Capacitive Heater Power Control via Hovering Detection

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional film heaters require direct user input for power control, leading to decreased convenience and increased thickness and manufacturing costs due to separate sensor components, and suffer from reduced heat generation rates and sensitivity.

Innovation Solution

A heater design incorporating a capacitive pattern that controls power supply to sheet-type heating bodies through a hovering movement, eliminating the need for direct touch and integrating the sensor within the heater structure, thereby minimizing thickness and manufacturing processes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If a separate sensor component is added above or below the film heater, then power control functionality is achieved, but the thickness and manufacturing cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower control functionalityVSAvoidthickness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLength of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor pattern and heater electrode pattern are integrated into a single base material structure. The sensor electrodes and heater electrodes are formed on the same substrate, eliminating the need for separate sensor components and reducing overall device thickness while maintaining both sensing and heating functionalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The base material serves dual purposes as both the heater substrate and sensor substrate. The same base material structure supports both heating elements and sensing elements, allowing the device to perform multiple functions (heating and power control sensing) without requiring additional separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of operation

If a separate sensor component is added above or below the film heater, then power control functionality is achieved, but manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepower control functionalityVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor pattern and heater electrode pattern are integrated into a single base material structure. The sensor electrodes and heater electrodes are formed on the same substrate, eliminating the need for separate sensor components and reducing overall device thickness while maintaining both sensing and heating functionalities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The base material serves dual purposes as both the heater substrate and sensor substrate. The same base material structure supports both heating elements and sensing elements, allowing the device to perform multiple functions (heating and power control sensing) without requiring additional separate components.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If the sensor is attached in the direction of heat generation, then sensing functionality is achieved, but sensor sensitivity is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensing functionalityVSAvoidsensor sensitivity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The sensor pattern is positioned in the horizontal plane rather than being stacked vertically in the heat generation direction. By arranging sensor electrodes laterally adjacent to heater electrodes on the same base material surface, the sensor detects hovering movements in the horizontal dimension, avoiding thermal interference from vertical heat flow while maintaining sensing capability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

4Manufacturing precision

If direct pressing input is required for power control, then precise control is achieved, but user convenience is degraded

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol precisionVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mechanical pressing input system is replaced with a capacitive sensing system that detects hovering movements. Instead of requiring physical contact and pressure application, the sensor detects changes in capacitance caused by the proximity of conductive objects, enabling contactless power control while maintaining precision through electrical field detection.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enhances user convenience by allowing power control through hovering movements, reduces manufacturing costs, and prevents heat capacity increases, maintaining efficient heat generation.

Implementation Method 1

a capacitive pattern in which a capacitance change occurs in a gap area between the sheet-type heating bodies according to a hovering movement above the second base material

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCapacitance change: Capacitance

Implementation Method 2

heater power supplied to the sheet-type heating bodies through the heater electrode pattern

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentUS20230030184A1Heater in which capacitive power control pattern is implemented, and apparatus therefor

Publication Date: 2023.02.02 TERAON CO LTD

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a heater in which a capacitive power control pattern is implemented, and an apparatus therefor. A heater comprising: first and second base materials that are separated in the vertical direction so as to have an internal space therebetween; a heater electrode pattern provided in the internal space; and a plurality of sheet-type heating elements provided in the internal space so as to be electrically connected to the heater electrode pattern, comprises a capacitance pattern for causing a change in capacitance in the region between the sheet-type heating elements according to a hovering movement above the second base material, wherein heater power to be supplied to the sheet-type heating elements through the heater electrode pattern can be controlled according to the hovering movement recognized in response to the change in capacitance.