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).

  • Patent number: 11240882
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Masahiko Inaba, Keith Alan Lindeman, John D. Lofy
  • Patent number: 11240883
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2022
    Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Masahiko Inaba, Keith Alan Lindeman, John D. Lofy
  • Publication number: 20210370746
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Publication date: December 2, 2021
    Inventors: Chad Vincent Pacilli, Masahiko Inaba, Rodolfo Ernesto Uribe Palafox, Daniel Charles Guerithault, Kenneth Turner, Amey Pise, Scott Wolas
  • Patent number: 10647232
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: John D. Lofy, Masahiko Inaba
  • Patent number: 10457173
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: John D. Lofy, Masahiko Inaba
  • Publication number: 20190239289
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: April 12, 2019
    Publication date: August 1, 2019
    Inventors: Masahiko Inaba, Keith Alan Lindeman, John D. Lofy
  • Publication number: 20190230744
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2019
    Publication date: July 25, 2019
    Inventors: Masahiko Inaba, Keith Alan Lindeman, John D. Lofy
  • Publication number: 20190202327
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2018
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: John D. Lofy, Masahiko Inaba
  • Patent number: 10219323
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: GENTHREM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Masahiko Inaba, Keith Alan Lindeman, John D. Lofy
  • Publication number: 20190003491
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2018
    Publication date: January 3, 2019
    Inventors: John David Lofy, Masahiko Inaba
  • Patent number: 10160356
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2018
    Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: John D. Lofy, Masahiko Inaba
  • Publication number: 20180172325
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: June 21, 2018
    Inventors: Masahiko Inaba, Jay Christopher Clark, Brian Comiskey
  • Patent number: 9857107
    Abstract: 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: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Assignee: GENTHERM INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Masahiko Inaba, Jay Christopher Clark, Brian Comiskey
  • Publication number: 20170267140
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: May 7, 2015
    Publication date: September 21, 2017
    Inventors: John D. Lofy, Masahiko Inaba
  • Publication number: 20170181225
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: February 13, 2015
    Publication date: June 22, 2017
    Inventors: Masahiko Inaba, Keith Alan Lindeman, John D. Lofy
  • Publication number: 20160369819
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Publication date: December 22, 2016
    Inventors: John David Lofy, Masahiko Inaba
  • Publication number: 20160137110
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2015
    Publication date: May 19, 2016
    Inventors: John D. Lofy, Masahiko Inaba
  • Publication number: 20150176870
    Abstract: 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: Application
    Filed: November 24, 2014
    Publication date: June 25, 2015
    Inventors: Masahiko Inaba, Jay Christopher Clark, Brian Comiskey
  • Patent number: D759227
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 14, 2016
    Assignee: Gentherm Incorporated
    Inventors: John David Lofy, Masahiko Inaba