US 12,449,449 B2
Power converter for a thermal system
Stanton H. Breitlow, Winona, MN (US); John F. Lemke, St. Louis, MO (US); James Hentges, Winona, MN (US); Keith Douglas Ness, St. Louis, MO (US); Eric Ellis, Columbia, MO (US); William Bohlinger, Winona, MN (US); Matthew Yender, St. Louis, MO (US); and Dean R. Mccluskey, St. Louis, MO (US)
Assigned to Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed by Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company, St. Louis, MO (US)
Filed on Apr. 29, 2020, as Appl. No. 16/861,980.
Application 16/861,980 is a continuation of application No. 15/624,060, filed on Jun. 15, 2017, granted, now 10,690,705.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/350,275, filed on Jun. 15, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2020/0256899 A1, Aug. 13, 2020
Int. Cl. H05B 1/02 (2006.01); F24D 11/02 (2006.01); G01R 19/165 (2006.01); G01R 19/22 (2006.01); G01R 19/257 (2006.01); H01L 21/67 (2006.01)
CPC G01R 19/225 (2013.01) [F24D 11/0207 (2013.01); G01R 19/16519 (2013.01); G01R 19/257 (2013.01); H01L 21/67115 (2013.01); H05B 1/0233 (2013.01); Y02B 30/17 (2018.05)] 19 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A control system for controlling a heater, the control system comprising:
a power converter being a step-down voltage converter and including a power switch, wherein the power converter is operable to generate an adjustable output voltage;
a sensor circuit configured to measure at least one of a voltage or an electric current of the heater; and
a controller connected to the power converter and the sensor circuit, wherein the controller is configured to:
determine an input parameter based on the at least one of the voltage or the electric current, wherein the input parameter is indicative of a temperature of the heater,
determine an operational state of the heater based on the input parameter, wherein the heater is configured to operate in a plurality of operational states comprising a start-up mode, a soft-start mode in which the output voltage is gradually increased, a rate mode in which the output voltage is increased at a rate higher than that of the soft-start mode, and a hold mode,
set the output voltage applied for the heater based on the input parameter and a desired setpoint, wherein the desired setpoint is based on the operational state of the heater, and
operate the power switch of the power converter to generate the output voltage.