# US 12,507,322 B2 · Systems and methods for facilitating heating of an item > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,507,322 B2 - Document ID: US12507322B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/529,961 - Filed: 2021-11-18 - Published: 2023-05-18 - Granted: 2025-12-23 - Earliest claimed: 2021-11-18 - Assignees: Appear Inc. - Applicants: Appear Inc. - Inventors: Prashant Rurs - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12507322B2 ## CPC - H05B 3/36: heating conductor embedded in insulating material - H05B 1/0272: {For heating of fabrics} - H05B 3/145: {Carbon only, e.g. carbon black, graphite} - H05B 3/342: {heaters used in textiles} - 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 2203/036: Heaters specially adapted for garment heating - H05B 2214/04: Heating means manufactured by using nanotechnology - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A heating pad, a portable electric heater and/or an article of manufacture. The heating pad comprising: a first heating fabric comprising graphene; a nanotube-based film having a first surface coupled to the first heating fabric; a second heating fabric coupled to a second opposing surface of the nanotube-based film; and a flexible circuit disposed between the first heating fabric and the nanotube-based film, the flexible circuit configured to facilitate an increase in temperature by at least the first and second heating fabrics. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heating pad that is portable, comprising: a plurality of material layers arranged in a stack, the plurality of material layers comprising: a first heating fabric comprising graphene; a nanotube-based film having a first surface coupled to the first heating fabric; a second heating fabric coupled to a second opposing surface of the nanotube-based film; and a flexible circuit disposed between the first heating fabric and the nanotube-based film, the flexible circuit configured to facilitate an increase in temperature by at least the first and second heating fabrics; and a flexible output device at least partially encompassing the stack and configured to (1) output information to a user of the heating pad and (2) protect one or more edges of the heating pad from damage; wherein the flexible circuit comprises a first flexible sensor and is configured to adjust a current level based on sensor data generated by the first flexible sensor, the first flexible sensor comprising (i) a pressure sensor configured to sense an amount of pressure being applied to the heating pad by an external object and or (ii) a location sensor configured to sense a geographic location of the heating pad and or a height of the heating pad above sea level. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heating pad according to claim 1, wherein the first heating fabric comprises a monolayer of carbon atoms connected to each other via sp2 hybridization to form a planar two-dimensional hexagonal honeycomb lattice structure. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The heating pad according to claim 1, wherein the nanotube-based film comprises a carbon nanotube film. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The heating pad according to claim 1, wherein the second heating fabric comprises at least one of a carbon fiber paper, a carbon fiber cloth and a graphite fiber cloth. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The heating pad according to claim 1, wherein the heating pad is configured to convert at least 75% of electric energy into heat energy. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The heating pad according to claim 1, wherein the heating pad has a radiation efficiency of at least 70%. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The heating pad according to claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit is configured to operate with a voltage less than or equal to 36 Volts. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The heating pad according to claim 1, wherein the heating pad is flexible and washable without affecting physical and electrical properties of the heating pad. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The heating pad according to claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit comprises a flexible battery or the flexible circuit may be energized by a flexible battery. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The heating pad according to claim 9, wherein the flexible battery comprises a graphene battery. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The heating pad according to claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit comprises at least a first conductive line portion and a second conductive line portion which are separately supplied power from a power source at the same time. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The heating pad according to claim 11, wherein the first and second conductive line portions are designed and positioned relative to each other such that heat radiation is emitted uniformly across exposed surfaces of the heating pad. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The heating pad according to claim 11, wherein the first and second conductive line portions partially overlap each other while being electrically isolated from each other. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The heating pad of claim 13, wherein the first conductive line portion comprises a plurality of first fingers, at least one of the first fingers residing between a plurality of second fingers of the second conductive line portion, and at least one of the plurality of second fingers residing between the plurality of fingers of the first conductive line portion. ### Claim 15 (depends on 11) The heating pad according to claim 11, wherein the flexible circuit further comprises a cable connected to the first and second conductive lines and a controller removably connected to the cable, the controller being configured to allow a user to selectively control an amount of current supplied to the first and second conductive lines from a power source. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The heating pad according to claim 15, wherein the power source is external to the heating pad and comprises a graphene battery. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The heating pad according to claim 15, wherein the controller is configured to facilitate wireless communications between the heating pad and an external communication device for remotely controlling operations of the heating pad. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The heating pad according to claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit is configured to facilitate wireless communications between the heating pad and an external communication device for remotely controlling operations of the heating pad. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The heating pad according to claim 1, wherein the heating pad is configured to reach 140° F. in less than or equal to sixty seconds. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The heating pad according to claim 1, wherein the heating pad is configured to reach 200° F. in less than or equal to one hundred eighty seconds. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) The heating pad according to claim 1, wherein the heating pad is configured to experience a rise in temperature within three seconds of power being supplied thereto. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The heating pad according to claim 1, wherein the flexible circuit further comprises a second flexible sensor and is configured to cause the heating pad to transition operational modes based on sensor data generated by the first flexible sensor and or the second flexible sensor. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The heating pad according to claim 22, wherein operational modes comprise an off mode and an on mode. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The heating pad according to claim 22, wherein the second flexible circuit comprises at least one of a temperature sensor, a proximity sensor, a sound sensor, and a camera. ### Claim 25 (depends on 1) The heating pad according to claim 1, wherein the flexible output device comprises at least one of a light strip, an audio device and a vibration device. ### Claim 26 A portable electric heater, comprising: a controller configured to control a temperature setting of the portable electric heater; a heating pad communicatively coupled to the controller and comprising a plurality of material layers arranged in a stack, the plurality of material layers comprising: a first heating fabric comprising graphene; a nanotube-based film having a first surface coupled to the first heating fabric; a second heating fabric coupled to a second opposing surface of the nanotube-based film; and a flexible circuit disposed between the first heating fabric and the nanotube-based film, the flexible circuit configured to facilitate an increase in temperature by at least the first and second heating fabrics; and a flexible output device at least partially encompassing the stack and configured to (1) output information to a user of the heating pad and (2) protect one or more edges of the heating pad from damage; wherein the flexible circuit comprises a first flexible sensor and is further configured to adjust a current level based on sensor data generated by the first flexible sensor, the first flexible sensor comprising (i) a pressure sensor configured to sense an amount of pressure being applied to the heating pad by an external object and or (ii) a location sensor configured to sense a geographic location of the heating pad and or a height of the heating pad above sea level. ### Claim 27 (depends on 26) The portable electric heater according to claim 26, wherein the first heating fabric comprises a monolayer of carbon atoms connected to each other via sp2 hybridization to form a planar two-dimensional hexagonal honeycomb lattice structure. ### Claim 28 (depends on 26) The portable electric heater according to claim 26, wherein the nanotube-based film comprises a carbon nanotube film. ### Claim 29 (depends on 26) The portable electric heater according to claim 26, wherein the second heating fabric comprises at least one of a carbon fiber paper, a carbon fiber cloth and a graphite fiber cloth. ### Claim 30 (depends on 26) The portable electric heater according to claim 26, wherein the heating pad is configured to convert at least 75% of electric energy into heat energy. ### Claim 31 (depends on 26) The portable electric heater according to claim 26, wherein the heating pad has a radiation efficiency of at least 70%. ### Claim 32 (depends on 26) The portable electric heater according to claim 26, wherein the flexible circuit is configured to operate with a voltage less than or equal to 36 Volts. ### Claim 33 (depends on 26) The portable electric heater according to claim 26, wherein the heating pad is flexible and washable without affecting physical and electrical properties of the heating pad. ### Claim 34 (depends on 26) The portable electric heater according to claim 26, wherein the flexible circuit comprises a flexible battery or the flexible circuit may be energized by a flexible battery. ### Claim 35 (depends on 34) The portable electric heater according to claim 34, wherein the flexible battery comprises a graphene battery. ### Claim 36 (depends on 26) The portable electric heater according to claim 26, wherein the flexible circuit comprises at least a first conductive line portion and a second conductive line portion which are separately supplied power from a power source at the same time. ### Claim 37 (depends on 36) The portable electric heater according to claim 36, wherein the first and second conductive line portions are designed and positioned relative to each other such that heat radiation is emitted uniformly across exposed surfaces of the heating pad. ### Claim 38 (depends on 36) The portable electric heater according to claim 36, wherein the first and second conductive line portions partially overlap each other while being electrically isolated from each other. ### Claim 39 (depends on 38) The portable electric heater of claim 38, wherein the first conductive line portion comprises a plurality of first fingers, at least one of the first fingers residing between a plurality of second fingers of the second conductive line portion, and at least one of the plurality of second fingers residing between the plurality of fingers of the first conductive line portion. ### Claim 40 (depends on 36) The portable electric heater according to claim 36, wherein the flexible circuit further comprises a cable connected to the first and second conductive lines and the controller is removably connected to the cable, the controller being configured to allow a user to selectively control an amount of current supplied to the first and second conductive lines from a power source. ### Claim 41 (depends on 40) The portable electric heater according to claim 40, wherein the power source is external to the heating pad and comprises a graphene battery. ### Claim 42 (depends on 40) The portable electric heater according to claim 40, wherein the controller is configured to facilitate wireless communications between the heating pad and an external communication device for remotely controlling operations of the heating pad. ### Claim 43 (depends on 26) The portable electric heater according to claim 26, wherein the flexible circuit is configured to facilitate wireless communications between the heating pad and an external communication device for remotely controlling operations of the heating pad. ### Claim 44 (depends on 26) The portable electric heater according to claim 26, wherein the heating pad is configured to reach 140° F. in less than or equal to sixty seconds. ### Claim 45 (depends on 26) The portable electric heater according to claim 26, wherein the heating pad is configured to reach 200° F. in less than or equal to one hundred eighty seconds. ### Claim 46 (depends on 26) The portable electric heater according to claim 26, wherein the heating pad is configured to experience a rise in temperature within three seconds of power being supplied thereto. ### Claim 47 (depends on 26) The portable electric heater according to claim 26, wherein the flexible circuit further comprises a second flexible sensor and is configured to cause the heating pad to transition operational modes based on sensor data generated by the first flexible sensor and or the second flexible sensor. ### Claim 48 (depends on 47) The portable electric heater according to claim 47, wherein operational modes comprise an off mode and an on mode. ### Claim 49 (depends on 47) The portable electric heater according to claim 47, wherein the second flexible sensor comprises at least one of a temperature sensor, a proximity sensor, a sound sensor, and a camera. ### Claim 50 (depends on 26) The portable electric heater according to claim 26, wherein the flexible output device comprises at least one of a light strip, an audio device and a vibration device. ### Claim 51 A product, comprising: a main body with a pocket; a heating pad disposed in the pocket and comprising: a first heating fabric comprising graphene; a nanotube-based film having a first surface coupled to the first heating fabric; a second heating fabric coupled to a second opposing surface of the nanotube-based film; and a flexible circuit disposed between the first heating fabric and the nanotube-based film, the flexible circuit configured to facilitate an increase in temperature by at least the first and second heating fabrics; and a flexible output device at least partially encompassing the stack and configured to (1) output information to a user of the heating pad and (2) protect one or more edges of the heating pad from damage; wherein the flexible circuit comprises a first flexible sensor and is configured to adjust a current level based on sensor data generated by the first flexible sensor, the first flexible sensor comprising (i) a pressure sensor configured to sense an amount of pressure being applied to the heating pad by an external object and or (ii) a location sensor configured to sense a geographic location of the heating pad and or a height of the heating pad above sea level. ### Claim 52 (depends on 51) The product according to claim 51, wherein the first heating fabric comprises a monolayer of carbon atoms connected to each other via sp2 hybridization to form a planar two-dimensional hexagonal honeycomb lattice structure. ### Claim 53 (depends on 51) The product according to claim 51, wherein the nanotube-based film comprises a carbon nanotube film. ### Claim 54 (depends on 51) The product according to claim 51, wherein the second heating fabric comprises at least one of a carbon fiber paper, a carbon fiber cloth and a graphite fiber cloth. ### Claim 55 (depends on 51) The product according to claim 51, wherein the heating pad is configured to convert at least 75% of electric energy into heat energy. ### Claim 56 (depends on 51) The product according to claim 51, wherein the heating pad has a radiation efficiency of at least 70%. ### Claim 57 (depends on 51) The product according to claim 51, wherein the flexible circuit is configured to operate with a voltage less than or equal to 36 Volts. ### Claim 58 (depends on 51) The product according to claim 51, wherein the heating pad is flexible and washable without affecting physical and electrical properties of the heating pad. ### Claim 59 (depends on 51) The product according to claim 51, wherein the flexible circuit comprises a flexible battery or the flexible circuit may be energized by a flexible battery. ### Claim 60 (depends on 59) The product according to claim 59, wherein the flexible battery comprises a graphene battery. ### Claim 61 (depends on 51) The product according to claim 51, wherein the flexible circuit comprises at least a first conductive line portion and a second conductive line portion which are separately supplied power from a power source at the same time. ### Claim 62 (depends on 51) The product according to claim 51, wherein the first and second conductive line portions are designed and positioned relative to each other such that heat radiation is emitted uniformly across exposed surfaces of the heating pad. ### Claim 63 (depends on 62) The product according to claim 62, wherein the first and second conductive line portions partially overlap each other while being electrically isolated from each other. ### Claim 64 (depends on 63) The product according to claim 63, wherein the first conductive line portion comprises a plurality of first fingers, at least one of the first fingers residing between a plurality of second fingers of the second conductive line portion, and at least one of the plurality of second fingers residing between the plurality of fingers of the first conductive line portion. ### Claim 65 (depends on 61) The product according to claim 61, wherein the flexible circuit further comprises a cable connected to the first and second conductive lines and the controller is removably connected to the cable, the controller being configured to allow a user to selectively control an amount of current supplied to the first and second conductive lines from a power source. ### Claim 66 (depends on 65) The product according to claim 65, wherein the power source is external to the heating pad and comprises a graphene battery. ### Claim 67 (depends on 65) The product according to claim 65, wherein the controller is configured to facilitate wireless communications between the heating pad and an external communication device for remotely controlling operations of the heating pad. ### Claim 68 (depends on 51) The product according to claim 51, wherein the flexible circuit is configured to facilitate wireless communications between the heating pad and an external communication device for remotely controlling operations of the heating pad. ### Claim 69 (depends on 51) The product according to claim 51, wherein the heating pad is configured to reach 140° F. in less than or equal to sixty seconds. ### Claim 70 (depends on 51) The product according to claim 51, wherein the heating pad is configured to reach 200° F. in less than or equal to one hundred eighty seconds. ### Claim 71 (depends on 51) The product according to claim 51, wherein the heating pad is configured to experience a rise in temperature within three seconds of power being supplied thereto. ### Claim 72 (depends on 51) The product according to claim 51, wherein the flexible circuit further comprises a second flexible sensor and is further configured to cause the heating pad to transition operational modes based on sensor data generated by the first flexible sensor and or the second flexible sensor. ### Claim 73 (depends on 72) The product according to claim 72, wherein operational modes comprise an off mode and an on mode. ### Claim 74 (depends on 72) The product according to claim 72, wherein the second flexible sensor comprises at least one of a temperature sensor, a proximity sensor, a sound sensor, and a camera. ### Claim 75 (depends on 51) The product according to claim 51, wherein the flexible output device comprises at least one of a light strip, an audio device and a vibration device.