# US 10,873,993 B2 · Self-regulating heating device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,873,993 B2 - Document ID: US10873993B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/951,883 - Filed: 2018-04-12 - Published: 2018-10-18 - Granted: 2020-12-22 - Earliest claimed: 2017-04-12 - Assignees: Tramec Termico Technologies, L.L.C. - Applicants: Horizons Incorporated - Inventors: Michael M. Cubon - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873993B2 ## CPC - H05B 3/146: {Conductive polymers, e.g. polyethylene, thermoplastics} - H02S 40/30: Electrical components - H05B 3/145: {Carbon only, e.g. carbon black, graphite} - H05B 3/16: the conductor being mounted on an insulating base - H05B 3/20: Heating elements having extended surface area substantially in a two-dimensional [2D] plane, e.g. plate-heater (H05B3/62, H05B3/68, H05B3/78, H05B3/84 take precedence) - H05B 3/34: flexible, e.g. heating nets or webs - H10F 77/60: Arrangements for cooling, heating, ventilating or compensating for temperature fluctuations - H05B 2203/006: using interdigitated electrodes - H05B 2203/011: Heaters using laterally extending conductive material as connecting means - H05B 2203/013: Heaters using resistive films or coatings - H05B 2203/017: Manufacturing methods or apparatus for heaters - H05B 2203/02: Heaters using heating elements having a positive temperature coefficient - Y02E 10/50: Photovoltaic [PV] energy - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL - H02S: GENERATION OF ELECTRIC POWER BY CONVERSION OF INFRARED RADIATION, VISIBLE LIGHT OR ULTRAVIOLET LIGHT, e.g. USING PHOTOVOLTAIC [PV] MODULES (obtaining electrical energy from radioactive sources G21H1/12; light sensitive inorganic semiconductor devices H10F; light sensitive organic semiconductor devices H10K30/00; thermoelectric devices H10N10/00; pyroelectric devices H10N15/00) - H10F: INORGANIC SEMICONDUCTOR DEVICES SENSITIVE TO INFRARED RADIATION, LIGHT, ELECTROMAGNETIC RADIATION OF SHORTER WAVELENGTH OR CORPUSCULAR RADIATION - Y02E: REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION ## Abstract A self regulating heating device includes a first layer made of an electrically insulating material. The first layer is thin and flexible. First and second buses spaced from each other are connected to the first layer. A resistive layer electrically connects the first and second buses. The resistive layer has a higher electrical resistance than the second layer. The resistive layer experiences a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) effect when heated. A solar active layer is connected to the first layer. The solar active layer is electrically connected to the first and second buses. The solar active layer converts light into electrical energy to apply a voltage across the first and second buses. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A self regulating heating device comprising: a first layer made of an electrically insulating material, the first layer being thin and flexible; first and second buses spaced from each other and connected to the first layer; a resistive layer electrically connected to the first and second buses, the resistive layer having a higher electrical resistance than the first and second buses, the resistive layer experiencing a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) effect when heated; and a solar active layer connected to the first layer, the solar active layer being electrically connected to the first and second buses, the solar active layer converting light into electrical energy to apply a voltage across the first and second buses. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The self regulating heating device of claim 1 wherein the first and second buses are screen printed flexible polymeric ink. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The self regulating heating device of claim 1 wherein the resistive layer is screen printed on at least one of the first and second buses. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The self regulating heating device of claim 1 wherein the resistive layer includes a conductive carbon black filler material dispersed in a polymer having a crystalline structure. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The self regulating heating device of claim 1 wherein the solar active layer is screen printed on at least one of the first and second buses. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The self regulating heater of claim 1 wherein each of the first and second buses includes a base and finger portions, the finger portions having a width substantially smaller than the width of each of the bases. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The self regulating heating device of claim 1 wherein the first bus is a first portion of a second layer connected to the first layer, the second layer having a second portion connected to a second portion of the first layer and a connecting portion interconnecting the first portion and the second portion of the second layer. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The self regulating heating device of claim 7 wherein the resistive layer is connected to the first portion of a second layer and the solar active layer is connected to a second portion of the second layer. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The self regulating heating device of claim 8 wherein the second bus is a first portion of a fourth layer connected to the resistive layer, the fourth layer having a second portion connected to the solar active layer and a connecting portion interconnecting the first portion and the second portion of the fourth layer, the connecting portion of the fourth layer being space from the connecting portion of the second layer. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The self regulating heating device of claim 9 wherein a fifth layer is connected to the second bus, the second portion of the fourth layer and the connecting portion of the fourth layer to seal the heating device. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The self regulating heating device of claim 1 wherein the resistive layer includes a plurality of resistive strips, each of the resistive strips engaging the first bus and the second bus, the solar active layer including a plurality of solar active strips, each of the solar active strips engaging the first bus and the second bus. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The self regulating heating device of claim 11 wherein the first includes a plurality of finger portions and the second bus includes a plurality of finger portions spaced from the finger portions of the first bus, each of the resistive strips engaging at least one of the finger portions of the first bus and at least one of the finger portions of the second bus, each of the solar active strips engaging at least one of the finger portions of the first bus and at least one of the finger portions of the second bus. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The self regulating heating device of claim 11 wherein the resistive strips extend generally parallel to the solar active strips at alternate with the resistive strips. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The self regulating heating device of claim 1 wherein the first and second buses and the resistive layer form a heater and the first and second buses and the solar active layer form a solar cell, the heater and the solar cell being connected by conductors, a battery being connected to the conductors to apply power to the heater when the solar cell cannot. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The self regulating heating device of claim 1 wherein the first and second buses and the resistive layer form a heater and the first and second buses and the solar active layer form a solar cell, the heater and the solar cell being connected by conductors, a switch being connected to at least one of the conductors to prevent the solar cell from applying power to the heater when the switch is open.