Heater for an environment containing an electrical device and method
An electromagnetic illuminator heater is provided having a heat generating wire and an elongate encasement of thermally transmissive, temperature mitigating, and electrically insulative material. The material encompasses the elongate heating wire. A heater for devices is also provided.
1. A heater for an environment containing an electrical device, comprising:
an elongate resistance heating element comprising a nichrome wire;
a thermally transmissive, temperature mitigating, and electrically insulative cover configured to surround at least a portion of the elongate resistance heating element; and
a thermal switch electrically coupled in series with the nichrome wire and configured in thermal proximity with the cover.
2. The heater of claim 1 , further comprising a jacket of heat resistant material configured to encase the thermal switch and an adjacent portion of the cover of the heater and retain the thermal switch in thermal contact with the cover.
3. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) configured to encase the elongate resistance heating element.
4. The heater of claim 3 , wherein the PTFE cover is extruded onto the elongate resistance heating element.
5. The heater of claim 3 , wherein the PTFE cover is molded onto the elongate resistance heating element.
6. The heater of claim 3 , wherein the PTFE cover is a PTFE tube having at least one inner bore configured to receive the elongate resistance heating element.
7. The heater of claim 3 , further comprising a power supply, a controller signal coupled between the power supply and the elongate resistance heating element, and a temperature sensor signal coupled with the controller and configured to detect an ambient temperature condition used by the controller to supply power to the elongate resistance heating element responsive to a detected specific ambient temperature condition.
8. The heater of claim 3 , further comprising a power supply, a controller signal coupled between the power supply and the elongate resistance heating element, and an occlusion sensor signal coupled with the controller and configured to detect an electromagnetic wave occlusion condition used by the controller to supply power to the elongate resistance heating element responsive to a detected occlusion condition.
9. The heater of claim 1 , further comprising a lens configured in thermal communication with the cover, wherein the cover has a glass transition temperature (TG) that is higher than the glass transition temperature (TG) for the lens.
10. The heater of claim 9 , wherein the lens is a light transmissive lens and the heater is configured to remove condensate occlusion from the light transmissive lens.
11. The heater of claim 9 , wherein the lens is a radar lens and the heater is configured to remove condensate occlusion from the radar lens.
12. The heater of claim 9 , wherein the lens is a Lidar lens and the heater is configured to remove condensate occlusion from the Lidar lens.
13. The heater of claim 9 , wherein the lens is a camera lens and the heater is configured to remove condensate occlusion from the camera lens.
14. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the cover comprises a hollow elongate tube having an inner bore in thermal communication with the heating element.
15. The heater of claim 14 , wherein the electrical device comprises an electronics device.
16. The heater of claim 15 , wherein the electronics device is configured to heat a lens of a vehicle light.
17. The heater of claim 14 , wherein the electronics device is configured to heat the environment of a radar unit.
18. The heater of claim 14 , wherein the electronics device is configured to heat the environment of a LIDAR unit.
19. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the electrical device comprises a sensor provided in the environment in heat transfer association with the heater.
20. The heater of claim 1 , wherein the electrical device comprises a power supply.
21. The heater of claim 20 , wherein the electrical device further comprises an electronic device.
22. The heater of claim 21 , wherein the electronic device comprises an electromagnetic emitter and/or detector.
23. The heater of claim 22 , wherein the electromagnetic emitter and/or detector is an LED light source.
24. A heater for an environment containing an electrical device, comprising:
an elongate resistance heating element;
a thermally transmissive, temperature mitigating, and electrically insulative cover comprising Polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) configured to encase the elongate resistance heating element and surround at least a portion of the elongate resistance heating element;
a power supply;
a controller signal coupled between the power supply and the elongate resistance heating element;
a first temperature sensor signal coupled with the controller and configured to detect an ambient temperature condition used by the controller to supply power to the elongate resistance heating element responsive to a detected specific ambient temperature condition; and
a second temperature sensor signal coupled with the controller and configured to detect temperature proximate the elongate resistive heating element used by the controller to restrict power to the elongate resistance heating element responsive to a detected peak desired temperature.
25. The heater of claim 24 , wherein the elongate resistive heating element comprises a thermally resistive trace.
26. The heater of claim 24 , wherein the elongate resistive heating element comprises an electrically resistive heating wire.
27. The heater of claim 24 , wherein the first temperature sensor comprises a thermal switch spaced from the elongate resistive heating element configured to detect ambient temperature of a surrounding environment.
28. The heater of claim 24 , wherein the second temperature sensor comprises a thermal switch provided proximate the tube and configured to detect temperature of an outer surface of the tube.
29. A method for heating an environment about an electrical device, comprising:
providing an elongate resistance heating element, a thermal switch electrically coupled in series with the elongate resistive heating element, and a thermally transmissive, temperature mitigating, and electrically insulative cover surrounding at least a portion of the elongate resistance heating element in thermal proximity with the thermal switch;
detecting a thermal condition proximate the heating element and the thermal cover;
providing current through the thermal switch to generate heat from the resistive heating element; and
responsive to detecting the thermal condition, eliminating current by turning off the thermal switch at a detected threshold temperature to the elongate resistive heating element to stop heat generation.
30. The method of claim 29 , wherein the cover is a polytetrafluoroethylene cover configured to encircle the elongate resistance heating element.
31. The method of claim 29 , wherein the elongate resistance heating element comprises nichrome wire.
32. The method of claim 29 , wherein detecting a thermal condition further comprises optically detecting condensate occlusion with a sensor.
33. The method of claim 29 , wherein detecting a thermal condition further comprises thermally detecting ambient temperature in a proximate environment.
34. The method of claim 29 , wherein applying heat comprises heating an environment about an electrical device.
35. The method of claim 34 , wherein applying heat comprises heating an environment adjacent an electronic device of the electrical device.
36. The method of claim 35 , wherein applying heat comprises heating an environment adjacent a light source providing the electronic device.