Systems and methods for passive radiative cooling via structures attached to vertical (e.g. walls of buildings) or horizontal surfaces (e.g. roofs) with limited view of the sky by specifically radiating heat in the long-wavelength infrared window of the atmosphere, and designs for doing so are provided.

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.

The present invention is a heater or heating device that uses microwave energy to generate heat quickly. The heater generates heat quickly by forcing air over microwave-heated oil or non-freeze liquid. As a non-limiting embodiment, the heater preferably includes most or all of the following components: an outer casing or housing, at least one air intake vent, a magnetron, a microwave emitter, a wave scatterer, at least one fluid holder, fluid, a capacitor, a transformer, a microwave containment casing, and a perforated microwave guard. As another non-limiting embodiment, the heater preferably includes most or all of following components: an outer casing or housing, a cooling fan, a magnetron, a microwave emitter, a wave scatterer, at least one non-freeze liquid holder, non-freeze liquid, a capacitor, a transformer, a microwave containment casing, a glass tube, a metal tube, a fan coil, a pump, a reservoir and expansion tank, and a fill plug.

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 heating panel for a vehicle includes a plate-shaped heating layer and a heat insulation layer attached to the heating layer. The heating panel is spaced apart from an occupant in an interior space of the vehicle and positioned to face the occupant. The heat insulation layer is directed toward the panel in the interior space and the heating layer is directed toward the occupant.

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 radiation heating device includes: a planar heat generation layer; a heat generation portion that is provided in the heat generation layer and that generates heat by energization; a plurality of heat radiation portions that are disposed in the heat generation layer and that radiate heat transferred from the heat generation portion; a low heat conduction portion that is provided around each of the heat radiation portions and that has a lower heat conductivity than the heat radiation portions; and a contact detection unit that detects contact of an object with the heat generation layer. The radiation heating device further includes an energization amount decrease unit that decreases an energization amount of the heat generation portion when the contact detection unit detects the contact of the object with the heat generation layer.

An electric power converter device may include first and second housings separated by a fluid-impermeable plate, at least one power electronics unit electrically connected to an electric power input and output, at least one fluid chamber fluidically connected to a fluid inlet and outlet, and at least one heater electrically connected to the electric power input and output, the fluid chamber and heater thermally coupled such that waste heat generated by the power electronics unit may be used to heat a fluid flowing through the fluid chamber. The electric power converter device may have first and second operation modes, the waste heat being increased in the second operation mode. The first housing and the plate may form a first space area in which the power electronics unit and the heater may be arranged, and the plate and the second chamber form the fluid chamber with a second space area. The power electronics unit may form a DC-to-DC converter which converts a high voltage of 400 V to a low voltage of 12 V, wherein a heating power in the range of 3 kW to 4 kW.

A vehicle interior component with a heater/heating element is disclosed. The component may comprise an assembly with the heating element produced in a mold tool by a process comprising assembling the heating element between a cover layer and a fiber layer to provide a pre-form assembly; consolidating the pre-form assembly (e.g. including trimming/compressing and/or heating); forming the pre-form assembly in the mold tool into a compression-formed body with a shape; applying a cover to the compression-formed body to provide a compression-formed panel. The compression-formed panel may be provided with the shape and an external surface provided by the cover. The texture/feel at the external surface of the compression-formed panel for the component may obscure the presence of the heating element within the component. The component may comprise a console; floor console; tunnel console; armrest; instrument panel; door; door panel; trim component; or panel.

A radiant heater for a vehicle may include a heat generation device which is coupled to a first surface of a steering column cover through a hinge, has one or more heat generators generating radiant heat, and can rotate with respect to the first surface of the steering column cover by the hinge so that the distance between the heat generators and a heat reception portion can be adjusted.