# US 2014/0151361 A1 · Hybrid heater assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0151361 A1 - Document ID: US20140151361A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 13/692,040 - Filed: 2012-12-03 - Published: 2014-06-05 - Earliest claimed: 2012-12-03 - Assignees: General Electric Company - Applicants: General Electric Company - Inventors: Robert Jules LAFLEUR - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140151361A1 ## CPC - F24D 13/00: Electric heating systems - F24H 9/1872: {PTC resistor} - F24D: DOMESTIC- OR SPACE-HEATING SYSTEMS, e.g. CENTRAL HEATING SYSTEMS; DOMESTIC HOT-WATER SUPPLY SYSTEMS; ELEMENTS OR COMPONENTS THEREFOR (using steam or condensate extracted or exhausted from steam engine plants for heating purposes F01K17/02) - F24H: FLUID HEATERS, e.g. WATER OR AIR HEATERS, HAVING HEAT-GENERATING MEANS, e.g. HEAT PUMPS, IN GENERAL (steam generation F22) ## Abstract A heater assembly includes one or more first heating elements, the one or more first heating elements being characterized by a positive temperature coefficient; and one or more second heating elements, the one or more second heating elements comprising resistance wire elements. The one or more second heating elements are positioned in proximity to the one or more first heating elements such that at least one of the one or more second heating elements is configured to, upon being powered on, pre-heat at least one of the one or more first heating elements before the at least one first heating element is powered on. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A heater assembly comprising: one or more first heating elements, the one or more first heating elements being characterized by a positive temperature coefficient; and one or more second heating elements, the one or more second heating elements comprising resistance wire heating elements, wherein the one or more second heating elements are positioned in proximity to the one or more first heating elements such that at least one of the one or more second heating elements is configured to, upon being powered on, pre-heat at least one of the one or more first heating elements before the at least one first heating element is powered on. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The heater assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more second heating elements are interspersed with the one or more first heating elements. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The heater assembly of claim 2, wherein the one or more second heating elements are distributed substantially evenly within the heater assembly. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The heater assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more first heating elements are formed from a ceramic material. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The heater assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more second heating elements are formed from nichrome wire. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The heater assembly of claim 1, wherein the one or more first heating elements and the one or more second heating elements are configured to be selectively powered on to obtain different overall heat output levels for the heater assembly. ### Claim 7 An air conditioning unit comprising: a heater assembly comprising: one or more first heating elements, the one or more first heating elements being characterized by a positive temperature coefficient; and one or more second heating elements, the one or more second heating elements comprising resistance wire, wherein the one or more second heating elements are positioned in proximity to the one or more first heating elements such that at least one of the one or more second heating elements is configured to, upon being powered on, pre-heat at least one of the one or more first heating elements before the at least one first heating element is powered on; and a controller coupled to the heater assembly, the controller controlling the powering on of the one or more first heating elements and the one or more second heating elements. ### Claim 8 (depends on 9) The air conditioning unit of claim 9, wherein the one or more second heating elements are interspersed with the one or more first heating elements. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The air conditioning unit of claim 8, wherein the one or more second heating elements are distributed substantially evenly within the heater assembly. ### Claim 10 (depends on 7) The air conditioning unit of claim 7, wherein the one or more first heating elements are formed from a ceramic material. ### Claim 11 (depends on 8) The air conditioning unit of claim 8, wherein the one or more second heating elements comprise one or more non-magnetic alloy heating elements. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The air conditioning unit of claim 11, wherein the one or more non-magnetic alloy heating elements are formed from nichrome wire. ### Claim 13 (depends on 8) The air conditioning unit of claim 8, wherein the one or more first heating elements and the one or more second heating elements are configured to be selectively powered on under control of the controller to obtain different overall heat output levels for the heater assembly. ### Claim 14 An air conditioning unit comprising: a heater assembly comprising: a set of positive temperature coefficient (PTC) heaters; and a set of nichrome heaters, wherein the nichrome heaters are interspersed with the PTC heaters such that at least one of the nichrome heaters, upon being powered on, pre-heats at least one of the PTC heaters before the at least one PTC heater is powered on; and a controller coupled to the heater assembly, the controller controlling the powering on of the PTC heaters and the nichrome heaters. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The air conditioning unit of claim 14, wherein the PTC heaters and the nichrome heaters are distributed substantially evenly within the heater assembly. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The air conditioning unit of claim 14, wherein the heater assembly and the controller are part of a package terminal heat pump unit.