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US 12,006,689 B2Granted
Efficient control of a heating element
OwnerThomas W. Clardy, Kai Kuckinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Apparatuses, systems, and methods are disclosed for efficient control of a heating element. A sensor is configured to detect a state of water in proximity to a heating element. A switch device is configured to control a supply of power to the heating element. A hardware controller device is in communication with the sensor and the switch. The hardware controller device is configured to adjust the supply of power to the heating element using the switch device based on the state of water in proximity to the heating element.
Claims23
An apparatus, comprising:
- a sensor configured to detect a state of water in proximity to a heating element, the sensor comprising a camera device disposed on a same surface as the heating element and the heating element being at least partially within a view of the camera device;
- a switch device configured to control a supply of power to the heating element;
- and
- a hardware controller device in communication with the sensor and the switch device, the hardware controller device configured to adjust the supply of power to the heating element using the switch device based on the state of water in proximity to the heating element by at least:
- determining that the state of water in proximity to the heating element comprises a snow bridge suspended over and covering the heating element in response to detecting a cavity in snow or ice around the heating element based on image data of the heating element within the cavity of the snow bridge from the view of the camera device on the same surface as the heating element;
- and
- turning off the supply of power to the heating element in response to determining that the state of water in proximity to the heating element comprises the snow bridge suspended over and covering the heating element.
4 more elements
A method, comprising:
- monitoring a heating element using a sensor, the sensor comprising a camera disposed on a same surface as the heating element and the heating element being at least partially within a view of the camera;
- determining that a state of water in proximity to the heating element comprises a snow bridge suspended over and covering the heating element in response to detecting a cavity in snow or ice around the heating element based on image data of the heating element within the cavity of the snow bridge from the view of the camera on the same surface as the heating element;
- and
- adjusting operation of the heating element based on the state of water in proximity to the heating element by turning off the supply of power to the heating element in response to determining that the state of water in proximity to the heating element comprises the snow bridge suspended over and covering the heating element.
1 more element
An apparatus, comprising:
- means for monitoring a heating element using a camera disposed on a same surface as the heating element, the heating element being at least partially within a view of the camera;
- means for determining that a state of water in proximity to the heating element comprises a snow bridge suspended over and covering the heating element in response to detecting a cavity in snow or ice around the heating element based on image data of the heating element within the cavity of the snow bridge from the view of the camera on the same surface as the heating element;
- and
- means for adjusting operation of the heating element based on the state of water in proximity to the heating element by turning off the supply of power to the heating element in response to determining that the state of water in proximity to the heating element comprises the snow bridge suspended over and covering the heating element.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.