Outdoor heater
AssigneeHonor Tone, Ltd.
InventorChak-Tong Chu
Life of this patent
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Abstract
An electric radiant heater has a proximity sensor capable of detecting the presence of an object proximate the top surface of the heater's housing. The heater also has a temperature sensor capable of sensing ambient temperature proximate the top surface of the heater's housing. A microcontroller is coupled to the proximity and temperature sensors. Upon the detection of an object atop the heater's housing, the microcontroller determines if the temperature sensor's output is indicative of the presence of ice or snow. If so, a heating element of the heater is allowed to remain in operation. Otherwise, the detected object is considered to be potentially combustible material, and the heating element is switched off by the microcontroller.
Claims18
An electric heater apparatus, comprising:
- a housing having a first surface;
- a heating element, at least a portion of the heating element being disposed within the housing;
- a proximity sensor associated with the housing, the proximity sensor emitting a signal indicative of a presence of an object proximate the first surface of the housing;
- a conductor of electrical power;
- a switching device disposed between the conductor of electrical power and the heating element, the switching device having a first mode wherein electrical power is coupled to the heating element and a second mode wherein electrical power is decoupled from the heating element;
- and
- a processor operatively coupled to the sensor and the switching device, the processor emitting a signal changing the switching device between the first mode and the second mode in response to the signal emitted by the proximity sensor.
A method of operating an electric heater apparatus, comprising the steps of:
- (a) obtaining an electric heater apparatus, the electric heater apparatus comprising a housing having a first surface;
- a heating element, at least a portion of the heating element being disposed within the housing;
- a proximity sensor associated with the housing, the proximity sensor emitting a signal indicative of a presence of an object proximate the first surface of the housing;
- a conductor of electrical power;
- a switching device disposed between the conductor of electrical power and the heating element, the switching device having a first mode wherein electrical power is coupled to the heating element and a second mode wherein electrical power is decoupled from the heating element;
- and
- (b) changing the switching device between the first mode and the second mode in response to the signal emitted by the proximity sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.