Conductive heater having sensing capabilities
First Claim
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1. A combination heater and sensor comprising:
- a) a heating layer, a sensing layer, or both;
b) one or more power application portions, one or more sensing application portions, or both;
c) a heater controller connected to the heater to energize the heater so that the heater provides heat; and
d) a sensing controller connected to the sensor to provide a signal so that the sensor provides sensing, andwherein the sensing controller and the heater controller are connected to the combination heater and sensor via one or more wires and the one or more wires both energize the heater and provide a signal to the sensor;
wherein the heating layer and the sensing layer are located within the same plane; and
wherein the heating layer upon an application of power provides heat;
wherein the heater layer and the sensor layer are a same device; and
wherein the heater is free of any separate parts forming a sensor;
wherein the signal provided by the sensing controller has a frequency and the sensing controller measures a shift in frequency of the signal to determine if an occupant is in contact with the combination heater and sensor, in contact with a component including the combination heater and sensor, or both.
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Abstract
A combination heater and sensor comprising: (a) a heating layer, a sensing layer, or both; (b) one or more power application portions, one or more sensing application portions, or both; wherein the heating layer and the sensing layer are located within the same plane; and wherein the heating layer is a nonwoven layer that is comprised of a plurality of metallized fibers that are randomly oriented forming the heating layer so that upon application of power the heating layer provides heat.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A combination heater and sensor comprising:
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a) a heating layer, a sensing layer, or both; b) one or more power application portions, one or more sensing application portions, or both; c) a heater controller connected to the heater to energize the heater so that the heater provides heat; and d) a sensing controller connected to the sensor to provide a signal so that the sensor provides sensing, and wherein the sensing controller and the heater controller are connected to the combination heater and sensor via one or more wires and the one or more wires both energize the heater and provide a signal to the sensor; wherein the heating layer and the sensing layer are located within the same plane; and wherein the heating layer upon an application of power provides heat; wherein the heater layer and the sensor layer are a same device; and wherein the heater is free of any separate parts forming a sensor; wherein the signal provided by the sensing controller has a frequency and the sensing controller measures a shift in frequency of the signal to determine if an occupant is in contact with the combination heater and sensor, in contact with a component including the combination heater and sensor, or both. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 11, 12, 15, 16, 20)
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8. A method comprising:
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a) installing a combination heater and sensor into a component of an automobile; b) providing power to the combination heater and sensor so that a heating layer of the combination heater and sensor produces heat; c) providing a signal to the combination heater and sensor so that a sensing layer of the combination heater and sensor produces a signal for determining presence of an occupant, contact between the occupant and the component of the automobile, or both; and d) monitoring the signal for an occupant, lack of an occupant, lack of contact between the component and the occupant, or a combination thereof; wherein the power and the signal are applied to the combination heater and sensor via a wire and the wire is the same for both the signal and the power; and wherein the signal includes a frequency and a sensing controller measures the frequency, a shift in the frequency, capacitance of the signal, a measured voltage, or a combination thereof to determine the presence of an occupant, contact between the occupant and the combination heater and sensor, or both. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 13, 14, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification