# US 2013/0277352 A1 · Panel heater with temperature monitoring > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2013/0277352 A1 - Document ID: US20130277352A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/880,959 - Filed: 2011-11-18 - Published: 2013-10-24 - Earliest claimed: 2010-11-18 - Assignees: Saint-Gobain Glass France - Inventors: Christoph Degen; Dang Cuong Phan; Mitja Rateiczak; Andreas Schlarb; Stefan Droste; Robert Drese; Gunther Vortmeier; Patrick Weber; Olaf Eckelt; Walter Schreiber; Giordano Soma - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20130277352A1 ## CPC - H05B 1/0236: {for vehicles} - H05B 3/265: {the insulating base being an inorganic material, e.g. ceramic (H05B3/262 takes precedence)} - H05B 3/84: Heating arrangements specially adapted for transparent or reflecting areas, e.g. for demisting or de-icing windows, mirrors or vehicle windshields - H05B 2203/035: Electrical circuits used in resistive heating apparatus - H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL ## Abstract A panel heater with at least one flat substrate and an electrically conductive coating is described. The electrically conductive coating extends at least over part of a substrate area and is electrically connected to at least two connecting electrodes provided for electrical connection to the two terminals of a voltage source, such that by applying a feed voltage, a heating current flows in a heating field, which is provided with one or a plurality of heating current paths formed into the conductive coating. The panel heater has one or more measurement current paths formed into the electrically conductive coating, which differ at least in sections from the heating current paths. The heating and measurement current paths are formed into the electrically conductive coating by coating-free separating regions. A method for operation and use of the panel heater is also described. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A panel heater comprising: at least one flat substrate and an electrically conductive coating, wherein the electrically conductive coating extends at least over part of a substrate area and is electrically connected to at least two connecting electrodes provided for electrical connection to two terminals of a voltage source, such that by applying a feed voltage, a heating current flows in a heating field, wherein the panel heater is provided with one or more heating current paths and one or more measurement current paths, which are formed into the electrically conductive coating by coating-free separating regions and formed by the electrically conductive coating, wherein the one or more measurement current paths differ at least in sections from the one or more heating current paths, and wherein the one or more measurement current paths are thermally coupled at least to a portion of the heating field and have at least two connecting sections for connecting a measuring device for ascertaining an electrical resistance of the one or more measurement current paths. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The panel heater according to claim 1, wherein the one or more measurement current paths are formed into the electrically conductive coating at least in sections, in an edge strip surrounding the heating field and electrically isolated from the heating field. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The panel heater according to claim 2, wherein the one or more measurement current paths are implemented at least in sections in portions of the edge strip different from each other. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The panel heater according to claim 2, wherein one or more measurement current paths are implemented such that they change their path direction repeatedly in a spatially limited measuring zone of the edge strip. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The panel heater according to claim 4, wherein the spatially limited measuring zones are disposed spatially distributed at least over a portion of the edge strip. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The panel heater according to claim 1, wherein the one or more measurement current paths are electrically isolated from the heating field. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The panel heater according to claim 1, wherein one or more measurement current paths have a measurement current path section, which is part of the one or more heating current paths or is formed by the one or more heating current paths. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The panel heater according to claim 1, wherein the at least two connecting electrodes are electrically connected to two measurement current path arrays connected in parallel, in which, in each case, two measurement current paths are connected to each other in series, wherein each of the two measurement current path arrays has a connecting section disposed between the serially connected two measurement current paths for connecting the measuring device. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The panel heater according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the one or more measurement current paths serves as a reference current path for ascertaining a reference resistance for other measurement current paths. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An arrangement comprising: the panel heater according to claim 1, which has at least one measuring device connected to the at least two connecting sections of the one or more measurement current paths for ascertaining electrical resistances, and a control and monitoring device with a data link to the measuring device, wherein the control and monitoring device is configured such that a feed voltage is reduced or turned off when the electrical resistance of the one or more measurement current paths exceeds a settable threshold value. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the control and monitoring device has a data link to an optical and/or acoustic output device for outputting optical and/or acoustic signals, wherein the control and monitoring device is configured such that the optical and/or acoustic signal is outputted when the electrical resistance of the one or more measurement current paths exceeds the predefinable threshold value. ### Claim 12 A method for operating a panel heater, comprising: providing a panel heater with at least one flat substrate and an electrically conductive coating, which extends at least over part of a substrate area and is electrically connected to at least two connecting electrodes provided for electrical connection to two terminals of a voltage source such that by applying a feed voltage, a heating current flows in a heating field, determining an electrical resistance of the one or more of measurement current paths thermally coupled to the heating field (9), and forming the measurement current paths into the electrically conductive coating by coating-free separating regions. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the feed voltage is reduced or turned off when the electrical resistance of the one or more measurement current paths exceeds a settable threshold value. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein an optical and/or acoustic signal is outputted if the electrical resistance of the one or more measurement current paths exceeds a settable threshold value. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) A method comprising: using the panel heater according to claim 1 as a functional and/or decorative individual piece and as a built-in part in furniture, devices, and buildings, as well as in means of transportation for travel on land, in the air, or on water. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15 wherein the panel heater is used as a heater in living spaces comprising a wall mountable or freestanding heater. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The method according to claim 15, wherein the panel heater is used in motor vehicles comprising a windshield, rear window, side window and/or glass roof.