Field of the invention

• US 5,643,480 A
• Filed: 11/18/1994
• Issued: 07/01/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Nordica SpA (Tecnica Group S.P.A.)
• Original Assignee: Nordica SpA (Tecnica Group S.P.A.)
• Inventors: Gustavsson, Magnus Peter Mikael, Hagman, Ronny Kent
• Primary Examiner(s): Walberg, Teresa J.
• Assistant Examiner(s): PAIK, SANG YEOP
• Application Number:
  US08/338,488
• Time in Patent Office: 956 Days
• Field of Search: 219/211, 219/212, 219/549, 219/528, 429/120, 429/127
• US Class Current: 219/211
• CPC Class Codes: A41D 13/0051 Heated garments heated divers' suits B63C11/28
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0074 PTC
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/42 Methods or arrangements for servicing or maintenance of secondary cells or secondary half-cells H01M10/60 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 10/425 Structural combination with electronic components, e.g. electronic circuits integrated to the outside of the casing printed circuits H05K1/00
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/181 with polymeric electrolytes
• CPC Class Codes: H01M 6/40 Printed batteries , e.g. thin film batteries
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/005 using multiple resistive elements or resistive zones isolated from each other
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/009 Heaters using conductive material in contact with opposing surfaces of the resistive element or resistive layer
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/011 Heaters using laterally extending conductive material as connecting means
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/017 Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
• 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 3/146 Conductive polymers, e.g. polyethylene, thermoplastics
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/342 heaters used in textiles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/10 Energy storage using batteries

Abstract

An electric heating device (34) in which is included an electric energy source (45) which is designed as a thin film battery (45). The heating device also includes a resistor heating unit (40) comprising a first material stratum (40) consisting of an electrically conductive polymer material with PTC properties. The resistor heating unit (40) and the electric energy source (45) are disposed adjacent to one another and form a composite unit in which the major surfaces of the first material stratum (40) and thin film battery (45), respectively, face towards one another. Electrodes (42, 43) are connected, by the intermediary of a switch (48), to the poles of the battery (45) and to the resistor heating unit (40).

Claims

1. An electric heating device comprising an electric energy source, a resistor heating unit comprising a first material stratum comprising portions of electrically conductive polymer material with PTC properties, said first material stratum having a pair of mutually oppositely arranged major surfaces, in which the polymer material with PTC properties is united with electrode material which electrically connects said electrically conductive polymer material to the energy source, and a regulator unit for regulating current supply to the resistor heating unit, wherein the electric energy source comprises a thin film battery also having a pair of mutually oppositely arranged major surfaces, and wherein said first material stratum is physically connected to said thin film battery such that the energy source and the resistor heating unit form a composed unit in which respectively one each of the major surfaces of said battery and of said first material stratum are turned to face towards one another.

2. The heating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein one pole layer of the thin film battery is in direct contact with the electrode material applied to the one major surface of the electrically conductive polymer material of the first material stratum.

3. The heating device as claimed in claim 1, comprising an electrically insulating material layer disposed between one pole layer of the thin film battery and the adjacent major surface of the polymer material of the first material stratum.

4. The heating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein in said composed unit, at least the thin film battery is moisture sealed in relation to the surroundings of the battery.

5. The heating device as claimed in claim 4, wherein the first stratum and the thin film battery are tightly enclosed in a common casing which is impermeable to water and water vapor.

6. The heating device as claimed in claim, 1, wherein the electrically conductive polymer with PTC properties is at least one of:

a plastic in which an electrically conductive filler is distributed as an electrically resistive network and which, on heating, has the property of expanding under progressive reduction of electric current paths through the electrically resistive network and vice versa, until a stage of self-regulated thermal stability is achieved; and

a butyl-inoculated polyethylene plastic which has been rendered electrically conductive by admixture of carbon black.

7. The heating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrically conductive polymer has said electrode material combined therewith by casting, gluing screen pressing or vacuum coating.

8. The heating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electrode material consists at least partly of at least one of metallic material or synthetic metal material.

9. The heating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein there is provided, in regions where the first material stratum and the thin film battery form said composed unit, a material layer which reflects thermal energy incoming towards the stratum;

said battery being disposed between said material layer reflecting thermal energy and one of;

a body; and

a space which is heated by the device.

10. The heating device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the electric energy source and the resistor heating unit are enclosed in a textile material.

11. The heating device of claim 1, wherein said electrode material comprises a first batch of electrodes and a second batch of electrodes, said first and second batches of electrodes both being provided at the major surface of said first material stratum facing said thin film battery, said first batch of electrodes being electrically connected to a first pole of said thin film battery arranged at the major surface of said thin film battery facing said material stratum, said second batch of electrodes being electrically connected to a second pole of said thin film battery.

12. The heating device of claim 11, wherein said first material stratum comprises a pair of projecting contact elements each of which is electrically connected respectively with said first and second batches of electrodes, and wherein said thin film battery comprises a projecting contact element electrically connected with the projecting contact element of said first material stratum which is electrically connected with said first batch of electrodes.

13. The heating device of claim 1, further comprising an electrically insulating layer disposed between the mutually facing major surfaces of said battery and of said first material stratum.

14. The heating device of claim 1, wherein said electrode material comprises a first batch of electrodes provided at the major surface of said first material stratum facing said thin film battery and a second batch of electrodes provided at the major surface of said material stratum facing away from said thin film battery, said first batch of electrodes being electrically connected to a first pole of said thin film battery arranged at the major surface of said thin film battery facing said material stratum, said second batch of electrodes being electrically connected to a second pole of said thin film battery.

15. The heating device of claim 14, further comprising electrically insulating layers provided at both major surfaces of said first material stratum disposed between said first and second batches of electrodes.

16. The heating device of claim 15, wherein substantially the entire outside of said first material stratum at the major surface thereof facing away from said thin film battery is covered with an electrode layer electrically connecting said second batch of electrodes.

17. The heating device of claim 15, wherein substantially the entire inside of said first material stratum at the major surface thereof facing towards said thin film battery is covered with an electrode layer electrically connecting said first batch of electrodes.

18. The heating device of claim 15, wherein substantially the entire outside of said first material stratum at the major surface thereof facing away from said thin film battery is covered with an electrode layer electrically connecting said second batch of electrodes, and substantially the entire inside of said first material stratum at the major surface thereof facing towards said thin film battery is covered with an electrode layer electrically connecting said first batch of electrodes.