An operating method for an electric heater may include heating a fluid passing the electric heater to an outlet temperature by at least one heating element and operating the electric heater in one of a normal mode or a protection mode. In the normal mode, the at least one heating element may be supplied with at least one of a direct current and a direct voltage. In the protection mode, electrical power supplied to the at least one heating element may be regulated by pulse width modulation. The electric heater may be operated in the normal mode if a reference temperature is less than or equal to a critical temperature and in the protection mode if the reference temperature is greater than the critical temperature.

A component for a vehicle interior configured to be illuminated by a light source may comprise a substrate; a light guide; and a cover comprising an exterior surface. The light guide may transmit light between the substrate and the cover. The cover may be at least partially light-transmissive. The cover may present an effect on the exterior surface. The effect may comprise an illumination/dynamic lighting effect when illuminated. The cover may comprise a profile configured to present a visual effect and/or a surface effect. The component may comprise a concealed heating element between a cover base and a cover layer of the cover. The heating element may comprise a three-dimensional form behind the cover. The cover layer may be formed into a three-dimensional form and the cover base may be formed into a three-dimensional form for the surface effect. The light guide may comprise micro-optical structures.

A heating wire having a first heating wire and a second heating wire. A receiving electrode is provided between the first heating wire and the second heating wire. A transmitting electrode includes a first transmitting electrode provided between the first heating wire and the receiving electrode, and a second transmitting electrode provided between the second heating wire and the receiving electrode. A distance between the first heating wire and the first transmitting electrode is defined as Dh1, a distance between the first transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode is defined as Ds1, a distance between the second heating wire and the second transmitting electrode is defined as Dh2, and a distance between the second transmitting electrode and the receiving electrode is defined as Ds2. A relationship of Dh1≤Ds1 and Dh2≤Ds2 is satisfied.

A radiant heater device for generating a radiant heat, includes a substrate portion having a plate shape and made of an electrically insulating material, a surface member having a sheet shape and disposed on one surface side of the substrate portion, and a heat generation portion formed on the other surface side of the substrate portion. The surface member is formed of a fiber fabric that is provided with a space portion recessed toward the substrate portion in a thickness direction of the surface member and that restricts a heat transfer in a surface direction of the surface member by the space portion.

A heater having a cover and a heating element. The heating element is configured to generate heat that is transferred through the cover via radiative heating and/or conductive heating. The cover has a thermal effusivity in a range of about 20-300 Ws.sup.(1-2)/m.sup.2K

The invention relates to a heating structure (30) which is intended in particular to be installed inside a passenger compartment of a vehicle, the heating structure (30) comprising at least one resistive layer arranged to release heat when an electric current passes through this layer (36), this panel further comprising art electrode array comprising a plurality of contact electrodes (34) arranged to be in electrical contact with the resistive layer in order to Sallow electric current to flow through this resistive layer.

There is provided with a moving body control apparatus. An image capturing unit captures a periphery of a moving body through a transmitting portion. A heater is capable of heating the transmitting portion. An air-conditioning unit switches an air-conditioning state in the moving body between an inside air circulation state and an outside air introduction state. A control unit controls the heater. An ambient temperature detection unit detects an ambient temperature. The control unit starts the operation of the heater when the ambient temperature is not more than a predetermined temperature threshold. The predetermined temperature threshold of the case in which the air-conditioning state is set to the inside air circulation state is higher than the predetermined temperature threshold in the case in which the air-conditioning state is set to the outside air introduction state.

A climate control device includes a radiant heater for radiating heat and a porous material attached to the radiant heater. The porous material desorbs a plurality of water molecules, in response to the porous material receiving heat from the radiant heater and raising a temperature of the water molecules in the porous material to a boiling temperature threshold. The porous material adsorbs the water molecules in response to the temperature of the water molecules falling below the boiling temperature threshold.

An apparatus and method for melting snow and/or ice on a vehicle comprises a precipitation sensor, a surface temperature sensor, an ambient temperature sensor, a heater, and a programmable controller. The programmable controller comprises a memory unit and a processor to store and execute a cut-off surface temperature Tc, and program modules, respectively. A heater control module is configured to deactivate the heater based on the surface temperature being greater than the cut-off surface temperature. The heater could be an electric heater and a hydronic heater. The electric heater is electrically coupled to at least any one of, an alternator, an onboard power system, and a remote power source, via a relay. Further, the heater control module is configured to activate the heater based on an ambient temperature being lower than freezing point of water and precipitation being present outside the vehicle, thereby melting snow and/or ice on the vehicle.

Provided is a vehicle interior structure that can prevent a heater from reaching a high temperature even when a liquid, such as a drink, brought into a vehicle cabin spills on an Instrument panel, on which the heater is provided outside the vehicle cabin. The vehicle interior structure includes a vehicle interior member 10 and a heater 50 provided on a vehicle cabin exterior side of the vehicle interior member 10. The heater 50 is provided with temperature detection devices 56 and 57 and a waterproof film 54 that covers the temperature detection devices 56 and 57.