Electronic control system and method for cold weather garment
US5105067A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 8, 1989 |
| Grant date | Apr 14, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 8, 2009 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
- CPC primaryH05B2203/036
- WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A microcomputer-based, closed-loop electronic temperature control system and method for an electrically heated cold weather garment having a plurality of independently heated zones. In one preferred embodiment the system comprises a potentiometer for selecting the desired temperature at which a plurality of areas of the garment are to be maintained, a thermistor for determining a reference temperature of the interior areas of the garment, and a plurality of conductive heating wires operable to heat each area of the garment independently. The system further includes a plurality of solid-state semiconductor power devices for controllably allowing current flow through each heating wire and, a plurality of current sensing circuits for sensing the current flow through each heating wire. The microcomputer receives information from the potentiometer, the thermistor and the current sensing circuits, and determines therefrom the level of heating required for each zone. The microcomputer then generates and applies a plurality of pulse width modulated output signals to the solid-state switches to thereby control the amount of heat produced by each heating wire, thus controlling the temperatur…
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.