Plastic Carrier Heating Device with Metal Spray-Coated Tracks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing manufacturing processes for heating and cooling devices are complex and expensive, particularly when integrating PTC resistors or PTC thermistors into plastic components, requiring multiple steps and resources.
Innovation Solution
A heating and/or cooling device is constructed using a prefabricated element, such as a PTC thermistor or Peltier element, integrated with a plastic carrier part and metal distribution element via metal injection molding or casting, ensuring secure electrical and thermal connections without additional steps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional heating/cooling devices are used, then treatment can be applied to large body surfaces, but the device complexity and risk of adverse reactions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The treatment system is divided into multiple independent laser modules that can be selectively activated. Each module contains its own laser source and control system, allowing the complex treatment of large body surfaces to be broken down into simpler, manageable segments that can be applied sequentially or simultaneously depending on treatment needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a hierarchical control structure where a central control unit coordinates multiple laser modules, each with its own sub-control system. This nested architecture allows the complex overall system to be managed through layered control, reducing the operational complexity while maintaining the capability to treat large body surfaces.
2Area of stationary object
If conventional heating/cooling devices are used, then treatment can be applied to large body surfaces, but harmful factors such as bacterial growth and allergic reactions increase
Solution Approach 1:
The laser modules provide continuous heating treatment that maintains therapeutic temperatures necessary to prevent bacterial growth. By ensuring continuous useful thermal action on the treated skin surfaces, the system eliminates the harmful effects of bacterial proliferation and allergic reactions that occur with conventional intermittent treatments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the potential harmful effect of prolonged skin exposure (which could lead to bacterial growth) into a beneficial effect by using controlled laser heating to raise skin temperatures to levels that are bactericidal. The same continuous action that could potentially cause harm is instead used to eliminate harmful bacteria and prevent allergic reactions.
3Productivity
If multiple heating/cooling devices are used simultaneously, then treatment parallelism increases, but device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
Multiple laser modules are merged into a single integrated treatment system that can operate in parallel. The modules share common infrastructure such as the control system architecture and power supply, allowing simultaneous treatment of multiple body regions without requiring proportionally increased space. The combined system maintains treatment parallelism while optimizing space utilization through shared components.
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
Facilitates a simple and cost-effective manufacturing process for heating and cooling devices, providing secure and efficient heat transfer and electrical conductivity.
Implementation Method 1
the laser module is configured to heat the epidermis and the dermis
Implementation Method 2
the cooling module is configured to cool the subcutaneous tissue
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
Figure 4~5
AI summary
A heating and/or cooling apparatus for a solid body or a fluid flow comprises a carrier part which is composed of plastic and in which an electrical heating and/or cooling element is embedded and held. A metal distributor element is in contact with the heating and/or cooling element and at least one connection contact and one electrical conductor track, which connects the connection contact to the heating and/or cooling element, are provided. The heating and/or cooling element is prefabricated and is connected by means of an injection-moulding process to the carrier part which is composed of plastic. Electrical conductor tracks for connecting the heating and cooling element are produced by means of a metal spray-coating or metal casting process.