US 9,494,955 B2 · Method for controlling a heat-generating element

A method of controlling a heat-generating element that generates heat when electric current is passed therethrough to control an ambient temperature within a space in which a sensor for sensing temperatures is at least partially located, the method comprising:

(a) sensing an initial temperature;
(b) permitting passage of the electric current through the heat-generating element at a preselected output for a preselected initial time period;
(c) after the electric current has passed through the heat-generating element for the preselected initial time period, sensing a second temperature;
(d) determining a first temperature difference between the initial temperature and the second temperature;
and
(e) determining a maximum error between:
a sensed temperature sensed at a selected time after the initial time period, and
the ambient temperature at the selected time,
in accordance with a predetermined relationship between the first temperature difference and the maximum error.

6 more elements

A method of controlling a heat-generating element that generates heat when electric current is passed therethrough to control an ambient temperature within a space in which a sensor for sensing temperatures is at least partially located, the method comprising:

(a) determining whether at least one predetermined precondition is satisfied;
(b) if said at least one predetermined precondition is satisfied, sensing an initial temperature;
(c) permitting passage of the electric current through the heat-generating element at a preselected output for a preselected initial time period;
(d) after the electric current has passed through the heat-generating element for the preselected initial time period, sensing a second temperature;
(e) determining a first temperature difference between the initial temperature and the second temperature;
and
(f) determining a calculated maximum error between:
a sensed temperature sensed at a selected time after the initial time period, and
the ambient temperature at the selected time,
in accordance with a predetermined relationship between the first temperature difference and the calculated maximum error.

7 more elements

A method of controlling a heat-generating element that generates heat when electric current is passed therethrough to control an ambient temperature within a space in which a sensor for sensing temperatures is at least partially located, the method comprising:

(a) determining whether, during a first predetermined time period, the electric current passed through the heat-generating element;
(b) determining whether, during a first predetermined temperature stability check time period concurrent and coterminous with the first predetermined time period, the temperatures sensed by the sensor are substantially stable;
(c) if the electric current has not passed through the heat-generating element during the first predetermined time period and if the temperatures sensed by the sensor during the first predetermined temperature stability check time period are substantially stable, sensing an initial temperature;
(d) if the initial temperature is less than a set point temperature, with a microprocessor, permitting passage of the electric current through the heat-generating element at a preselected output for a preselected initial time period;
(e) after the electric current has passed through the heat-generating element for the preselected initial time period, sensing a second temperature;
(f) determining a first temperature difference between the initial temperature of the sensor and the second temperature thereof;
and
(g) determining a calculated maximum error between:
a sensed temperature of the space sensed at a selected time after the initial time period, and
the ambient temperature at the selected time,
in accordance with a predetermined relationship between the first temperature difference and the calculated maximum error.

8 more elements

A system for controlling an ambient temperature within a space, the system comprising:

a heat-generating element that generates heat when electric current is passed therethrough;
a sensor at least partially located in the space, for sensing temperatures;
a microprocessor configured to initiate calibration of the system by determining whether, during a first predetermined time period, the electric current passed through the heat-generating element;
the microprocessor being further configured to determine whether, during a first predetermined temperature stability check time period concurrent and coterminous with the first predetermined time period, the temperatures sensed by the sensor are substantially stable;
the microprocessor being further configured, if the electric current does not pass through the heat-generating element during the first predetermined time period and if the temperatures sensed by the sensor during the first predetermined temperature stability check time period are substantially stable, to cause the sensor to sense an initial temperature;
the microprocessor being configured, if an initial temperature is less than a preselected set point temperature, to permit the electric current to pass through the heat-generating element at a preselected output for a preselected initial time period;
the microprocessor being further configured to cause the sensor to sense a second temperature when the initial time period ends;
the microprocessor being further configured:
to determine a first temperature difference between the initial temperature and the second temperature;
to determine a calculated maximum error between:
a sensed temperature of the space, sensed at a selected time after the initial time period,
the ambient temperature at the selected time,
the calculated maximum error being determined according to a predetermined relationship between the first temperature difference and the calculated maximum error;
to determine a modified maximum error that is based on a preselected relationship between the calculated maximum error and the modified maximum error;
to determine a modified offset, by multiplying the modified maximum error by a preselected output proportion;
to determine an estimated ambient temperature at the selected time, by subtracting the modified offset from the sensed temperature;
to determine a second temperature difference at the selected time, by subtracting the estimated ambient temperature from the set point temperature;
to calculate a calculated output proportion based on a selected relationship between the second temperature difference and the calculated output proportion;
and
permitting passage of the electric current through the heat-generating element at the calculated output proportion.

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Method for controlling a heat-generating element

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Method for controlling a heat-generating element

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Abstract

Claims29