Capacitance-Sensing Heater Control for Nearby Object Overheating
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing radiant heater apparatuses do not effectively restrict excessive temperature rise when an object approaches or comes into contact with the heating portion, leading to potential discomfort or damage.
Innovation Solution
A heater apparatus equipped with a detecting unit that senses objects using electric capacitance changes and a control part that reduces power supply to the heating portion when an object is detected within a predetermined range, thereby limiting heat emission and preventing excessive temperature increase.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If the heating portion emits heat at high intensity to provide warmth to occupants, then the heating effectiveness is improved, but the risk of excessive temperature rise in nearby objects increases
Solution Approach 1:
The detecting unit performs preliminary detection of objects near the heating portion before excessive heating occurs. When an object is detected within the predetermined range, the control part preemptively reduces power supply to the heating portion, preventing temperature rise before it becomes harmful.
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes a feedback loop where the detecting unit continuously monitors the environment around the heating portion, and the control part adjusts power supply based on detection results. This closed-loop control ensures heating effectiveness while preventing excessive temperature rise in nearby objects.
2Productivity
If the heating portion operates at full power to maintain warmth, then the heating performance is improved, but the safety risk when objects contact the heater increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system takes preliminary action by detecting objects approaching the heating portion and reducing power supply before contact occurs. This preventive measure maintains heating performance during normal operation while ensuring safety when objects come into contact with the heater.
Solution Approach 2:
The control part applies preliminary anti-action by reducing power supply to the heating portion when an object is detected nearby, counteracting the potential harmful effect of excessive heating before it can occur. This maintains heating effectiveness while preventing safety issues.
3Use of energy by moving object
If the heater maintains constant high power output to ensure warmth, then the heating efficiency is improved, but the ability to prevent overheating of nearby objects deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from static constant power output to dynamic power adjustment. The control part varies the power supply to the heating portion based on real-time detection results, maintaining high power when no objects are nearby (ensuring heating efficiency) and reducing power when objects are detected (preventing overheating).
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
The solution effectively restricts temperature rise by reducing heat emission when an object is near or in contact with the heating portion, ensuring the object does not overheat, while maintaining efficient heating functionality.
Implementation Method 1
a detecting unit which detects an object around a main body
Implementation Method 2
a power supply part which supplies electric power to a heating portion
Data Source
AI summary
A heater apparatus includes a main body, a detecting unit, and a control part. The main body has a power supply part to which electric power is supplied and a heating portion connected to the power supply part to generate heat by electric power supplied from the power supply part. The detecting unit detects an object around the main body. The control part controls supply amount of the electric power to the power supply part. The control part controls the supply amount of electric power to the power supply part to be reduced compared with a normal state when the detecting unit detects that the object is within a predetermined range of the main body.