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US 9,315,133 B2Granted
Heater for an automotive vehicle and method of forming same
AssigneeGentherm Incorporated
InventorsShaun Calvin Howick, Goran Bajic
Life of this patent
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Abstract
There is disclosed a heater for an automotive vehicle or other article of manufacture. The heater typically includes a first conductive medium and a second conductive medium disposed upon a carrier. In a preferred embodiment, the first conductive medium includes a first section and a second section that are electrically connected by a second conductive medium. The second conductive medium preferably exhibits a positive thermal coefficient.
Claims20
An article of manufacture, comprising:
- a carrier of the article of manufacture, the carrier having a surface;
- a heater overlaying the surface, the heater including:
- i) a polymeric film flexible carrier having:
- a longitudinal axis;
- ii) a first conductive medium disposed upon the polymeric film flexible carrier wherein the first conductive medium includes:
- 1) a negative section having:
- a. a first base portion and
- b. a plurality of first extensions extending from the first base portion;
- and
- 2) a positive section having:
- a. a second base portion and
- b. a plurality of second extensions extending from the second base portion;
- and
- wherein the plurality of first extensions have substantially a same shape and are substantially uniformly spaced apart from each other, and the plurality of second extensions have a same shape and are substantially uniformly spaced apart from each other;
- iii) a second conductive medium disposed on the polymeric film flexible carrier in an overlapping relation with the plurality of first extensions and the plurality of second extensions;
- wherein the second conductive medium is a plurality of resistive strips that are each in contact with one of the plurality of first extensions and one of the plurality of second extensions;
- and
- wherein the plurality of resistive strips are sectioned and broken into pieces.
15 more elements
An article of manufacture, comprising:
- a carrier of the article of manufacture, the carrier having a surface;
- a heater overlaying the surface of the carrier, the heater including:
- ii) a polymeric film flexible carrier having:
- a. a longitudinal axis;
- b. a first lengthwise edge;
- c. a second lengthwise edge on an opposite side of the longitudinal axis, the second lengthwise edge opposing the first lengthwise edge;
- iii) a first conductive medium disposed upon the polymeric film flexible carrier wherein the first conductive medium includes:
- 1) a negative section having:
- a. a base portion and
- b. a plurality of first extensions extending from the base portion;
- and
- 2) a positive section having:
- a. a base portion and
- b. a plurality of second extensions extending from the base portion;
- iv) a second conductive medium disposed on the polymeric film flexible carrier in an overlapping relation with the plurality of first extensions and the plurality of second extensions;
- v) an insulating layer over the first conductive medium and the second conductive medium, the insulating layer being a film, a vinyl sheet, or a flexible sheet;
- and
- vi) a sensor;
- wherein the second conductive medium is a plurality of strips and the strips are sectioned and broken into pieces;
- and
- wherein the second conductive medium is a positive thermal coefficient material.
18 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.