Heating pad with temperature control and safety protection device

• US 8,143,559 B2
• Filed: 09/01/2009
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 09/01/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Advance Thermo Control, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Advance Thermo Control, Ltd.
• Inventors: Chow, Kwok Wai
• Primary Examiner(s): PASCHALL, MARK H
• Application Number:
  US12/551,938
• Publication Number:
  US 20110049128A1
• Time in Patent Office: 938 Days
• Field of Search: 219/497, 219/501, 219/504, 219/505, 219/212, 219/507, 323/235
• US Class Current: 219/494
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0086 with a thermostat
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 2007/0095 with a temperature indicator
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/007 characterised by electric heating
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 7/02 Compresses or poultices for effecting heating or cooling
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/1917 using digital means
• CPC Class Codes: G05D 23/24 the sensing element having a resistance varying with temperature, e.g. a thermistor
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/003 using serpentine layout
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/014 Heaters using resistive wires or cables not provided for in H05B3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 2203/017 Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters
• CPC Class Codes: H05B 3/34 flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs

Abstract

A heating pad is provided. The heating pad includes a heating element and a control circuit operatively connected to the heating element for providing a predetermined level of power thereto. An isolation device interconnects a power source to the control circuit. The isolation device has a first open configuration preventing transmission of electrical power therethrough and a second closed configuration allowing transmission of electrical power therethrough. The control circuit terminates power to the heating element in response to the heating element exceeding a first temperature limit. The isolation device moves from the closed configuration to the open configuration in response to the heating element exceeding a second temperature limit.

Claims

1. In a heating pad having a heating element, the improvement comprising:

a control circuit including a central processing unit operatively connected to the heating element by a switch, the central processing unit supplying current to the heating element and controlling movement of the switch between a first closed position wherein the central processing unit is electrically coupled to the heating element and an open position wherein central processing unit is isolated from the heating element

an isolation device operatively connecting the control circuit to a power source; and

a comparator operatively connected to the isolation device and interconnecting the heating element to the central processing unit, the comparator providing a signal to the central processing unit corresponding to a temperature of the heating element;

wherein;

the central processing unit adjusts the current supplied to the heating element to maintain the heating element at a desired temperature;

the central processing unit moves the switch to the open position in response to the heating element exceeding a first temperature limit; and

the isolation device isolating the control circuit from the power source in response to the heating element exceeding a second temperature limit.

2. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the second temperature limit is greater than the first temperature limit.

3. The improvement of claim 1 wherein the isolation device is a fuse.

4. The improvement of claim 3 wherein the comparator is interconnected to the fuse, the comparator causing the fuse to blow in response to the temperature of the heating element exceeding the second temperature limit.

5. A heating pad, comprising:

a heating element;

a control circuit operatively connected to the heating element by a switch, the control circuit supplying current to the heating element and controlling movement of the switch between a first closed position wherein the control circuit is electrically coupled to the heating element and an open position wherein control circuit unit is isolated from the heating element;

an isolation device interconnecting a power source to the control circuit, the isolation device having a first open configuration preventing transmission of electrical power therethrough and a second closed configuration allowing transmission of electrical power therethrough; and

a comparator operatively connected to the isolation device and interconnecting the heating element to the control circuit, the comparator providing a signal to the control circuit corresponding to a temperature of the heating element;

wherein;

the control circuit adjusts the current supplied to the heating element to maintain the heating element at a desired temperature;

the control circuit moves the switch to the open position in response to the heating element exceeding a first temperature limit; and

the comparator circuit causes the isolation device to move from the closed configuration to the open configuration in response to the heating element exceeding a second temperature limit.

6. The heating pad of claim 5 wherein the second temperature limit is greater than the first temperature limit.

7. The heating pad of claim 6 wherein the control circuit includes

a central processing unit.

8. The heating pad of claim 5 wherein the isolation device is a fuse.

9. The heating pad of claim 8 wherein the comparator is interconnected to the fuse, the comparator causing the fuse to blow in response to the temperature of the heating element exceeding the second first temperature limit.

10. The heating pad of claim 5 wherein the switch is a triac.

11. The heating pad of claim 5 wherein the heating element includes:

a heating conductor operatively connected to the control circuit by the switch;

a negative temperature coefficient layer surrounding the heating conductor; and

a positive temperature coefficient sensor conductor extending about the negative temperature coefficient layer and being operatively connected to the control circuit by the comparator.

12. A heating pad, comprising:

a heating conductor;

a negative temperature coefficient layer surrounding the heating conductor;

a positive temperature coefficient sensor conductor having a resistance and extending about the negative temperature coefficient layer;

a control circuit operatively connected to the heating conductor by a switch for supplying current to the heating conductor, the switch movable between a first open position and a second closed position;

an isolation device interconnecting the control circuit to a power source, the isolation device having a first open configuration preventing transmission of electrical power therethrough and a second closed configuration allowing transmission of electrical power therethrough; and

a comparator operatively connected to the isolation device and interconnecting the positive temperature coefficient sensor to the control circuit, the comparator providing a signal to the control circuit corresponding to a temperature of the heating element;

wherein;

the control circuit adjusts the current supplied to the heating element to maintain the heating element at a desired temperature;

the control circuit moving the switch to the open position so as to terminate current to the heating conductor in response to the signal exceeding a first threshold; and

the comparator moving the isolation device from the closed configuration to the open configuration in response to the shorting of the positive temperature coefficient sensor conductor to the heating conductor.

13. The heating pad of claim 12 wherein the control circuit includes

a central processing unit.

14. The heating pad of claim 12 wherein the isolation device is a fuse.

15. The heating pad of claim 14 wherein the comparator is interconnected to the fuse, the comparator causing the fuse to blow in response to the shorting of the positive temperature coefficient sensor conductor to the heating conductor.

16. The heating pad of claim 12 wherein the switch is a triac.