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).

  • Publication number: 20180142902
    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: January 18, 2018
    Publication date: May 24, 2018
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Diego Neftali GUTIERREZ, Gianpiero SANTACATTERINA, Francesco FARACHI
  • Patent number: 9879864
    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: April 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 30, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Diego Neftali Gutierrez, Gianpiero Santacatterina, Francesco Farachi
  • Publication number: 20160345390
    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: August 2, 2016
    Publication date: November 24, 2016
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Enrique Corona, Fredrik Hallgren, Horacio Polli, Gianpiero Santacatterina
  • Patent number: 9420641
    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: March 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Enrique Corona, Fredrik Hallgren, Horacio Polli, Gianpiero Santacatterina
  • Publication number: 20140203012
    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: March 31, 2014
    Publication date: July 24, 2014
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ENRIQUE CORONA, FREDRIK HALLGREN, HORACIO POLLI, GIANPIERO SANTACATTERINA
  • Patent number: 8618450
    Abstract: A domestic oven comprises heating means, a gas sensor connected to a central processing and control unit and a user interface connected to the central processing unit by means of which the user can set the type of food placed in the oven compartment. The user interface comprises means for setting the desired degree of cooking of the food and is capable of processing the signal of the gas sensor in such a way as to determine the optimal cooking end time of the food. The central processing unit interrupts the electrical supply to the heating means on the basis either of said cooking end time, modified if necessary on the basis of degree of cooking set by the user, or of the food type set by the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Salvatore Sanna, Paolo Crosta, Gianpiero Santacatterina, Nicola Bedetti
  • Patent number: 8598494
    Abstract: A method for controlling power supply to the liquid contents of a cooking vessel or the like, particularly for controlling the electrical power supply in an induction heating system, wherein a predetermined thermodynamic state is detected and the user is alerted, comprises maintaining a predetermined high power condition after reaching the predetermined thermodynamic state for a predetermined time and then reducing the power supply to a predetermined level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Gianpiero Santacatterina, Jurij Paderno, Francesco Del Bello
  • Patent number: 8563905
    Abstract: A method for controlling an inductive heating system of a cooking hob provided with an induction coil is disclosed. The method controls it in connection with a predetermined working condition, comprises assessing the value of power absorbed by the system, measuring a temperature indicative of the thermal status of at least one element of the heating system, feeding the assessed power value to a computing model capable of providing an estimated value of temperature, comparing the measured temperature with the estimated temperature and tuning the computing model on the basis of such comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alessandro Boer, Francesco Del Bello, Diego Neftali Gutierrez, Jurij Paderno, Davide Parachini, Gianpiero Santacatterina
  • Patent number: 8530805
    Abstract: A method for controlling an induction heating system of a cooking appliance provided with an induction coil, particularly for controlling it in connection with a predetermined working condition, comprises measuring the value of one electrical parameter of the induction heating system, feeding a computing model with actual switching frequency signals in order to estimate a temperature indicative of the thermal status of the heating system and to provide an estimated value of the electrical parameter, and comparing the measured electrical parameter with the estimated one and tuning the computing model on the basis of such comparison.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2013
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Alessandro Boer, Francesco Del Bello, Diego Neftali Gutierrez, Jurij Paderno, Davide Parachini, Gianpiero Santacatterina
  • Patent number: 8283605
    Abstract: A method for automatically controlling the heating/cooking of a food item in a cooking oven having a door, heaters and an oven temperature acquisition system, comprising the steps of measuring the total electrical power (Pin) absorbed by the oven, measuring the oven temperature, and assessing the actual power (Pload) transferred to the food item by automatically compensating disturbance factors. A cooking oven is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ettore Arione, Alessandro Boer, Paolo Crosta, Francesco Del Bello, Davide Parachini, Gianpiero Santacatterina
  • Publication number: 20110248021
    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: April 4, 2011
    Publication date: October 13, 2011
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: DIEGO NEFTALI GUTIERREZ, GIANPIERO SANTACATTERINA, FRANCESCO FARACHI
  • Publication number: 20110114632
    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 ā€œnā€ 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, ā€œnā€ 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: November 15, 2010
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: JURIJ PADERNO, FRANCESCO DEL BELLO, DAVIDE PARACHINI, GIANPIERO SANTACATTERINA, DIEGO NEFTALI GUTIERREZ, BRIAN P. JANKE
  • Publication number: 20110089156
    Abstract: A method for controlling power supply to the liquid contents of a cooking vessel or the like, particularly for controlling the electrical power supply in an induction heating system, wherein a predetermined thermodynamic state is detected and the user is alerted, comprises maintaining a predetermined high power condition after reaching the predetermined thermodynamic state for a predetermined time and then reducing the power supply to a predetermined level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 4, 2010
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: GIANPIERO SANTACATTERINA, JURIJ PADERNO, FRANCESCO DEL BELLO
  • Publication number: 20110087382
    Abstract: A process for managing power demand of simultaneously operating appliances some of which are capable of executing multiple cycles of operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 20, 2010
    Publication date: April 14, 2011
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gianpiero Santacatterina, Matteo Santinato, Ettore Arione, Rocco Petrigliano
  • Publication number: 20100262311
    Abstract: A system and process for managing power demand of appliances. The process includes forecasting for each of the appliances a future energy consumption profile corresponding to its setting, summing the future energy consumption profiles, determining if the sum indicates one or more peaks in power demand, and providing a new energy consumption profile to one or more of the appliances to level the total power consumed by the appliances in the future.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Gianpiero Santacatterina, Matteo Santinato, Ettore Arione, Rocco Petrigliano
  • Publication number: 20100133260
    Abstract: A method for controlling an induction heating system of a cooking appliance provided with an induction coil, particularly for controlling it in connection with a predetermined working condition, comprises measuring the value of one electrical parameter of the induction heating system, feeding a computing model with actual switching frequency signals in order to estimate a temperature indicative of the thermal status of the heating system and to provide an estimated value of the electrical parameter, and comparing the measured electrical parameter with the estimated one and tuning the computing model on the basis of such comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ALESSANDRO BOER, FRANCESCO DEL BELLO, DIEGO NEFTALI GUTIERREZ, JURIJ PADERNO, DAVIDE PARACHINI, GIANPIERO SANTACATTERINA
  • Publication number: 20100138075
    Abstract: A method for controlling an inductive heating system of a cooking hob provided with an induction coil is disclosed. The method controls it in connection with a predetermined working condition, comprises assessing the value of power absorbed by the system, measuring a temperature indicative of the thermal status of at least one element of the heating system, feeding the assessed power value to a computing model capable of providing an estimated value of temperature, comparing the measured temperature with the estimated temperature and tuning the computing model on the basis of such comparison.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Publication date: June 3, 2010
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ALESSANDRO BOER, FRANCESCO DEL BELLO, DIEGO NEFTALI GUTIERREZ, JURIJ PADERNO, DAVIDE PARACHINI, GIANPIERO SANTACATTERINA
  • Publication number: 20080296285
    Abstract: A method for automatically controlling the heating/cooking of a food item in a cooking oven having a door, heaters and an oven temperature acquisition system, comprising the steps of measuring the total electrical power (Pin) absorbed by the oven, measuring the oven temperature, and assessing the actual power (Pload) transferred to the food item by automatically compensating disturbance factors. A cooking oven is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: ETTORE ARIONE, ALESSANDRO BOER, PAOLO CROSTA, FRANCESCO DEL BELLO, DAVIDE PARACHINI, GIANPIERO SANTACATTERINA
  • Publication number: 20070241099
    Abstract: A domestic oven comprises heating means, a gas sensor connected to a central processing and control unit and a user interface connected to the central processing unit by means of which the user can set the type of food placed in the oven compartment The user interface comprises means for setting the desired degree of cooking of the food and is capable of processing the signal of the gas sensor in such a way as to determine the optimal cooking end time of the food. The central processing unit interupts the electrical supply to the heating means on the basis either of said cooking end time, modified if necessary on the basis of degree of cooking set by the user, or of the food type set by the user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 3, 2004
    Publication date: October 18, 2007
    Inventors: Salvatore Sanna, Paolo Crosta, Gianpiero Santacatterina, Nicola Bedetti
  • Publication number: 20040153170
    Abstract: A process for managing and curtailing power demand of appliances and components thereof, in which each appliance has an user interface for setting working parameters of the appliance, comprises the steps of assessing for each appliance and/or component an energy consumption profile corresponding to its setting, comparing the energy consumption profiles in order to check if their sum leads to one or more peaks in power demand, and providing one or more new energy consumption profiles in order to level and/or reduce the total power absorbed by appliances or components thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2004
    Publication date: August 5, 2004
    Inventors: Gianpiero Santacatterina, Matteo Santinato, Ettore Arione, Rocco Petrigliano