A heating system includes at least one electric heater disposed within the fluid flow system. A control device includes a microprocessor and is configured to determine a temperature of the at least one electric heater based on a model and at least one input from the fluid flow system. The control device is configured to provide power to the at least one electric heater based on the temperature of the at least one electric heater.

A self-regulating electric heater cable includes a monolithic heater core of PTC material encapsulating a pair of bus wires, and a conductive layer disposed on an outer surface of the heater core such that the conductive layer levels the voltage generated at the outer surface of the heater core when an electric current is passed through the bus wires. The conductive layer draws the current evenly through lobes of PTC material encapsulating the bus wires. The conductive layer may be a coating, such as a conductive ink or paint, or may be an extruded or wrapped material applied to the heater core. Standard heater cable layers are applied over the conductive layer, including an electrically insulating layer that contacts a portion of the conductive layer and also may be separated, at points, from the conductive layer by one or more air gaps.

An aerosol delivery device is provided, and includes a control body serially engaged with a cartridge, the cartridge having an aerosol precursor source housing an aerosol precursor and defining a mouth opening configured to direct an aerosol therethrough to a user. A heater device is operably engaged with the cartridge, wherein the heater device comprises an electrically-conductive carbon element disposed adjacent to a heat-conductive substrate. The heater device is configured to receive the aerosol precursor from the aerosol precursor source onto the heat-conductive substrate, such that the aerosol precursor on the heat-conductive substrate forms the aerosol in response to heat from the electrically-conductive carbon element conducted through the heat-conductive substrate. An associated apparatus and method are also provided.

A heating rod having a plurality of ceramic heating elements, a first strip-shaped contact sheet, a second strip-shaped contact sheet, and a housing in which the plurality of heating elements and the contact sheets are arranged. The first contact sheet electrically contacts only a part of the plurality of the heating elements, and the second contact sheet electronically contacts a second part of the plurality of the heating elements.

Disclosed is a heating rod comprising a ceramic heating element, a strip shaped contact sheet electrically contacting the heating element, and a housing in which the contact sheet and the ceramic heating element are arranged. The contact sheet is provided with slits originating from a longitudinal edge of the contact sheet.

An inventive heating rod is disclosed. The heating rod has a ceramic heating element, a first strip-shaped contact sheet and a second strip-shaped contact sheet. The ceramic heating element is arranged between the first contact sheet and the second contact sheet, and a metal housing is provided in which the heating element and the contact sheets are arranged. The housing is provided with a dielectric coating.

A scent dispenser may comprise a vial retaining mechanism, a heating element, vial sensor, and a controller. The vial retaining mechanism includes a vial coupling that removeably retains a vial containing a scented solution. The includes a wick extending from a cavity of the vial through an opening of a neck of the vial. The heating element is shaped to receive and heat the wick of the vial. The vial sensor includes an array of sensor pads that are arranged in alignment with the vial retained by the vial coupling. The controller is electrically coupled to the heating element and electrically coupled to the array of sensor pads. The controller regulates a temperature level of the heating element, and receives signals from the array of sensor pads and processing the signals to determine a fluid level of the vial.

A thin-film heating device includes a base layer, a bus bar layer and an electrode layer. The base layer includes a polymeric resistive layer, including conductive filler, in contact with a polymeric dielectric layer. The polymeric resistive layer has a sheet resistance in a range of from about 0.5 ohm/square to about 2 Megaohm/square. The bus bar layer is adhered to the polymeric dielectric layer of the base layer. The bus bar layer includes a first patterned conductive material. The electrode layer includes a second patterned conductive material and is electrically connected to the bus bar layer.

An electric stovetop includes a vitroceramic top part, an electric heating element built-in below the top part, and a bottom box with the electric heating element mounted through the bottom box. The electrical heating element can include parallel and equidistant tracks defining a rectangular heating area. Each track is divided into three segments, a large central part and two smaller end parts. Each track is positioned corresponding to a sliding button for controlling power to start heating and to control intensity of heat. The sliding button sets each track according to at least three stages of activation: no power, power to the central part, and power to the smaller ends. There can be an intermediate position defined by a midpoint with a tactile stop to indicate the transition from the second stage to the third stage.

A thermal emitter includes a freestanding membrane supported by a substrate, wherein the freestanding membrane includes in a lateral extension a center section, a conductive intermediate section and a border section, wherein the conductive intermediate section laterally surrounds the center section and is electrically isolated from the center section, the conductive intermediate section including a conductive semiconductor material that is encapsulated in an insulating material, wherein the border section at least partially surrounds the intermediate section and is electrically isolated from the conductive intermediate section, and wherein a perforation is formed through the border section.