Patent Publication Number: US-11641702-B2

Title: Electromagnetic wave reducing heaters and devices and saunas

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     The present application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 16/206,706, filed Nov. 30, 2018, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 62/593,183, filed Nov. 30, 2017, and is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 15/806,262, filed Nov. 7, 2017, now U.S. Pat. No. 10,869,367 issued on Dec. 15, 2020, which is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No. 13/427,899, filed Mar. 23, 2012, now U.S. Pat. No. 9,844,100 issued on Dec. 12, 2017, which claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application No. 61/467,884, filed Mar. 25, 2011, all of which are incorporated herein by reference in their entirety. 
    
    
     TECHNICAL FIELD 
     The present application relates to heating elements, specifically to a planar electric heating element that has low electromagnetic wave emissions. 
     DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART 
     Electric heating utilizes either linear heating elements made out of nickel and heating wires, or planar heating elements made of spread carbon microfiber or carbon micro powder. Electric heating makes it easy to control its temperature, does not pollute the air, and is sanitary and noiseless. Because it is quick to heat up and because it emits infrared rays, electric heating is very useful in many applications, such as residential buildings (apartment complexes, homes, and retirement communities), commercial buildings, industrial buildings (work yards, warehouses, and outdoor covered structures), and agricultural buildings. 
     However, even though electric heating elements have many merits, many people are reluctant to use them because of the negative effects of the electromagnetic waves they emit. Electromagnetic waves are generated wherever electricity flows. There has been a suggestion that electromagnetic waves induce anxiety in humans and are harmful to general health. Since heating elements are typically used at close range, electromagnetic emissions are a serious concern. 
     SUMMARY 
     Embodiments disclosed herein reduce electromagnetic wave emissions from a heater by using pairs of heaters, each powered by alternating current in opposite phases. The two heaters are located very close to each other so that the electromagnetic waves coming from one heater are canceled out by the electromagnetic waves coming from the other. The heating efficiency, however, is preserved. While various embodiments disclosed herein use planar heating elements, other embodiments may use other heater types, as long as those heater types can be paired in such a way as to cancel out each other&#39;s electromagnetic emissions. 
     In various embodiments, a heating element comprises two planar conductive elements, each one connected to electrodes at both poles; a layer of insulation between the two planar conductive elements; an insulation layer on the outside of each planar conductive element; and a means to cancel the electromagnetic fields generated around the planar conductive elements by connecting them to alternating current sources that are opposite in phase with respect to each other. This method of connection reduces the electromagnetic waves generated over the entire surface of the planar heating element, especially over the electrodes where the electromagnetic emissions are the strongest. 
     Also disclosed herein are various systems and devices for electromagnetic (EM) radiation reduction that may be implemented with various heaters and heating elements. Systems may include a heater including a plurality of heating elements that may include a first heating element configured to generate heat based on a first current, and a second heating element configured to generate heat based on a second current. Systems may further include an EM radiation reducing device configured to cancel electromagnetic emissions from the heater. The EM radiation reducing device may include a first EM radiation reduction element positioned adjacent to a first side of the heater, and a second EM radiation reduction element positioned adjacent to a second side of the heater, where the first and second EM radiation reduction elements have geometries configured based, at least in part, on the heater. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The disclosure may best be understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, which illustrate particular embodiments. 
         FIG.  1    shows an example of a heater that includes heating elements, configured in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  2    shows another example of a heater, configured in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  3    shows an additional example of a heater, configured in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  4    shows a further example of a heater, configured in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  5    shows an embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device, configured in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  6    shows another embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device, configured in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  7    shows yet another embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device, configured in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  8    shows an additional embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device, configured in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  9    shows another embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device, configured in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  10    shows an additional embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device, configured in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  11    shows another embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device, configured in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  12    shows yet another embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device, configured in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  13    shows a further embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device, configured in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  14    shows another embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device, configured in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  15    shows an additional embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device, configured in accordance with some embodiments. 
         FIG.  16    illustrates an example of a sauna, configured in accordance with some embodiments. 
     
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS 
     Reference will now be made in detail to some specific examples including the best modes contemplated by the inventors. Examples of these specific embodiments are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. While various embodiments are disclosed herein, it will be understood that they are not intended to limit the invention to the described embodiments. On the contrary, they are intended to cover alternatives, modifications, and equivalents as may be included within the spirit and scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. 
     For example, the techniques of the present invention will be described in the context of saunas, and heating elements associated with such saunas. However, it should be noted that the techniques of the present invention apply to a wide variety of different environments and enclosures. In the following description, numerous specific details are set forth in order to provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. Particular example embodiments of the present invention may be implemented without some or all of these specific details. In other instances, well known process operations have not been described in detail in order not to unnecessarily obscure the present invention. 
     Various techniques and mechanisms of the present invention will sometimes be described in singular form for clarity. However, it should be noted that some embodiments include multiple iterations of a technique or multiple instantiations of a mechanism unless noted otherwise. For example, a system uses a heater in a variety of contexts. However, it will be appreciated that a system can use multiple heaters while remaining within the scope of the present invention unless otherwise noted. Furthermore, the techniques and mechanisms of the present invention will sometimes describe a connection between two entities. It should be noted that a connection between two entities does not necessarily mean a direct, unimpeded connection, as a variety of other entities may reside between the two entities. Consequently, a connection does not necessarily mean a direct, unimpeded connection unless otherwise noted. 
       FIG.  1    shows an example of a heater that includes heating elements, configured in accordance with some embodiments. Accordingly, a heater may include various planar conductive elements, such as planar conductive elements  1  that are connected to electrodes  2 . The planar conductive elements can be made of metal, of carbon powder or carbon fibers mixed in a binder and printed, coated, or impregnated on plastic film, fabric, or paper, of carbon fibers mixed in a paper form or carbon felt, or of etched metal foil. The electrodes can be made of either rolled or electrolyzed metal foil. Rolled metal foil is more commonly used thanks to its higher yield strength; a thickness of the metal foil is about 20-60 microns. An insulation layer  3  is placed between the planar conductive elements and on the outside of each planar conductive element. For low-temperature planar heating elements of less than 80□C, polyester or heat-resistant plastic film or sheet is preferable, while for high-temperature planar heating elements of greater than 80 degrees C., high heat resistant hardening resin such as hardening epoxy resin is preferable. The thickness of the insulation layer is preferably 100-200 microns in terms of its insulation characteristics, though it can be greater than 200 microns where excellent insulation characteristics are required. When external wire is connected to copper foil, soldering or wire-connecting terminals are used; the connection must be securely fastened to sustain substantial external force and properly insulated. 
       FIG.  2    shows an alternate embodiment of a heater, where the planar heating element  4  is made of metal and comprises a wire disposed in a planar fashion over the surface of the insulation  3 . The planar heating element  4  is then connected to electrodes  5 . 
       FIGS.  3  and  4    show the electrical design of heaters, configured in accordance with some embodiments. Electrical signal  10  is opposite in phase from electrical signal  20 . As a result, the electromagnetic waves that are generated by one planar conductive element are canceled out by the electromagnetic waves generated by the other planar conductive element. 
       FIG.  5    shows an embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device. As will be discussed in greater detail below, such devices may be configured to remove and/or reduce extremely low frequency (ELF) electromagnetic (EM) radiation that may be emitted from one or more components of a sauna, or one or more components outside of a sauna. In various embodiments, such ELF radiation may be EM radiation in the range of about 3 to 30 Hz. 
     In various embodiments, such devices may be configured to mitigate and/or abate low frequency components of electrical fields that may be generated by heaters. As discussed herein and below heaters may include multiple heating elements which may be planar heating elements. Accordingly, the heaters described below may be implemented in accordance with any of the embodiments described above with reference to  FIGS.  1 - 4   . As discussed above, such ELF radiation may cause undesired effects or experiences in a user of a sauna that includes heaters as discussed above. Accordingly, various EM radiation reducing devices may be implemented to reduce such electrical emissions received at the user, and mitigate such undesired effects. 
     As will be discussed in greater detail below, particular configurations and geometries may be used to implement such EM radiation reducing devices. Such geometries may increase the efficiency and efficacy of the reduction of EM radiation. For example, the use of an elliptical or spherical geometry may be more effective based because it has a greater capacity to collect charge because of its&#39; larger surface area as compared to a planar mesh, and it pulls electrical charge off from both sides thus reducing the amount of charge that any one side has to collect. Accordingly, such implementations of EM radiation reducing devices provide increases in the efficiency of the removal of unwanted EM radiation. 
     In various embodiments, EM radiation reducing devices are conductive devices made of a conductive material, such as a metal mesh. In some embodiments, the material may be a mesh cloth treated with a conductive material, such as being printed with an electrically conductive material such as carbon ink. The EM radiation devices may be configured to be made of a material having a conductivity and density determined based on a configuration of a heater implemented in conjunction with the EM radiation devices. For example, the composition of a material of the EM radiation device, which may be metal, as well as one or more other features, such as a density of mesh or grating, may be determined based on characteristics of the heaters, such as a number of heaters, as well as operational parameters, such as frequency and amplitude, of the heaters. 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , an EM radiation reducing device, such as EM radiation reducing device  500 , may include a housing or frame, such as frame  502 , that may be implemented with one or more EM radiation reduction elements, such as EM radiation reduction element  504 . In various embodiments, such EM radiation reduction elements may be made of a conductive material, such as a conductive mesh. Furthermore, EM radiation reduction element  504  may have a particular geometry configured based on one or more characteristics or features of heating devices, also referred to herein as heaters, such as the heaters discussed above with reference to  FIGS.  1 - 4   . 
     In various embodiments, parameters and a geometry of EM radiation reduction element  504  may also be configured based on a shape or geometry of the housing or frame  502 , which may be a frame made of any suitable material such as wood or polymer, and attachment points between EM radiation reduction element  504 , which may be a mesh, and frame  502 . Accordingly, EM radiation reduction element  504  may have a curved and elliptical shape configured based on characteristics of a heater, and may have a footprint or peripheral shape configured based on characteristics of frame  502 , and attachment points of frame  502 . 
     As shown in  FIG.  5   , EM radiation reducing device  500  may include multiple EM radiation reduction elements, such as EM radiation reduction element  504 , EM radiation reduction element  506 , EM radiation reduction element  508 , and EM radiation reduction element  510 . In various embodiments, each of the EM radiation reduction elements may correspond to, and face a heater. Accordingly, each of the EM radiation reduction devices may have a corresponding heater for which it reduces ELF EM radiation. In some embodiments, the EM radiation reduction elements may collectively reduce ELF EM radiation for a single heater. Accordingly, frame  502  may be configured to partially encapsulate a heater, and EM radiation reduction elements  504 ,  506 ,  508 , and  510  may be configured to collectively mitigate ELF EM radiation of the heater. 
     In this way, particular portions of EM radiation reduction elements may be configured and contoured based on different portions of a housing to implement EM radiation reduction that is configured for a plurality of heaters, or for specific portions of a single heater, and the configuration of the EM radiation reducing devices may be implemented in a modular fashion that utilizes multiple EM radiation reduction elements on a single housing or frame. Moreover, as will be discussed in greater detail below, EM radiation reduction elements may have a curved geometry that is configured to encapsulate one or more heaters, and such EM radiation reduction elements may be implemented on various sides or relative to several orientations of heaters. For example, a first EM radiation reduction element may be implemented facing a top surface of a heater, and a second EM radiation reduction element may be implemented facing a bottom surface of a heater. In this example, the first and second EM radiation reduction elements may encapsulate the heater and have an elliptical geometry. 
     In various embodiments, EM radiation reduction elements  504 ,  506 ,  508 , and  510 , as well as heaters, may be removably coupled with frame  502 . Accordingly, different configurations of heaters and EM radiation reduction elements may be implemented on a single frame by changing positions heaters and EM radiation reduction elements along frame  502 . In this way, the position of such heaters and EM radiation reduction elements may be configured for a particular user to target specific portions of a user, such as a knee or shoulder. While  FIG.  5    illustrates some examples of such EM radiation reducing devices, such examples are not intended to be limiting, and various other configurations are possible as well. 
       FIG.  6    shows another embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device. As discussed above, an EM radiation reducing device, such as EM radiation reducing device  500 , may include frame  502  and one or more EM radiation reduction element, such as EM radiation reduction element  504 .  FIG.  6    illustrates how such EM radiation reduction elements may be implemented in a modular fashion such that one of multiple heaters may be shielded if multiple heaters are covered by frame  502 . In various embodiments, where frame  502  covers a single heater, EM radiation reduction element  504  may be positioned and configured to shield a specific portion of the heater, while other portions are left open. 
       FIG.  7    shows yet another embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device. Accordingly,  FIG.  7    provides another view of the modular implementation described above with reference to  FIG.  6    and EM radiation reducing device  500 , frame  502 , and EM radiation reduction element  504 . 
       FIG.  8    shows an additional embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device. Accordingly,  FIG.  8    provides another view of the implementation described above with reference to  FIG.  5    and EM radiation reducing device  500 , frame  502 , EM radiation reduction element  504 , EM radiation reduction element  506 , EM radiation reduction element  508 , EM radiation reduction element  510 . 
       FIG.  9    shows another embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device. As discussed above, EM radiation reducing device  500  may be configured to have a frame as well as one or more EM radiation reduction elements. As shown in  FIG.  9   , a frame, such as frame  502 , may be coupled to particular EM radiation reduction element, such as EM radiation reduction element  504 , and may provide structural support for EM radiation reduction element  504 . In the example shown in  FIG.  9   , a peripheral edge of EM radiation reduction element  504  is coupled to frame  502 , and such coupling may be implemented via a chemical or adhesive bond, or a mechanical coupling, such as the use fasteners such as nails, staples, or ties. In some embodiments, such coupling may be sealed with metallic tape. 
     As shown in  FIG.  9   , EM radiation reduction element  504  has a curved elliptical geometry that is configured to accommodate and, at least in part, encapsulate a heater. Accordingly, as will be discussed in greater detail below, a side of the heater may be surrounded by EM radiation reduction element  504 , and the geometry of the curvature of EM radiation reduction element  504  may be configured based on one or more performance characteristics and one or more geometrical features of the heater. For example, a curvature of an EM radiation reduction element may be configured to increase a surface area of EM radiation reduction element that is exposed to the EM field of its associated heating elements. 
     In one example, if the heating elements are planar heaters, EM radiation reduction elements may have a curvature that is elliptical when viewed at a cross-section. As shown in  FIG.  9   , and also further illustrated in  FIG.  11    as well as various other figures, EM radiation reduction elements may have an elliptical or spherical curvature at a center of the EM radiation reduction element, and such curvature may flatten out towards the edges of the EM radiation reduction elements to facilitate coupling with frames. In this way, the curve of the EM radiation reduction element may be tapered to provide increased ELF EM radiation reduction as well as ease of coupling with frames and installation within a sauna. It will be appreciated that while various embodiments describe elliptical or spherical curvatures, any suitable shape or geometry may be implemented. Accordingly, an EM field or distribution of EM field lines may be determined for heating elements during a design stage, and a contour or shape of a corresponding EM radiation reduction element may be configured to increase a surface area of the EM radiation reduction element that is exposed to the EM field. 
     In various embodiments, EM radiation reducing device  500  may also include electrical coupler  902  which is configured to provide electrical coupling between EM radiation reduction element  504  and another system component. For example, electrical coupler  902  may be configured to be coupled to an electrical ground, and may provide a discharge path for EM radiation reduction element  504 . In this way, the EM radiation reducing devices are coupled to a circuit ground via one or more electrical couplers. In one example, the electrical couplers are ground wires such that EM radiation reduction elements may be coupled to a circuit ground via ground wires. In this way, accumulated charge may be discharged from the EM radiation reduction elements, and may mitigate issues associated with capacitive discharge. 
     In some embodiments, wires included in electrical coupler  902  may have a crossed arrangement. However, EM radiation reducing devices disclosed herein may be implemented in a variety of ways. For example, EM radiation reducing devices might not include such crossed wires and may utilize coupling of the EM radiation reduction elements to metallized portions of the housing, or one or more ground wires directly coupled to peripheral edges of the EM radiation reduction elements. 
     Thus, according to various embodiments, portions of the housing may be metallized via utilization of metal components or application of a metallized surface, such as a metallized tape. For example, a surface of a frame, such as frame  502 , may be metallized via application of a metallized tape, and such tape may be coupled to a circuit ground. Accordingly, frame  502  may be configured as a circuit ground, and one or more arrangements of ground wires may be implemented with the EM radiation reduction elements. For example, a configuration of electrical coupler  902 , such as the crossed-arrangement or a direct coupling, may be used to ground EM radiation reduction element  504 , and such configuration may be determined based on the geometry of the EM radiation reduction element, and/or characteristics of the associated heater, such as a curvature of the heater and corresponding EM radiation reduction element  504  or design constraints of the sauna in which the heaters are implemented. 
     As will be discussed in greater detail below, housings may be configured to accommodate a heater implemented between two EM radiation reduction elements which have geometries that are configured to accommodate the heater as well as cancel EM radiation emissions from the heater. In some embodiments, to ensure that ELF EM radiation does not “leak” from the housings, additional EM radiation reduction elements may be implemented. In one example, a conductive material is attached to the back of frames on a side of the EM radiation reducing device that is not facing the interior of the chamber of the sauna, but is facing away from the interior. The sides of the conductive material may be coupled to the frame (along all sides or at the four corners), and a middle center may be pre-formed to a curved dome shape or elliptical shape that is configured similar to EM radiation reduction element  504 . The conductive material may also be coupled to a circuit ground, thus providing an additional layer of EM radiation reduction for the EM radiation reduction device. 
     As noted above and discussed in greater detail below, EM radiation reduction element  504  may be implemented in a complimentary manner with another EM radiation reduction element to encapsulate the heater and effectively mitigate EM radiation generated by the heater. Furthermore, in some embodiments, additional EM radiation reduction elements may be implemented along vertical planes around the sides of the housing to seal the heater within the EM radiation reducing device. 
       FIG.  10    shows an additional embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device. As shown in  FIG.  10   , EM radiation reducing device  500  may include two frames coupled to each other, such as frame  502  and frame  1002 , and each frame may have an EM radiation reduction element as discussed above.  FIG.  10    further illustrates heater  1004  encapsulated between the EM radiation reduction elements and electrical coupler  902  is coupled to frame  502  and its corresponding EM radiation reduction element. In various embodiments, frame  502  may be conductively coupled to frame  1002  to provide grounding for frame  1002  and its corresponding EM radiation reduction element thus reducing the number of wires utilized to implement EM radiation reducing device  500 . 
       FIG.  11    shows another embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device.  FIG.  11    shows a cross-sectional view of EM radiation reducing device  500 , as discussed above with reference to  FIG.  10   , which may include two frames coupled to each other, such as frame  502  and frame  1002 , where each frame may have an EM radiation reduction element as discussed above with reference to, for example, EM radiation reduction element  504  and EM radiation reduction element  1104 , and heater  1004  is positioned between the EM radiation reduction elements. As shown in  FIG.  11   , each EM radiation reduction element may have a dedicated discharge path as shown by electrical coupler  902  and electrical coupler  1102 . 
       FIG.  12    shows yet another embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device.  FIG.  12    shows an exploded view of EM radiation reducing device  500 , as discussed above with reference to  FIG.  10    and  FIG.  11   , which may include two frames coupled to each other, such as frame  502  and frame  1002 , where each frame may have an EM radiation reduction element as discussed above with reference to, for example, EM radiation reduction element  504  and EM radiation reduction element  1104 , and heater  1004  is positioned between the EM radiation reduction elements. As shown in  FIG.  12   , each EM radiation reduction element may have a dedicated discharge path as shown by electrical coupler  902  and electrical coupler  1102 . As also shown in  FIG.  12   , electrical coupler  902  and electrical coupler  1102  may be mechanically coupled to frame  502  and frame  1002  via mechanical fasteners. Furthermore, heater  1004 , which as discussed above may be a planar heater, may be mechanically coupled to EM radiation reducing device  500  via several couplers, such as coupler  1202 . 
     In some embodiments, such couplers may be made of an insulative and heat resistant material. For example, such couplers may be made of fiberglass or any suitable material. Moreover, the couplers may also have a groove or indentation configured based on a shape of an edge of heater  1004  thus being configured to grasp heater  1004  and hold heater  1004  in place securely. Furthermore, couplers may be implemented along three sides of EM radiation reducing device  100 , and one side may be left open. In this way, heater  1004  may be slide into and out of EM radiation reducing device  500  to provide removable coupling between the two. 
       FIG.  13    shows a further embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device. As discussed above, EM radiation reducing device  500  may include two frames, such as frame  502  and frame  1002 , coupled to each other via couplers  1202 , where each frame may have an EM radiation reduction element as discussed above, and heater  1004  is positioned between the EM radiation reduction elements. As shown in  FIG.  13   , a discharge path may be provided by electrical coupler  902 . Accordingly,  FIG.  13    provides an additional view of EM radiation reducing device  500  having heater  1004  positioned within it, and in a removable manner. 
       FIG.  14    shows another embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device. As discussed above, EM radiation reducing device  500  may include frames  502  and  1002  coupled to each other with associated EM radiation reduction elements and a discharge path may be provided.  FIG.  14    illustrates an example in which heater  1004  has been removed from EM radiation reducing device  100 , and EM radiation reducing device  500  is configured to operate as a passive EM radiation reducing device. Accordingly, when configured in this way, EM radiation reducing device  500  may still absorb and discharge ELF EM radiation from other sources, such as other heaters within the sauna, or other ambient sources such as other electrical devices and/or power supplies present within the operational environment of the sauna in which EM radiation reducing device  500  is implemented. It will be appreciated that electrical couplers such as electrical couplers  902  and  1102  may also be included, but have not been shown for clarity purposes. 
     Accordingly, EM radiation reducing devices as disclosed herein may be implemented within saunas even without heaters installed to provide general protection of a user from exposure to electrical charge generally. For example, the EM radiation reducing devices may be implemented within a sauna as an array of devices that collectively function similar to a Faraday Cage that provide a user within the sauna from protection from ambient electrical charge. In this way, protection of the user may be provided from outside electrical sources even when the heaters are not turned on or present because of the previously described configuration of the EM radiation reducing devices and their grounding arrangement. It will be appreciated that such general protection from ambient electrical charge and fields may also be provided when heaters are installed and operational. In such an example, the EM radiation reducing devices are protecting the user from electrical charge generated by the heaters, as well as ambient electrical charge. 
       FIG.  15    shows an additional embodiment of an electromagnetic radiation reducing device. As discussed above, EM radiation reducing device  500  may include frames  502  and  1002  coupled to each other with associated EM radiation reduction elements and a discharge path is provided.  FIG.  15    provides an additional view of an example in which heater  1004  has been removed from EM radiation reducing device  100 , and EM radiation reducing device  500  is configured to operate as a passive EM radiation reducing device. It will be appreciated that additional embodiments described above may be configured in this way, such as those including two conductive discharge paths. It will also be appreciated that electrical couplers such as electrical couplers  902  and  1102  may be included, but have not been shown for clarity purposes. 
     While various embodiments have been described with reference to heater  1004  which may be a planar heater, it will be appreciated that any suitable heater may be implemented with the above described embodiments of EM radiation reducing devices such as EM radiation reducing device  100 . For example, such heaters may have any suitable geometry and EM radiation reduction elements may be configured in accordance with such geometries. Moreover, such heaters may be any suitable type of heater, such as a carbon heater, metal heater, ceramic heater, or an inductive wire heater. 
       FIG.  16    illustrates an example of a sauna, configured in accordance with some embodiments. As will be discussed in greater detail below, sauna  1600  may be a climate and humidity-controlled enclosure which includes various heaters and heating elements configured to provide heat to one or more users that may be included inside the enclosure of sauna  1600 . As will also be discussed in greater detail below, components of sauna  1600  are configured to mitigate and reduce the emission of ELF EM radiation such that ELF EM radiation received by a user of sauna  1600  is reduced. In this way, effects of the ELF EM radiation upon the user are mitigated, thus enabling the efficient and effective utilization of sauna  1600  for various applications, such as therapeutic applications. 
     As discussed above, sauna  1600  may be an enclosure that is configured to accommodate one or more users in a standing and/or sitting position. Sauna  1600  includes seat  1602 , which may be a bench. In various embodiments, seat  1602  includes a plurality of EM radiation reducing devices, such as EM radiation reducing device  1604 . In various embodiments, EM radiation reducing device disclosed herein with reference to  FIG.  16    may include any and all of the features described above with reference to  FIGS.  1 - 15    and may be implemented with heaters and heating elements as discussed above. 
     Moreover, walls of sauna  1600 , such as first wall  1606  and second wall  1608 , may each include pluralities of EM radiation reducing devices as well, such as EM radiation reducing device  1610  and EM radiation reducing device  1612 . Accordingly, sauna  1600  may include numerous EM radiation reducing devices which occupy a large amount of the wall space as well as other space of sauna  1600 . As noted above, such EM radiation reducing devices may thus be implemented as a large array of EM radiation reducing devices that can be configured actively (with heaters) or passively (with heaters off or removed) to remove and/reduce ambient EM radiation. 
     In various embodiments, EM radiation reducing device  1604 , EM radiation reducing device  1610 , and EM radiation reducing device  1612  may all include the same type of heaters and heating elements, or may include different types of heaters and heating elements. For example, the heaters and heating elements may be infrared heating elements configured to emit one or more of near infrared, mid infrared, or far infrared wavelengths. Accordingly, each of the heating elements may be configured to emit a specific infrared wavelength, such as just far infrared wavelengths, or the entire band of near infrared, mid infrared, and far infrared wavelengths. In one specific example, the heating elements may be carbon fiber impregnated heating elements. 
     Sauna  1600  may also include door  1614  which may be coupled to the rest of the enclosure of sauna  1600  via one or more couplers, such as coupler  1616 . In some embodiments, coupler  1616  may be a hinge that is configured to provide free rotation of door  1614 . Sauna  1600  may further include controller  1620  which may include one or more processing components which are configured to control the operation of heating elements included in EM radiation reducing device, such as EM radiation reducing device  1604 ,  1610 , and  1612 . Accordingly, controller  1620  may include a processor configured to activate and deactivate each of the heaters included in the EM radiation reducing devices in accordance with a predetermined sequence. Controller  1620  may include additional components as well, such as a memory, a display device which may be a touchscreen, and one or more buttons. In various embodiments, controller  1620  is configured to control the operation of the heaters independently and/or in groups. 
     In the foregoing specification, embodiments have been described with reference to specific implementations. However, one of ordinary skill in the art appreciates that various modifications and changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as set forth in the claims below. Accordingly, the specification and figures are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.