Controllable thermal warming devices

• US 20060060576A1
• Filed: 09/16/2005
• Published: 03/23/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/19/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thinheat LLC
• Original Assignee: Thinheat LLC
• Inventors: Haas, William J., Haas, William S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,084,722 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 219/543
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0051 Heated garments heated divers' suits B63C11/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0071 using a resistor, e.g. near the spot to be heated
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0073 thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0084 using a solar cell
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0233 connected to or incorporated in clothing or garments A61F2007/023 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/0097 Blankets with active heating or cooling sources warming mats A61F7/08
• CPC Class Codes: B41J 2/375 Protection arrangements against overheating
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/02 Automatic switching arrangements specially adapted to apparatus ; Control of heating devices thermally-actuated switches H01H37/00
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0208 actuated by the expansion or evaporation of a gas or liquid
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 1/0272 For heating of fabrics
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/013 Heaters using resistive films or coatings
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/017 Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/022 Heaters specially adapted for heating gaseous material
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/026 Heaters specially adapted for floor heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/029 Heaters specially adapted for seat warmers
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/036 Heaters specially adapted for garment heating
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/342 heaters used in textiles
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/84 Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/845 specially adapted for reflecting surfaces, e.g. bathroom - or rearview mirrors

Abstract

A controllable thermal warming device for delivering heat to an object by radio frequency signal. The controllable thermal warming device may include a thermal ink heating element comprising a substrate and a conductive ink fixedly disposed on the substrate, a power source operatively coupled to the conductive ink, the power source adapted to deliver a voltage to the conductive ink to cause the conductive ink to radiate heat, a controller operatively coupled to the power source and the conductive ink, the controller adapted to control the voltage delivered to the conductive ink and to detect an operating characteristic of the conductive ink and adjust the voltage in response to the operating characteristic, and means for controlling the controller by radio frequency. The controllable thermal warming device may also include a sensor to provide the operating characteristic to the controller.

Claims

1. A controllable thermal warming device for delivering heat comprising:

a heating element;

a power source operatively coupled to the heating element, the power source adapted to deliver a voltage to the heating element to cause heat to radiate from the heating element;

a controller operatively coupled to the power source and the heating element, the controller adapted to control the delivery of voltage to the heating element; and

means for controlling the controller by radio frequency signal.

2. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1 wherein the heating element comprises a substrate and a conductive ink fixedly disposed on the substrate.

3. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency controlling means includes a transmitter, and a receiver electronically connected to the heating element.

4. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1 wherein the radio frequency controlling means comprises a first transceiver electrically coupled to the conductive ink and the power source;

and

a second transceiver electrically coupled to the controller, wherein the first and second transceivers are adapted to transmit radio frequency signals.

5. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency signal comprises a Wireless Fidelity enabled signal.

6. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency signal comprises a Bluetooth enabled signal.

7. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, wherein the radio frequency signal comprises a ZigBee enabled signal.

8. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, wherein the controller is adapted to detect an operating characteristic of the heating element and adjust the voltage in response to the operating characteristic.

9. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 8, further comprising a sensor coupled to the heating element and the controller, the sensor providing the operating characteristic to the controller.

10. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 8, wherein the operating characteristic is selected from the group consisting of an electrical resistance, a current, a voltage and a temperature.

11. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, further comprising a thermally sensitive resistor coupled to the heating element and the controller, the thermally sensitive resistor adjusting an electrical resistance in response to detecting a temperature change in the heat radiated by the heating element.

12. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, further comprising a negative temperature coefficient thermistor, the negative temperature coefficient thermistor decreasing an electrical resistance in response to an increase in the heat radiated by the heating element.

13. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 12, wherein the controller causes a decrease in the voltage delivered from the power supply in response to an increase in the electrical resistance.

14. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 13, wherein the controller means comprises a proportional-integral-derivative controller adapted to adjust the voltage delivered from the power supply to maintain a pre-selected temperature range of the heat radiating from the heating element.

15. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 14, wherein the pre-selected temperature range is in the range of about 100 degrees Fahrenheit.

16. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a potentiometer assembly, the potentiometer assembly manually adjustable by a user of the controllable thermal warming device by adjusting the voltage delivered from the power source to cause a temperature change in the heat radiated by the heating element.

17. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, wherein the controller comprises a processor and a memory coupled to the processor.

18. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, wherein the controller is fixedly coupled to the power source and the heating element via a wireline link.

19. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, wherein the controllable thermal warming device delivers controlled heat to a blanket.

20. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, wherein the controllable thermal warming device delivers controlled heat to an article of clothing.

21. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, wherein the controllable thermal warming device delivers controlled heat to a building structure element selected from the group consisting of a glass plate, a floor, a wall, a door, a mirror, a roof and an HVAC duct.

22. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1, wherein the controllable thermal warming device delivers controlled heat to a consumer product selected from the group consisting of a baby carriage, a baby bottle, a blanket, a sleeping bag, a pet house, a pet water bowl, a beverage carrier, a mirror, a ceiling fan, and a pool covering.

23. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1 further comprising means for releasably securing the heating element to a structure.

24. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 23 wherein the securing means comprises an adhesive.

25. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 23 wherein the structure is a disposable structure.

26. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 25 wherein the disposable structure comprises clothing.

27. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 23 wherein the clothing comprises a gown.

28. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1 wherein the heating element comprises a material releasably securable to a structure.

29. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1 wherein the heating element comprises FLEXCON.

30. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1 further comprising a plurality of heating elements, the radio frequency means and controller configured to remotely control each of the heating elements.

31. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1 wherein the power source is solar powered.

32. The controllable thermal warming device of claim 1 wherein the power source is powered by light.

33. A heating system comprising a controllable thermal warming device, the controllable thermal warming device comprising:

a thermal ink heating element comprising a substrate and a conductive ink fixedly disposed on the substrate;

a power source operatively coupled to the conductive ink, the power source adapted to deliver a voltage to the conductive ink to cause the conductive ink to radiate heat;

a controller operatively coupled to the power source and the conductive ink, the controller adapted to control the voltage delivered to the conductive ink; and

means for controlling the controller by radio frequency signal.

34. The heating system of claim 33 further comprising a building structure element, the controllable thermal warming device radiating heat to the building structure element.

35. The heating system of claim 33 further comprising a consumer product defining a cavity for receiving the controllable thermal warming device, the controllable thermal warming device providing heat to the consumer product.

36. The heating system of claim 33 further comprising a vehicle portion, the controllable thermal warming device located proximate to the vehicle portion to provide heat to the vehicle portion.

37. The heating system of claim 33 further comprising a hospital product, the controllable thermal warming device located proximate to the hospital product to provide heat to the hospital product.

38. The heating system of claim 33 further comprising wearing apparel defining a cavity for receiving the controllable thermal warming device, the controllable thermal warming device providing heat to the wearing apparel.