Infrared Emitter Control for Rapid Skin Temperature Regulation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heat treatment devices face challenges in maintaining precise temperature control due to variations in user distance from the heat source and individual differences in skin heat absorption and dissipation, leading to potential skin damage from excessive heating.
Innovation Solution
A heat treatment device with a controllable infrared radiator and heat sensor system that adjusts heating power based on real-time surface temperature, allowing for rapid changes in heat output to match user-specific heat dissipation rates and external conditions, using a ceramic-free heat source like a halogen lamp or IR LEDs to minimize delay and ensure safe and effective heating.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If ceramic radiant heaters with thermal mass are used to provide stable heat emission, then temperature stability is improved, but the response time to adjust heating output becomes excessively slow (more than 5 seconds delay)
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the thermal mass (ceramic element) from the heating system, replacing it with a halogen lamp that has negligible thermal mass. This allows the heating output to respond rapidly to control signals without the delay caused by heating up or cooling down of ceramic materials, while still providing stable temperature control through electronic regulation of the lamp's power consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the thermal-inertial mechanism of ceramic radiant heaters with an electrical control system. The halogen lamp's heating output is controlled by adjusting electrical parameters (voltage, current, or power), enabling rapid response times of less than 5 seconds while maintaining temperature stability through feedback control.
2Temperature
If the heating power is increased to achieve sufficient warming of the skin surface, then heating effectiveness is improved, but the risk of skin damage from excessive heating increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a feedback control system where a temperature sensor continuously monitors the skin surface temperature and sends signals to the control unit. The control unit adjusts the halogen lamp's heating power in real-time based on the measured temperature, increasing power when warming is insufficient and decreasing power when the skin approaches the target temperature, thereby preventing overheating and skin damage.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs dynamic control of the heating output, allowing the system to adapt rapidly to changing conditions. The control unit can quickly adjust the heating power in response to temperature changes, user movement, or variations in heat absorption, maintaining optimal temperature without exceeding safety thresholds.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the distance between the heat source and skin area varies due to user size or irradiated area, then treatment versatility is improved, but temperature control precision deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The feedback control system continuously monitors the actual skin temperature and adjusts the heating power to compensate for variations in distance and user characteristics. Whether the user is close to or far from the heat source, the control unit modifies the output to maintain the desired temperature, ensuring consistent and precise temperature control across different treatment scenarios.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent designs a universal control system that adapts to various user sizes, body types, and treatment areas. The combination of the halogen lamp's rapid response capability and the feedback control algorithm allows the same device to effectively treat different regions (local or whole body) and accommodate users with different distances from the heat source, maintaining temperature precision across all applications.
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 solution enables precise and safe control of heating power, reducing the risk of injury and enhancing the effectiveness of heat treatments by allowing for rapid adjustments in heat output, supporting various treatment profiles and user-specific heat dissipation capacities.
Implementation Method 1
an electric heating current is passed through a ceramic heating element. The electrical resistance of the ceramic causes a portion of the applied heating current to be converted into heat
Implementation Method 2
at least one controllable heat source and is arranged to emit infrared radiation generated by the heat source to a skin area of a user
Implementation Method 3
at least one heat sensor, which is arranged to detect a surface temperature in the skin area of the user
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A heat treatment device (100; 220) comprises at least one infrared emitter (110, 112) which includes at least one controllable heat source and is arranged to emit infrared radiation generated by the heat source to a skin area of a user of the heat treatment device (100; 200). The heat treatment device (100; 220) further comprises at least one heat sensor (140, 142) which is arranged to detect a surface temperature in the skin area of the user, and a control device (160) which is configured to control a heating power of the at least one infrared emitter (110, 112) at least partially based on the detected surface temperature in the skin area of the user.The infrared radiator (110, 112) in an operating state corresponding to a heat output delivered to the user in the range of 20 to 120 milliwatts per square centimeter in the user's skin area exhibits a minimum delay of less than 5 seconds to achieve a difference of at least 20% in the heat output delivered to the user in the skin area.