US Patent 11576233 Resistive heater with temperature sensing power pins

A heater includes a first power pin and a second power pin made of dissimilar materials, and a resistive heating element made of a material different from those of the first and second power pins. The resistive heating element includes a first end electrically and directly connected to the first power pin to form a first thermocouple junction and a second end and electrically and directly connected to the second power pin to form a second thermocouple junction. The first and second power pins perform a dual function of supplying power to the resistive heating element and detecting changes in voltage at the first and second thermocouple junctions without interrupting the power supplied to the resistive heating element.