D. Lofy
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Publication number: 20210370746Abstract: 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.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2019Publication date: December 2, 2021Inventors: Chad Vincent Pacilli, Masahiko Inaba, Rodolfo Ernesto Uribe Palafox, Daniel Charles Guerithault, Kenneth Turner, Amey Pise, Scott Wolas
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Patent number: 10647232Abstract: A climate controlled seat assembly includes a thermoelectric device having a main side and a waste side for generating a conditioned fluid stream and a waste fluid stream respectively, a fluid distribution system for distributing the conditioned fluid stream towards an occupant seated on the climate controlled seat assembly and for gathering and pulling fluid from around the occupant and directed this gathered fluid away from the occupant.Type: GrantFiled: December 19, 2018Date of Patent: May 12, 2020Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATEDInventors: John D. Lofy, Masahiko Inaba
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Patent number: 10457173Abstract: A climate controlled seat assembly includes a thermoelectric device having a main side and a waste side for generating a conditioned fluid stream and a waste fluid stream respectively, a fluid distribution system for distributing the conditioned fluid stream towards an occupant seated on the climate controlled seat assembly and for gathering and pulling fluid from around the occupant and directed this gathered fluid away from the occupant.Type: GrantFiled: November 10, 2015Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATEDInventors: John D. Lofy, Masahiko Inaba
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Publication number: 20190239289Abstract: A climate controlled assembly includes a support member having a first surface configured to support an occupant, a channel within the support, the channel extending from the first surface through a portion of the support, a thermoelectric device positioned within the channel, a heat exchanger conductively coupled to a first side of the thermoelectric device, the heat exchanger positioned within the channel and a flexible conductive member conductively coupled to a second side of the thermoelectric device, a portion of the flexible conductive member extending along the first surface of the support member.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 12, 2019Publication date: August 1, 2019Inventors: Masahiko Inaba, Keith Alan Lindeman, John D. Lofy
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Publication number: 20190230744Abstract: A climate controlled assembly includes a support member having a first surface configured to support an occupant, a channel within the support, the channel extending from the first surface through a portion of the support, a thermoelectric device positioned within the channel, a heat exchanger conductively coupled to a first side of the thermoelectric device, the heat exchanger positioned within the channel and a flexible conductive member conductively coupled to a second side of the thermoelectric device, a portion of the flexible conductive member extending along the first surface of the support member.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 23, 2019Publication date: July 25, 2019Inventors: Masahiko Inaba, Keith Alan Lindeman, John D. Lofy
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Publication number: 20190202327Abstract: A climate controlled seat assembly includes a thermoelectric device having a main side and a waste side for generating a conditioned fluid stream and a waste fluid stream respectively, a fluid distribution system for distributing the conditioned fluid stream towards an occupant seated on the climate controlled seat assembly and for gathering and pulling fluid from around the occupant and directed this gathered fluid away from the occupant.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2018Publication date: July 4, 2019Inventors: John D. Lofy, Masahiko Inaba
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Patent number: 10219323Abstract: A climate controlled assembly includes a support member having a first surface configured to support an occupant, a channel within the support, the channel extending from the first surface through a portion of the support, a thermoelectric device positioned within the channel, a heat exchanger conductively coupled to a first side of the thermoelectric device, the heat exchanger positioned within the channel and a flexible conductive member conductively coupled to a second side of the thermoelectric device, a portion of the flexible conductive member extending along the first surface of the support member.Type: GrantFiled: February 13, 2015Date of Patent: February 26, 2019Assignee: GENTHREM INCORPORATEDInventors: Masahiko Inaba, Keith Alan Lindeman, John D. Lofy
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Publication number: 20190003491Abstract: An air mover assembly comprising: (a) an impeller having an impeller outer diameter and a rotational axis; (b) a motor for driving the impeller; (c) an air mover housing that encloses at least a portion of the impeller and the motor, the air mover housing including: at least one air inlet that receives air when the impeller is rotating and at least one air outlet; and (d) an air mover inlet interface adjoining the at least one air inlet and including: (i) a height, (ii) a wall having a curvature along at least a portion of the height of the air mover inlet interface that extends outward in a direction of air flow, and (iii) an inner diameter; wherein the inner diameter is less than the impeller outer diameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2018Publication date: January 3, 2019Inventors: John David Lofy, Masahiko Inaba
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Patent number: 10160356Abstract: A climate controlled seat assembly includes a thermoelectric device having a main side and a waste side for generating a conditioned fluid stream and a waste fluid stream respectively, a fluid distribution system for distributing the conditioned fluid stream towards an occupant seated on the climate controlled seat assembly and for gathering and pulling fluid from around the occupant and directed this gathered fluid away from the occupant.Type: GrantFiled: May 7, 2015Date of Patent: December 25, 2018Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATEDInventors: John D. Lofy, Masahiko Inaba
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Publication number: 20180172325Abstract: A thermoelectric system which comprises two substrates spaced apart from each other to form a gap and a plurality of electrically-connected semiconductor elements disposed between the substrates in the gap. The thermoelectric system further comprises at least one sensor and a seal which extends between the substrates and encloses the sensor and at least one of the plurality of semiconductor elements. The sensor is disposed between the substrates at an interior location spaced from the peripheral edge of at least one of the substrates. Additionally, at least one of the semiconductor elements is disposed between the sensor and the peripheral edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 14, 2017Publication date: June 21, 2018Inventors: Masahiko Inaba, Jay Christopher Clark, Brian Comiskey
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Patent number: 9857107Abstract: A thermoelectric system which comprises two substrates spaced apart from each other to form a gap and a plurality of electrically-connected semiconductor elements disposed between the substrates in the gap. The thermoelectric system further comprises at least one sensor and a seal which extends between the substrates and encloses the sensor and at least one of the plurality of semiconductor elements. The sensor is disposed between the substrates at an interior location spaced from the peripheral edge of at least one of the substrates. Additionally, at least one of the semiconductor elements is disposed between the sensor and the peripheral edge.Type: GrantFiled: November 24, 2014Date of Patent: January 2, 2018Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATEDInventors: Masahiko Inaba, Jay Christopher Clark, Brian Comiskey
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Publication number: 20170267140Abstract: A climate controlled seat assembly includes a thermoelectric device having a main side and a waste side for generating a conditioned fluid stream and a waste fluid stream respectively, a fluid distribution system for distributing the conditioned fluid stream towards an occupant seated on the climate controlled seat assembly and for gathering and pulling fluid from around the occupant and directed this gathered fluid away from the occupant.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 7, 2015Publication date: September 21, 2017Inventors: John D. Lofy, Masahiko Inaba
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Publication number: 20170181225Abstract: A climate controlled assembly includes a support member having a first surface configured to support an occupant, a channel within the support, the channel extending from the first surface through a portion of the support, a thermoelectric device positioned within the channel, a heat exchanger conductively coupled to a first side of the thermoelectric device, the heat exchanger positioned within the channel and a flexible conductive member conductively coupled to a second side of the thermoelectric device, a portion of the flexible conductive member extending along the first surface of the support member.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 13, 2015Publication date: June 22, 2017Inventors: Masahiko Inaba, Keith Alan Lindeman, John D. Lofy
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Publication number: 20160369819Abstract: An air mover assembly comprising: (a) an impeller having an impeller outer diameter and a rotational axis; (b) a motor for driving the impeller; (c) an air mover housing that encloses at least a portion of the impeller and the motor, the air mover housing including: at least one air inlet that receives air when the impeller is rotating and at least one air outlet; and (d) an air mover inlet interface adjoining the at least one air inlet and including: (i) a height, (ii) a wall having a curvature along at least a portion of the height of the air mover inlet interface that extends outward in a direction of air flow, and (iii) an inner diameter; wherein the inner diameter is less than the impeller outer diameter.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 13, 2015Publication date: December 22, 2016Inventors: John David Lofy, Masahiko Inaba
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Publication number: 20160137110Abstract: A climate controlled seat assembly includes a thermoelectric device having a main side and a waste side for generating a conditioned fluid stream and a waste fluid stream respectively, a fluid distribution system for distributing the conditioned fluid stream towards an occupant seated on the climate controlled seat assembly and for gathering and pulling fluid from around the occupant and directed this gathered fluid away from the occupant.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 10, 2015Publication date: May 19, 2016Inventors: John D. Lofy, Masahiko Inaba
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Publication number: 20150176870Abstract: A thermoelectric system which comprises two substrates spaced apart from each other to form a gap and a plurality of electrically-connected semiconductor elements disposed between the substrates in the gap. The thermoelectric system further comprises at least one sensor and a seal which extends between the substrates and encloses the sensor and at least one of the plurality of semiconductor elements. The sensor is disposed between the substrates at an interior location spaced from the peripheral edge of at least one of the substrates. Additionally, at least one of the semiconductor elements is disposed between the sensor and the peripheral edge.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 24, 2014Publication date: June 25, 2015Inventors: Masahiko Inaba, Jay Christopher Clark, Brian Comiskey
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Patent number: D759227Type: GrantFiled: October 29, 2014Date of Patent: June 14, 2016Assignee: Gentherm IncorporatedInventors: John David Lofy, Masahiko Inaba