Sheet Heater Layer Structure for Wide-Area Insulation Bonding

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing sheet-shaped heaters lack effective insulation properties due to inadequate attachment of insulating layers to heat-generating layers over a wide area.

Innovation Solution

A sheet-shaped heater design with multiple layers, including insulating layers closely attached through adhesion layers, and a joining auxiliary layer with slits, allowing for improved insulation by minimizing deformation and tunneling during heating.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If an insulating layer is attached to a heat-generating layer in conventional sheet-shaped heaters, then insulation properties are provided, but the attachment area is insufficient and tunneling occurs reducing overall insulation effectiveness

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulation propertiesVSAvoidattachment area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The heat-generating layer is divided into multiple independent heating wires arranged in a grid pattern, with insulating layers attached to each wire individually. This segmentation allows the insulating layers to be closely attached to each heating wire over a wide area, preventing tunneling between adjacent wires while maintaining effective insulation properties throughout the entire heater surface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of manufacture

If the heater structure is simplified to reduce manufacturing complexity, then ease of manufacture improves, but insulation effectiveness decreases due to inadequate adhesion layer coverage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemanufacturing simplicityVSAvoidinsulation effectiveness
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The insulating layers are pre-formed with adhesion layers on their surfaces before assembly. This preliminary preparation ensures that when the insulating layers are attached to the heating wires, they achieve close attachment over a wide area without requiring complex post-assembly processing, thus maintaining both manufacturing simplicity and insulation effectiveness.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If adhesion layers are applied over wide areas to improve insulation, then insulation properties increase, but manufacturing complexity and material usage increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinsulation propertiesVSAvoidlayer structure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Adhesion layers are applied locally only to the portions of the insulating layers that contact the heating wires, rather than covering the entire insulating layer surface. This localized application achieves close attachment over a wide area where needed (at wire contact points) while avoiding unnecessary material usage and structural complexity in non-contact areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

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 design ensures high insulation properties by maintaining close attachment of insulating layers to heat-generating layers, enhancing overall thermal efficiency and reducing tunneling risks.

Implementation Method 1

an insulating layer is preferably closely attached to a heat-generating layer through an adhesion layer over a wide area because the insulation properties of the sheet-shaped heater are increased as a whole

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAdhesion: Adhesive

Implementation Method 2

a heat-generating layer

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectJoule heating: Joule Heating

Implementation Method 3

allowing for improved insulation by minimizing deformation and tunneling during heating

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentEP4723804A1Sheet-shaped heater
Publication Date: 2026.04.08 TOMOEGAWA CORP
  • EP4723804A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4723804A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4723804A1 patent drawingFigure 3A~3G

AI summary

The present invention addresses the problem of providing a sheet-shaped heater that has high insulation as a whole due to adhesion of an insulating layer to a heat generating layer over a wide area through an adhesive layer. The problem is solved by a sheet-shaped heater comprising: a portion X in which a first insulating layer, a first adhesive layer, a heat generating layer, a second adhesive layer, and a second insulating layer are laminated in this order; a portion Y inside the portion X in which the first insulating layer, the first adhesive layer, a first bonding auxiliary layer, the heat generating layer, the second adhesive layer, and the second insulating layer are laminated in this order; and a portion Z inside the portion Y in which the first bonding auxiliary layer, the heat generating layer, the second adhesive layer, and the second insulating layer are laminated in this order, and that does not have the first insulating layer and the first adhesive layer. The first bonding auxiliary layer has a main surface on which an electrode is present. The sheet-shaped heater has a bonding part comprising at least a part of each of the heat generating layer, the first bonding auxiliary layer, and the electrode. The first bonding auxiliary layer has a slit of which at least a part is present inside the portion Y and/or the portion Z.