Abstract: A heater control system is disclosed. In an embodiment, the heater control system includes a fluid heater that includes a heating element. The heating element controlled by a switch. The heater control system also includes a controller that can operate the switch. The controller is configured to determine whether a temperature associated with the fluid heater is below a predetermined temperature threshold. The controller causes the switch to transition to an operational state when the temperature is below the predetermined temperature threshold allowing current to flow through the at least one heating element.

Abstract: A variable power water heater is disclosed. In embodiments, the variable power water heater includes a water tank, a heating element, a power supply circuit, a switch, and a controller. The heating element may be disposed within or coupled to the water tank. The power supply circuit may be configured to generate a power signal for the heating element. The switch may be configured to couple the power supply circuit to the heating element, and the controller may be configured to toggle the switch according to a pulse width modulation (PWM) scheme to control a duty cycle of the power signal transmitted from the power supply circuit to the heating element.

Abstract: According to examples, an apparatus may include instructions that may cause the processor to identify, for a first device state, a first set of active components of a device and to determine a first power demand level of the first set of active components for the first device state. The instructions may also cause the processor to determine that the device is to transition from the first device state to a second device state, to determine, for the second device state, a second set of active components of the device having a second power demand level that is within a predefined difference level of the first power demand level, the predefined difference level to smooth power delivery to the device between the first device state and the second device state, and to control application of power to the second set of active components during the second device state.

Abstract: A water heater may be configured to detect a possible main gas valve non-closure condition in which the sensed water temperature continues to rise while a thermopile signal reaches a stable state. When the possible main gas valve non-closure condition is detected, the controller may be configured to toggle the main gas valve ON and determine whether the thermopile signal from the thermopile changes from the stable state or not by at least a predetermined amount.

Abstract: A cooking device is provided. The cooking device supplied with power through an AC power supply including a neutral line includes: a motor configured to drive a cooling fan; a main board mounted with a plurality of components for an operation of the cooking device; and a thermal protector having one end connected to the neutral line of the AC power supply and the other end commonly connected to the motor and the main board, wherein the thermal protector cuts off connection between the neutral line and the main board through the thermal protector if a temperature of the motor is equal to or higher than a predetermined value.

Abstract: A radiation heating device includes: a planar heat generation layer; a heat generation portion that is provided in the heat generation layer and that generates heat by energization; a plurality of heat radiation portions that are disposed in the heat generation layer and that radiate heat transferred from the heat generation portion; a low heat conduction portion that is provided around each of the heat radiation portions and that has a lower heat conductivity than the heat radiation portions; and a contact detection unit that detects contact of an object with the heat generation layer. The radiation heating device further includes an energization amount decrease unit that decreases an energization amount of the heat generation portion when the contact detection unit detects the contact of the object with the heat generation layer.

Abstract: A storage-type water heater including a tank for supporting water to be heated, a first heating element, a first relay connected to the first heating element, a second heating element, a second relay connected to the second heating element, and a controller for selectively operating the first relay and the second relay. The controller includes instructions for selecting a mode from at least, a no-sequencing mode, wherein the first relay and the second relay are operated concurrently, and a sequencing mode, wherein the first relay and the second relay are operated sequentially. The controller also operates the first relay to supply power to the first heating element, and operates the second relay to supply power to the second heating element, based on the selected mode.

Abstract: A method of queuing access to a power supply shared by a set of electrical access points. The access points turn on independently from one another and thus have independent power draws. Each access point has a specific power draw when on. The on state and associated power draw of each of access point is identified, and a load duration curve for each access point is normalized (i.e., combined with load duration curve(s)) from the other access points) into a probability distribution function. The probability distribution function is a normalized load duration curve that thus accounts for a varying set of “operating states” that may occur with respect to the set of access points (when viewed collectively). Each operating state has an associated probability of occurrence. As the operating state of the set (of access points) changes, access to the power supply is selectively queued, or de-queued (if previously queued).

Abstract: A sanitary washing device according to an embodiment comprises: a heating part; a first temperature sensor configured to sense temperature of water heated by the heating part; a second temperature sensor provided downstream of the first temperature sensor and configured to sense temperature of the water; a nozzle provided downstream of the second temperature sensor and configured to jet the water toward human private parts; and a controlling part configured to determine that the second temperature sensor is abnormal when change of the temperature sensed by the first temperature sensor is larger than a predetermined first value and change of the temperature sensed by the second temperature sensor is smaller than a predetermined second value.

Abstract: An electric power acquisition section acquires a power demand of a load. An assist control section determines that an assist condition is satisfied when the power demand exceeds a threshold value within a time slot for permitting electric power to be supplied to the load. When determining that the assist condition is satisfied, the assist control section presents a selection prompt to inquire whether or not to activate an assist operation for supplying the electric power from a power storage device, on an operation display device through a notification control section. If there is a response for requesting activation of the assist operation from the operation display device in response to the selection prompt, the assist operation is started. The assist condition is set in a storage unit by a condition setting section.

Abstract: A household appliance includes at least one control element for modifying at least one operating parameter of the household appliance. At least one modification of at least one operating parameter which modification has been executed last is resettable by a reset control element. In a method for operating a domestic appliance, a most recently executed modification of an operating parameter can be reset by an operator.

Abstract: In one example, a heating system includes a first heater having a first resistive heating element, a second heater having multiple second resistive heating elements arranged in parallel with a group of the second heating elements having a combined resistance equal to a resistance of the first heating element, and a controller to periodically switch power between the first heating element and the group of second heating elements at a zero crossing of an AC power source.

Abstract: A system and methods for controlling the supply and distribution of backup electrical power determine when backup power is needed and allocates available backup power among connected devices in a power outage. Batteries may be used as an energy storage subsystem, and may backup a home heating plant and other devices based on a dual set of user-established priorities that may change during power blackouts and brownouts as the amount of stored energy decreases.

Abstract: A method of queuing access to a power supply shared by a set of electrical access points. The access points turn on independently from one another and thus have independent power draws. Each access point has a specific power draw when on. The on state and associated power draw of each of access point is identified, and a load duration curve for each access point is normalized (i.e., combined with load duration curve(s)) from the other access points) into a probability distribution function. The probability distribution function is a normalized load duration curve that thus accounts for a varying set of “operating states” that may occur with respect to the set of access points (when viewed collectively). Each operating state has an associated probability of occurrence. As the operating state of the set (of access points) changes, access to the power supply is selectively queued, or de-queued (if previously queued).

Abstract: A method for operating a water heater appliance is provided. The method includes establishing a temperature drop of water within a tank of the water heater appliance during a time interval. A volume of heated water within the tank is estimated based at least in part on the temperature drop of water within the tank of the water heater appliance during the time interval and a set temperature of the water heater appliance. A related water heater appliance is also provided.

Abstract: A digital circuit comprises a plurality of functional circuits and a finite state machine. Each functional circuit comprises a digital macro, a resistance control device and at least one device with capacitance. The digital macro is coupled to a ground. The resistance control device is electrically connected between the digital macro and an always-on power mesh. The at least one device with capacitance is electrically connected between the resistance control device and the ground. The finite state machine is electrically connected to the resistance control device, and is configured to adjust the resistance of the resistance control device.

Abstract: The present invention provides a water heater capable of heating fluid to boiling point, wherein said heater includes a heating element, a water level gauge, a temperature measure, and a transceiver; wherein control of at least the element is provided by a mobile communication device communicating with the transceiver.

Abstract: A cooktop power control system for a cooktop that has a plurality of burners, where the cooktop power control system controls the power delivered from two or more separate active burners to separate cookware items each of which is associated with an active burner. There is a maximum limit of total power that is available for delivery from all of the burners together. There is a heating control user interface associated with each of the burners, each heating control user interface constructed and arranged to be set by a user to a particular heating control user interface setting. A desired cookware temperature is derived from the setting of each heating control user interface. The measured temperatures of the cookware items are available to the cooktop power control system.

Abstract: This invention describes an intelligent water heater controller that can use many inputs to learn the behavior of user over time. The controller is then able to predict when hot water is required and is able to turn the water heater on or off intelligently or to increase or reduce the water heating element so that the hot water is available when needed while reducing the energy consumption. User is able to communicate with the water heater controller via smart phone, tablet or computer remotely and change and parameter or configuration of the controller. The controller is also able to communicate events to the user's smart phone, tablet or computer.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for applying electromagnetic energy to an object in an energy application zone via one or more antennas at a plurality of modulation space elements (MSEs), in which each MSE may affect a field pattern excited in the energy application zone and is controllable by the apparatus. The apparatus includes a processor that determines an amount of energy to be supplied to one or more of the antennas at each of the plurality of MSEs, select at least one power supply protocol for each of the plurality of MSEs, in which at least two of the power supply protocols selected for different MSEs differ, and cause electromagnetic power supply to one or more of the antennas in at least a subset of the plurality of MSEs, based on the determined amount of energy and based on the selected power supply protocol.

Abstract: A domestic cooking appliance includes a plurality of bays adapted to receive a plurality of different types of modules; a module connected to a bay of the plurality of bays; and a controller, wherein the controller is adapted to determine the bay in which the module is connected and a type of the module of the plurality of different types of modules. A method of controlling a domestic cooking appliance includes connecting a module of a plurality of different types of modules to the domestic cooking appliance; determining a type of the module; determining a position where the module is connected out of a plurality of possible positions; and displaying the type and the location of the module on a display of the domestic cooking appliance.

Abstract: A control device for an electrical heating device for a cooking field with a cooking field plate comprises an electro-mechanical switching device for adjusting a power of said heating device with different power levels and comprises two different heating element. The switching device is configured so that starting from a zero-position and rotating in a first rotation direction, a power level for a first heating element is adjusted in a cooking-mode. Rotation in the other direction activates a second heating element in a warm-keeping mode with significantly lower power. A relay is closed by a thermomechanical temperature sensing device below a defined switching temperature of 60° C. to 100° C. and opened above the switching temperature. When closed, the relay connects the two heating elements to an operating voltage for common operation. When opened, the first heating element is switched off for exclusive operation of the second heating element.

Abstract: A method is provided for interconnecting a single electrical heating element of a hot water heater to first and second AC electrical power sources. Typically, these first and second AC electrical power sources include a utility provided electrical power source and a renewable power source that generates AC power from DC power. The method includes operating a controller that selectively connects and disconnects the first and second power sources. If sufficient electrical power is available from the renewable power source, the utility provided electrical power source may be disconnected to preferentially utilize renewable energy.

Abstract: A heating control system which allows a plurality of heaters to heat an object without depending on a variation in characteristics among a plurality of heater power sources includes: a thermocouple which detects a temperature of an object to be heated; temperature control means that receives a target temperature and a current temperature, and carries out electric power control so that these temperatures match; electric current and voltage detecting means for detecting an electric power value and a current electric power; and target electric power calculating means that receives the electric power value, and calculates the target electric power by multiplying the electric power value by a given ratio. The temperature control means receives the target electric power and the current electric power, and carries out electric power control so that the current electric power matches the target electric power.

Abstract: Provided are an apparatus and method of controlling a heating element of an electric range. The apparatus for controlling a heating element of an electric range includes: a plurality of heating elements; an input unit to which an output adjustment value for each of the plurality of heating elements is input from a user; a calculation unit that calculates the sum of output power of each heating element corresponding to the output adjustment value input by the input unit; and a controller that compares the sum of output power calculated by the calculation unit with a predetermined power limit and linearly controls output of each heating element based on a result of comparison.

Abstract: A Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) assembly, in which protrusions are formed on opposite longitudinal edges of an electrode terminal, PTC elements are held between the protrusions and are in contact with the electrode terminal, an insulating member is attached to an outer surface of the electrode terminal, and a rod cover houses therein the electrode terminal, the PTC elements and the insulating member. A simple structure is realized, fabrication costs are reduced, and a hollow space inside the rod cover is minimized, leading to improved heat transfer efficiency from the PTC elements to the rod cover, reduced noise and a slim structure.

Abstract: A method of operating a heating plate for a substrate support assembly used to support a semiconductor substrate in a semiconductor processing apparatus, wherein the heating plate comprises power supply lines and power return lines and respective heater zone connected between every pair of power supply line and power return line. The method reduces maximum currents carried by the power supply lines and power return lines by temporally spreading current pulses for powering the heater zones.

Abstract: An electrical appliance configured to receive power and a power consumption signal from an electrical power distribution system comprises an energy storage device and a controller. The energy storage device includes a heat storage medium and a heater. The heater is configured to heat the heat storage medium at a heating rate. The controller adjusts the heating rate based on the power consumption signal.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for controlling a cooking device, in particular an induction hob. The method comprises the steps of activating an overload power (POVER) for at least one electric or electronic component of the cooking device by using at least two synchronized generators, which overload power (POVER) is greater than a standard maximum power (PMAX), deactivating the overload power (POVER) after a predetermined period (?t), and operating the cooking device at a power (P), which is at most the standard maximum power (PMAX). The standard maximum power (PMAX) is provided for a permanent operation of the cooking device. The overload power (POVER) and/or the period (?t) are determined by a function depending on at least the overload power (POVER) and the period (?t). The present invention relates further to a corresponding apparatus for controlling a cooking device, in particular an induction hob.

Abstract: A power control device includes a priority setting section capable of setting a use priority of a home appliance connected wirelessly or via cable or an adapter connected to the home appliance. The home appliance or the adaptor connected to the home appliance operates within the usable power of a result of the inquiry to the power control device. When there is no excess in usable power over the required power in the inquiry, the power control device reduces the power of a device having a lower priority than the device which has transmitted the inquiry in order to use the device with the higher priority.

Abstract: A uniform voltage is applied to loads even to other than a multiple of three loads made of heating lamps connected in parallel to each other, without causing any burden on a primary side. The number of loads is divided into a multiple of three and a multiple of two. A three-phase AC voltage is applied to three primary windings, which are connected as a Y-connection or a ?-connection. Secondary windings, which are each magnetically coupled to a primary winding of a plurality of three-phase transformers and have the same number of turns, are connected with the multiple of three loads.

Abstract: A heater control device includes a current calculating unit (20) which calculates a third value of current based on a first value of current flowing through a first PTC element of a first PTC heater which is in an energized state and a second value of current estimated to flow through a second PTC element of a second PTC heater which is to be newly put into an energized state next, and a switching control unit (21) which maintains a non-energized state of the second PTC element of the second PTC heater until it is determined that the third value of current calculated by the current calculating unit (20) is less than a predetermined maximum allowable value of current and puts the second PTC element of the second PTC heater into an energized state when the third value of current is less than the predetermined maximum allowable value of current.

Abstract: A method for controlling a plurality of heaters of a heating system is disclosed. The method may generally include generating control commands for turning on the plurality of heaters during a time period, determining which electrical phase is powering each heater of the plurality of heaters and staggering execution of the control commands across the time period for two or more of the heaters powered by the same electrical phase.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a system for reducing peak power consumption in an electromechanically controlled cooking appliance is provided. The system comprises a surface heating unit comprising at least one duty cycle controlled surface heating element, a temperature controlled oven heating element, a controller configured to receive and process utility state signals indicative of the operating state of an associated utility, and a switch responsive to the controller, switchable between a first state and a second state for selectively coupling the oven heating element to a first relatively high voltage power supply and a second relatively low voltage power supply respectively. The controller is configured to switch the switch to the first and second states as a function of the utility state signal.

Abstract: A system is provided for supplementing the power usage of an appliance with an internal power source, such as e.g., a battery, in order to limit the overall power consumption of the appliance while in standby mode. The system can allow for replenishing the internal power source when the appliance is not in standby mode or even when in standby mode if such will not exceed the external power source consumption limit. In the event the internal power source is not available or is reaching depletion, the system can provide for disabling electronic features of the appliance in order to maintain the external power source consumption below the desired limit.

Abstract: A household range includes a first oven having a first electric cooking element, and a second oven includes a second electric cooking element. A power management system is used to distribute power such that when the second electric cooking element is energized the first electric cooking element is de-energized.

Abstract: Method for heating at least one component of an SCR system using several resistive heating elements, according to which these heating elements are fed in parallel by a current source and according to which a current sensor is placed in series with the current source and all the resistors, which are connected in parallel.

Abstract: This invention discloses an electronic device with a heating protection circuit and a heating protection method thereof. The electronic device includes a control module, a heating protection circuit, a heating switch module, and a heating module. The control module provides a first control signal and a second control signal via a plurality of control pins, respectively. The heating protection circuit generates a third control signal according to the first control signal and the second control signal. The heating switch module controls the heating module whether to heat according to the third control signal.

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.

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.

Abstract: A dialysis system includes a first fluid heater, a second fluid heater, and a logic implementer configured to synchronize the duty cycles of the first and second heaters so that (i) power is not supplied to the first heater when power is supplied to the second heater and (ii) power is not supplied to the second heater when power is supplied to the first heater.

Abstract: A current-limiting device is provided with pressure relief facilities that are responsive to relieve internal pressures during operation of the current limiter. In a specific arrangement, the pressure relief arrangement includes a passage that is opened upon operation of the current limiter to communicate between the interior and the exterior of the current limiter. The passage includes a fusible material therein that is melted by the heating within current limiter under predetermined high-current fault conditions. In a specific arrangement, the passage is formed through a contact terminal of the current limiter. In one arrangement, the current-limiting device includes an adjoining exhaust section and the contact terminal extends into the adjoining exhaust section.

Abstract: Midway along an outer circulation passage provided outside a heating chamber, a steam generating device is arranged, and, through the outer circulation passage, steam is fed to the heating chamber. A control device controls a steam generating heater arranged inside the steam generating device and a vapor heating heater provided in a space through which an air stream flowing through the outer circulation passage is returned to the heating chamber, and forms a cooking sequence by using, singly or in combination, a first heating mode that uses superheated steam obtained as a result of the steam being heated with the vapor heating heater and a second heating mode that uses hot air or radiation heat obtained by making the vapor heating heater produce heat without supply of steam.

Abstract: A redundant control circuit comprises a pair of heater circuits for heating a hot melt adhesive hose assembly to a predetermined temperature level, and a pair of temperature sensors which are used to sense the temperature of the hot melt adhesive hose assembly and to control energization of the heater circuits in order to maintain the desired temperature level. A first one of the heater circuits would initially be electrically connected to the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry, and in a similar manner, a first one of the temperature sensors would likewise be electrically connected to the hot melt adhesive hose assembly electrical circuitry.

Abstract: In one aspect, a cooktop heating system that include a first cooktop heating element, a second cooktop heating element, and an interface device. The system also includes a controller for selectively associating the interface device with any one or both of the first cooktop heating element and the second cooktop heating element. In another aspect, the system includes at least one cooktop heating element, a potentiometer, and controller arrangement operatively connected between the potentiometer and the at least one cooktop heating element to determine heating of the at least one cooktop heating element responsive to the input provided by the potentiometer and control power provision to the at least one cooktop heating element responsive to the determination.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a plurality of heating means that heat a heated object, a temperature measuring means that measures temperatures of some of the plurality of heating means, a heated object information storing means that stores, in a coordinate manner, heated object identification names, target heating temperatures at the heating means, and sets of heating ratios respectively assigned to the heating means, a heating information storage means that defines a relationship between temperatures during heating of the heating means up to the target heating temperatures and heating intensities at the temperatures, a heated object identification name obtaining means that obtains one of the heated object identification names, a heated object information reading-out means that reads out one of the target heating temperatures and one of the sets of heating ratios respectively assigned to the plurality of heating means, corresponding to the heated object identification name from the heated object information st

Abstract: An air conditioning apparatus, including an electric motor driven blower for circulating air through a cabinet, also includes one or more electric heating elements and a system controller operable to control energization of the heating elements and the blower motor at predetermined operating conditions by way of suitable relay or control elements. The system includes a heating interlock relay to prevent energization of the one or more heating elements if the blower motor is inoperable, operating at other than a predetermined range of speeds or the system controller detects a malfunctioning heating element control relay or the like.

Abstract: A circuit is provided that provides for the same power characteristics to an assembly of electrical resistive elements wired in parallel as to the assembly as wired in series. An input power source provides electrical resistive power to a plurality of load elements, wherein the plurality of load elements are connected in parallel to each other. A plurality of power splitters divide the power source into separate and equal power subsources such that there is one power splitter and one power subsource for each load element, wherein the power provided to each of the plurality of load elements is equal to the power of the electrical power source. Redundancy and fault tolerance is provided to the circuitry by permitting remaining load elements to continue to operate should one or more load elements fail.

Abstract: An electric cooking appliance is provided. The electric cooking appliance includes a plurality of surface heating elements and a plurality of sensors configured to monitor an operational status of a corresponding surface heating element. The electric cooking appliance also includes a first cooking unit, a second cooking unit and an electronic control to facilitate sharing power between the first cooking unit and the second cooking unit based on the operational status of the plurality of surface heating elements.

Abstract: In accordance with certain embodiments, the present technique includes a system for sealing a lamp including a thermal shield and a thermally susceptible enclosure disposed adjacent the thermal shield. The thermal shield has a first receptacle adapted to receive a first portion of the lamp. The thermally susceptible enclosure comprises a wall about a second receptacle adapted to receive a second portion of the lamp. The wall has a varying thickness in a desired sealing region between the first and second portions of the lamp.