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US4504732A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Simulative temperature controller for a motor vehicle

Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
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Filing: 1984-01-16
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Granted: 1985-03-12
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Expires: 2004-01-16
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Abstract

Abstract A heating device for use in motor vehicles to rapidly heat combustion chambers, exhaust gas sensors, catalyzers and other associated apparatus. A resistive heating element is connected in series with a low-impedance measuring resistor and a switch across a power source, while a resistance bridge is formed with the aid of two further resistors. The diagonal bridge voltages are compared in a comparator whose output actuates a control circuit which operates the heater switch. The heater switch also provides the power for the comparator. In a first interval, constant current is applied to the heating element, while the current is pulsed during a second time interval. The switch control pulses may be provided by a free-running oscillator or one whose pulses are synchronized with the undulations of the engine starter current.

Inventors

  • 👤 Carsten Bube
  • 👤 Gerd Thiele
  • 👤 Hans Zeller

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-11-06 20:15
CPC Classifications
H; H05; H05B; H05B1/00; H05B1/02; H05B1/0227; H05B1/023; H05B1/0236; F; F02; F02P; F02P19/00; F02P19/02; F02P19/025; G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/20; G05D23/24; G05D23/2401; F02B; F02B3/00; F02B3/06

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim 204 words
A control apparatus in a motor vehicle, comprising an electrically heated device; a temperature simulating means having a resistor element connected in series with said device and an RC element connected in parallel with said device for generating a continuous simulated temperature signal over the course of the entire heating and cooling-down phase of said device and corresponding to variations in the actual temperature of said device as a result of a flow of electric current through said device; a D.C. power supply means for supplying current to said device and said temperature simulating means; a threshold switch for affecting the switching state of said heating device, connected to receive said simulated temperature signal, for generating a first output signal whenever the simulated output temperature signal exceeds a first predetermined value and for generating a second output signal whenever the simulated temperature signal falls below a second predetermined value; and current flow interrupting means, which is activated by said threshold switch output signal to intermittingly interrupt the flow of current to said device and said temperature simulation means from said electric power supply means, whereby said device is switched on an off in a closed-loop control in accordance with the temperature of said device.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 204 words
A control apparatus in a motor vehicle, comprising an electrically heated device; a temperature simulating means having a resistor element connected in series with said device and an RC element connected in parallel with said device for generating a continuous simulated temperature signal over the course of the entire heating and cooling-down phase of said device and corresponding to variations in the actual temperature of said device as a result of a flow of electric current through said device; a D.C. power supply means for supplying current to said device and said temperature simulating means; a threshold switch for affecting the switching state of said heating device, connected to receive said simulated temperature signal, for generating a first output signal whenever the simulated output temperature signal exceeds a first predetermined value and for generating a second output signal whenever the simulated temperature signal falls below a second predetermined value; and current flow interrupting means, which is activated by said threshold switch output signal to intermittingly interrupt the flow of current to said device and said temperature simulation means from said electric power supply means, whereby said device is switched on an off in a closed-loop control in accordance with the temperature of said device.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 29 words
An apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein said means for simulating the temperature is an electronic means for retaining the simulated temperature at least for a given time.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 35 words
An apparatus as defined by claim 1, wherein the heating process begins with the actuation of engine starting and terminates in dependence on operational variables and/or at a predetermined time subsequent to a starter actuation.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 36 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said temperature simulating means is electronic and further includes a process circuit comprising resistors and series-connected transistors, and a resistor-diode network for rendering said circuit independent of operational voltage.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
An apparatus as defined by claim 1, installed in self-igniting internal combustion engine as a glow heater.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 21 words
An apparatus as defined by claim 1, installed in an internal combustion engine as a heater for the exhaust gas sensor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 17 words
An apparatus according to claim 1, wherein further, said first predetermined value equals said second predetermined value.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3794808A Cited
US3881085A Cited
US3944893A Cited
US3973140A Cited
DE2446590A1 Cited
US4072997A Cited
US4106465A Cited
US4130853A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1988-03-11 1988-09-10 1989-03-12 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1992-03-11 1992-09-10 1993-03-12 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 1996-03-11 1996-09-10 1997-03-12 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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