Patent classifications
H05B1/0236
Moving body
A moving body includes: a detection unit configured to detect a peripheral situation of the moving body; a heating unit configured to be capable of heating a component of the moving body that is positioned in a detection range of the detection unit; a power receiving unit configured to receive power from an external power supply apparatus of the moving body; and a control unit configured to, when the power receiving unit receives power from the power supply apparatus, control the heating unit so as to be in an operation state.
Fogging suppression apparatus and control method thereof
A fogging suppression apparatus that suppresses fogging of a window of vehicle, comprises an acquisition unit that acquires an external temperature of the vehicle, a heater that heats the window, the heater differing from an air conditioning apparatus including a blower provided in the vehicle; and a control unit that controls the heater so as to heat the window when the external temperature of the vehicle is lower than or equal to a predetermined temperature and there is a request for activation of the air conditioning apparatus.
METHOD FOR REGULATING A HEATER AND THE HEATER
A method for regulating a heater including at least one heating element having a temperature-dependent electrical resistance is disclosed. The method may include determining, with a regulating unit of the heater, a current heating behaviour of the heating element based on a time profile of the resistance of the heating element. The heating element may exhibit (i) an NTC heating behaviour at temperatures below a transition temperature, (ii) a PTC heating behaviour at temperatures above the transition temperature, and (iii) a transition between the NTC heating behaviour and the PTC heating behaviour at the transition temperature and a resistance minimum. The method may further include determining, with the regulating unit, at least one input parameter for the heating element based on the current heating behaviour. The method may also include regulating, with the regulating unit, the heating element via the at least one input parameter.
TEMPERATURE CONTROL THROUGH THERMAL RECYCLE
An excess heat-generating element is coupled to a heat sink through a heat conduction path. A thermal switch is mounted in the heat conduction path. A temperature-sensitive element is coupled to the heat conduction path on a same side of the thermal switch as the excess heat-generating element. A temperature monitor is mounted adjacent the temperature-sensitive element. A temperature controller has an input coupled to the temperature output of the temperature monitor and an output control line coupled to an input of the thermal switch. The temperature controller switches off the thermal switch, in response to detecting a temperature below a temperature threshold from the temperature output. When the thermal switch it off, it impedes heat flow from the excess heat-generating element to the heat sink, and the heat flow is redirected to increase heat flow from the excess heat-generating element to the heat-sensitive element.
Smart heater system
A heating system includes a plurality of heater elements, a plurality of switches connected to the plurality of heater elements, a set of predetermined performance information including heater information specific for each heater element, at least one temperature sensor measuring temperature of at least one heater element from among the plurality of heater elements, and a heater control unit in communication with the temperature sensor(s). The heater control unit controls the heater elements differently, via the switches, based on the heater information and the measured temperature from the temperature sensor(s).
Image processing apparatus, imaging system, mobile body, and image processing method
An abnormality in an imaging apparatus configured to generate an image or in an optical member located on an optical path for capturing the image can be accurately determined, irrespective of the environment. An image processing apparatus includes a first receiver configured to receive a first image, a second receiver configured to receive a second image having an imaging range that includes at least a portion of an imaging range of the first image, and a controller configured to determine an abnormality in the first image or the second image based on a common portion in the imaging ranges of the first image and the second image.
APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR DETECTING WATER OR ICE
The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for detecting the presence of water or ice on a structure, for example on the surface of an aircraft. A plurality of heaters (202-214) are thermally coupled to a structure (for example on the back of a wing) (104) in order to detect the presence of water or ice on the structure. The heaters are arranged adjacent one another from a GC region of a leading edge (106) of the structure (that is exposable to an impinging airflow) and extending aft of the leading edge of the structure. The heaters, which may be controlled individually, are supplied power that is sufficient to heat the surface of the structure to substantially the same temperature. A controller senses the power required for the heaters to achieve the same surface temperature at the respective regions. By comparing the power consumed by a heater that is aft of the fore-most heater (214), and the power consumed by a heater fore of the aft-most heater (210), a determination of the presence of water or ice can be made if the power consumed by the heater that is aft of the fore- most heater is different to the power consumed by the heater that is fore of the aft-most heater.
HEATING DEVICE FOR HEATING AN AIR FLOW IN A MOTOR VEHICLE
A heating device for heating an airflow in a motor vehicle is described, with a plurality of heating rods, which have connection plates made of aluminium, or an aluminium-based alloy, and a circuit board, which carries a control circuit, to which the heating rods are connected by way of busbars. In accordance with this disclosure, provision is made for the busbars to have a body made of aluminium, or an aluminium-based alloy, which establishes contact with the heating rods by means of a welded connection, and an end piece made of copper, or a copper-based alloy, which establishes contact with the circuit board by means of a plug-in connector.
Electrical heating device, in particular with PTC effect
An electrical heating device comprises: a first electrode layer (13), made of electrically conductive material; a second electrode layer (14), made of electrically conductive material; and a heating layer, made of a material having a PTC effect, wherein the first electrode layer (13) and the second electrode layer (14) face one another, with at least one part of the heating layer that is set between the first electrode layer (13) and the second electrode layer (14), in contact with them. At least one region (21) of the at least one from among the first electrode layer (13), the second electrode layer (14), and said at least one part of the heating layer has a plurality of electrically non-conductive sites (30a, 30b, 30c), which are prearranged for bringing about: —an emission of heat by the heating device (10) in said at least one region (21) that is different from the emission of heat by the heating device (10) in at least one other region (22) of the at least one from among the first electrode layer (13), the second electrode layer (14), and said at least one part (15′) of the heating layer (15); and/or —an emission of heat by the heating device (10) at the first electrode layer (13) that is different from the emission of heat by the heating device (10) at the second electrode layer (14).
HEATING CONTROL SYSTEM AND WINDSHIELD
A heating control system for controlling a heating element provided on glass including a sensor information acquisition unit configured to acquire sensor information from one or more sensors, and a control processing unit configured to control a first heating element provided in a first region of the glass and a second heating element provided in a second region of the glass based on the sensor information. The control processing unit comprises a temperature difference reduction processing unit configured to execute temperature difference reduction processing for controlling at least one of the first heating element and the second heating element so that a temperature difference between a glass temperature of a third region positioned between a first region and a second region of the glass and a glass temperature of the first region or a glass temperature of the second region does not exceed an upper limit value.