Heater Temperature Control for Hair Load Cooling Response
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing hair styling devices struggle to maintain the temperature of the heating surface within a specific range when hair is loaded and unloaded frequently, leading to potential overheating or insufficient heat retention, which affects the quality of styling.
Innovation Solution
A control system with idle and boost modes adjusts power delivery based on temperature and power measurements to quickly respond to load-induced cooling effects, using thresholds to maintain the desired operating temperature and prevent overheating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the heating element supplies high power to maintain temperature during hair loading, then the temperature stability is improved, but the risk of overheating increases when hair is unloaded
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic power adjustment by switching between idle mode (lower power) and boost mode (higher power) based on real-time temperature measurements and load detection. The control circuitry dynamically adapts the heating power to match the actual thermal load, using temperature thresholds to trigger mode transitions. This resolves the contradiction by preventing both overheating during unloading and insufficient heating during loading through responsive power modulation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system employs feedback control by continuously monitoring temperature with a temperature sensor and adjusting power delivery accordingly. The control circuitry receives temperature measurements and uses them to determine whether to maintain idle mode or transition to boost mode. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures temperature stability while preventing overheating, as the system responds to actual thermal conditions rather than operating at fixed power levels.
2Speed
If the system responds quickly to load-induced cooling by increasing power, then the temperature recovery speed is improved, but the energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts power consumption based on actual thermal needs by implementing idle and boost modes. During idle periods with no or minimal hair load, the system operates at lower power consumption. When load-induced cooling is detected through temperature threshold crossings, the system quickly transitions to boost mode to recover temperature. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction by minimizing energy consumption during unloading while enabling rapid temperature recovery when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The control system uses periodic temperature monitoring and threshold-based mode switching to manage power consumption. The system alternates between idle mode (low energy) and boost mode (high energy) based on periodic temperature measurements and load conditions. This periodic action pattern allows the system to achieve rapid temperature recovery when hair is loaded while minimizing overall energy consumption during unloading periods.
3Device complexity
If the temperature control maintains a constant desired temperature, then the simplicity of control is improved, but the ability to adapt to varying load conditions deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The control system dynamically adapts the desired temperature setpoint based on operating mode. In idle mode, the system maintains a baseline desired temperature, while in boost mode, the desired temperature is elevated to compensate for load-induced cooling. The control circuitry switches between different desired temperature values based on temperature threshold crossings and load detection. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction by maintaining simple control logic while achieving versatile response to varying load conditions through mode-based parameter adjustment.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes control parameters (desired temperature and power level) based on detected load conditions. When the temperature drops below a threshold indicating hair loading, the system changes the desired temperature parameter to a higher value and transitions to boost mode. When temperature recovers and loading is no longer detected, the system reverts to the original desired temperature parameter. This parameter change mechanism provides adaptability to varying load conditions while maintaining relatively simple control structure.
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 system effectively maintains high temperature during hair loading and prevents overheating upon unloading, ensuring consistent styling performance and reducing damage to hair.
Implementation Method 1
a heater having a heating element for receiving electrical power and for converting the electrical power into heat to heat a heating surface of the heater
Implementation Method 2
a temperature sensor for sensing and outputting measurements of a temperature of the heater
Data Source
Figure 1a~1b
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention provides a heating apparatus and method for heating a load. The heating apparatus comprises a heater having a heating element (15) for receiving electrical power and for converting the electrical power into heat to heat a heating surface (6) of the heater, a temperature sensor (19) for sensing and outputting measurements of a temperature (TC) of the heating element (15), a power actuator (22) for providing the electrical power to the heating element of the heater, and control circuitry (24) for controlling the power actuator (22) to control the power delivered by the power actuator to the heating element. The control circuitry (24) is configured to: receive the temperature measurements (TC) from the temperature sensor (19), control the power delivered to the heating element by the power actuator (22) in dependence upon the temperature measurements (TC) and at least one control parameter, to maintain the heating surface of the heater at a desired operating temperature (Td). The control circuitry (24) includes an idle mode of operation in which at least one control parameter is set to a first value and a boost mode of operation in which the at least one control parameter is set to a second value that is higher than the first value, wherein the control circuitry (24) is configured to exit the idle mode of operation and enter the boost mode of operation in the case that the control circuitry (24) detects initiation of a load induced cooling effect of the heater, and wherein the control circuitry (24) is configured to exit the boost mode of operation and enter the idle mode of operation when the control circuitry (24) detects a termination of the load induced cooling effect of the heater. This arrangement enables the heater to quickly adapt to loading and unloading.