A composite substrate comprising a mesh layer and a composite material layer is provided, wherein the mesh layer comprises a mesh material and an adhesive, said adhesive permeating the mesh material and adhering the mesh material directly to a surface of the composite material layer. A metal-coated composite substrate is provided. The metal-coated composite substrate comprises a composite substrate, as defined in the section above, and a metal layer covering a side of the mesh layer opposite the composite layer. Furthermore, a method for producing the composite substrate is provided. Moreover, a method for producing the metal-coated composite substrate is provided.

A vehicle including a rear bumper having an upper surface, a power source, and a heating element in communication with the power source is provided. The heating element extends in a vehicle lateral direction and along substantially an entire portion of the upper surface of the rear bumper. The heating element may operable when a tailgate is in a closed position. Thus, debris, such as ice, dirt, and the like, accumulating on the upper surface of the rear bumper may be melted by the heating element prior to the tailgate opening. The heating element may be configured to heat substantially an entire portion of the upper surface of the rear bumper. The heating element may be configured to heat upon a condition being satisfied such as, for example, a vehicle start operation or outside temperature being below a predetermined threshold.

A heater device includes a heat generating part that generates heat by energization, and a detection unit. The detection unit detects whether or not a distance between an object around the heat generating part and the heat generating part is equal to or less than a first detection distance with a first detection sensitivity, and whether or not the distance between the object around the heat generating part and the heat generating part is equal to or less than a second detection distance shorter than the first detection distance with a second detection sensitivity that is less sensitive than the first detection sensitivity.

A semi-finished product of an electric heater device has a casing body (2) defining a housing for at least one electric heater. The casing body (2) has a first or predefined configuration, in particular a substantially planar, or plate-like, or two-dimensional configuration, and is prearranged for being folded in substantially predetermined areas (1a), which define in the casing body (2) a plurality of regions (4, 5, 6) that are at least in part relatively stiff and are suitable to be folded with respect to one another in one said folding area (1a). In this way, a second or different configuration, in particular a substantially three-dimensional configuration, can be bestowed upon the casing body (2).

A construction panel contains at least one insulation layer, at least one active thermal layer containing at least an electrical heating and/or an electrical cooling element, and a connector for connecting the at least one active thermal layer to a source of electrical current. The active thermal layer is preferably an active heating or cooling layer.

A heater (1a) includes: a substrate (10); a heat-generation layer (20) that is a conductive metal oxide layer (22); a pair of power supply electrodes (30); and a pressure-sensitive adhesive bonding laminate (40). The substrate (10) is formed of an organic polymer. The heat-generation layer (20) is disposed in contact with the substrate (10) in the thickness direction of the substrate (10). The pair of power supply electrodes (30) are electrically connected to the heat-generation layer (20). The pressure-sensitive adhesive bonding laminate (40) has a pressure-sensitive adhesive surface (41a) used for pressure-sensitive adhesive bonding with an adherend. In the pressure-sensitive adhesive bonding laminate (40), a plurality of pressure-sensitive adhesive layers (41, 42) and at least one support (45) for the plurality of pressure-sensitive adhesive layers are alternately laminated between the pressure-sensitive adhesive surface (41a) and the heat-generating layer (20).

A preform that is embodied for manufacture of a combined heating and anti-surge apparatus for automotive operating fluid tanks, in particular for automotive reservoir tanks for aqueous urea solution, encompasses a planar plastic component having at least one electrical resistance heating trace provided thereon and having anti-surge baffles embodied integrally with the planar plastic component and standing off therefrom, the planar plastic component including as functional portions a heating portion having at least one electrical resistance heating trace provided thereon and an anti-surge portion, two functional portions of the plastic component being connected to one another movably relative to one another.

Provided are a conductive structure having low contact resistance, the conductive structure including a cured layer formed by curing a curable composition, a conductive linear body fixed by the cured layer, and a pair of electrodes placed so as to directly contact the conductive linear body, wherein the curable composition contains a cationic polymerizable compound and a photocationic polymerization initiator, and the cured layer fixes the electrodes; a manufacturing method for the conductive structure; and article including the conductive structure; and a manufacturing method for the article.

An antenna heater for heating an antenna includes a heating panel that is configured for attachment to the antenna and comprising heating tracks. The heating tracks are spaced apart from each other and each includes an electrically-conductive trace and positive temperature coefficient (PTC) elements. The PTC elements are electrically connected to the electrically-conductive trace, spaced apart along the electrically-conductive trace, and made of a PTC material having an equilibrium temperature greater than 0° C.

Systems and methods are provided for controlling infrared radiation (IR) sources of a sauna including tuning IR wavelength-ranges and radiated power-levels of IR sources, and directing IR to locations on a user's body. In one illustrative embodiment, a sauna may be provided having adjustable IR emitters to emit IR at any wavelength resulting in a desirable radiation treatment for the sauna user. In another illustrative embodiment, a method is provided for tuning IR emitters in a sauna.