# US 12,193,146 B2 · Heater including flexible printed wiring board and method for manufacturing same > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,193,146 B2 - Document ID: US12193146B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/170,265 - Filed: 2021-02-08 - Published: 2021-09-30 - Granted: 2025-01-07 - Earliest claimed: 2020-03-26 - Assignees: Mektec Corporation - Applicants: Mektec Corporation - Inventors: Shunsuke Aoyama; Kenji Kiya - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12193146B2 ## CPC - H05K 1/0212: {Printed circuits or mounted components having integral heating means} - H05K 1/0393: {Flexible materials (H05K1/038 takes precedence; specific organic compositions are classified in H05K1/0313 and subgroups)} - H05K 3/363: {by soldering} - H05B 1/0236: {for vehicles} - H05B 3/84: Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields - H05K 1/167: {incorporating printed resistors} - H05K 1/181: associated with surface mounted components - H05K 1/189: characterised by the use of flexible or folded printed circuits - H05K 3/06: the conductive material being removed chemically or electrolytically, e.g. by photo-etch process {(semi-additive methods H05K3/108)} - H05K 2201/09263: Meander - H05K: PRINTED CIRCUITS; CASINGS OR CONSTRUCTIONAL DETAILS OF ELECTRIC APPARATUS; MANUFACTURE OF ASSEMBLAGES OF ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A heater includes: a flexible printed wiring board including a base film and a metal foil provided on one side of the base film; a heater circuit portion that is formed from the metal foil and generates heat when energized; and a heat conductive foil portion that is formed from the metal foil at a position away from the heater circuit portion and is maintained in a non-energized state. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heater comprising: a flexible printed wiring board including a base film and a metal foil provided on one side of the base film; a heater circuit portion that is formed from the metal foil and generates heat when energized; and a heat conductive foil portion that is formed from the metal foil at a position away from the heater circuit portion and is maintained in a non-energized state; wherein the heater circuit portion includes a heater wire that meanders in repeating patterns arranged in several adjacent rows, each row comprising a plurality of the repeating patterns; and wherein the heat conductive foil portion is disposed between the rows or between adjacent ones of the repeating patterns. ### Claim 2 A heater comprising: a flexible printed wiring board including a base film and a metal foil provided on one side of the base film; a heater circuit portion including a continuous heater wire formed from the metal foil; and a connecting portion that is formed from the metal foil and short-circuits adjacent portions of the continuous heater wire, wherein the heater circuit portion comprises: a heat generating portion with a large amount of heat generated by energization; and a heat conductive foil portion with a small amount of heat generated by energization but exhibiting a heat transfer function; and the heat conductive foil portion includes the connection portion. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The heater according to claim 1, wherein the heater wire meanders at equal intervals and has a constant line width. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The heater according to claim 1, further comprising an energizing portion that is formed from the metal foil and energizes the heater circuit portion. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The heater according to claim 4, further comprising: a cover film that covers a surface of the metal foil; at least one electronic component provided on a front surface side of the cover film in a state where it can be electrically connected to the metal foil; and a connector provided in a state where it can be electrically connected to the energizing portion. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The heater according to claim 2, wherein the heater circuit portion includes a heater wire that meanders at equal intervals and has a constant line width. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The heater according to claim 2, further comprising an energizing portion that is formed from the metal foil and energizes the heater circuit portion. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The heater according to claim 7, further comprising: a cover film that covers a surface of the metal foil; at least one electronic component provided on a front surface side of the cover film in a state where it can be electrically connected to the metal foil; and a connector provided in a state where it can be electrically connected to the energizing portion. ### Claim 9 A method for manufacturing a heater including a flexible printed wiring board, comprising: forming from a part of a metal foil a heater circuit portion that generates heat when energized and a heat conductive foil portion that is maintained in a non-energized state, by etching a material including a base film and the metal foil provided on one side of the base film; and providing a cover film covering a surface of the metal foil after the etching; wherein forming the heater circuit portion includes forming a heater wire that meanders in repeating patterns arranged in several adjacent rows, each row comprising a plurality of the repeating patterns; and wherein forming the heat conductive foil portion includes forming the heat conductive foil portion between the rows or between adjacent ones of the repeating patterns. ### Claim 10 A method for manufacturing a heater including a flexible printed wiring board, comprising: forming from a part of a metal foil a heater circuit portion including a continuous heater wire and a connecting portion that short-circuits adjacent portions of the continuous heater wire, by etching a material including a base film and the metal foil provided on one side of the base film; and providing a cover film covering a surface of the metal foil after the etching. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method for manufacturing the heater including the flexible printed wiring board according to claim 9, wherein the etching includes forming an energizing portion for energizing the heater circuit portion from a part of the metal foil. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method for manufacturing the heater including the flexible printed wiring board according to claim 11, further comprising after providing the cover film, providing by reflow soldering at least one electronic component provided on a front surface side of the cover film in a state where it can be electrically connected to the metal foil and a connector provided in a state where it can be electrically connected to the energizing portion. ### Claim 13 (depends on 10) The method for manufacturing the heater including the flexible printed wiring board according to claim 10, wherein the etching includes forming an energizing portion for energizing the heater circuit portion from a part of the metal foil. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method for manufacturing the heater including the flexible printed wiring board according to claim 13, further comprising after providing the cover film, providing by reflow soldering at least one electronic component provided on a front surface side of the cover film in a state where it can be electrically connected to the metal foil and a connector provided in a state where it can be electrically connected to the energizing portion.