Vehicle Or Vehicle Component Patents (Class 219/202)
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Publication number: 20080179314Abstract: The invention is a novel heating unit utilizing a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heater, and fixing the PTC heater between two heat sinks. The new heater is placed in the blower output, and negates the need for a separate heater layer under the trim of an automotive seat.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 15, 2007Publication date: July 31, 2008Applicant: SCHUKRA OF NORTH AMERICA, LTD.Inventors: Renato Colja, Jianlin Zhang, Corina Simona Alionte
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Publication number: 20080173628Abstract: The invention refers to a motor vehicle heating system comprising several heating elements, several voltage connectors for connecting the heating elements to a supply voltage, and a plug-on connector receptacle in which the voltage connectors are arranged as contact reeds. According to the invention the plug-in connector receptacle is provided with a ground pin for connecting of the motor vehicle heating system to ground.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2008Publication date: July 24, 2008Inventors: Christian Dorrie, Frank Bartmann, Norbert Ernst
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Patent number: 7402775Abstract: A vehicular shock-absorbing beam includes a pair of mounting portions disposed at the both ends of a beam body and adapted to be mounted on a vehicle. The shock-absorbing beam is produced by a thermal treatment equipment for the heat treatment of the beam. The thermal treatment equipment comprises a pair of holding means for holding the beam body, a pair of current-applying means for directly applying current to the beam body, and quenching means for quenching the heated beam body. One of the paired holding means or that of the paired current-applying means can be slidable. The quenching means sandwiches the beam body with a lower jig and an upper jig both having corrugated surfaces. The heated beam body is quenched with a coolant sprayed from a plurality of the injection holes formed in the upper and lower corrugated surfaces.Type: GrantFiled: April 10, 2006Date of Patent: July 22, 2008Assignee: Asteer Co., Ltd.Inventor: Hiroshi Yoshida
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Publication number: 20080166563Abstract: Thermally conductive films, composite materials including the films, and electrothermal heaters including the films, are disclosed. The films include a polymer and a sufficient concentration of hexagonal boron nitride to provide adequate heat transfer properties, and have high thermal conductivity, peel strength, and shear strength. The films can include thermoset polymers, thermoplastic polymers, or blends thereof, and can also include electrically conductive materials, reinforcing materials such as fiberglass, carbon fiber, metal mesh, and the like, and thermally conductive fillers, such as aluminum oxide, aluminum nitride, and the like. The films can be included in composite materials. The films can be used as part of a layered structure, and used in virtually any application, for example, various locations in aircraft, where heating is desirable, including nacelle skins, airplane wings, heated floor panels, and the like.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 19, 2007Publication date: July 10, 2008Applicant: Goodrich CorporationInventors: David Louis Brittingham, Stanley Gerald Prybyla, Daniel Paul Christy
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Publication number: 20080135536Abstract: An electric heating system, in particular an auxiliary heating system in automobiles, with below characteristics: The heating system has several heating rods (1), arranged side-by-side The heating rods (1) are connected to each other by means of alike metal plates (4) that are slid onto the heating rods (1) the heating rods (1) have for this purpose a series of slotted holes (3) that extend in the longitudinal direction (10) of the metal plates (4) the slotted holes (3) have longitudinal edges, facing each other, that clamp the heating rods (1) between them; at least one part of the slotted holes (3) in each metal plate (4) is longer by more than the manufacturing tolerance, than the width of the heating rods (1) measured in the longitudinal direction (10) of the metal plates (4).Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2007Publication date: June 12, 2008Inventors: Jurgen Kochems, Michael Edgar Luppold, Rolf Merte
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Publication number: 20080135535Abstract: The invention relates to an added electrical heater (1), especially for a heating system or air conditioner of a motor vehicle. A plurality of heating elements (2) are provided which are formed by PTC elements while being fitted with at least one electrically conducting coating (3).Type: ApplicationFiled: March 23, 2006Publication date: June 12, 2008Inventors: Michel Brun, Geoffrey Denny, Gerard Eckerlen, Erwan Gogmos, Michael Kohl, Walter Kreuzer, Pascal Miss, Mathieu Mougey, Jurgen Otto, Christophe Schmittheisler
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Publication number: 20080128401Abstract: An electrical heating device for a motor vehicle has a layer structure held by a retaining device. The heating device has several heat generating elements and heat dissipating elements between the heat generating elements, and a control device for controlling the heat generating elements. The heating device has a sound deadening housing, which circumferentially encloses the control device and by which sound waves produced by the control device are deadened. Through this measure, disturbing exposure of persons located in the vehicle to structure-borne noise and/or to sound waves borne by the air flowing through the electrical heating device is prevented.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 28, 2007Publication date: June 5, 2008Applicant: CATEM GmBH & CO. KGInventors: Franz Bohlender, Michael Zeyen
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Publication number: 20080124616Abstract: In order to improve the performance of a battery power supply unit for a bicycle electronic device at low atmospheric temperature, when its temperature is less than or equal to a lower temperature threshold, electrical energy is supplied by the power supply unit to a heating element thermally coupled with the power supply unit that, in this way, self-heats. Part of the electrical energy of the power supply unit can be simultaneously supplied to the electronic device.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 2, 2007Publication date: May 29, 2008Applicant: CAMPAGNOLO S.R.L.Inventor: Federico MIGLIORANZA
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Patent number: 7378614Abstract: A heat rod assembly for preheating internal air of a vehicle by using heat generated from a positive temperature coefficient (PCT) device and a pre-heater for vehicles including the same, in which components of the heat rod assembly and the pre-heater are grouped as module units so that a width and a volume of the heat rod assembly or the pre-heater can be variously formed so that the heat rod assembly or the pre-heater is adaptable for various kinds of vehicles.Type: GrantFiled: August 3, 2004Date of Patent: May 27, 2008Assignee: Woory Industrial Company Ltd.Inventor: Sung-Young Lee
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Publication number: 20080116194Abstract: The invention relates to a controller for an electric auxiliary heater (1) of a motor vehicle air-conditioning system. The controller comprises a power supply cable (2), which provides energy and comprises a control cable for transmitting control signals to a regulator (5) for regulating the auxiliary heater (1). The invention is characterized in that the power supply cable (2) is also the control cable.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 17, 2005Publication date: May 22, 2008Applicant: BEHR FRANCE S.A.R.L.Inventors: Michel Brun, Jean-Luc Delamarche, Pascal Miss, Mathieu Mougey, Maxime Mundel, Christophe Schmittheisler
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Patent number: 7360931Abstract: Indicating device for a motor vehicle, having at least one lighting element that is mounted in the housing of a mirror, for example by gluing it onto the mirror glass from the rear, and which illuminates the housing interior, making it only indirectly visible to the driver.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2003Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventor: Peter Haag
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Patent number: 7361868Abstract: This disclosure relates to an electrical heating device, especially for motor vehicles, including a closed frame (2) which include rails (3, 4) and cross rails (5, 6), heating elements (7) which include elements made of electrically conductive plastic layers (18) having PCT effect, which are arranged between contact plates (15, 16), heat-conducting secondary surface elements (8) that can be overflown by air and at least one electrically conductive spring element (9), wherein the heating elements (7) and the secondary surface elements (8) are alternatingly arranged next to one another and are braced against each other by the rails (3, 4) and a spring element (9) placed centrally which replaces the secondary surface element (8).Type: GrantFiled: March 5, 2004Date of Patent: April 22, 2008Assignees: Behr GmbH & Co. KG, Behr France S.A.R.L.Inventors: Jürgen Otto, Michel Brun, Yannik Laumonnerie, Grégory Lucas, Pascal Miss, Mathieu Mougey, Christophe Schmittheisler
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Patent number: 7358466Abstract: The present invention is a BLISK airfoil heat treating apparatus and method for heat treating the leading and/or trailing edge section(s) of a BLISK airfoil using the BLISK airfoil heat treating apparatus. The apparatus comprises a pair of hingedly connected heat treating shells, each shell having a cavity for receiving an airfoil edge section requiring heat treatment. A resistive heating element is positioned with the shells to heat the cavities.Type: GrantFiled: January 12, 2006Date of Patent: April 15, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jeffrey L. Myers, Thomas F. Broderick
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Publication number: 20080083718Abstract: An airflow heater includes a housing, an air source to generate an airflow and a heat coverage enhancement supported in front of the air source. The heat coverage enhancement includes at least a PTC heat generating arrangement for generating heat, a heat dissipating arrangement for transmitting the heat therefrom, and an airflow guider frontwardly, outwardly, and inclinedly extended from the heat dissipating arrangement for deviating an exiting angle of the airflow, such that the airflow guider maximizes the exiting angle of the airflow with respect to the housing for enhancing a coverage of the airflow.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 8, 2006Publication date: April 10, 2008Inventor: Tianyu Gao
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Patent number: 7355146Abstract: A heating unit for a vehicle features a radial fan (100) having a housing (110), which housing has an air inlet (116) and an air exit opening (118). The heating unit has an air-directing device (140) that guides an air flow in a pressure chamber (115) of the housing (110) to the exit opening (118). Arranged in the housing (110) is a radial fan wheel (130) that serves to generate a flow from the air inlet (116) via the pressure chamber (115) to the air exit opening (118). Also provided is an electrical heating element, e.g. a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heating element (125), that serves to transfer heat to the air flow generated by the fan. Air-directing elements (632, 634, 636, 638) are provided between the exit opening (118) and the heating element (125), in order to generate an air flow having a more uniform (680) velocity distribution.Type: GrantFiled: July 28, 2006Date of Patent: April 8, 2008Assignee: ebm-papst St. Georgen GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Walter Georg Angelis, Wolfgang Arno Winkler
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Patent number: 7351934Abstract: A low voltage warming blanket adapted for use in vehicles powered by the vehicles DC power source is provided with a control selectively actuatable to activate the blanket for one of a plurality of preset time periods at at least one pre-set temperature, the control having a reset button to reinitiate activation upon expiration of the time period, the blanket being provided with thermal sensors preventing overheating.Type: GrantFiled: July 14, 2005Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Inventor: Gary Devroy
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Publication number: 20080053981Abstract: The invention provides a heat-transfer-medium heating apparatus using a PTC heater and a vehicular air-conditioning apparatus using such a heating apparatus, which have superior heat-conducting properties and ease of assembly, which can improve the heating capacity, and which can ensure sufficient electrical insulation. Included are a PTC heater having a stacked construction in which an electrode plate, an incompressible insulating layer, and a compressible heat-conducting layer are sequentially provided on each side of a PTC element so as to sandwich the PTC element; and heat-transfer-medium circulating boxes, respectively disposed in close contact with the two surfaces of the PTC heater and having circulating channels for the heat-transfer-medium formed therein. The heat transfer medium circulating inside the heat-transfer-medium circulating boxes is heated by radiant heat from the two surfaces of the PTC heater.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 23, 2007Publication date: March 6, 2008Applicant: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.Inventors: Tomoyasu Adachi, Mikihiko Ishii, Nobuya Nakagawa
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Publication number: 20080053980Abstract: The invention relates to a heating assembly (1) comprising at least one PCT element, in particular for a motor vehicle, said PCT element (2) being located between two contact sheets (3, 4), which are used to make electrical contact. According to the invention, the heating assembly (1) comprises a frame (7) and at least one of the two contact outside the frame (7), said staggered section of the projecting part (10) of the contact sheet (3) running parallel with the remaining part (11) of said sheet (3).Type: ApplicationFiled: September 15, 2004Publication date: March 6, 2008Applicant: BEHR FRANCE ROUFFACH SASInventors: Michel Brun, Pascal Miss, Mathieu Mougey
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Patent number: 7329835Abstract: A three-dimensional heating element particularly intended for use in a steering-wheel. The three-dimensional heating element includes a heating composite having a heating element bonded between two films, one or both of which includes a heat shrinkable material. A covering material is placed over the heating composite. The film closest to the covering material includes a plastic material which forms a barrier preventing gaseous, liquid and/or solid chemicals from attacking the heating conductor when the heating element is applied to the steering-wheel. A foam material may be introduced in the space between the composite and covering material.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2004Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Assignee: I.G. Bauerhin GmbHInventor: Josef Hilmer
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Publication number: 20080023459Abstract: A convection oven for use in a food delivery vehicle comprises an oven cavity with an air inlet and an air outlet, an air feed conduit for feeding an air feed into the oven cavity through the air inlet and a heating arrangement for heating the air feed before it is fed into the oven cavity, the heating arrangement comprising a heating device that is electrically powered and being arranged to maintain a temperature of at least 130° C. in the oven cavity. A food delivery vehicle may comprise such an oven and the oven may be heatable from an electric current provided by the engine of the vehicle.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 16, 2004Publication date: January 31, 2008Applicant: Hotpods LimitedInventor: Kevan Graham Leach
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Publication number: 20080017625Abstract: A passenger seat device includes a seat heater embedded in a seat and a detector electrode embedded underneath the seat heater. Electric power is supplied to the seat heater from an on-board battery through seat heater switches. Alternating voltage or current is supplied to the detector electrode. The detector electrode potential relative to the ground is lowered when the seat is occupied by a passenger. The changes in the potential of the detector electrode is detected by an occupant detector including a microcomputer. The detection is performed when the seat heater is brought to a floating state to suppress an amount of capacitance formed between the seat heater and the detector electrode. Thus, a sensitivity of the occupant detector is improved. The detector electrode may be eliminated, and the occupant conditions may be detected based on a potential of the seat heater to which alternating current or voltage is supplied.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 9, 2007Publication date: January 24, 2008Applicant: DENSO CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Ito, Tsutomu Kamizono, Shoichi Yamanaka
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Publication number: 20080017624Abstract: A vehicle having an occupant cabin, a cowl, and a Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) system is provided with a cowl tray and adjoining HVAC intake. The cowl tray, HVAC intake, or both are constructed from a resistively conductive polymeric material, a polymeric material having embedded resistively conductive fibers, or a polymeric material having embedded resistively conductive wires, and are capable of generating heat upon the application of an electric current. Alternately, inserts constructed of such materials are attached to the cowl tray, HVAC intake, or both. The ability of the cowl tray and HVAC intake to generate heat is useful in preventing the accumulation of snow and ice.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 13, 2006Publication date: January 24, 2008Applicant: International Truck Intellectual Property Company, LLCInventor: Lenora G. Hazen
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Publication number: 20080011732Abstract: An electrode unit for detecting whether a seat is occupied or not (occupancy conditions) is embedded in a seat of an automotive vehicle together with an electrically powered seat heater. Both of the electrode unit and the seat heater are flat, and the electrode unit is laminated on the heat heater. The electrode unit is composed of an upper electrode, a lower electrode and an insulating film disposed between both electrodes. The occupancy conditions are detected based on changes in a capacitance between the upper electrode and a member grounded to a vehicle body. To reduce a capacitance between the upper electrode and seat heater and to thereby improve sensitivity of the detection of the occupancy conditions, an alternating voltage that alternates in accordance with an alternating voltage supplied to the upper electrode is supplied to the lower electrode.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 3, 2007Publication date: January 17, 2008Applicant: DENSO CorporationInventors: Hiroyuki Ito, Tsutomu Kamizono, Shoichi Yamanaka
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Patent number: 7301126Abstract: A panel element with a toughened pane, provided with a total surface coating, which is electrically conducting and heated by applying an electrical voltage by electrodes. A partial zone of the coating is electrically separated by a separating line. Specifically, an inner surface zone of the coating is separated electrically, by at least one peripheral separating line, from an external edge region of the coating, and the electrodes are placed inside the surface zone surrounded by the peripheral separating line.Type: GrantFiled: February 27, 2003Date of Patent: November 27, 2007Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass FranceInventor: Detlef Mann
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Patent number: 7297901Abstract: Disclosed is a pre-heater for vehicles comprising: A PTC element module including a positive terminal composed of two sheets, an upper sheet of which has a fastening hole and upward bended ribs formed at opposite edges of the fastening hole; a ring-shaped insert insulator inserted between the ribs; a PTC element inserted into an inside of the insert insulator, a bottom surface of which is in contact with a lower sheet of the positive terminal; one heat fin assembly closely fastened to one surface of the PTC element; another heat fin assembly fastened to the other surface of the PTC element through the medium of a positive terminal and an entire surface insulator; and a fastening insulator for binding together the two heat fin assemblies, the PTC element, the positive terminal and the entire surface insulator, and a heat fin assembly disposed parallel to the PTC element module; a negative terminal disposed parallel to the heat fin assembly; frames and respectively fastened to both ends of a combined body incluType: GrantFiled: November 11, 2004Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Woory industrial Company Ltd.Inventor: Sung-Young Lee
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Patent number: 7291814Abstract: A grip heater control apparatus (7) capable of increasing the opportunities to enable a heater (2) to warm a grip (1) while suppressing a voltage drop of a battery (10), the grip heater control apparatus comprising a heater (2) for generating heat by means of electric power supplied from the battery (10), the heater being provided in a grip (1) of a steering handle of a vehicle having a generator (9) for generating electricity interlocking with the rotation of an engine as a propulsive source and the battery (10) charged by the generator (9), and a heater control unit for controlling the electric energy supplied to the heater (2) from the battery (10), wherein a revolutions detecting unit is provided for detecting the number of revolutions of the engine or the generator (9) and the heater control unit includes a unit for determining an upper limit on the upper limit electric energy supplied to the heater (2) depending on the detected number of revolutions.Type: GrantFiled: September 29, 2005Date of Patent: November 6, 2007Assignees: Honda Access Corp., Mitsubishi Cable Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Yasuo Oishi, Katsuya Okamoto
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Patent number: 7285753Abstract: For use on board a mobile means of transport (eg. aircraft, bus, ship), a heating system and method are described which lead to a reduction of peak demand in the on-board kitchen energy supply system relating to the integrated heating appliances for the warming or heating of food. For this, latent or thermochemical heat storage units are used which are fully integrated into the structural elements of the heating appliance in question and heats the product in such a way that there is sufficient heat output, while at the same time, the absolute temperature is limited by means of an appropriate choice of heat storage material for product enhancement.Type: GrantFiled: December 13, 2004Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: Airbus Deutschland GmbHInventors: Merle Hoehne, Joachim Hoehne, Hans-Juergen Heinrich
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Patent number: 7275586Abstract: The invention relates to a heating or air-conditioning system for a motor vehicle, by which individual zones of the vehicle interior can be supplied with separately temperature-controlled air. An improved heating or air-conditioning system, which requires just a small amount of installation space, feeds differently temperature-controlled air to a plurality of air-conditioning zones. Despite the small amount of installation space, optimum mixing of cold air and warm air takes place in the heating or air-conditioning system, with the result that the air emerging from air-outlet openings in a respective air-conditioning zone have a constant temperature over the outlet cross section.Type: GrantFiled: August 29, 2005Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: Behr GmbH & Co.Inventors: Oliver Beck, Michael Förster, Christian Grömmer, Norbert Wöcht
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Patent number: 7276676Abstract: A food and food-plate warming device includes a base plate that has a planar top surface and has an outwardly beveled edge provided with laterally stepped ridges concentrically spaced from the top surface center. A cover plate is positioned on the base plate and has an outer lip that is nested on one of the stepped ridges. Handles are conjoined to the outer lip for receiving at least four contiguous metacarpals therethrough. A mechanism is included for heating the base plate top surface such that the food and food-plate interfitted between the base plate and the cover plate can be heated. The heating mechanism includes a heating element intercalated between the top and bottom surfaces of the first base plate. An automatic shut off switch is coupled to the heating element for interrupting power to the heating element when an interior temperature of the device reaches a maximum threshold temperature.Type: GrantFiled: February 2, 2006Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Inventor: Jennifer J. Thompson
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Patent number: 7274007Abstract: There is disclosed a control system for operating automotive vehicle components. The control system typically includes at least a control module programmed with instructions for controlling a heater, a ventilator or both.Type: GrantFiled: September 21, 2004Date of Patent: September 25, 2007Assignee: W.E.T. Automotive Systems Ltd.Inventors: Lucas Fernandez, Konstantin Majarov
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Patent number: 7268325Abstract: A method of making a flexible sheet heater includes the steps of (i) bonding an electrically conductive fabric and an support member formed of a PET film and a layer of acrylic together, ii) stamp-cutting the electrically conductive fabric to form a heating element having a predetermined loop, iii) attaching two electrical terminals to two distal ends of the heating element respectively, iv) bonding a first flexible protective sheet member to one side of the heating element opposite to the PET film, v) removing the PET film from the heating element; and vi) bonding a second flexible protective sheet member to the other side of the heating element opposite to the first flexible protective sheet member so that the heating element is sandwiched between the first and second flexible protective sheet members.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2006Date of Patent: September 11, 2007Assignee: Linkwin Technology Co., Ltd.Inventor: Kuo-Chang Chuang
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Patent number: 7262388Abstract: The present invention is directed to a system for reducing condensation on the inner surface of a vehicle light cover, and preventing or deicing ice build up on the exterior of the cover. In an embodiment, a heater is mounted to a carrier and the heat produced by the heater prevents the occurrence of condensation on the inner surface of the light cover or build up of ice on the outer surface. In an embodiment, one or more vents may be provided in the carrier and one or more corresponding holes may be provided in the heater so as to increase the flow of air across the inner surface of the light cover. A controller may be provided to control activation of the heater.Type: GrantFiled: April 28, 2005Date of Patent: August 28, 2007Assignee: Illinois Tool Works IncInventors: Cary Moreth, Edward F. Bulgajewski, Erik Arnold
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Patent number: 7248790Abstract: A heating device for a vehicle is provided with a radiation-heat generating unit for generating radiation heat, a first light-distributing unit for converting irradiation directions of the radiation heat into a substantial single irradiation direction, and a second light-distributing unit for distributing the radiation heat to at least one heating object in a passenger compartment of the vehicle. The second light-distributing unit slantways intersects the radiation heat which has the substantial single irradiation direction converted by the first light-distributing unit.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2005Date of Patent: July 24, 2007Assignee: DENSO CorporationInventors: Haruki Misumi, Akio Matsuoka
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Patent number: 7244914Abstract: A sheet heater structured so that heating wire is fixed to air-passing base material by sewing. This structure can provide a sheet heater that has improved durability of heating wire 2 against the load imposed on the seat during sitting, comfortable feeling of sitting in the seat, and high air-passing capability.Type: GrantFiled: April 8, 2003Date of Patent: July 17, 2007Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Mitsuru Yoneyama, Naohito Asami, Akira Shiratake, Norio Abe, Kazumi Nagayama
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Patent number: 7230207Abstract: A heatable external rearview mirror including a mirror housing for attachment to the vehicle and a mirror pane with a reflecting surface carried in the housing. A heating element is located adjacent the mirror pane for heating the pane to remove precipitation. A thermochromic heating indicator is provided in heat conducting contact with at least one of the heating element and the mirror pane that reacts to temperature changes for detecting heating of the mirror pane by the heating element and providing a visual indication of the operation of the heating element.Type: GrantFiled: April 14, 2005Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: Lang-Mekra North America LLCInventors: Michael Witzke, Jorg Scholler, Heinrich Lang
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Patent number: 7230210Abstract: The invention concerns a method for controlling the operating conditions of a probe (11) associated with means purifying (7) exhaust gases of an internal combustion engine (2), which consists in comparing an output signal of the probe with a reference value, and in acting on the probe (11) to decrease a difference between the output signal (S1) and the reference value.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2003Date of Patent: June 12, 2007Assignee: Renault s.a.s.Inventors: Marc Daneau, Bernard Dionnet, Karim Guenounou, Valerie Vayssie
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Patent number: 7222667Abstract: A vehicular air-conditioning apparatus includes a hot-water heater and an electric heater provided downstream of the hot-water heater. The apparatus also includes a bypass passage for allowing air-conditioning air flowing past the hot-water heater to bypass the electric heater and a bypass door provided in the bypass passage for opening and closing the bypass passage.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2005Date of Patent: May 29, 2007Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Tsutomu Fujiki, Hitoshi Hakamada
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Patent number: 7193178Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for controlling the heating of an oxygen sensor in a motor vehicle. The apparatus comprises an oxygen sensor for measuring oxygen levels in exhaust gases of a motor vehicle. The oxygen sensor comprising a heater rod, an outer electrode surrounding the heater rod, and a shell surrounding the outer electrode and configured for mounting the oxygen sensor in the motor vehicle. A first electrical connection coupled to the outer electrode and a second electrical connection coupled to the shell are configured to facilitate measurement of capacitance between the outer electrode and the shell during operation of the motor vehicle.Type: GrantFiled: July 10, 2003Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: General Motors CorporationInventors: Jeffrey A. Sell, John W. Siekkinen
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Patent number: 7193187Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for controlling electrical heating of an element to maintain a constant electrical resistance, by adjusting electrical power supplied to such element according to an adaptive feedback control algorithm, in which all the parameters are (1) arbitrarily selected; (2) pre-determined by the physical properties of the controlled element; or (3) measured in real time. Unlike the conventional proportion-integral-derivative (PID) control mechanism, the system and method of the present invention do not require re-tuning of proportionality constants when used in connection with a different controlled element or under different operating conditions, and are therefore adaptive to changes in the controlled element and the operating conditions.Type: GrantFiled: February 9, 2004Date of Patent: March 20, 2007Assignee: Advanced Technology Materials, Inc.Inventors: Ing-Shin Chen, Jeffrey W. Neuner
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Patent number: 7189942Abstract: The car power source apparatus is provided with a car driving battery, a heater which heats the driving battery, a control circuit which controls power to the heater, and a temperature sensor to detect battery temperature and issue a detected temperature signal to the control circuit. The control circuit is provided with a timer which stores a warming-time to maintain the driving battery in a warmed-up condition via the heater after the car ignition switch has been turned off. During the warming-time, which is until the timer times-out with the ignition switch turned to the off state, the control circuit controls power to the heater to maintain the driving battery in a warmed-up condition.Type: GrantFiled: March 24, 2005Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.Inventors: Yasuo Kotani, Yoshihiko Ninomiya, Masaki Yugo
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Patent number: 7189948Abstract: A lower limit of a heating factor for heating control of an oxygen sensor is adjusted on the basis of the heating factor, a P-jump delay time calculated based on an output voltage of the oxygen sensor, and a diagnosis index of the oxygen sensor, and thereby an engine may be stably controlled even if the oxygen sensor is aged.Type: GrantFiled: December 29, 2003Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: Hyundai Motor CompanyInventors: Young Soo Kwon, Jong Seok Yoon, Ki Ha Shin
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Patent number: 7189943Abstract: A heated motorcycle handgrip is securable to a motorcycle handlebar and includes a grip housing that has a first end adapted to receive the handlebar, and a second end opposite the first end. The grip housing includes a heating element that is operable to provide a heat output, and a heater control dial is coupled to the second end of the handgrip to control the heat output of the heating element.Type: GrantFiled: October 20, 2005Date of Patent: March 13, 2007Assignee: Harley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.Inventor: Jeffrey E. Richlen
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Patent number: 7186952Abstract: The present invention relates to an electrically heatable glazing panel comprising a substantially transparent, electrically conductive coating layer which is adapted to be electrically heatable and is divided into a plurality of zones, some heatable and some non-heatable. The glazing panel according to the invention is preferably a side window which may be used for de-misting or de-icing purposes.Type: GrantFiled: June 4, 2003Date of Patent: March 6, 2007Assignee: GlaverbelInventors: Etienne Degand, Christope Meerman, Eddy Catot
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Patent number: 7183519Abstract: A seat heating element and electronic temperature selector is provided for use in a motorcycle or other saddle-type vehicle, driven by an engine as a source of power. A vehicle seat is provided with first and second heating elements, and the temperature selector controls a supply of electric power to the heating elements, to warm up the vehicle seat. The control unit includes first and second electric relays for use in temporarily blocking power from the electric power source to the heating element, for a predetermined interval, upon detection of an accelerated state of the vehicle. The heating element and control system thereof improves acceleration performance of the vehicle, even when using an electric seat heating element, by temporarily interrupting electric power flow to the seat heating element during acceleration.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2005Date of Patent: February 27, 2007Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.Inventors: Masamichi Horiyama, Tsuguhito Ichiriki, Naoki Murasawa, Koji Suzuki, Osamu Nishioka, Tomoya Kono
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Patent number: 7176413Abstract: A method and a system for controlling a plurality of shape-memory actuators, for instance installed on board a motor vehicle, control the electric supply current of each shape-memory elements as a function of one or more parameters referring to environmental conditions, such as environment temperature and temperature of memory-shape actuator, of available supply voltage for motor vehicle battery, of previous actuations, or of previous activation requests of shape-memory actuators.Type: GrantFiled: June 2, 2005Date of Patent: February 13, 2007Assignee: C.R.F. Societa Consortile per AzioniInventors: Alessandro Zanella, Francesco Butera
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Patent number: 7166819Abstract: A device for a front-end component part of a motor vehicle, behind which a radar transmitter/receiver is fastened in such a way that the latter is not visible from in front. In winterish surroundings, ice and snow deposits may occur on the front component part, whereby the functionability of the radar sensor may be impaired. It is possible to remove and/or prevent these precipitation deposits on the front component part.Type: GrantFiled: September 17, 2002Date of Patent: January 23, 2007Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbHInventors: Klaus Winter, Sabine Koerber, Bernhard Lucas, Andreas Reichert
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Patent number: 7154068Abstract: A system for heating a vehicle battery and a method for using the same. The system and method enable energy flow from the battery to a heater to heat the battery after determining a shut-down condition.Type: GrantFiled: May 26, 2004Date of Patent: December 26, 2006Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLCInventors: Douglas Zhu, Jacob Mathews, Bob Taenaka, Patrick Maguire
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Patent number: 7131187Abstract: A heating element that can be incorporated into a molded foam article closely adjacent to the outer cover sheet without showing any evidence that a heating element is encapsulated within the foam portion of the article and provides essentially the same relatively softness and “feel” that would be obtained if the heating element was not part of the article.Type: GrantFiled: June 19, 2002Date of Patent: November 7, 2006Assignee: Check CorporationInventors: Robert Check, William R. Parnis, Thomas A. Stuef
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Patent number: 7098429Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger, particularly for a heating or air conditioning unit of a motor vehicle, comprising several flat pipes which are arranged parallel to each other and are penetrated by a heat-transmitting medium. An electrically operated heating element (114) which is mounted once the heat exchanger has been soldered is assigned to at least one part of the flat pipes as an additional heating device. Said heating element (114) is fixed to the heat exchanger by means of a holding element (115The inventive heat exchanger is characterized by the fact that each heating element (114) is mounted in front of the corresponding flat pipe and parallel thereto by means of the holding element (125) which also runs parallel to the flat pipe.Type: GrantFiled: May 15, 2003Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: BEHR GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Hans-H. Angermann, Roland Burk, Herbert Damsohn, Markus Watzlawski
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Patent number: 7098426Abstract: An electric heating device is adapted to be used in particular as an auxiliary electric heating for motor vehicles. The heating device comprises a plurality of PTC heating elements arranged in a plane of said heating device. The PTC heating elements are in electric contact with contact sheets for supplying current thereto and in thermal contact with radiator elements for transferring the heat produced to an air current to be heated. According to the present invention, the PTC heating elements arranged in this plane are adapted to be controlled separately in at least two groups.Type: GrantFiled: February 26, 2004Date of Patent: August 29, 2006Assignee: Catern GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Franz Bohlender, Maurice Clauss, Michael Niederer