Abstract:
A controller for use in textile heating devices, such as heating pads, heating blankets, and the like is provided. The controller provides a display system for conveying to a user the selected heat setting. Such display system is useful in low light condition, where a user cannot readily see the heat setting indicia on the controller. The display system includes a plurality of lighted elements. The lighted elements are illuminated at different intensity levels to indicate the selected heat setting, In this manner, a user is provided with a visual frame of reference to indicate the selected heating setting. Namely, the differentiation between the intensity levels enables a user to visual determine the selected heating setting by the position of a higher intensity lighted element in relationship to lesser intensity lighted elements.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
       [0001]    The preset invention claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application No. 61/620596 entitled HEAT SELECTION CONCEPT FOR ELECTRIC BEDDING, filed on Apr. 27, 2012, the contents of which are herein incorporated by reference in its entirety. 
     
    
     FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
       [0002]    The invention relates to a controller for textile heating devices, and more particularly to a controller using differing intensity lighted elements to convey the selected heat setting to a user. 
       BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
       [0003]    Textile heating devices, such as heating pads, heating blanket and the like, can be used to keep individuals or certain muscles of an individual warm. A heating pad generally includes opposing layers of cloth material having a heating element disposed there between. The heating element is connectable to an electrical power source through a controller which controls the amount of heat output from the heating element. 
         [0004]    The heating element may, for example, be heated by resistance via electricity, and may be provided as one or more metallic wires threaded throughout the pad. The shape and size of the metallic wires may vary, and in some cases the wires may actually be small metallic threads. The heating element may include a wire construction which is made of a center conductor which has Positive Temperature Coefficient (PTC) characteristics. Around the center PTC wire is a layer of Negative Temperature Coefficient (NTC) material. An electric heating pad is typically plugged into a power outlet so that power may be supplied to the heating element, causing the production of heat. In this manner, the heating pad may be used to warm a desired area of the body. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0005]    The present disclosure is directed to a controller for use in textile heating devices, such as heating pads, heating blankets, and the like. The controller provides a display system for convey to a user the selected heat setting. Such display system is useful in low light conditions, where a user cannot readily see the heat setting indicia on the controller. 
         [0006]    An exemplary heating device includes heating element and a controller operably connected to the heating element. The controller includes microprocessor electrically connectable to a power source. A mode selector switch is provided to turn on the heating device and select a heat setting. 
         [0007]    The controller also includes indicator for displaying the selected heat setting of the heating element. The indicator can include a plurality of lighted elements. The lighted elements can be LCD type elements. However, it will be appreciated that any suitable lighting may be used, such as LEDs for example. 
         [0008]    In operation, the controller is electrically connected to the power source to provide power to the heating pad. The mode selector switch is used to select one of a plurality of heat settings for the heating device, for example, “WARM,” “LOW,” “MED”, “MED/HIGH,” and “HIGH.” 
         [0009]    Once the heating device is actuated and a user selects a heat setting, the microprocessor actuates a switch circuit such that current flows to the heating element so as to cause it to radiate heat. The microprocessor illuminates the lighted element corresponding to the selected heat setting at a first intensity level and the remaining lighted elements at a second intensity level, where the second intensity level is at a lesser (dimmer) intensity then the first intensity level. 
         [0010]    In this manner, a user is provided with a visual frame of reference to indicate the selected heat setting. Namely, the differentiation between the first intensity level and the second intensity level enables a user to visual determine the selected heating setting by the position of the higher intensity lighted element in relationship to the lesser intensity lighted elements. 
         [0011]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the preset invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    A more complete understanding of the present invention, and the attendant advantages and features thereof, will be more readily understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in conjunction with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  depicts a schematic diagram of a textile heating device of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  depicts a controller for the textile heating device of the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  depicts an exemplary partial circuit diagram of the controller; and 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  depicts a flow chart for controlling the lighted elements of the controller. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Referring to the drawing figures in which like reference designators refer to like elements, there is shown in  FIG. 1  a schematic view of a textile heating device  10 , exemplary heating pad, in accordance with the present disclosure. Heating pad  10  includes heating element  12 . A controller  14  is operably connected to the heating element  12  in the heating pad  10  to provide power there to. 
         [0018]    The controller  14  includes microprocessor  16  electrically connectable to a power source  18 . Output of microprocessor  16  is operatively connected to heating element  12  of heating pad  10  by a switch circuit  24 . 
         [0019]    Referring also to  FIG. 2 , in operation, the controller  14  is electrically connected to the power source  18  to provide power to the heating pad  10 . The power source  18  can have a predetermined voltage and frequency, e.g. 120 VAC at 60 Hz, via a standard electrical plug. A mode selector switch  26  is used to select one of a plurality of heat settings for the heating pad  10 . By way of example, these heat settings may include “WARM,” “LOW” “MED”, “MED/HIGH,” and “HIGH.” 
         [0020]    Once heating pad  10  is actuated and a user-desired heat setting is selected, microprocessor  16  actuates switch circuit  24  such that current flows to heating element  12  so as to cause it to radiate heat. In an embodiment, the controller  14  can provide power to the heating element  12  such that the heating pad  10  operates at 50 watts. Alternatively, the controller  14  can provide power to the heating element  12  such that the heating pad  10  operates at 100 watts. The increased wattage allowing the heating element  14  to heat up to the selected heat setting in a shorter time period. The above noted operating wattages are exemplary in nature, and it is contemplated that the heating pad  10  can operate at other wattages. 
         [0021]    Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , the controller  14  includes a housing  30  having the mode selector switch  26 . Controller  14  also includes indicator  32  for displaying the selected heat setting of the heating element  12 . The indicator  32  includes a plurality of lighted elements  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42 . The lighted elements  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42  can be any suitable lighting elements, such as LEDs for example. 
         [0022]    The lighted elements  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42  are operatively connected to the microprocessor  16 . When the power is turned “ON” and a heat setting is selected utilizing the mode selector switch  26 , the microprocessor  16  illuminates the corresponding lighted element  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , or  42  at a first intensity level. The microprocessor  16  also illuminates the remaining lighted elements  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , or  42  at a second intensity level, where the second level is at a lesser (dimmer) intensity then the first intensity level. 
         [0023]    Referring to  FIG. 4 , in use, a user utilized the mode selector switch  26  to turn “ON”  50  the heating pad  10 . The mode selector switch  26  can likewise be used to select the heat setting  52 , setting 1-5. The microprocessor  16  illuminates  54  the lighted element corresponding to the selected heat setting at the first intensity level. The microprocessor  16  also illuminates  56  the lighted elements for the non-selected heat setting at the second intensity level. 
         [0024]    In this manner, a user is provided with a visual frame of reference to indicate the selected heating setting. Namely, the differentiation between the first intensity level and the second intensity level enables a user to visual determine the selected heating setting by the position of the higher intensity lighted element in relationship to the lesser intensity lighted elements. 
         [0025]    If a user changes the selected heat setting  58 , the process is repeated where the microprocessor  16  changes the illumination of the lighted element  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  44  to correspond to the newly selected heating setting. 
         [0026]    For example, the heat selector switch  26  can be used to select heat setting 3, medium. The microprocessor  16  illuminates the corresponding lighted element, lighted element  38 , at the at the first intensity level. The microprocessor  16  also illuminates the remaining non-selected lighted elements, lighted elements  34 ,  36 ,  40 , and  42 , at the second intensity level. In the manner, a user is provided with a visual frame of reference to indicate the selection of heat level 3. Namely, the differentiation between the illuminated first intensity level of lighted element  38  and the illuminated second intensity level of lighted elements  34 ,  36 ,  40  and  42  enables a user to visual determine that the selected heat level is heat lever 3 by the position of the higher intensity lighted element  38  in relationship to the lesser intensity lighted elements  34 ,  36 ,  40 , and  42 . 
         [0027]    If the user changes the heat setting  58 , selecting heat setting 5, high. The microprocessor  16  changes the illumination of the lighted elements  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42 . The microprocessor  16  illuminates the lighted element corresponding to heat setting 5, lighted element  42 , at the first intensity level. The microprocessor  16  also illuminates the remaining non selected lighted elements, lighted elements  34 ,  36 ,  38 , and  40 , at the second intensity level. In the manner, a user is provided with a visual frame of reference to indicate the selection of heat setting 5. Namely, the differentiation between the illuminated first intensity level of lighted element  44  and the illuminated second intensity level of lighted elements  34 ,  36 ,  38 , and  40  enables a user to visual determine that the selected heat setting is heat setting 5 by the position of the higher intensity lighted element  44  in relationship to the lesser intensity lighted elements  34 ,  36 ,  38 , and  40 . 
         [0028]    in another embodiment, the lighted elements  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and  42  can be illuminated in two or more colors. The lighted elements  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , and.  42  are operatively connected to the microprocessor  16 . When the power is turned “ON” and a heat setting is selected utilizing the mode selector switch  26 , the microprocessor  16  illuminates the corresponding lighted element  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , or  42  at a first color. The microprocessor  16  also illuminates the remaining lighted element  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , or  42  at a second color, where the second color is different than the first color. 
         [0029]    In this manner, a user is provided with a visual frame of reference to indicate the selected heating setting. Namely, the differentiation between the first color and the second color enables a user to visual determine the selected heating setting by the position of the first color lighted element in relationship to the second color lighted elements. 
         [0030]    For example, the heat selector switch  26  can be used to select heat setting 3, medium. The microprocessor  16  illuminates the corresponding lighted element, lighted element  38 , at a first color, green. The microprocessor  16  also illuminates the remaining non-selected lighted elements, lighted elements  34 ,  36 ,  40 , and  42 , at a second color, red. In the manner, a user is provided with a visual frame of reference to indicate the selection of heat level 3. Namely, the differentiation between the green illumination of lighted element  38  and the red illumination of lighted elements  34 ,  36 ,  40  and  42  enables a user to visual determine that the selected heat level is heat lever 3 by color of lighted element  38  in relationship to the color of lighted elements  34 ,  36 ,  40 , and  42 . 
         [0031]    Additionally, the microprocessor  16  can illuminate the first color lighted element  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , or  42  at a first intensity level. The microprocessor  16  can also illuminates the second color lighted element  34 ,  36 ,  38 ,  40 , or  42  at a second intensity level, where the second level is at a lesser (dimmer) intensity then the first intensity level. 
         [0032]    In this manner, a user is provided with a further visual frame of reference to indicate the selected heating setting. Namely, the differentiation between the first color and first intensity level and the second color and second intensity level enables a user to visual determine the selected heating setting by the position of the first color/intensity lighted element in relationship to the second color/intensity lighted elements. 
         [0033]    All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
         [0034]    All references cited herein are expressly incorporated by reference in their entirety. 
         [0035]    It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited to what has been particularly shown and described herein above. In addition, unless mention was made above to the contrary, it should be noted that all of the accompanying drawings are not to scale. A variety of modifications and variations are possible in light of the above teachings without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention, which is limited only by the following claims.