A heated composite structure and a method for forming a heated composite structure. The structure includes carbon fibers embedded within a thermoplastic matrix. The carbon fibers are connected with first and second electrodes that are configured to be connected with an electric source such that applying current to the electrodes causes current to flow through the embedded carbon fibers to provide resistive heating sufficient to heat the composite structure to impede formation of ice on the composite structure.

A sensor device includes an emitter configured to emit radiation a detector configured to detect radiation reflected from an object and a cover having an interior surface facing the emitter or detector and allowing the radiation to pass through the cover. The sensor device also includes a heater with a wire-like trace directly deposited on the interior surface of the cover formed of a fluid comprising an electrically conductive material that was deposited onto a portion of the cover and cured. The heater has an electrically conductive connector pad formed with the heater by directly depositing and curing the fluid comprising the electrically conductive material directly on the interior surface of the cover simultaneously with forming the heater. The heater is positioned and arranged to sufficiently heat the cover while not blocking an area through which radiation must pass for proper operation of the emitter and the detector.

An electric heater for heating a liquid or frozen substance in a motor vehicle. In particular, an electric heater for heating electric car batteries or an HVAC system or for a system for reducing the environmental pollution of the motor vehicle. The electric heater includes a metal sheet adapted to generate heat when it is crossed by an electric current. two polymeric layers between which the metal sheet is arranged, and two metal layers, between which the two polymeric layers are arranged. The two metal layers are hermetically sealed to each other defining a casing, which prevents the substance to be heated from coming into contact with the two polymeric layers and with the metal sheet. A plurality of metal flaps extend transversely from an external face of at least one metal layer of the two metal layers.

An electric heater for heating a substance, in particular for a tank for a system for reducing the environmental pollution of a motor vehicle; the electric heater comprising a metal sheet adapted to generate heat when it is crossed by an electric current; two polymeric layers between which the metal sheet is arranged; at least one PTC layer, having a positive temperature coefficient, which at least partially coats the metal sheet; wherein the two polymeric layers are hermetically sealed to each other, defining a casing which prevents the substance to be heated from coming into contact with the metal sheet; wherein said at least one PTC layer has a thickness from 5 to 50 μm; wherein said metal sheet is in contact, in particular directly in contact, with both the polymeric layers.

A composite roof panel of a vehicle disposed vertically above a passenger cabin of the vehicle includes: a first one or more layers of carbon fiber; a second one or more layers of carbon fiber; a binder material configured to bind the first and second one or more layers of carbon fiber; first and second electrical conductors that are: disposed between the first one or more layers of carbon fiber and the second one or more layers of carbon fiber; configured to be selectively electrically connected to a battery of the vehicle; and electrically connected to at least one of the first and second one or more layers of carbon fiber.

A film heater has a transparent conductive portion including: at least one non-conductive portion that has electrical insulation properties and extends in a direction intersecting a vibration direction of an electric field included in a radio wave transmitted from a radio wave transmitter-receiver; and a heat generator that generates heat by being energized and that transmits light. The film heater has: a first electrode connected to the heat generator; and a second electrode connected to the heat generator. The heat generator includes at least one conductive portion that is adjacent to the non-conductive portion and generates heat by a current flowing along a direction in which the non-conductive portion extends when the heat generator is energized by the first electrode and the second electrode.

Disclosed are methods of making low voltage joule heating elements (10, 40, 50) from carbon nanotubes (CNT) (32). In an embodiment, the heating element (10) includes layers (12) of aligned thin film CNTs. In another embodiment, the heating element (40) includes CNTs (32) dispersed in a polymer (34) to form a CNT polymer composite (30). In another embodiment, the heating element (50) includes CNT thread (52) stitched to a fabric (54). Each embodiment further includes a pair of electrodes (20, 22, 42, 44, 56, 58) that are configured to be couple to a source of electricity. Embodiments further include an encapsulating film (24, 46) over at least the heating element. The heating elements (10, 40, 50) produced by the processes disclosed herein are lightweight and highly efficient and suitable for many uses including incorporation into objects such as clothing and footwear.

A method for manufacturing a heatable plastic component for a motor vehicle, which includes: providing a planar heating film, which has a first surface and a second surface that faces away from and is opposite the first surface, including at least one heating wire and connecting elements; introducing the planar heating film into an injection mold; mounting a connector housing onto the connecting elements; and back-molding the first surface with a plastic for manufacturing a first partial element of the heatable plastic component in the injection mold. In order to provide an improved method for manufacturing a heatable plastic component, it is proposed that a back-molding of the second surface with a plastic for manufacturing a second partial element of the heatable plastic component in the injection mold takes place such that a composite is formed from the first partial element, the planar heating film and the second partial element.

A heater panel includes a core and a heater/dielectric layer including a positive thermal coefficient (PTC) heater layer between a pair of dielectric layers. A structural facing is included, wherein the heater/dielectric layer is bonded directly between the core and the structural facing. A second structural facing can be bonded to the core opposite the heater/dielectric layer. An impact layer can be bonded to the structural facing, e.g., the first structural facing described above, opposite the heater/dielectric layer. The heater layer can be formed by direct writing a heating element pattern onto a dielectric layer bonded to the core.

A wiring sheet includes: a pseudo sheet structure including a plurality of conductive linear bodies arranged at intervals; a cured product layer supporting the pseudo sheet structure; and a pair of electrodes in direct contact with the conductive linear bodies. The cured product layer is formed from a cured product of a curable adhesive agent, and a storage modulus at 23 degrees C of the cured product layer is in a range from 5.0×10.sup.6 Pa to 1.0×10.sup.10 Pa.