Patents by Inventor Julia Fonseca

Julia Fonseca 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: 8102080
    Abstract: A control system for determining a magnitude of a voltage and controlling an application of the voltage to at least one load device of an appliance is disclosed. The control system includes a threshold-crossing circuit configured to receive a representation of the voltage and to provide an output signifying the voltage crossing a predetermined voltage threshold; and a processor which receives the output from the threshold-crossing circuit and determine the magnitude of the voltage based on the output and a line frequency based on the period of the output, determines an initial cooking profile from a group of cooking profiles based on a user selected initial setting for controlling the application of the voltage to the at least one load device, and adjusts the application of the voltage to the at least one load device based on the determined magnitude of the voltage.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Julia Fonseca, Robert Marten Bultman, Bobby Hayes
  • Patent number: 7819540
    Abstract: A control device for a household appliance is disclosed. The control device includes a control panel having a front panel and a panel lip extending outward from the front panel; a plurality of controls for selectively controlling operation of the appliance, the controls being disposed on the front panel; and a plurality of lighting devices supported by the panel lip for illuminating the respective controls. A household appliance such as a gas range incorporating the control device is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 26, 2010
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Desmet, Daniel Joseph Trice, Julia Fonseca, H. Richard Bowles
  • Publication number: 20090296371
    Abstract: A control device for a household appliance is disclosed. The control device includes a control panel having a front panel and a panel lip extending outward from the front panel; a plurality of controls for selectively controlling operation of the appliance, the controls being disposed on the front panel; and a plurality of lighting devices supported by the panel lip for illuminating the respective controls. A household appliance such as a gas range incorporating the control device is also disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 28, 2008
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: James DESMET, Daniel Joseph Trice, Julia Fonseca, H. Richard Bowles
  • Publication number: 20090294434
    Abstract: A control system for determining a magnitude of a voltage and controlling an application of the voltage to at least one load device of an appliance is disclosed. The control system includes a threshold-crossing circuit configured to receive a representation of the voltage and to provide an output signifying the voltage crossing a predetermined voltage threshold; and a processor which receives the output from the threshold-crossing circuit and determine the magnitude of the voltage based on the output and a line frequency based on the period of the output, determines an initial cooking profile from a group of cooking profiles based on a user selected initial setting for controlling the application of the voltage to the at least one load device, and adjusts the application of the voltage to the at least one load device based on the determined magnitude of the voltage.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2009
    Publication date: December 3, 2009
    Inventors: Julia Fonseca, Robert Marten Bultman, Bobby Hayes
  • Publication number: 20090167085
    Abstract: An appliance is provided with an improved power management system for controlling the total amount of current provided to at least a first load device of the appliance. The power management system is comprised of a microprocessor, an alternating current voltage source, a voltage regulating circuit, a clamping circuit, at least one load device, and a MOC and a triac for each of the at least two load devices. The clamping circuit outputs a fixed voltage of 5.7 volts during the positive portion of the ac cycle and a fixed voltage of ?0.7 volts during the negative portion of the ac cycle. The fixed voltages are input to a microprocessor which utilizes these inputs to control the average voltage and the amount of time the current is turned on to each of the at least first and second load devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2007
    Publication date: July 2, 2009
    Inventors: Julia Fonseca, Robert Marten Bultman, Bobby Hayes