Self-regulating heater compensation
AssigneeRosemount Aerospace Inc.
InventorWilliam B. Krueger
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A heating system includes a voltage source, a heating circuit, and a current sensor. The voltage source is configured to provide a current. The heater circuit is electrically coupled to the voltage source. The heater circuit includes a heater array and a compensation circuit. The heater array is configured to provide heat to a region using the current. The compensation circuit is electrically coupled to the voltage source in parallel with the heater array. The compensation circuit is configured to maintain the current above a threshold current level when the heater array is operable. The current sensor is configured to measure a level of the current to the heater circuit and output an alert in response to the current falling below the threshold current level.
Claims17
A heating system comprising:
- a voltage source configured to provide a current;
- a heater circuit electrically coupled to the voltage source, the heater circuit comprising:
- a heater array configured to provide heat to a region using the current;
- and
- a compensation circuit electrically coupled to the voltage source in parallel with the heater array, the compensation circuit configured to maintain the current above a threshold current level when the heater array is operable;
- and
- a current sensor configured to measure a level of the current to the heater circuit and output an alert in response to the current falling below the threshold current level.
A method comprising:
- providing a current to a heater circuit using a voltage source, including:
- providing a first portion of the current to a heater array of the heater circuit;
- and
- providing a second portion of the current to a compensation circuit of the heater circuit connected in parallel to the heater array;
- heating a region using the heater array;
- adjusting, using the compensation circuit, the second portion of the current based on a temperature of the region, such that a sum of the first portion of the current and the second portion of the current corresponding to the current provided to the heater circuit is maintained above a threshold current level when the heater array is operable;
- and
- measuring the current using a current sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.