Patents Examined by Shawntina T Fuqua
  • Patent number: 11723474
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to an auto run mode for initiating a heating cycle of a heated bedding product. A heated bedding product can include a bedding product body comprising a heating element and a controller electrically connected to the heating element. The controller can include a processing circuit, such as a microcontroller, that is configured to operate in an auto run mode in which a heating cycle of the heating element is automatically initiated in response to alternating current power being provided to the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: E & E CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Michael Lightsey, Mark Castracane
  • Patent number: 11718271
    Abstract: One general aspect includes a system having one or more heat pads installed at a vehicle, the one or more heat pads configured to provide infrared energy transmissions to a vehicle component to defrost, defog, or both defrost and defog a surface of the vehicle component. The system may also carry out the following steps: (a) determining that ice or fog or both ice and fog has accumulated on the surface of the vehicle component; and (b) based on the determination made in step (a), activating the one or more heat pads to defrost, defog, or both defrost and defog a surface of the vehicle component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: GM GLOBAL TECHNOLOGY OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas W. Pinto, Kuo-huey Chen, Todd J. Gordon
  • Patent number: 11718155
    Abstract: A heat generator using a Carbon Nano Tube (CNT) composite material includes: an outer electrode part; an inner electrode part which faces the outer electrode part and is spaced apart from the outer electrode part at a predetermined distance; a connection part which connects the outer electrode part with the inner electrode part; and a bracket part which is disposed in the outer electrode part and the inner electrode part including the connection part to shield the outer electrode part, the inner electrode part and the connection part from each other. A surface of the connection part does not face directly the outer electrode part and the inner electrode part. The outer electrode part and the inner electrode part include electrodes having polarities different from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignees: HYUNDAI MOTOR COMPANY, KIA MOTORS CORPORATION, DUCK YANG INDUSTRY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jae-Seung Lee, Kwang-Seub Kim
  • Patent number: 11718424
    Abstract: Protective blankets comprise a flexible blanket body and a voltage supply. The flexible blanket body comprises a plurality of sheets of material operatively coupled together to define the flexible blanket body. The plurality of sheets comprises one or more sheets composed at least in part of a carbon nanotube material and at least one sheet composed of a different material. The voltage supply is electrically coupled at least to a first sheet of the one or more sheets composed at least in part of the carbon nanotube material, such that the first sheet defines a resistive heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: The Boeing Company
    Inventors: Eric S. Mindock, Richard W. Aston, Anna Maria Tomzynska-Engers, Raynaldo Santiago, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11716792
    Abstract: The invention concerns a conductive pattern sheet for use in a glazing, comprising a substrate, a conductive pattern arranged on the substrate, wherein the conductive pattern comprises first and second busbars arranged at opposing edges of the conductive pattern for connecting a power supply thereto, a plurality of conductive lines each conductive line arranged between the first and second busbars, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of conductive lines is configured to have a transition region wherein a change from a first resistance per unit length (R1) at a first end of the transition region to a second resistance per unit length (R2) at a second end of the transition region occurs over a predetermined length (L) of the transition region wherein a rate of change of resistance per unit length (R1-R2)/L is from 1 to 16,000 ohms per centimetre squared and the substrate is a polymer sheet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: PILKINGTON GROUP LIMITED
    Inventor: Leigh Francis Mellor
  • Patent number: 11716790
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a plane heater that generates heat by using graphene or the like as the conductive heat generation material thereof. The plane heater includes: a nonconductor substrate; a heat generation material applied to the nonconductor substrate; and a pair of electrodes configured to generate resistance heat in the heat generation material. The pair of electrodes include a first electrode configured to be connected to one pole of a power source, and a second electrode configured to be connected to the other pole of the power source. The sectional areas of at least some portions of the first electrode and the second electrode are determined such that a plurality of electric circuits formed by the first electrode, the heat generation material, and the second electrode can have the theoretically same resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: CHARMGRAPHENE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yong-Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 11716791
    Abstract: Disclosed herein is a plane heater that generates heat by using graphene or the like as the conductive heat generation material thereof. The plane heater includes: a nonconductor substrate; a heat generation material applied to the nonconductor substrate; and a pair of electrodes configured to generate resistance heat in the heat generation material. The pair of electrodes include a first electrode configured to be connected to one pole of a power source, and a second electrode configured to be connected to the other pole of the power source. The sectional areas of at least some portions of the first electrode and the second electrode are determined such that a plurality of electric circuits formed by the first electrode, the heat generation material, and the second electrode can have the theoretically same resistance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: CHARMGRAPHENE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yong-Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 11705337
    Abstract: An annealing system is provided that includes a chamber body that defines a chamber, a support to hold a workpiece and a robot to insert the workpiece into the chamber. The annealing system also includes a first gas supply to provide a hydrogen gas, a pressure source coupled to the chamber to raise a pressure in the chamber to at least 5 atmospheres, and a controller configured to cause the robot to transport a workpiece having a metal film thereon into the chamber, where the metal film contains fluorine on a surface or embedded within the metal film, to cause the first gas supply to supply the hydrogen gas to the chamber and form atomic hydrogen therein, and to cause the pressure source to raise a pressure in the chamber to at least 5 atmospheres while the workpiece is held on the support in the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: APPLIED MATERIALS, INC.
    Inventors: Keith Tatseun Wong, Thomas Jongwan Kwon, Sean Kang, Ellie Y. Yieh
  • Patent number: 11706844
    Abstract: A cooktop includes a base and an electrically conductive coating applied to the lower surface of the base. The coating is composed of a paint containing electrically conductive particles dispersed in a silicone or polyester-silicone or epoxy-silicone resin. The conductive particles are selected from the group consisting of multi-wall or single-wall carbon nanotubes, graphene, copper metallic particles, nickel metallic particles, or combinations thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2023
    Assignee: VERNICIATURE BRESCIANE S.R.L.
    Inventors: Massimiliano Bestetti, Gianluca Ghizzardi
  • Patent number: 11698197
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a heating paint which can be used to generate a surface heating device on a wall. The invention further relates to a surface heating device which is suitable in particular for heating a room, and also to a kit for producing a surface heating device on a wall. The invention relates, moreover, to uses of the subjects of the invention, especially for producing a surface heating device and, respectively, for heating a room, and to corresponding methods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Future Carbon GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Forero, Ortrud Aschenbrenner, Thomas Kandziora, Walter Schütz, Klaus Zeyn
  • Patent number: 11697322
    Abstract: A moving body includes: a detection unit configured to detect a peripheral situation of the moving body; a heating unit configured to be capable of heating a component of the moving body that is positioned in a detection range of the detection unit; a power receiving unit configured to receive power from an external power supply apparatus of the moving body; and a control unit configured to, when the power receiving unit receives power from the power supply apparatus, control the heating unit so as to be in an operation state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shinji Hironaka, Yuki Oshitani
  • Patent number: 11698209
    Abstract: The metal tank portion of an electric water heater is protected against corrosion utilizing a corrosion protection system that detects a voltage potential between the sheath portion of a tank water-immersed electric heating element and the tank. In one embodiment of the corrosion protection system the sensed sheath/tank potential is utilized to enable a user of the water heater to accurately gauge the necessity of replacing a sacrificial anode extending into the tank. In another corrosion protection system, the sensed sheath/tank potential is utilized to provide impressed current cathodic protection of the tank and also to prevent dry firing of the electric water heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2023
    Assignee: Rheem Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Jozef Boros, Raheel A. Chaudhry, Yan Hong, Troy E. Trant
  • Patent number: 11696369
    Abstract: Disclosed are methods of making low voltage joule heating elements (10, 40, 50) from carbon nanotubes (CNT) (32). In an embodiment, the heating element (10) includes layers (12) of aligned thin film CNTs. In another embodiment, the heating element (40) includes CNTs (32) dispersed in a polymer (34) to form a CNT polymer composite (30). In another embodiment, the heating element (50) includes CNT thread (52) stitched to a fabric (54). Each embodiment further includes a pair of electrodes (20, 22, 42, 44, 56, 58) that are configured to be couple to a source of electricity. Embodiments further include an encapsulating film (24, 46) over at least the heating element. The heating elements (10, 40, 50) produced by the processes disclosed herein are lightweight and highly efficient and suitable for many uses including incorporation into objects such as clothing and footwear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: University of Cincinnati
    Inventors: Noe Alvarez Torrico, Ryan Noga, Seyram Gbordzoe, Vesselin N. Shanov
  • Patent number: 11691483
    Abstract: A thermal shield system with wireless control capabilities including a multi-layer shield, a housing containing a power source and processor, and a programmable control mechanism, wherein the control mechanism is in communication with the processor to facilitate direct or remote manual programming of time and temperature of the shield system. The multi-layer shield includes a perimeter having a first layer comprised of reflective material, a second layer comprised of a plurality of conductive pads arranged in a plurality of rows within a structural support sheet, a third layer comprised of thermal material, an electrical wire running through and connecting said conductive pads of the second layer, and a surround spanning the perimeter of the shield. The surround of the shield has flexibility to allow folding or rolling for compact storage of said shield and having rigidity to provide structural integrity of said shield.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Inventor: Ramon C Esteban
  • Patent number: 11691350
    Abstract: An electric heating pad for warming a patient. The electric heating pad may be a heated underbody support, heated mattress or heated mattress overlay. An embodiment of the heating pad includes a flexible sheet-like heating element including an upper edge, a lower edge, and at least two side edges. The heating pad may also include a shell covering the heating element and comprising at least two sheets of flexible material (e.g., two sheets may be one sheet folded over to form at least two sheets). The two sheets of flexible material may be coupled together about the edges of the heating element by a weld. The material of the two sheets may include urethane. In some embodiments, a catalyst to accelerate hydrogen peroxide decomposition is coated on or impregnated into an element within the shell, or on the interior surface of the shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Augustine Temperature Management LLC
    Inventors: Scott D. Augustine, Randall C. Arnold, Ryan S. Augustine, Rudolf A. Deibel, Scott A. Entenman, Garrett J. Augustine, Brent M. Augustine
  • Patent number: 11684085
    Abstract: An e-vapor device may include a pre-vapor sector and a heater structure arranged in thermal contact with the pre-vapor sector. The pre-vapor sector is configured to hold and dispense a pre-vapor formulation. The heater structure includes a base wire and a shell layer coating the base wire. The base wire is insulated from the shell layer. The shell layer includes at least one recessed portion between a first unrecessed portion and a second unrecessed portion. The at least one recessed portion is a thinner section of the shell layer that is configured to vaporize the pre-vapor formulation to generate a vapor. As a result of the heater design, the heater structure is stiffer and more robust than other related heaters in the art, thus allowing more options for its implementation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Peter Lipowicz
  • Patent number: 11686502
    Abstract: A heat-generating element for an electric heating device includes a heating element casing which comprises a casing element formed from a ceramic material and a casing mating element formed from a ceramic material. The two casing elements bear against each other in a sealing manner and enclose, in a sealing manner between each other, a PTC element and conductor tracks. The conductor tracks bear, in an electrically conductive manner, against the PTC element and are assigned different polarities for energizing the PTC element. The heating element casing carries contact strips connected in an electrically conductive manner to the associated conductor tracks. At least one of the conductor tracks is formed by an electrically conductive element which is provided with through holes and which, in a height direction of the conductor track, comprises discrete points of support that bear against the PTC element and one of casing element and casing mating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Eberspächer catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Patrick Kachelhoffer, Kurt Walz
  • Patent number: 11683864
    Abstract: A heating cable that is usable in train track applications where railroad switches are subject to icing during cold weather, the heating cable including a coiled resistance heating wire contained in an electrical insulator, which is contained in an inner braided metal sleeve, which is contained in a flexible metal hose, which is contained in an outer braided metal sleeve.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Assignee: Thermal-Flex Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: Daniel A. Santagata
  • Patent number: 11673536
    Abstract: A snow and ice removal device may include one or more, heating elements. A control unit may be configured to control the heating element to produce heat. A power source may be in electrical communication with the control unit and the heating element. Heat may be applied to the roof surface by the heating element to loosen and/or melt accumulated ice or snow from the roof surface of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Inventor: James Clark Carroll
  • Patent number: 11673375
    Abstract: A method for producing a heater with a co-sintered multilayer construction for a system for providing an inhalable aerosol, including providing at least one first substrate layer, arranging at least one first insulating layer at least in areas on the first substrate layer, arranging at least one heating element at least in areas on the first insulating layer, arranging at least one second substrate layer and at least one second insulating layer at least in areas on the heating element. The second insulating layer is arranged at least in areas on the second substrate layer, and the second insulating layer is in contact at least in areas with the heating element and/or with the first insulating layer. The method includes pressing the layers and the heating element, and firing the pressed layers in order to co-sinter the layers of the multilayer construction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Heraeus Nexensos GmbH
    Inventors: Stefan Dietmann, Dieter Teusch, Tim Asmus, Karlheinz Wienand