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US 12,492,559 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.
Claims18
An apparatus, comprising:
- a sensor configured to detect a state of water comprising one or more of a snow bridge and an ice dam in proximity to a heating element based on changes in one or more of an electrical current, an electrical voltage, a power consumption, an energy usage, an electrical impedance, and an electrical resistance on the heating element;
- 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.
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A method, comprising:
- monitoring one or more of an electrical current, an electrical voltage, a power consumption, an energy usage, an electrical impedance, and an electrical resistance on a heating element using a sensor;
- determining a state of water comprising one or more of a snow bridge and an ice dam in proximity to the heating element based on changes in the one or more of the electrical current, the electrical voltage, the power consumption, the energy usage, the electrical impedance, and the electrical resistance on the heating element from the sensor;
- and
- adjusting operation of the heating element based on the state of water in proximity to the heating element.
1 more element
An apparatus, comprising:
- means for monitoring one or more of an electrical current, an electrical voltage, a power consumption, an energy usage, an electrical impedance, and an electrical resistance on a heating element;
- means for determining a state of water comprising one or more of a snow bridge and an ice dam in proximity to the heating element based on changes in the one or more of the electrical current, the electrical voltage, the power consumption, the energy usage, the electrical impedance, and the electrical resistance on the heating element;
- and
- means for adjusting operation of the heating element based on the state of water in proximity to the heating element.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.