Patents Examined by Tu Ba Hoang
  • Patent number: 7667162
    Abstract: During fabrication, a rotating semiconductor substrate is radiated in accordance with a thermal recipe. Temperature measurements of the semiconductor substrate are obtained along with the position of the semiconductor substrate at the time of each temperature measurement. It is then determined for the position of the semiconductor substrate whether at least one particular temperature measurement of the temperature measurements should be filtered. If so, at least one filtered temperature measurement is obtained. The radiation of the semiconductor substrate is subsequently controlled based on the temperature measurements, the at least one filtered temperature measurement, and the thermal recipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfgang R. Aderhold, Balasubramanian Ramachandran, Leonid M. Tertitski, Patrick F. Stone
  • Patent number: 7423239
    Abstract: A laminated panel element that includes at least two rigid panes, for example glass panes, bonded to each other on their surfaces, which are each provided, over their whole surface, with an electrically conductive coating that can be heated by application of a voltage via electrodes. One of the two rigid panes is provided with a cut-out allowing the passage of external electrical connections that are in electrical contact with the two coatings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 9, 2008
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventor: Detlef Mann
  • Patent number: 7390993
    Abstract: An electrical sleeve heater for an element having a generally cylindrical outer surface. The heater has a generally helical coil centered on an axis and having a pair of opposite coil ends, a pair of generally coaxial, axially aligned, and similar tubes each fixed to a respective one of the coil ends and surrounding the coil so that relative rotation of the coil can radially increase or decrease an inside diameter of the coil. The tubes having axially adjacent inner ends and outer ends, and means for releasably fixing together the coil inner ends.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2008
    Assignee: Hotset Heizpatronen U. Zubehor GmbH
    Inventors: Udo Liebram, Anita Sattler, legal representative, Hendrik Wölper, Peter Sattler
  • Patent number: 7388173
    Abstract: Heating cable comprising a first insulated conductor (1) and a second insulated conductor (2), which are located in a common sheath (4,5,6), wherein the first conductor (1) consists of electrical resistance material and the second conductor (2) consists of electrical resistance material or a material of high conductivity and wherein the first and second conductors (1,2) comprise first end regions (1b,2b) and second end regions (1c,2c) of a material of high conductivity and wherein end regions (1c,2c) of the first and second conductors (1,2) are electrically interconnected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2008
    Assignee: Nexans
    Inventors: Arne Sundal, Jon Snesrud
  • Patent number: 7381926
    Abstract: A batch processing chamber comprising a top plate having at least one opening, and sidewalls, wherein the sidewalls and the top plate define a process volume. At least one removable heater is generally disposed in the process volume, wherein the at least one removable heater can be inserted or removed from the at least one opening of the top plate. In one embodiment, the at least one removable heater is resistive heater constructed in ceramic. In another embodiment, at least one heater container is disposed in the process volume via the at least one opening of the top plate and the at least one heater may operate in atmospheric conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 3, 2008
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph Yudovsky, Robert C. Cook
  • Patent number: 7375303
    Abstract: An electrode for a plasma arc cutting torch which minimizes the deposition of high emissivity material on the nozzle, reduces electrode wear, and improves cut quality. The electrode has a body having a first end, a second end in a spaced relationship relative to the first end, and an outer surface extending from the first end to the second end. The body has an end face disposed at the second end. The electrode also includes at least one passage extending from a first opening in the body to a second opening in the end face. A controller can control the electrode gas flow through the passages as a function of a plasma arc torch parameter. Methods for operating the plasma arc cutting torch with the electrode are disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Hypertherm, Inc.
    Inventor: Peter J. Twarog
  • Patent number: 7375308
    Abstract: Disclosed is a breathable heater element for a garment or for the lining of a garment such as an outdoor jacket, e.g. a waterproof jacket. The heater element is formed from porous metallised fabric such a nickel plated woven polyester fabric by photochemical etching of a suitable track pattern onto the metallised fabric. The formed heater element is then laminated into a lining. The material of the lining may be impregnated with microencapsulated functional chemicals such as fragrances, perfumes, antimicrobials or insect repellents. The microcapsules release their contents on activation due to heat generated by the heater element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: NEL Technologies Limited
    Inventor: Patrick Ferguson
  • Patent number: 7375302
    Abstract: An electrode for a plasma arc cutting torch which minimizes the deposition of high emissivity material on the nozzle, reduces electrode wear, and improves cut quality. The electrode has a body having a first end, a second end in a spaced relationship relative to the first end, and an outer surface extending from the first end to the second end. The body has an end face disposed at the second end. The electrode also includes at least one passage extending from a first opening in the body to a second opening in the end face.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2008
    Assignee: Hypertherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Peter J. Twarog, Charles M. Hackett, David J. Cook, Bruce P. Altobelli, David L. Bouthillier
  • Patent number: 7372005
    Abstract: A water heater having a powered electrode and a method of controlling the water heater. The water heater includes a tank to hold water, a heating element, an electrode, and a control circuit. The control circuit includes a variable voltage supply, a voltage sensor, and a current sensor. The control circuit is configured to controllably apply a voltage to the electrode, determine the potential of the electrode relative to the tank with the voltage sensor when the voltage does not power the electrode, determine a current applied to the tank after the voltage powers the electrode, determine a conductivity state of the water in the tank based on the electrode potential and the current, and define the voltage applied to the powered electrode based on the conductivity state. The control circuit of the water heater can also determine whether the water heater is in a dry-fire state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 13, 2008
    Assignee: AOS Holding Company
    Inventors: Ray Oliver Knoeppel, Thomas Gerard Van Sistine, Mark Allan Murphy
  • Patent number: 7365288
    Abstract: A heater assembly for a dryer is stably assembled and reduces noise. The heater assembly for a dryer includes hot wires electrically heated an insulator provided with a groove at the center, having lower and upper portions into which the hot wires are fixed, and a partition plate including an insertion hole into which the insulator is inserted and at least one clamp portion provided at the rim of the insertion hole and fixed into the groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jong Chul Bang
  • Patent number: 7358464
    Abstract: A method for temperature measurement in a household appliance includes generating a high-frequency electromagnetic excitation wave of a predefined transmit frequency. The transmit frequency is selected from a frequency band including temperature-dependent resonant frequencies that occur in a surface wave device incorporated in a temperature measuring probe and which respectively correspond to temperatures expected at the temperature measuring probe during operation of the household appliance. During a first phase, the excitation wave is wirelessly transmitting to the surface wave device. During a second phase following the first phase, an electromagnetic response wave generated by the excitation wave in the surface wave device is wirelessly transmitting to a processing unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2008
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Dominic Beier, Wenzel Meierfrankenfeld
  • Patent number: 7355153
    Abstract: A liner unit for a microwave oven. The liner unit has a plurality of disposable liners in a stack and which are adhered to each other to be peeled off each other. Each liner is disposable and will protect the interior surfaces of the oven against splatters and spills. After use, the liner is simply peeled off the stack of liners and discarded. Each of the liners has openings associated with a microwave oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Inventor: Pasquale J. Nuzzolillo
  • Patent number: 7355146
    Abstract: A heating unit for a vehicle features a radial fan (100) having a housing (110), which housing has an air inlet (116) and an air exit opening (118). The heating unit has an air-directing device (140) that guides an air flow in a pressure chamber (115) of the housing (110) to the exit opening (118). Arranged in the housing (110) is a radial fan wheel (130) that serves to generate a flow from the air inlet (116) via the pressure chamber (115) to the air exit opening (118). Also provided is an electrical heating element, e.g. a PTC (Positive Temperature Coefficient) heating element (125), that serves to transfer heat to the air flow generated by the fan. Air-directing elements (632, 634, 636, 638) are provided between the exit opening (118) and the heating element (125), in order to generate an air flow having a more uniform (680) velocity distribution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2008
    Assignee: ebm-papst St. Georgen GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Walter Georg Angelis, Wolfgang Arno Winkler
  • Patent number: 7351934
    Abstract: A low voltage warming blanket adapted for use in vehicles powered by the vehicles DC power source is provided with a control selectively actuatable to activate the blanket for one of a plurality of preset time periods at at least one pre-set temperature, the control having a reset button to reinitiate activation upon expiration of the time period, the blanket being provided with thermal sensors preventing overheating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 1, 2008
    Inventor: Gary Devroy
  • Patent number: 7342201
    Abstract: A ceramic heating element arrangement in which a ceramic heating element made of SiC having electrical NTC (negative temperature coefficient) properties is provided for a circuit. At least one segment is provided in the circuit, whose resistance saturates at least quasi-asymptotically at the current flow required for a desired heat development.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2008
    Assignee: Nanogate AG
    Inventors: Martin Heuberger, Michael Kuntz, Rüdiger Nass
  • Patent number: 7339138
    Abstract: A supporting rack includes arranged rods arranged to form a planar grid pattern and connection device to allow for modification in the overall space occupied by the rack. In a preferred embodiment, a rack for use in a conventional domestic cooking oven is formed of perpendicularly disposed rods of material such as stainless steel suitable for withstanding the temperatures to which such an oven may be subjected and has an outer frame capable of interfacing with support inside oven walls, and generally centrally disposed hinged mechanism to allow folding of the portions of the rack to reduce its size and facilitate handling when performing tasks such as cleaning the rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 4, 2008
    Inventor: Jean Gillis Brooks
  • Patent number: 7335857
    Abstract: A rod-shaped heating element with a tubular carrier element attached to a cylindrical carrier ring and to the rod-shaped heating element using a magnetic forming process, the carrier ring and the rod-shaped heating element being within the tubular carrier element with the outer circumferential surface of the carrier ring contacting the inner circumferential surface of the tubular carrier element. As a result of the parts having been joined by magnetic forming, they are in a plastically deformed state which is free of thermal treatment effects and scuffing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2008
    Assignee: Beru AG
    Inventor: Martin Eller
  • Patent number: 7332695
    Abstract: A carbon heating element having an arbitrary specific resistance and an arbitrary shape which are arbitrary necessary as a heating element, and a method of producing the same. The carbon heating element is obtained by uniformly dispersing one or at least two metal or metalloid compounds into a composition having shapability and showing a high yield of a carbon residue after firing, shaping the dispersed material-containing mixture thus obtained, and firing the shaped material under a nonoxidizing atmosphere.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Pencil Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Suda, Osamu Shimizu
  • Patent number: 7332694
    Abstract: A heating resistance 1 comprises a shaped body of a band made of a conductive material obtained by bending the band in a shape of a wave. The heating resistance 1 is fixed to a substrate made of an insulating material to obtain a heater. Alternatively, the heating resistance comprises a wound body of a band made of a conductive material. According to the present invention, the heating value per a unit length can be easily designed and changed, and the reliability can be improved and abnormal heat generation can be prevented at the interface where the heating value per a unit length is changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2008
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Yoshinobu Goto
  • Patent number: RE40181
    Abstract: The invention relates to an infrared radiator with a heating element containing carbon fibers disposed in a quartz glass tube, with its ends connected to contact elements running through the wall of the quartz glass tube. The known radiators are improved by the fact that the heating element is spaced away from the wall of the quartz glass tube and it is centered on the axis of the quartz glass tube by means of spacers. The invention furthermore relates to a method by which the infrared radiator is operated at heating element temperatures greater than 1000° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2008
    Assignee: Heraeus Noblelight GmbH
    Inventors: Joachim Scherzer, Siegfried Grob