Electric heater and electric heating apparatus having same

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electric heaters with plane heating elements often experience uneven temperature distribution and localized heating, making it difficult to control heating temperatures effectively.

Innovation Solution

The electric heater design features a substrate with distinct outer and inner pattern parts, including base tracks, parallel tracks, and bridges, where the width and length of these elements are varied to minimize path differences and reduce localized heating, allowing for controlled heating by supplying current to either the outer or inner plane heating elements.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Device complexity

If the plane heating element is formed with a simple shape or pattern, then the device complexity is reduced, but the temperature distribution uniformity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheating element structureVSAvoidtemperature distribution uniformity
Core Design Contradiction:
Device complexityVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The heating element is divided into multiple track parts (first outer pattern part, second outer pattern part, inner pattern part) with different shapes, sizes, and electrical resistance values. These segmented tracks are connected in parallel between electrode parts, allowing each segment to contribute differently to the overall heat distribution, thereby achieving uniform temperature distribution while maintaining a relatively simple overall structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Manufacturing precision

If the heating element uses a single uniform pattern, then the manufacturing precision requirements are reduced, but the localized heating problem worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepattern fabrication toleranceVSAvoidlocalized heating
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Different track parts are designed with different local characteristics: the first outer pattern part has a first width, the second outer pattern part has a second width, and the inner pattern part has a third width. These varying widths and electrical resistance values create different heating intensities in different regions, allowing the system to compensate for localized heating issues without requiring extremely precise manufacturing tolerances.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

3Temperature

If the heating element uses multiple tracks with varying widths and lengths, then the temperature distribution uniformity is improved, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetemperature distribution uniformityVSAvoidheating element structure
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple track parts with different characteristics (first outer pattern part, second outer pattern part, inner pattern part) are merged into a single integrated heating element structure that operates as one unified component. These tracks are connected in parallel between electrode parts, combining their different heating contributions to achieve uniform temperature distribution while maintaining a compact, integrated design rather than separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

This design reduces localized heating and allows for precise control of heating temperatures by varying the width and length of pattern parts, enhancing the evenness of heat distribution and efficiency of the electric heater.

Implementation Method 1

An electric heating apparatus is an apparatus provided for heating, and includes an electric heater using a Joule's heat generated as a current flows through a resistance wire or the like

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Data Source

PatentEP3637952B1Electric heater and electric heating apparatus having same
Publication Date: 2021.08.18 LG ELECTRONICS INC
  • EP3637952B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3637952B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3637952B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electric heater includes a substrate, a first outer pattern part disposed on one surface of the substrate and to connect with a pair of first electrodes, a second outer pattern part to connect with the pair of first electrodes in parallel with the first outer pattern part and to be spaced apart from the first outer pattern part, and an inner pattern part disposed on one surface of the substrate so as to be located such that the first outer pattern part and the second outer pattern part surround the inner pattern part, to be spaced apart from the first outer pattern part and the second outer pattern part, and to connect with a pair of second electrodes spaced apart from the pair of first electrodes.