US4775775A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Programmable electrical heater
Assignee: Sierra Research and Technology Inc
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Filing: 1987-06-16
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Granted: 1988-10-04
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Expires: 2007-06-16
Abstract
Abstract A programmable heater which can be electronically programmed to provide an intended heat profile and intended heater power for application of heat only to an intended area. The heater is especially adapted for use in electronic circuit board repair systems. The heater comprises a matrix of electrical heater elements arranged in row and column configuration, each element being disposed within a respective tube terminating at a nozzle plane. Individual heater elements are selectively energized and the power applied to the heating elements is controlled to provide an intended heat level. Gas or air is supplied to the heater housing and flows through the tubes and out of the nozzle openings. Only the gas flowing through the tubes containing the energized heating elements is heated to provide a selected heat profile for application to a work surface.
Inventors
- 👤 Donald J. Spigarelli
- 👤 Mark Finocchario
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-06 10:23
CPC Classifications
G; G05; G05D; G05D23/00; G05D23/19; G05D23/1927; G05D23/193; G05D23/1932; G05D23/1934; H; H05; H05K; H05K3/00; H05K3/22; H05K3/225; H05K3/30; H05K3/32; H05K3/34; H05K3/3494
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
106 words
A programmable heater comprising: A housing having a nozzle surface containing an array of nozzle openings; a plurality of tubes each coupled to a respective nozzle opening; a plurality of electrical heating elements each disposed within a respective tube; electrical interconnection means for connecting each of the heating elements to an electrical control source; electrical control means operative to selectively energize predetermined ones of the heating elements to provide an intended heat profile; means for supplying gas to the housing for flow through the tubes and through the nozzle openings; the gas flowing past the energized heating elements being heated to provide the predetermined heat profile.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
106 words
A programmable heater comprising: A housing having a nozzle surface containing an array of nozzle openings; a plurality of tubes each coupled to a respective nozzle opening; a plurality of electrical heating elements each disposed within a respective tube; electrical interconnection means for connecting each of the heating elements to an electrical control source; electrical control means operative to selectively energize predetermined ones of the heating elements to provide an intended heat profile; means for supplying gas to the housing for flow through the tubes and through the nozzle openings; the gas flowing past the energized heating elements being heated to provide the predetermined heat profile.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
25 words
The heater of claim 1 wherein one end of each of said plurality of tubes is disposed in a respective opening in the nozzle surface.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
19 words
The heater of claim 1 wherein the nozzle openings are provided in a nozzle plate affixed to the housing.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
37 words
The heater of claim 1 wherein said gas supply means includes a chamber within the housing coupled to the plurality of tubes; and means for coupling the chamber of said housing to a source of pressurized gas.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
33 words
The heater of claim 1 further including a vacuum probe disposed in said housing and having an end movable outwardly from the nozzle face for engagement with a component confronting the nozzle face.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
The heater of claim 5 wherein the vacuum probe is disposed coaxially within the plurality of nozzle openings.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
36 words
The heater of claim 1 wherein the electrical control means is also operative to provide a selected magnitude of power to the selectively energized heating elements to provide an intended heat profile and intended heat power.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
76 words
The heater of claim 1 wherein the electrical interconnection means includes: a bus strip for each row of heating elements to which one end of each heating element of that row is connected; a plurality of diodes each electrically connecting the other end of a respective heating element to a respective row terminal to which the diodes of the respective row are connected; and a conductive interconnection between each bus strip and a respective column terminal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
63 words
The heater of claim 1 wherein the plurality of electrical heating elements are disposed in a plurality of rows; the heating elements of each row being connected in common to a bus strip for that row; each of the heating coils being connected via a respective diode to a row terminal; each of the bus strips being connected to a respective column terminal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
134 words
A programmable heater comprising: a housing having a nozzle surface containing an array of nozzle openings; a plurality of tubes disposed in rows and columns within said housing each of said plurality of tubes having a first end interfacing with a respective one of said nozzle openings; a plurality of electrical heating elements having first and second ends each of said plurality of electrical heating elements disposed within a one of said plurality of tubes; electrical interconnection means for connecting each of said plurality of heating elements to an electrical control source; means to selectively energize ones of the heating elements to define a predetermined heat profile; and a vacuum probe disposed in said housing and having an end moveable outwardly from the nozzle surface of engagement with a component confronting said nozzle surface.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
134 words
A programmable heater comprising: a housing having a nozzle surface containing an array of nozzle openings; a plurality of tubes disposed in rows and columns within said housing each of said plurality of tubes having a first end interfacing with a respective one of said nozzle openings; a plurality of electrical heating elements having first and second ends each of said plurality of electrical heating elements disposed within a one of said plurality of tubes; electrical interconnection means for connecting each of said plurality of heating elements to an electrical control source; means to selectively energize ones of the heating elements to define a predetermined heat profile; and a vacuum probe disposed in said housing and having an end moveable outwardly from the nozzle surface of engagement with a component confronting said nozzle surface.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
55 words
The programmable heater of claim 10 wherein said electrical interconnection means comprises: a plurality of bus strips each interconnecting the first ends of the electrical heating elements of a single row or column; and a plurality of conducting rods each connecting a one of said plurality of interconnecting bus strips to said electrical control source.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
66 words
The programmable heater of claim 11 further comprising means for supplying gas to the housing for flow through said tubes and nozzle openings past the energized heating elements and thereby being heated to provide the predetermined heat profile and wherein the electrical control source is further operative to provide a selected magnitude of power to the selectively energized heating elements to provide an intended heat power.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
56 words
A programmable heater for providing selected heat profiles against a work surface, comprising: a housing; a plurality of electrical heating elements disposed in spaced configuration within said housing; means to selectively energize ones of said plurality of electrical heating elements; and means for directing air past said plurality of electrical heating elements to the work surface.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
56 words
A programmable heater for providing selected heat profiles against a work surface, comprising: a housing; a plurality of electrical heating elements disposed in spaced configuration within said housing; means to selectively energize ones of said plurality of electrical heating elements; and means for directing air past said plurality of electrical heating elements to the work surface.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
62 words
The heater of claim 13 further comprising: a plurality of tubes having first and second ends disposed within said housing and wherein said housing further includes a nozzle surface containing an array of nozzle openings; and a vacuum probe disposed in said housing and having an end moveable outwardly from the nozzle surface for engagement with a component confronting the nozzle surface.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
77 words
The heater of claim 14 wherein the first end of each one of said plurality of tubes interfaces with a respective one of said array of nozzle openings; each one of said plurality of electrical heating elements is disposed within a respective one of said plurality of tubes; and said heat directing means includes means for supplying gas to the housing for flow through said tubes and through said nozzle openings to provide the selected heat profile.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4536642A
Cited
US4675509A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1991-10-04 | 1992-04-04 | 1992-10-04 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1995-10-04 | 1996-04-04 | 1996-10-04 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1999-10-04 | 2000-04-04 | 2000-10-04 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |