A vehicle temperature control system, for electric motor-powered vehicles or hybrid vehicles, includes a heater (18), which can be operated electrically or/and with fuel, with a first heat exchanger device (16) for transferring heat provided in the heater (18) to a first heat carrier medium provided in a first heat carrier medium circuit (12). An operating material tank (20) holds a liquid operating material (24). A second heat exchanger device (26) provides heat transfer between the first heat carrier medium provided in the first heat carrier medium circuit (12) and energy storage material (36) contained in the operating material tank (20). A third heat exchanger device (38) provides heat transfer between the first heat carrier medium provided in the first heat carrier medium circuit (12) and a second heat carrier medium provided in a second heat carrier medium circuit (40).

Methods and system for providing heat to a vehicle are presented. In one example, a refrigerant loop is operated to heat a passenger cabin via heat generated by a compressor and heat generated by a resistive heating element. The heat that is generated by the compressor and the heat that is generated by the resistive heating element is transferred to a refrigerant before it is transferred to the passenger cabin.

A heater apparatus includes a heat generating unit, an outer surface, a temperature sensor and a detection unit. A first control portion of an electronic control unit controls temperature of the heat generating unit in such a way that it stops or reduces electric power supply to the heat generating unit, when it determines that an object has been brought into contact with a first region of the outer surface. A second control portion of the electronic control unit controls the temperature of the heat generating unit depending on a detected temperature of the temperature sensor. A third control portion of the electronic control unit controls the temperature of the heat generating unit in such a way that it stops or reduces the electric power supply to the heat generating unit, when it determines that the object has been brought into contact with a second region of the outer surface.

A glass panel apparatus is provided. The glass panel apparatus includes an outer glass pane comprising a low-e coating on a side facing the inner glass pane, an inner glass pane comprising a low-e coating on a side facing the outer glass pane, a gap between the inner glass pane and the outer glass pane, the gap comprising a vacuum, and a heating element configured to heat the inner glass pane.

A heating apparatus is provided. The heating apparatus includes a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heating element and a power controller configured to generate and apply a pulse width modified signal to the PTC heating element. The power controller is configured to vary a current of the pulse width modified signal linearly with respect to a temperature of a space being heated by the PTC heating element.

An operator configurable radiant heating system is provided for a motor vehicle. That operator configurable radiant heating system includes a plurality of docking points provided at different locations within the motor vehicle and a radiant heating panel configured for docking with any of the docking points of the plurality of docking points. A related method is also disclosed.

A heating apparatus has a heater body and a heater case. The heater body has a heat generator and emits heat supplied from the heat generator. The heat generator generates the heat when being energized. The heater case houses the heater body and is arranged on a side of an air-bag device for a vehicle adjacent to a vehicle compartment. The heater case is attached to an interior member located in the vehicle compartment or is a part of the interior member. The heater case has an expansion permissive portion that permits the air-bag device to expand into the vehicle compartment. The heat generator includes a portion located at a position corresponding to the expansion permissive portion. The heater body has a low strength portion that has a low strength as compared to the portion of the heat generator and that is located outside the expansion permissive portion.

A heat generating system for a motor vehicle includes a carbon nanotube heating element and a controller. The controller is configured to activate the carbon nanotube heating element in response to a wireless activation signal received from a remote communication device. A related method of heating a passenger compartment of a motor vehicle is also disclosed.

A heater unit includes a heater case and a high-voltage component disposed on a mount surface of the heater case. A protector is disposed in front of the heater unit. The protector includes a protection cover and a protection member disposed laterally of the high-voltage component. The protection member includes a side surface (support wall) disposed along a forward-rearward direction; that is, an assumed collision direction. The leading edge of the side surface protrudes further than the high-voltage component. The length of the side surface in the forward-rearward direction is longer than the length from a position on the heater case with which the side surface comes into contact in a collision to a front surface of the high-voltage component.

Methods and system for providing heat to a vehicle are presented. In one example, a refrigerant loop is operated to heat a passenger cabin via heat generated by a compressor and heat generated by a resistive heating element. The heat that is generated by the compressor and the heat that is generated by the resistive heating element is transferred to a refrigerant before it is transferred to the passenger cabin.