Systems and methods are provided for radiant heating by PTC radiant patches. A radiant heating system for warming an occupant of an enclosed space includes patches to radiate heat into the enclosed space toward the occupant. A power supply supplies electric power to the patches. A controller controls the electric power supplied to the patches based on a temperature in the enclosed space and locations of the patches within the enclosed space.

An electric heater includes a substrate; and a plane heating element disposed on one surface of the substrate. The plane heating element includes a pattern portion including a start point and an end point, which are located at an outermost side of the pattern portion, the pattern portion including a plurality of tracks having an arc shape, which are spaced apart from each other and are formed to have a length increasing from an innermost side to the outermost side of the pattern portion, and a plurality of bridges connecting the plurality of tracks in series. The plurality of bridges are formed on both sides of the pattern portion with respect to a reference line passing through a center of the pattern portion, and an innermost gap between the pair of bridges located at the innermost side of the pattern portion is narrower than an outermost gap between a pair of bridges located at the outermost side of the pattern portion.

An electric heater includes a substrate; and a plane heating element disposed on one surface of the substrate, in which the plane heating element includes a pattern portion including a start point and an end point; and an electrode portion connected to the start point and the end point of the pattern portion, and a thickness of the electrode portion is thicker than a thickness of the pattern portion.

An electric resistance heating coil assembly, as provided herein, may include a spiral would sheathed heating element, a thermostat, and a shroud cover. The spiral wound sheathed heating element may have a first coil section and a second coil section. The thermostat may be connected in series between the first and second coil sections of the spiral wound sheathed heating element. The thermostat may include a base and a top cap. The base may extend axially between a first end and a second end. The top cap may be held on the base at the first end. The shroud cover may be mounted to the thermostat below the top cap.

An electric resistance heating coil assembly, as provided herein, may include a spiral would sheathed heating element, a thermostat, and a shroud cover. The spiral wound sheathed heating element may have a first coil section and a second coil section. The thermostat may be connected in series between the first and second coil sections of the spiral wound sheathed heating element. The thermostat may include a base and a top cap. The base may extend axially between a first end and a second end. The top cap may be held on the base at the first end. The shroud cover may be mounted to the thermostat below the top cap.

The application relates to food preparation apparatus with an electrical heating device comprising at least two electrical PTC thermistors for heating a food in a food preparation space, wherein the electrical PTC thermistors are electrically connected in parallel. The parallel-connected PTC thermistors are electrically connected to each other by one or more electrical bridges.

Using designs in accordance with the present application, local heating during the preparation of a food may be avoided.

A cooktop appliance and heating element, as provided herein may define a heating zone having a thermostat positioned therein. The thermostat may include a base, a bimetallic disk, and a conductive spring. The base may extend axially between a first end and a second end. The bimetallic disk may be disposed within the base. The conductive spring may be disposed within the base in biased engagement with the bimetallic disk to motivate the bimetallic disk towards the first end within the base. The conductive spring may include a first layer and a second layer. The first layer may extend from a contact end proximal to the bimetallic disk to a joinder end connected to the first terminal. The second layer may extend from a biasing end proximal to the bimetallic disk to a secured end fixed within the base.

An embodiment of an electric heating element is disclosed, including an electrically resistive inner heating element, an electrically resistive outer heating element, and a thermostat positioned along a cold leg of the inner heating element. The thermostat is configured to selectively allow electrical current to be delivered to the inner heating element while maximum electrical current, for example, continues to be provided to the outer heating element. The thermostat cycles the electrical current on and off when detecting maximum and minimum desired temperatures radiated from the electric heating element. The inner heating element has a pair of cold legs that extend parallel to a pair of cold legs of the outer heating element, some or all of which may be supported by a terminal bracket.

A cooking device according to one example embodiment includes a plurality of modular heaters. Each modular heater includes a ceramic substrate and an electrically resistive trace positioned on the ceramic substrate. Each modular heater is configured to generate heat when an electric current is supplied to the electrically resistive trace. The cooking device includes a thermally conductive heating plate. The plurality of modular heaters are positioned against a bottom surface of the heating plate. The heating plate includes a top surface positioned to transfer heat provided by the plurality of modular heaters to a cooking vessel for cooking an item held by the cooking vessel.

An electric cooking appliance includes a glass-ceramic substrate having a top surface for supporting cookware for heating thereon, and a bottom surface opposite the top surface. The electric cooking appliance includes a plurality of thermoresistive heating elements disposed and spaced apart on the bottom surface of the glass-ceramic substrate, with each of the plurality of thermoresistive heating elements including graphene nanoparticles embedded in a ceramic matrix for generating heat upon application of electric current to the respective thermoresistive heating element. Each thermoresistive heating element is electrically connected to a power supply such that one or more of the plurality of thermoresistive heating elements are selectively activated to receive electric current to heat localized areas of the glass-ceramic substrate.