Patent · US Expired

Heater and heater control with selective power rating

US6172343A · kind A · utility

7Cited by
15References
24Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateMar 9, 1998
Grant dateJan 9, 2001
Priority date
Expiry dateMar 9, 2018

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC H)Electricity
  • CPC primaryH05B1/0277
  • WIPO fieldElectrical machinery, apparatus, energy
  • WIPO sectorElectrical engineering

Abstract

A heater having selective power rating includes a source of electric current, at least one heating unit and at least one electric conductor having an input and an output. Each conductor is permanently fixed at its input and its output so that the conductor is in electric communication with the source. Each conductor is in one of two states. In a conducting state, the conductor is electrically continuous between its input and its output. In a nonconducting state, the conductor is severed between its input and its output. A first conductor is disposed with respect to the source and a first heating unit so that the first heating unit operates at a power level that is dependent on the state of the first conductor. The source and the at least one heating unit are configured to produce one of a plurality of a desired power levels depending on the state of the first conductor.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.