US 12,225,635 B2
Method and system for providing variable ramp-up control for an electric heater
Brittany Phillips, St. Louis, MO (US); Stanton H. Breitlow, Winona, MN (US); and Kevin Ptasienski, O'Fallon, MO (US)
Assigned to Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed by Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed on Aug. 12, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/400,822.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/064,523, filed on Aug. 12, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2022/0053609 A1, Feb. 17, 2022
Int. Cl. H05B 1/02 (2006.01); G01K 1/02 (2021.01); G01K 3/00 (2006.01); G01K 3/14 (2006.01); G01R 19/165 (2006.01); G05D 23/19 (2006.01); H01L 21/67 (2006.01); H05B 3/22 (2006.01)
CPC H05B 1/0233 (2013.01) [G01K 1/026 (2013.01); G01K 3/005 (2013.01); G01K 3/14 (2013.01); G01R 19/16571 (2013.01); G05D 23/1904 (2013.01); H05B 3/22 (2013.01); H01L 21/67115 (2013.01); H01L 21/67248 (2013.01)] 25 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method of controlling temperature of a heater including a resistive heating element, the method comprising:
applying power to the resistive heating element of the heater at a variable ramp rate to increase a temperature of the heater to a desired temperature setpoint, wherein the variable ramp rate is set to a desired ramp rate;
monitoring an electric current flowing through the resistive heating element of the heater; and
reducing the variable ramp rate from the desired ramp rate to a permitted ramp rate in response to the electric current being greater than a lower limit of an electric current limit band based on a variable reduction factor, wherein an upper limit of the electric current limit band is provided as a system current limit.