The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Feb. 16, 1993
Filed:
Aug. 22, 1990
Jeffery A Curhan, Medway, MA (US);
Daniel R Pimentel, Seekonk, MA (US);
Peter G Berg, Attleboro Falls, MA (US);
Texas Instruments Incorporated, Dallas, TX (US);
Abstract
A system for heating the passenger compartment of an automotive vehicle has a hot water heater receiving heat from a vehicle engine arranged in series with a self-regulating electrical resistance heater of positive temperature coefficient of resistivity, has a power source for energizing the electrical resistance heater, and has a fan for directing air in heat-transfer relation to the hot water heater and to the electrical resistance heater in sequence to provide a heated air output to the passenger compartment. Fan speed is controlled to regulate the volume of air directed in heat-transfer relation to the heaters so that the electrical resistance heater is promptly and consistently capable of heating that volume of air to at least a selected minimum temperature such as 100.degree. F. as the heated air output is furnished to the passenger compartment, thereby to give a vehicle passenger an immediate and continuing sensation of comfort beginning very promptly after engine start-up even on a very cold day. The fan speed is regulated to provide a large air volume for heating the compartment as quickly as possible with the available power while providing the immediate sensation of comfort to the vehicle passenger. Fan speed is also regulated to limit power consumption by the electrical resistance heater at a level consistent with efficient engine operation under different engine operating conditions and after engine warm-up occurs.