Patents by Inventor Gianpiero Santacatterina

Gianpiero Santacatterina has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11979962
    Abstract: A method for controlling an induction heating system, particularly an induction heating system of a cooktop on which a cooking utensil with a certain contents is placed for heating/cooking purposes, comprises the steps of carrying out a predetermined number “n” of electrical measurements of a first electrical parameter of the heating system on the basis of a predetermined electrical value of a second electrical parameter, “n” being ?2, repeating the above set of measurements at a predetermined time after the first measurements, and estimating at least one thermal parameter of the heating system, particularly of the contents of the cooking utensil, on the basis of the above set of measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2024
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jurij Paderno, Francesco Del Bello, Davide Parachini, Gianpiero Santacatterina, Diego Neftali Gutierrez, Brian P. Janke
  • Patent number: 11686477
    Abstract: A cooking appliance can include a cooking chamber and an imaging device for capturing an image of a food item inside the chamber. The appliance can include a transparent, touchscreen display for displaying the interior contents of the cooking appliance to a user without requiring the user to open the cooking appliance, as well as providing for the user controlling, operating, and interacting with the cooking appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alexander L. Clayton, Brandon Satanek, Michael Tsai, Christopher Cullen, Heng Tong Pit, Donald John Gilmore, Cristiano Vito Pastore, Matthew P. Ebrom, Pallavi Manjrekar, Bruce Wiatrak, John Doyle, Joshua Abdoo, Ariana Bruno, Neomar Giacomini, Tamara Distaso, Gianpiero Santacatterina, Seth Herndon
  • Patent number: 11490469
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus includes a cavity arranged to receive a load. At least one microwave generator is configured to feed a plurality of microwaves into the cavity. At least one image-capturing device and a control unit is adapted to obtain load volume information of the load within the cavity based on information recorded by the image-capturing device about at least one portion of the load, obtain load density information using at least one of a user input and information recorded by the image-capturing device about at least one portion of the load, determine load mass information based upon the load volume information and the load density information, determine a heating pattern based upon the load mass information and control the at least one microwave generator to provide the heating pattern within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Enrique Corona, Fredrik Hallgren, Horacio Polli, Gianpiero Santacatterina
  • Patent number: 11395380
    Abstract: A method of heating a load in a cavity using microwaves wherein the microwaves provide mode fields in the cavity includes obtaining a desired temperature pattern within said cavity based on information about regions of the load. A heating pattern in the cavity is determined and comprises zones of different intensities corresponding to the desired temperature pattern. A zone of higher intensity in the determined heating pattern corresponds to a region of higher temperature in the desired temperature pattern. The method also includes controlling one or more independently controllable microwave generators or feeding ports so the mode fields form the determined heating pattern and thereby heat the load according to the desired temperature pattern.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2022
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Fredrik Hallgren, Davide Parachini, Gianpiero Santacatterina, Daniele Devito
  • Publication number: 20220170644
    Abstract: A cooking appliance can include a cooking chamber and an imaging device for capturing an image of a food item inside the chamber. The appliance can include a transparent, touchscreen display for displaying the interior contents of the cooking appliance to a user without requiring the user to open the cooking appliance, as well as providing for the user controlling, operating, and interacting with the cooking appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 18, 2022
    Publication date: June 2, 2022
    Inventors: ALEXANDER L. CLAYTON, BRANDON SATANEK, MICHAEL TSAI, CHRISTOPHER CULLEN, HENG TONG PIT, DONALD JOHN GILMORE, CRISTIANO VITO PASTORE, MATTHEW P. EBROM, PALLAVI MANJREKAR, BRUCE WIATRAK, JOHN DOYLE, JOSHUA ABDOO, ARIANA BRUNO, NEOMAR GIACOMINI, TAMARA DISTASO, GIANPIERO SANTACATTERINA, SETH HERNDON
  • Patent number: 11287140
    Abstract: A cooking appliance can include a cooking chamber and an imaging device for capturing an image of a food item inside the chamber. The appliance can include a transparent, touchscreen display for displaying the interior contents of the cooking appliance to a user without requiring the user to open the cooking appliance, as well as providing for the user controlling, operating, and interacting with the cooking appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventors: Alexander L. Clayton, Brandon Satanek, Michael Tsai, Christopher Cullen, Heng Tong Pit, Donald John Gilmore, Cristiano Vito Pastore, Matthew P. Ebrom, Pallavi Manjrekar, Bruce Wiatrak, John Doyle, Joshua Abdoo, Ariana Bruno, Neomar Giacomini, Tamara Distaso, Gianpiero Santacatterina, Seth Herndon
  • Patent number: 11022322
    Abstract: A cooking appliance can include a cooking chamber and an imaging device for capturing an image of a food item inside the chamber. The appliance can include a transparent, touchscreen display for displaying the interior contents of the cooking appliance to a user without requiring the user to open the cooking appliance, as well as providing for the user controlling, operating, and interacting with the cooking appliance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 1, 2021
    Inventors: Alexander L. Clayton, Brandon Satanek, Michael Tsai, Christopher Cullen, Heng Tong Pit, Donald John Gilmore, Cristiano Vito Pastore, Matthew P. Ebrom, Pallavi Manjrekar, Bruce Wiatrak, John Doyle, Joshua Abdoo, Ariana Bruno, Neomar Giacomini, Tamara Distaso, Gianpiero Santacatterina, Seth Herndon
  • Patent number: 10995963
    Abstract: A movable cooking appliance comprises a structure which is adapted to be placed on a kitchen worktop appliance or inside a cooking oven appliance and includes a heating element and releasable connector assembly for making electrical connection with power supply connectors. The heating element is an induction heating element and an electronic driving unit is mounted on the appliance. The releasable connector assembly comprising a plug connector having a plurality of terminals designed in order to provide a disconnection signal to the electronic unit before the power supply connectors are fully extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 4, 2021
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Diego Neftali Gutierrez, Gianpiero Santacatterina, Francesco Farachi
  • Publication number: 20200217514
    Abstract: A cooking appliance can include a cooking chamber and an imaging device for capturing an image of a food item inside the chamber. The appliance can include a transparent, touchscreen display for displaying the interior contents of the cooking appliance to a user without requiring the user to open the cooking appliance, as well as providing for the user controlling, operating, and interacting with the cooking appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: ALEXANDER L. CLAYTON, BRANDON SATANEK, MICHAEL TSAI, CHRISTOPHER CULLEN, HENG TONG PIT, DONALD JOHN GILMORE, CRISTIANO VITO PASTORE, MATTHEW P. EBROM, PALLAVI MANJREKAR, BRUCE WIATRAK, JOHN DOYLE, JOSHUA ABDOO, ARIANA BRUNO, NEOMAR GIACOMINI, TAMARA DISTASO, GIANPIERO SANTACATTERINA, SETH HERNDON
  • Publication number: 20200217513
    Abstract: A cooking appliance can include a cooking chamber and an imaging device for capturing an image of a food item inside the chamber. The appliance can include a transparent, touchscreen display for displaying the interior contents of the cooking appliance to a user without requiring the user to open the cooking appliance, as well as providing for the user controlling, operating, and interacting with the cooking appliance.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 27, 2019
    Publication date: July 9, 2020
    Inventors: ALEXANDER L. CLAYTON, BRANDON SATANEK, MICHAEL TSAI, CHRISTOPHER CULLEN, HENG TONG PIT, DONALD JOHN GILMORE, CRISTIANO VITO PASTORE, MATTHEW P. EBROM, PALLAVI MANJREKAR, BRUCE WIATRAK, JOHN DOYLE, JOSHUA ABDOO, ARIANA BRUNO, NEOMAR GIACOMINI, TAMARA DISTASO, GIANPIERO SANTACATTERINA, SETH HERNDON
  • Publication number: 20200077473
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus includes a cavity arranged to receive a load. At least one microwave generator is configured to feed a plurality of microwaves into the cavity. At least one image-capturing device and a control unit is adapted to obtain load volume information of the load within the cavity based on information recorded by the image-capturing device about at least one portion of the load, obtain load density information using at least one of a user input and information recorded by the image-capturing device about at least one portion of the load, determine load mass information based upon the load volume information and the load density information, determine a heating pattern based upon the load mass information and control the at least one microwave generator to provide the heating pattern within the cavity.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2019
    Publication date: March 5, 2020
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Enrique Corona, Fredrik Hallgren, Horacio Polli, Gianpiero Santacatterina
  • Patent number: 10506671
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus includes a cavity arranged to receive a load. At least one microwave generator is configured to feed a plurality of microwaves into the cavity. At least one image-capturing device and a control unit is adapted to obtain load volume information of the load within the cavity based on information recorded by the image-capturing device about at least one portion of the load, obtain load density information using at least one of a user input and information recorded by the image-capturing device about at least one portion of the load, determine load mass information based upon the load volume information and the load density information, determine a heating pattern based upon the load mass information and control the at least one microwave generator to provide the heating pattern within the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Enrique Corona, Fredrik Hallgren, Horacio Polli, Gianpiero Santacatterina
  • Publication number: 20190219272
    Abstract: A movable cooking appliance comprises a structure which is adapted to be placed on a kitchen worktop appliance or inside a cooking oven appliance and includes a heating element and releasable connector assembly for making electrical connection with power supply connectors. The heating element is an induction heating element and an electronic driving unit is mounted on the appliance. The releasable connector assembly comprising a plug connector having a plurality of terminals designed in order to provide a disconnection signal to the electronic unit before the power supply connectors are fully extracted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 28, 2019
    Publication date: July 18, 2019
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Diego Neftali GUTIERREZ, Gianpiero SANTACATTERINA, Francesco FARACHI
  • Publication number: 20190208587
    Abstract: A method of heating a load in a cavity using microwaves wherein the microwaves provide mode fields in the cavity includes obtaining a desired temperature pattern within said cavity based on information about regions of the load. A heating pattern in the cavity is determined and comprises zones of different intensities corresponding to the desired temperature pattern. A zone of higher intensity in the determined heating pattern corresponds to a region of higher temperature in the desired temperature pattern. The method also includes controlling one or more independently controllable microwave generators or feeding ports so the mode fields form the determined heating pattern and thereby heat the load according to the desired temperature pattern.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 7, 2019
    Publication date: July 4, 2019
    Inventors: FREDRIK HALLGREN, DAVIDE PARACHINI, GIANPIERO SANTACATTERINA, DANIELE DEVITO
  • Patent number: 10288297
    Abstract: A movable cooking appliance comprises a structure which is adapted to be placed on a kitchen worktop appliance or inside a cooking oven appliance and includes a heating element and releasable connector assembly for making electrical connection with power supply connectors. The heating element is an induction heating element and an electronic driving unit is mounted on the appliance. The releasable connector assembly comprising a plug connector having a plurality of terminals designed in order to provide a disconnection signal to the electronic unit before the power supply connectors are fully extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Diego Neftali Gutierrez, Gianpiero Santacatterina, Francesco Farachi
  • Patent number: 10271388
    Abstract: A microwave heating apparatus and a method of heating a load using microwaves is disclosed. The microwave heating apparatus comprises a cavity arranged to receive a load, a plurality of feeding ports for feeding microwaves from a plurality of microwave generators to the cavity, and a control unit. The control unit is configured to obtain a desired temperature pattern within the cavity based on information about a plurality of regions of the load. The control unit is also configured to determine a heating pattern comprising zones of different intensities corresponding to the desired temperature pattern, and control at least one of the plurality of microwave generators for providing the heating pattern within the cavity. The apparatus and method may provide heating of a load according to different desired temperatures in various parts of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Fredrik Hallgren, Davide Parachini, Gianpiero Santacatterina, Daniele Devito
  • Publication number: 20190069352
    Abstract: A method for controlling an induction heating system, particularly an induction heating system of a cooktop on which a cooking utensil with a certain contents is placed for heating/cooking purposes, comprises the steps of carrying out a predetermined number “n” of electrical measurements of a first electrical parameter of the heating system on the basis of a predetermined electrical value of a second electrical parameter, “n” being ?2, repeating the above set of measurements at a predetermined time after the first measurements, and estimating at least one thermal parameter of the heating system, particularly of the contents of the cooking utensil, on the basis of the above set of measurements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2018
    Publication date: February 28, 2019
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jurij PADERNO, Francesco DEL BELLO, Davide PARACHINI, Gianpiero SANTACATTERINA, Diego Neftali GUTIERREZ, Brian P. JANKE
  • Publication number: 20180347825
    Abstract: A movable cooking appliance comprises a structure which is adapted to be placed on a kitchen worktop appliance or inside a cooking oven appliance and includes a heating element and releasable connector assembly for making electrical connection with power supply connectors. The heating element is an induction heating element and an electronic driving unit is mounted on the appliance. The releasable connector assembly comprising a plug connector having a plurality of terminals designed in order to provide a disconnection signal to the electronic unit before the power supply connectors are fully extracted.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 8, 2018
    Publication date: December 6, 2018
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Diego Neftali GUTIERREZ, Gianpiero SANTACATTERINA, Francesco FARACHI
  • Patent number: 10136477
    Abstract: A method for controlling an induction heating system, particularly an induction heating system of a cooktop on which a cooking utensil with a certain contents is placed for heating/cooking purposes, comprises the steps of carrying out a predetermined number “n” of electrical measurements of a first electrical parameter of the heating system on the basis of a predetermined electrical value of a second electrical parameter, “n” being ?2, repeating the above set of measurements at a predetermined time after the first measurements, and estimating at least one thermal parameter of the heating system, particularly of the contents of the cooking utensil, on the basis of the above set of measurements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Jurij Paderno, Francesco Del Bello, Davide Parachini, Gianpiero Santacatterina, Diego Neftali Gutierrez, Brian P. Janke
  • Patent number: 10054316
    Abstract: A movable cooking appliance comprises a structure which is adapted to be placed on a kitchen worktop appliance or inside a cooking oven appliance and includes a heating element and releasable connector assembly for making electrical connection with power supply connectors. The heating element is an induction heating element and an electronic driving unit is mounted on the appliance. The releasable connector assembly comprising a plug connector having a plurality of terminals designed in order to provide a disconnection signal to the electronic unit before the power supply connectors are fully extracted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Diego Neftali Gutierrez, Gianpiero Santacatterina, Francesco Farachi