Patent ID: 6884973

Claim:
A heating pad, comprising: a heating element; controls for determining the amount of power supplied to the heating element, the controls comprising: power nodes for connecting to an AC power source; a multiple position switch having at least two settings other than off, each of the settings comprising a separate set of contacts, the multiple position switch being connected to the power nodes and the heating element, the different settings on the multiple position switch representing different heat output settings for the heating element; a plurality of indicators, at least one each corresponding to each of the at least two settings of the multiple position switch; and a plurality of diodes connected between the power nodes and the multiple position switch, the diodes being arranged so that different indicators are supplied power when the multiple position switch is in the at least two settings; for each setting of the multiple position switch, the set of contacts and the plurality of diodes being arranged and configured when the multiple position switch is at the setting to both supply power from the power nodes to the heating element and supply power from power nodes to the corresponding indicator for the setting so that the indicator provides a signal.