Reduced wire count heater array block
First Claim
1. A thermal system comprising:
- a plurality of thermal elements, each of the thermal elements defining a resistor and a current limiting device, the plurality of thermal elements comprising at least a first subset of parallel thermal elements and at least a second subset of parallel thermal elements, wherein the current limiting devices in a given subset of parallel thermal elements have opposite polarity from each other; and
a plurality of power lines connected to the plurality of thermal elements, the power lines configured in pairs for providing power to the first subset and the second subset of parallel thermal elements,wherein each of the pairs of power lines share a common power line such that the first and second subsets of parallel thermal elements share the common power line.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A thermal system includes a plurality of thermal elements. In one form, each of the thermal elements define a resistor and a current limiting device. The plurality of thermal elements have at least a first subset of parallel thermal elements and at least a second subset of parallel thermal elements. The system also has a plurality of power lines connected to the plurality of thermal elements. The power lines are configured in pairs for providing power to a subset of the plurality of thermal elements that are connected in a parallel set. Each of the pairs of power lines share a common power line with an adjacent parallel set of thermal elements within a subset. Additionally, each of the current limiting devices in the adjacent parallel sets of thermal elements within a subset are opposed. The first and second subsets of parallel thermal elements share the common power line.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A thermal system comprising:
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a plurality of thermal elements, each of the thermal elements defining a resistor and a current limiting device, the plurality of thermal elements comprising at least a first subset of parallel thermal elements and at least a second subset of parallel thermal elements, wherein the current limiting devices in a given subset of parallel thermal elements have opposite polarity from each other; and a plurality of power lines connected to the plurality of thermal elements, the power lines configured in pairs for providing power to the first subset and the second subset of parallel thermal elements, wherein each of the pairs of power lines share a common power line such that the first and second subsets of parallel thermal elements share the common power line. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A heater system comprising:
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a heating target; a heater secured to the heating target, the heater comprising a plurality of thermal elements, each of the thermal elements defining a resistor and a current limiting device, the plurality of thermal elements comprising at least a first subset of parallel thermal elements and at least a second subset of parallel thermal elements, wherein the current limiting devices in a given subset of parallel thermal elements have opposite polarity from each other; and a plurality of power lines connected to the plurality of thermal elements, the power lines configured in pairs for providing power to the first subset and the second subset of parallel thermal elements, wherein each of the pairs of power lines share a common power line such that the first and second subsets of parallel thermal elements share the common power line. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification