Temperature controller and temperature control method, and heating wire therefor

• US 7,241,979 B2
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Issued: 07/10/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/21/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Jong-Jin Kil
• Original Assignee: Jong-Jin Kil
• Inventors: Kil, Jong-Jin
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCHALL, MARK H
• Application Number:
  US11/163,345
• Publication Number:
  US 20060289463A1
• Time in Patent Office: 634 Days
• Field of Search: 219/501, 219/497, 219/505, 219/504, 219/548, 219/552, 219/212, 219/549, 219/547, 307/117
• US Class Current: 219/505
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1906 using an analogue comparing device
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/24 the sensing element having a resistance varying with temperature, e.g. a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/01 Heaters comprising a particular structure with multiple layers
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/56 Heating cables

Abstract

The present invention relates to a non-electromagnetic wave temperature controller for a heating cable and a method therefor, which can perform heating and temperature detection in a non-electromagnetic fashion without short-circuiting one end of the heating cable that is used in warmers, such as electric floors, electric mats and electric fomentation devices. Furthermore, the present invention relates to a temperature detection non-electromagnetic heating cable and a temperature controller, which can reduce the amount of heat and control temperature without using a separate temperature sensor when the temperature of the heating cable is controlled or an arbitrary portion of the heating cable is overheated, and can prevent a magnetic field from being generated in the heating cable without short-circuiting one end of electrical heating wires and intercept the generation of a leakage electric field.

Claims

1. A non-electromagnetic wave temperature controller for a heating cable, comprising:

a temperature control unit connected to the heating cable that includes first and second electrical heating wires arranged in parallel and a Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) thermistor, and configured to compare a temperature signal voltage, which is output from the first electrical heating wire, with a reference voltage and to output a temperature control signal;

a control rectification unit configured to return a heating current from an end of the second electrical heating wire connected to a power source through second and first ends of the first electrical heating wire toward the power source when conduction is achieved by control of the temperature control unit; and

a reverse overcurrent protection device including;

a first diode connected in parallel to the first electrical heating wire in a direction opposite to a direction of the heating current;

a zener diode connected in parallel to the heating current U-turn rectifier; and

a second diode connected in parallel to the second electrical heating wire in a direction opposite to a direction of the heating current;

wherein a fuse is cut by the reverse overcurrent protection device when an overcurrent is generated by short circuit of the control rectifier, and wherein the electrical heating wires realize a non-magnetic field state by canceling opposite magnetic fields during temperature detection and heating.

2. The non-electromagnetic wave temperature controller as set forth in claim 1, further comprising a temperature voltage control unit for adjusting a temperature detection voltage that is applied to a first end of the first electrical heating wire.

3. The non-electromagnetic wave temperature controller as set forth in claim 2, wherein the temperature control unit comprises:

a reference voltage generation unit for outputting the reference voltage;

a comparison and detection unit for comparing the temperature voltage with the reference voltage, and outputting a drive signal when the temperature voltage is higher than the reference voltage;

a trigger delay unit configured to be driven by the drive signal of the comparison and detection unit and to delay the trigger signal by a predetermined time; and

a trigger output unit for outputting trigger signals for the time by which the trigger delay unit delays the trigger signal.

4. The non-electromagnetic wave temperature controller as set forth in claim 2, wherein the control rectification unit comprises a heating current U-turn rectifier between a second end of the first electrical heating wire and the second electrical heating wire.

5. The non-electromagnetic wave temperature controller as set forth in claim 4, wherein the control rectification unit is disposed such that an anode thereof is connected to a first end of the first electrical heating wire in parallel with the temperature voltage control unit and a cathode thereof is connected to a power source side, arid further comprises a control rectifier that is turned on in response to a control signal from the temperature control unit.

6. The non-electromagnetic wave temperature controller as set forth in claim 2, wherein the temperature voltage control unit comprises:

a resistor whose first end is connected to the power source; and

a temperature detection adjustment variable resistor connected between a second end of the resistor and a first end of the first electrical heating wire.

7. The non-electromagnetic wave temperature controller as set forth in claim 2, wherein the temperature voltage control unit comprises:

first and second resistors connected in series to each other; and

a variable resistor connected between the first resistor and the second resistor; and

a third resistor whose first end is connected to the power source and whose second end is connected to a moving piece of the variable resistor;

wherein a first end of the first resistor is connected to the first electrical heating wire, a first end of the second resistor is connected to the second electrical heating wire at a same side, and input impedance is matched by adjusting a value of the variable resistor.

8. The non-electromagnetic wave temperature controller as set forth in claim 3, wherein:

the temperature voltage control unit comprises a resistor for fixing a voltage that is applied to a first end of the first electrical heating wire; and

the reference voltage generation unit outputs a reference voltage that can be variably set.

9. The non-electromagnetic wave temperature controller as set forth in claim 8, wherein the temperature control unit comprises:

an input unit for setting the reference voltage and delay time;

a control unit for performing control such that the trigger signal is delayed by the set delay time if the output temperature voltage is higher than the reference voltage;

a trigger output unit for outputting the trigger signal under control of the control unit; and

an output unit for outputting the received reference voltage and delay time under control of the control unit.

10. The non-electromagnetic wave temperature controller as set forth in claim 8, wherein the control unit is a microcomputer chip for inputting and outputting an analog signal.

11. The non-electromagnetic wave temperature controller as set forth in claim 5, wherein the temperature control unit and a gate of the control rectifier are connected to each other by photocouple Silicon Controlled Rectifier (SCR).

12. The non-electromagnetic wave temperature controller as set forth in claim 2, wherein the temperature control unit comprises:

a discharge resistor connected in series to the gate of the control rectifier;

a rectifier diode connected in series to the discharge resistor;

a condenser connected in parallel between the gate bias resistor and the rectifier diode;

a comparison zener diode;

a gate excessive input limit resistor;

an SCR whose anode is connected to the condenser and whose gate is connected to the gate excessive input limit resistor;

an SCR gate bias resistor connected in parallel with the gate excessive input limit resistor and a gate of the SCR; and

a charging current limit resistor connected in parallel between an anode of the SCR and the condenser.

13. The non-electromagnetic wave temperature controller as set forth in claim 12, wherein:

a gate of the control rectifier is insulated by the photocouple SCR;

a light emitting side of the photocouple SCR is connected in series to the discharge resistor, and a light receiving side of the photocouple SCR is connected between a gate and anode of the control rectifier in series with the trigger resistor.

14. The non-electromagnetic wave temperature controller as set forth in claim 1, further comprising:

a ground lighting indicator connected to a first end of the second electrical heating wire that is grounded; and

an inspection test point configured to prevent a surface electric field of the electrical heating wire by setting the ground lighting indicator at a turned-off position.