Multi-function infrared heating device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9296275-B2
Application number	US-201313734316-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jan 4, 2013
Priority date	Jan 4, 2013
Publication date	Mar 29, 2016
Grant date	Mar 29, 2016

Abstract

A vehicle infrared heating assembly including an infrared energy source within a housing. A first conduit extends from the housing to direct infrared energy generated by the infrared energy source to a windshield of a vehicle. A second conduit extends from the housing to direct the infrared energy to a passenger cabin of the vehicle.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle infrared heating assembly comprising:
an infrared energy source within a housing which is generally cylindrical;
a first conduit extending from the housing to direct infrared energy generated by the infrared energy source to a windshield of a vehicle; and
a second conduit extending from the housing to direct the infrared energy to a passenger cabin of the vehicle, wherein:
the housing includes a reflective inner surface operable to at least partially reflect the infrared energy.

2. The vehicle infrared heating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the infrared energy source is an infrared light.

3. The vehicle infrared heating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first conduit is a fiber optic cable.

4. The vehicle infrared heating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a first door rotatable between a first position in which the first door permits passage of infrared energy through the first conduit, and a second position in which the first door restricts passage of infrared energy through the first conduit.

5. The vehicle infrared heating assembly of claim 4 , further comprising a second door rotatable between a first position in which the second door permits passage of infrared energy through the second conduit, and a second position in which the second door restricts passage of infrared energy through the second conduit.

6. The vehicle infrared heating assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a third conduit extending from the housing to direct the infrared energy to the passenger cabin of the vehicle;
wherein the second conduit is configured to extend towards an upper portion of the passenger cabin, and the third conduit is configured to extend towards a lower portion of the passenger cabin.

7. The vehicle infrared heating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the vehicle infrared heating assembly includes only a single infrared energy source.

8. The vehicle infrared heating assembly of claim 1 , wherein the infrared energy source is a first infrared energy source, the assembly further comprising:
a second infrared energy source within the housing;
a divider within the housing separating the housing into a first portion including the first infrared energy source and a second portion including the second infrared energy source, the divider at least substantially restricts passage of infrared energy therethrough, the first conduit and the second conduit extend from the first portion of the housing to conduct infrared energy generated by the first infrared energy source;
a third conduit extending from the second portion of the housing to direct infrared energy generated by the second infrared energy source to the windshield of the vehicle; and
a fourth conduit extending from the second portion of the housing to direct infrared energy generated by the second infrared energy source to the passenger cabin of the vehicle.

Assignees

• Denso Int America Inc

Inventors

• Huyghe Erik P

Classifications

• F24H3/0429

  For vehicles · CPC title

• B60H2001/229

  Integration into an air outlet · CPC title

• F01P2060/08

  Cabin heater · CPC title

• B60H1/2225 Primary

  arrangements of electric heaters for heating air · CPC title

• F24H9/0063

  in air channels · CPC title