Comprising Nonlinear Or Negative Temperature Coefficient Resistance Means Patents (Class 219/505)
  • Patent number: 8653424
    Abstract: A method to optimize the welding energy input into the heating coil of a heating coil fitting is disclosed. In particular, the invention pertains to a compensation method for the effects on the welding energy input from using a fundamental frequency outside the tolerance range for the AC welding voltage established for the heating coil fitting. A generator is one option to supply power to a device for the implementation of the invention-based method. It supplies an AC welding voltage to the heating coil with a fundamental frequency outside the tolerance range for the AC welding voltage as marked out for the heating coil fitting. Another option is especially the use of DC welding voltage for the heating coils of heating coil fittings. To execute the method, a welding power supply unit is connected to the contact elements of a heating coil fitting via connecting leads and connecting elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: PF-Schweisstechnologie GmbH
    Inventors: Bernd Merle, Stefan Kehm, Achim Spychalski-Merle
  • Patent number: 8653420
    Abstract: A temperature control circuit of an oven controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) is provided. A first and a second digital potentiometer are correspondingly arranged in a bridge circuit which outputs a voltage to an input terminal of a differential amplifier (OPAMP), wherein the resistance value of the first digital potentiometer is adjustable so as to adjust the temperature of the oven to the peak temperature of the crystal resonator, and the resistance value of the second digital potentiometer is adjustable so as to cancel the temperature gradient of the first digital potentiometer. In the temperature control circuit of OCXO, the heat generation of the heater resistor is controlled by the power transistor based on the control voltage from the differential amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Arai
  • Patent number: 8642931
    Abstract: The adaptive temperature controller includes a device for measuring resistance, an electrically-conductive material, a power supply, and a device for controlling power. In operation, the controller determines the resistance of material at one or more temperatures and therefore determines the resistance of the material through a range of operating temperature. Based on such determination so long as voltage and power are known, the resistance of the material, and therefore its temperature, are known. As a result the voltage or power may be instantly varied to produce near infinite control over material temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Valco Instruments Company, L.P.
    Inventors: Stanley D. Stearns, Huamin Cai, Chris S. Cowles
  • Patent number: 8637796
    Abstract: An electrical heating device includes at least one heat generating element and at least one heat emitting element having opposed surfaces that abut the heat generating element. The heat generating element includes at least one PTC heating element having strip conductors on both sides of it for the electrical supply of the PTC heating element At least one of the strip conductor is provided with at least one contact projection which protrudes beyond a PTC heating element locating face formed on the strip conductor. Also disclosed is a heat generating element having at least one strip conductor provided with at least one contact projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Eberspacher Catem GmbH & KG
    Inventor: Franz Bohlender
  • Patent number: 8614407
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for supplying current to a glow plug in a running diesel engine after reaching the operating temperature thereof by a series of current pulses, wherein a piston of the engine carries out a work cycle comprising several strokes and the glow plug is supplied with current as a function of the strokes of the work cycle such that the electric current supplied in each work cycle is mainly supplied at a predetermined, steady stroke of the piston, wherein control time intervals that follow each other are defined, during which up to two switching processes can be triggered by a control device, by which the glow plug can be connected to a voltage source for creating a current pulse or can be disconnected from the voltage source for ending a current pulse. According to the invention, the control time intervals have a duration that can be varied by the control device as a function of the rotational speed of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 24, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Kernwein, Peter Schaefer
  • Patent number: 8592726
    Abstract: An image heating apparatus includes: an endless belt; a heater, contacted to a surface of the endless belt, provided so that a longitudinal direction thereof is parallel to a generating line direction of the endless belt; and a pressing member for forming a nip together with the endless belt. The heater includes: an elongated substrate; a first heat generating line, provided on the substrate along a longitudinal direction of the substrate, including first heat generating resistors having a negative temperature coefficient of resistance and being electrically connected in series; and a second heat generating line, provided on the substrate along the longitudinal direction of the substrate, electrically connected to the first heat generating line in parallel. The second heat generating line includes a plurality of second heat generating resistors having the negative temperature coefficient of resistance and being electrically connected in series.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Canon Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Takaaki Tsuruya, Hiroyuki Sakakibara
  • Patent number: 8592730
    Abstract: Disclosed is a heater device for thermally welding suture strands, including: a substrate extending from a first end to a second end along a substrate axis, and having a substantially planar heater support surface; a joinder layer disposed on the heater support surface; a heater element extending from a first end to a second end along a heater axis thereof and disposed on the joinder layer, the heater element being a layer and being coupled to the support surface by the joinder layer; an electrical interface including a first electrically conductive element coupled to the first end of the heater element, and a second electrically conductive element coupled to the second end of the heater element. In some embodiments, the heater element is elongated along the heater axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2013
    Assignee: Tomier, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Snell, Francis P. Harrington, Paul Westhaver, Tom David Marro, Paul Schmitt
  • Patent number: 8569663
    Abstract: The present invention involves a type of small-sized pool and PTC heater for liquid heating. The PTC heating component of PTC heater is composed of several heating cores made of PTC ceramic material, completely eliminating fire risk. Meanwhile, PTC heating component external is equipped with at least one layer of insulation and sealing component, which further includes several insulation layers and at least one sealing layer outside the insulation layer, effectively eliminating electricity leakage risk. Two layers of above mentioned insulation and sealing component could meet the insulation requirements specified in IEC standard and UL standard, so it could be used for applications with large power. In addition, the PTC heater has good water route sealing ability, so it could be used for liquid heating in small size pool. The small-sized pool is equipped with PTC heater with several layers of insulation and sealing for liquid heating, safe and reliable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Inventors: Huarong Qin, Zhongxiu Zhang, Minhua Wu
  • Patent number: 8563903
    Abstract: Provided are a method and circuit for controlling heat generation of a power transistor, in which the power transistor can be protected by preventing heat generation of the power transistor by using a metal-insulator transition (MIT) device that can function as a fuse and can be semi-permanently used.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Electronics and Telecommunications Research Institute
    Inventors: Hyun-Tak Kim, Yong-Wook Lee, Bong-Jun Kim, Sun-Jin Yun
  • Patent number: 8552345
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a diesel fuel filter heater comprising at least one PTC element, in a motor vehicle. According to the invention, a glow plug control device is used to generate an effective voltage from a vehicle system voltage using pulse width modulation, which is then applied at the filter heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2013
    Assignee: BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Peter Schaefer, Clement Rinkert
  • Patent number: 8541720
    Abstract: In one embodiment, a temperature sensing apparatus includes a temperature sensor disposed in a structure at a first depth from a first surface of the structure. A heat flux sensor is also disposed in the structure at substantially the same depth as the first depth. A measurement circuit is coupled to the temperature sensor and the heat flux sensor. The measurement circuit calculates a surface temperature of the first surface based on a temperature of the temperature sensor and a heat flow of the heat flux sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: Raytheon Company
    Inventor: Michael S. Schwerer
  • Patent number: 8536496
    Abstract: A layered heater is provided that comprises at least one resistive layer defining a circuit configuration, the circuit configuration comprising at least one resistive trace oriented relative to a heating target and comprising a material having temperature coefficient characteristics such that the resistive trace provides power commensurate with demands of the heating target. In one form, resistive traces of the resistive layer are a PTC material having a relatively high TCR and are oriented approximately perpendicular to a primary heating direction. In another form, resistive traces of the resistive layer are an NTC material having a relatively high BETA coefficient and are oriented approximately parallel to a primary heating direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2013
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kevin Ptasienski, James McMillin, Rolando O. Juliano, Gregory J. Lammert
  • Patent number: 8530802
    Abstract: A ceramic heater includes a heating resistor including a first conducting portion and a second conducting portion which face each other and a ceramic base in which the heating resistor is embedded. The first conducting portion includes a first burr which extends from the first conducting portion and is located between the first conducting portion and the second conducting portion. The second conducting portion includes a second burr which extends from the second conducting portion and is located between the second conducting portion and the first conducting portion. At least a part of the first and second burrs is spaced apart from the line linking a starting point of the first burr and a starting point of the second burr in a cross-section perpendicular to a conduction direction of the first and second conducting portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 26, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Kyocera Corporation
    Inventor: Ken Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 8513577
    Abstract: A control device for a thermo-electric device having a heat source side and a heat sink side. The control device has a detector for detecting a temperature difference between the heat source side and the heat sink side. The detector modulates a current for providing an optimal current to the thermo-electric device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Lei Chen, Xiaomei Yu
  • Patent number: 8497453
    Abstract: A semiconductor device that may include temperature sensing circuits is disclosed. The temperature sensing circuits may be used to control various parameters, such as internal regulated supply voltages, internal refresh frequency, a word line low voltage, or the like. In this way, operating specifications of a semiconductor device at worse case temperatures may be met without compromising performance at normal operating temperatures. Each temperature sensing circuit may include a selectable temperature threshold value as well as a selectable temperature hysteresis value. In this way, temperature performance characteristics may be finely tuned. Furthermore, a method of testing the temperature sensing circuits is disclosed in which a current value may be monitored an temperature threshold values and temperature hysteresis values may be thereby determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2013
    Assignee: Intellectual Ventures Holding 83 LLC
    Inventor: Darryl G. Walker
  • Patent number: 8467668
    Abstract: An infrared, room heater system for installation in a wall or on a floor. An electric fan assembly draws room air into a housing, then through three parallel, air transit channels where the air is heated by infrared radiation within and about a heat exchanger assembly, and then back out into the room. One or more ceramic heating elements attached to a first copper plate emit infrared radiation when electrically energized. The first copper plate lies adjacent to, but spaced away from, a second copper plate such that radiation emitted from the heating elements reflects back and forth between the plates. Room air passed between the copper plates is heated by heat radiation concentrated between the plates, thereby achieving both energy and space efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 18, 2013
    Assignee: Acepower Logistics, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce R. Searle, Alexander Anderson
  • Patent number: 8431873
    Abstract: A vane type electric heater includes a heat generator and a vane structure, and the heat generator includes a rod, and the vane structure includes a plate and at least one heat pipe attached on a surface of the plate, and the plate includes a through hole for passing the rod, and the heat pipe surrounds the periphery of the through hole for enhancing the speed of thermal conduction and the effect of uniform temperature, so as to improve the heat output performance of the invention.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Chaun-Choung Technology Corp.
    Inventors: Cheng-Tu Wang, Meng-Cheng Huang
  • Patent number: 8395097
    Abstract: An electrical heating device, includes a housing in which at least one heat generating element with at least one PTC element and electrical strip conductors abutting oppositely situated lateral faces of the PTC element and a plurality of heat dissipating elements arranged in parallel layers are accommodated. The heat dissipating elements are held abutted on oppositely situated sides of the heat generating element, with the intermediate positioning of an electrical insulation. In order to be capable of improved high voltage operation, at least one conducting element electrically connects together a plurality of heat dissipating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Eberspacher catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Franz Bohlender, Michael Niederer, Holger Reiss
  • Patent number: 8395089
    Abstract: An electrical heating device, which includes a housing, in which at least one heat generating element with at least one PTC element and electrical strip conductors abutting oppositely situated lateral faces of the PTC element and a plurality of heat dissipating elements arranged in parallel layers are accommodated, which are held abutted on oppositely situated sides of the heat generating element. An electrical heating device according to the invention and which fulfils the practical requirements, in particular with high voltage operation in an improved manner has at least one heat dissipating element which is situated, with the intermediate positioning of an electrically insulating layer, on the assigned heat generating element and can be electrically connected to a ground potential.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Eberspacher catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Franz Bohlender, Michael Niederer, Holger Reiss
  • Patent number: 8383993
    Abstract: A temperature control device is disclosed that includes a heating wire being connected to an alternating current power source though a SCR, a sensing wire being disposed parallel to the heating wire, a thermo-sensitive resin insulating the heating wire and the sensing wire from each other and changing its impedance according to a change in temperature, and a temperature sensing unit outputting a temperature control signal to turn the SCR on or off according to a change in electric current flowing through the thermo-sensitive resin, in which the SCR is turned on or off by a sensing unit diode. The heating wire is heated by a heating current that flows in a heating cycle only, in which a forward voltage is formed in the SCR, and the sensing wire conducts a sensing current that flows in a sensing cycle only, in which a reverse voltage is formed in the SCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Bokuk Electronics
    Inventors: Min-Ja Kim, Byung-Dong Kim, Chang-kyu Moon, Jung-Moo Kim
  • Patent number: 8367986
    Abstract: A positive temperature coefficient (PTC) superimposed impedance polymeric (SIP) compound including an electrically insulating matrix essentially consisting of a siloxane polymer in addition to first and second electrically conductive particles having different properties with respect to surface energies and electrical conductivities. A multi-layered, ZPZ, foil including a PTC SIP compound of the invention present between two metal foils, thereby forming a conductive composite body. A multi-layered device, including an essentially flat composite body made up from a PTC SIP compound according to the invention, two electrode layers adhering to the surfaces of the composite body, the electrode layers being metal foils prepared to connect to electrodes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: Conflux AB
    Inventors: Fredrik Von Wachenfeldt, Per-Göran Mikael Mortenson, Gunnar Nyberg, Lars-Ove Nilsson, Joachim Sjöstrand
  • Patent number: 8330084
    Abstract: A temperature-control circuit of a heating line and a temperature-control method thereof are disclosed. The method comprises steps of: outputting a forward square-wave signal by a first forward square-wave signal generation circuit; outputting a reverse square-wave signal by a reverse square-wave signal generation circuit; and outputting a varied forward square-wave signal by a second forward square-wave signal generation circuit. Above square-wave signal generation circuits are respectively connected with an AND gate. When the input square-wave signals are simultaneously logic high, a switch is triggered by a trigger circuit to heat the heating wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 20, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Inventor: Ching-Chuan Wang
  • Patent number: 8309889
    Abstract: An indicating lamp is provided on the exterior of a vent port to indicate failure of a heater within the vent port. An electrical circuit is provided to energize the indicating lamp in response to failure of one or the other of a pair of heaters within the vent port.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Component Hardware Group, Inc.
    Inventor: Thomas Graham
  • Patent number: 8283602
    Abstract: An electric heating blanket including a flexible sheet-like heating element and a shell. The shell covers the heating blanket an includes two sheets of flexible material welded together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Augustine Temperature Management LLC
    Inventors: Scott D. Augustine, Randall C. Arnold, Ryan S. Augustine, Rudolf A. Deibel, Scott A. Entenman, Gordon D. Lawrence, Keith J. Leland, Thomas F. Neils
  • Patent number: 8263913
    Abstract: The planar heater includes an insulating substrate, an electric conductive film disposed on the substrate, a plurality of electrodes both attached to one side of the electric conductive film, and an insulating film covering the electric conductive film. The electric conductive film is preferably formed of material having a resistance temperature coefficient of 420 ppm/° C. or higher at normal temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Seiko Epson Corporation
    Inventor: Kesatoshi Takeuchi
  • Patent number: 8258441
    Abstract: Small, low-cost wireless temperature sensors (120) are provided for sensing the temperature of servingware (121). Each temperature sensor preferably includes a substrate (124); at least one sensor element (122) positioned on the substrate; and an adhesive (126) for securing the sensor element to the substrate and for securing the temperature sensor to the servingware so that the sensor element may sense a temperature of the servingware. The temperature sensors may be used in conjunction with a reader/detector (136) operable to generate a magnetic field of magnitude sufficient to cause re-magnetization responses of the temperature sensor element and optional data elements to detect such responses, and to use the detected responses to determine the temperature of the servingware by means of a decoding algorithm. The temperature sensors can be used in closed-loop heating systems capable of controlling the heating of the servingware.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 4, 2012
    Assignee: TSI Technologies LLC
    Inventor: Brian L. Clothier
  • Patent number: 8253079
    Abstract: A temperature-control circuit of a heating line and a temperature-control method thereof are disclosed. The method comprises steps of: outputting a forward square-wave signal by a first forward square-wave signal generation circuit; outputting a reverse square-wave signal by a reverse square-wave signal generation circuit; and outputting a varied forward square-wave signal by a second forward square-wave signal generation circuit. Above square-wave signal generation circuits are respectively connected with an AND gate. When the input square-wave signals are simultaneously logic high, a switch is triggered by a trigger circuit to heat the heating wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 28, 2012
    Inventor: Ching-Chuan Wang
  • Patent number: 8232509
    Abstract: The invention provides a retainer system for retaining a positive temperature coefficient resistor in a heater housing shaft having a shaft side wall. The retainer system includes a base, a spring, and shaft engagement means. The spring is formed in and spaced apart from the base. The spring extends radially outwardly from a longitudinal axis of the base and the spring has a neck that curves radially backwardly, spaced apart from the base and toward the longitudinal axis of the base. The spring also has a contact surface presented outwardly, away from the base. The shaft engagement means are for engaging the shaft side wall and securing the base within the shaft at a desired distance from the resistor. The retainer system can be secured within the shaft with the spring flexed to a desired extent and with the contact surface urged against the resistor to retain the resistor in the shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: S.C. Johnson & Son, Inc.
    Inventors: Saleh A. Saleh, Andrea Pedrotti, Walter Sordo
  • Patent number: 8217308
    Abstract: A more comfortable seat is provided by detecting whether or not a person is in a seat. A seat has a heating element 1, a seat surface temperature detector 5 that is situated below a seat surface cover and that detects the temperature of the seat surface, and a seating determination unit 6 for determining whether or not a seat is occupied. A determination is made as to whether or not a seat is occupied according to an amount of temperature change detected by the seat surface temperature detector 5 for a predetermined period of time, whereby a determination can be readily made as to whether or not a person is seated. When no one is seated, application of power to the heating element 1 is stopped, and the like, which in turn contributes to energy saving and enhancement of fuel efficiency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Naohito Asami, Masanori Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 8212647
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a device having at least one PCT resistor and having at least one AC voltage source connected to the PTC resistor, with the PTC resistor being dimensioned such that the voltage drop over the PTC resistor does not exceed the value of 40 V/mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Liebherr-Aerospace Lindenberg GmbH
    Inventor: Franz Feuerstein
  • Patent number: 8206614
    Abstract: A voltage switchable dielectric material comprising a concentration of multi-component particles that are individually formed by a mechanical or mechanochemical bonding process that bonds a semiconductive or conductive-type host particle with multiple insulative, conductive, or semi-conductive guest particles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Shocking Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Lex Kosowsky, Robert Fleming
  • Patent number: 8203102
    Abstract: A thermal type flow sensor measures a flow rate of a fluid by means of a heat resistive element having a temperature dependency. The sensor is comprised of: plural heat resistive elements used for a flow rate measurement; and a driver circuit for controlling a current applied to these heat resistive elements to cause their heating. The driver circuit is configured to sense a resistance change of a lower-temperature side heat resistive element among the plural heat resistive elements and to control the current to be applied to the plural heat resistive elements in accordance with a sensed value of the lower-resistance's variation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Nakano, Masamichi Yamada, Masahiro Matsumoto, Izumi Watanabe
  • Patent number: 8183504
    Abstract: A surface-mountable electrical circuit protection device includes layers defining a first PPTC resistive element, a second PPTC resistive element, and at least one heat-generating electrical component such as a planar zener diode chip positioned between, and in thermal contact with, the first and second PPTC elements, such that an electrical current above a threshold level passing through the component causes the component to heat, the heat being transferred to the PPTC resistive elements and tripping at least one, and preferably both of the first or second PPTC elements to a high resistance state. A series of edge-formed terminal electrodes enable surface-mount connection of the first and second PPTC elements and the electrical component to an electrical circuit substrate, such as a printed circuit board. A method for making the device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Assignee: Tyco Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Wayne Montoya, Luis A. Navarro, Cecilia A. Walsh, Adrian P. Mikolajczak
  • Patent number: 8183503
    Abstract: A reversible, submersible, encapsulated PTC heater is disclosed having: a disc-shaped sealable housing; a central disc comprised of a sheet mineral disposed within the sealable housing; cavities disposed within the central disc; PTC heating elements disposed within the cavities; an upper electrode disc disposed upon a top side of the central disc and PTC heater elements; a lower electrode disc disposed upon a bottom side of the central disc and PTC heater elements; an upper polyimide film disc disposed upon a top side of the upper electrode disc; and a lower polyimide film disc disposed upon a bottom side of the lower electrode disc. The electrode discs are configured to make an intimate contact with the PTC heating elements and for connectivity to an electrical power source. The PTC heater is configured to electrically heat a medium to a predetermined temperature and to maintain the temperature of the medium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 22, 2012
    Inventor: Bosonto K. Gupta
  • Patent number: 8164031
    Abstract: An electric trace tube bundle characterized by an internal branched circuit or circuits wherein power to the branched circuit or circuits is supplied via leads contained within a tubular jacket surrounding an insulation layer and an inner core containing one or more process tubes and the heater circuits. Such an arrangement allows the power connection to the heater circuits to be made at a proximal end of the bundle, thereby eliminating the need to cut through the jacket to make branched circuit power connections at a location remote from the proximal end of the bundle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Assignee: Parker-Hannifin Corporation
    Inventors: Stephen J. Francis, Lawrence K. Kunkel, Dale J. Zelesnik
  • Patent number: 8164035
    Abstract: The heating device mainly contains a dual-core heat cable and a control circuit. The dual-core heating cable mainly contains a core, a heating wire winding spirally around the core, a NTC (negative-temperature-coefficient) layer wrapping around the core and the heating wire, a PTC heating wire winding spirally around the NTC layer, and an insulating layer wrapping around the NTC layer and the PTC heating wire. The control circuit monitors the PTC heating wire's current for constant temperature control, and the leakage current through The NTC layer as a second over-temperature protection. As such, the heating device has a superior constant temperature effect and avoids the problem of burning down the heating cable. The heating device therefore has a longer operational life span.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2012
    Inventor: Long-Huang Chang
  • Patent number: 8115146
    Abstract: A positive temperature coefficient heater may include at least one positive temperature coefficient rod having a heating module inserted into a rod case made of brass and plated with tin, at least one heat-radiating fin made of brass, plated with tin, and contacted and coupled with each of opposite outer faces of the positive temperature coefficient rod, and upper and lower housings coupled to opposite longitudinal ends of the positive temperature coefficient rod, wherein the positive temperature coefficient rod and the heat-radiating fin are joined together by soldered portions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2012
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Kia Motors Corporation, Modine Korea, LLC
    Inventors: Man Ju Oh, Duck Chae Jun, Tae Soo Sung
  • Patent number: 8110782
    Abstract: Heated architectural panel temperature control systems and methods are provided for heating windows that are formed from heated architectural panels. The control system comprises the heated architectural panel that produces heat when connected to external AC power, a panel frame disposed around the panel periphery, and a temperature control circuit that is electrically connected to the window. The temperature control circuit, which may be disposed in the panel frame, controls the temperature of the panel by utilizing a Hall effect sensor and the panel temperature coefficient of resistance ?. The panel may comprise insulated glass panels, laminated structures, or combinations thereof, where the window is disposed in an opening of a building.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Engineered Glass Products, LLC
    Inventors: Dillon R. Ashton, Peter F. Gerhardinger
  • Patent number: 8084721
    Abstract: An electrical heating apparatus has: a fin brazed on at least one of a main body upper wall and a main body lower wall of a tube; an insertion unit having an electro-heat-generating element pressure-welded to a wall of one of the main body upper wall and the main body lower wall; and an edge part projecting in the width direction from each of main body vertical walls to form an edge space. The edge space is formed so as to be continuous with the insertion space and is smaller in thickness dimension than the thickness dimension of the insertion unit. The edge part has an edge part upper wall, an edge part lower wall, and an edge part vertical wall disposed in a concave shape.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2011
    Assignee: Calsonic Kansei Corporation
    Inventors: Kazuaki Mori, Syotaro Abe
  • Patent number: 8063343
    Abstract: A heated breathing circuit detection system verifies the proper set up and connection of a breathing circuit to a heater unit of a humidification system. The detection system automatically detects that the breathing circuit is connected to the heater unit, and the nature of the heating circuit(s) thereof. In one embodiment, the resistance of the heating circuit(s) is determined and compared to an expected resistance or range of acceptable resistances to determine if the heater circuit(s) is properly or actually attached and properly operating. The humidification system also has the ability to determine the delivery mode of the breathing circuit, i.e., whether a single inspiratory limb, or both inspiratory and expiratory limbs, is connected to the heater unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2011
    Assignee: Smiths Medical ASD, Inc.
    Inventors: Cary E. McGhin, Ashok Mahadevan, Robert L. Snyder
  • Patent number: 8057946
    Abstract: An integrated charge air heat exchanger for use in a vehicle fuel cell system is provided. The integrated charge air heat exchanger includes a plurality of coolant conduits adapted for a coolant fluid to flow therethrough. The integrated charge air heat exchanger further includes a plurality of heating elements and a plurality of fin elements. One heating element is disposed on a first surface of each of the coolant conduits, and one of the fin elements is disposed on a second surface of each of the coolant conduits. A method for heating the coolant fluid in a first operational mode and cooling a charge air stream in a second operational mode is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Lee C. Whitehead, Benno Andreas-Schott, Glenn W. Skala
  • Patent number: 8044330
    Abstract: Disclosed is an electrically conductive adhesive that includes an electrically conductive powder, a heat-curable silicone resin, and a solvent.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: E.I. du Pont de Nemours and Company
    Inventor: Akira Inaba
  • Patent number: 8039774
    Abstract: A heating system in the form of a multi-layer, yet relatively thin and flexible panel. The panel contains a number of layers including first, second and third electrically insulating layers. A first electrically conductive resistive layer (heater layer) is sandwiched between the first and second insulating layers. A second electrically conductive resistive layer (resistive neutral plane layer) is sandwiched between the second and third insulating layers. The heater layer has a neutral electrical connection and a live electrical connection. The neutral and live electrical connections are electrically connected to each other at the panel only by electrically resistive material of the heater layer extending between the neutral and live electrical connections. The resistive neutral plane layer has a neutral electrical connection electrically connected with the neutral connection of the heater layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2011
    Assignee: United States Gypsum Company
    Inventor: Ashish Dubey
  • Patent number: 8035063
    Abstract: A power control system for an electric cooktop. The power level is set by a knob connected to a potentiometer. Potentiometer information is digitally communicated by a controller over a serial communication bus to a power unit. The power unit communicates power level display information back to the controller over the same serial communication bus. The display information is displayed as numbers on a digital display by the controller. The power unit controls a heating element of the cooktop according to the potentiometer information. A second potentiometer can be added to control a second heating element by operating as a slave to the first controller. Further, multiple heating elements can be controlled by a single potentiometer by dividing the angular rotation into multiple segments or ranges.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2011
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc,.
    Inventors: Sanjay Shukla, James E. Pryor
  • Patent number: 7994455
    Abstract: Traditional temperature-control products have the problem that the temperature of the working surface reaches the setting temperature too slowly when heating up or recovering from a temperature drop. A traditional temperature control circuit and temperature-settings selector components are modified to solve this problem. When heating begins, the modified circuit increases the initial setting temperature to be above the target setting temperature. The modified circuit then adjusts the setting temperature by measuring the heating power consumption. Once the working surface of the temperature control product reaches the initial setting temperature, the heating power consumption drops and the modified circuit reduces the temperature setting to the target setting temperature. The temperature control product can rapidly achieve the target temperature. A positive-temperature-coefficient heating component is used in the temperature control product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Pericom Technology Inc.
    Inventors: Qun Song, Fang Xie, Qi Wu, Zeyu Huang
  • Patent number: 7968826
    Abstract: The warming article contains a heating element and a sensing system. The sensing system has a first sensor element being a temperature dependent variable resistor and a second sensor element having at least two resistors in series and corresponding jumpers for one or more resistors in the second sensor element. The first sensor element is linear and flexible and the second sensor element is used to adjust the total sensor resistance to a fixed value at a particular temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Milliken & Company
    Inventors: Alfred R. DeAngelis, Joshua D. Horvath, Andrew D. Child, Scott Craig Thielman
  • Patent number: 7928345
    Abstract: In an aircraft windshield defogging/deicing system, a pair of transparent sheets maintained in spaced facing relation by a transparent interlayer have a resistive coating positioned between the transparent sheets. An inverter is provided for applying to the resistive coating a square wave or quasi-square wave AC signal. In response to receiving this AC signal, the resistive coating generates heat, which reduces or avoids the accumulation of moisture or ice on the aircraft windshield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2011
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventor: Michael D. Briggs
  • Patent number: 7880581
    Abstract: A PTC thermistor includes two electric conducting plates connected with different electrodes and an intermediate insulating plate clamped between the two electric conducting plates. The intermediate insulating plate has its surface bored with openings at locations respectively corresponding with those of each PTC thermal resistance member for the PTC thermal resistance member to be engaged therein. The intermediate insulating plate can surely separate and insulate the two different-electrode electric conducting plates and stably fix the PTC thermal resistance members in position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: February 1, 2011
    Inventor: Chung-Tai Chang
  • Patent number: 7864026
    Abstract: A temperature sensor. The sensor comprises a wire comprising a resistance temperature detector (RTD) sensing material wrapped around a flexible insulated metal core wire to form an assembly. A first end of the sensing wire is electrically connected to a first end of the core wire. The second end of the core wire provides a first lead, and an insulated lead wire is electrically connected to a second end of the sensing wire to provide a second lead. Shrink tubing encapsulates the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2011
    Assignee: RTD Company
    Inventor: Pete Bernier
  • Patent number: 7829822
    Abstract: An electric blanket has a woven web of warp and weft fibers. At least a portion of the warp fibers are electrically conductive. At least a portion of the weft fibers are electrically conductive and interweave with the electrically conductive warp fibers at a first area of the web. A power source in electrical communication with the web applies a voltage to the web that produces a wide area electrical distribution at the first area.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 9, 2010
    Assignee: Inotec Incorporated
    Inventor: Barry P. Keane