Patents Assigned to E.G.O. North America, Inc.
  • Systems and methods of using multiple microcontrollers for fail-safe control and enhanced feature operation of an appliance
    Patent number: 7069109
    Abstract: Multiple microcontrollers are used in controlling operation of an appliance thereby providing enhanced safety. User input deactivating the appliance is received and processed by a first and second microcontrollers, which separately and independently act to remove power from the appliance upon receipt of user input. Failure of one microcontroller in processing user input does not result in the appliance entering into an unsafe mode. Further, a third processor in a power supply module is used to control power into, and out of, the power supply module, so that under certain conditions, power may be remove from the system entirely or to certain components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: E.G.O. North America, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeff Huffington
  • Systems and methods for providing variable output feedback to a user of a household appliance
    Patent number: 7069090
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention uses an on-board microcontroller of a household appliance to receive signals from a directionless encoder attached to a knob for receiving user input and processing the signals from the direction encoder according to a control algorithm. The microcontroller may increase the output to an electric heating element on the appliance based on a variety of criteria, including either direction of rotation, current heating element setting, or a change in directional rotation. Alternatively, or in addition, the microcontroller may provide various types of graduate visual or aural feedback to the user regarding the output provided by the microcontroller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2006
    Assignee: E.G.O. North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeff Huffington, Alton Harkcom
  • Touch and proximity sensor control systems and methods with improved signal and noise differentiation
    Patent number: 6998545
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a novel new technique for detecting an intended activation of a touch sensor in the presence of noise. An algorithm is described that compares a cumulative deviation of a touch sensor reading to a scale to obtain a ratio expressed as a percentage. The percentage is compared against a target threshold and the period required to reach the threshold is examined to determine whether the rise or fall in touch sensor readings is attributable to a touch or to system noise. Additional disclosed embodiments describe circuits configured to operate in a noisy environment and have touch sensors arranged as arrays that are capable of detecting a direction and speed of a human-like contact.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Assignee: E.G.O. North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Alton Harkcom, David A. Dettweiler