Patents by Inventor Mark L. Herman

Mark L. Herman 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: 9546817
    Abstract: A method for drying an article with a radio frequency (RF) applicator having anode elements and cathode elements includes capacitively coupling the anode elements, capacitively coupling the cathode elements, capacitively coupling an anode element to a cathode element, and energizing the RF applicator to generate an RF field between anode and cathode elements wherein liquid residing within the field will be dielectrically heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Mark L. Herman, Garry L. Peterman
  • Patent number: 9540759
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying textile material with a radio frequency (RF) applicator and a controller, the method includes energizing the RF applicator to generate a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field), measuring a parameter related to the energization of the RF applicator, determining a drying cycle of operation in the controller based on the measured parameter, and controlling the energization of the RF applicator according to the determination of the drying cycle of operation, wherein the textile material is dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Mark L. Herman, Daniel M. Putnam
  • Patent number: 9541330
    Abstract: A method for drying an article with a radio frequency (RF) applicator having anode elements and cathode elements includes capacitively coupling the anode elements, capacitively coupling the cathode elements, capactively coupling an anode element to a cathode element, and energizing the RF applicator to generate an RF field between anode and cathode elements wherein liquid residing within the field will be dielectrically heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Mark L. Herman, Garry L. Peterman
  • Publication number: 20160281290
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying textile material with a radio frequency (RF) applicator and a controller, the method includes energizing the RF applicator to generate a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field), measuring a parameter related to the energization of the RF applicator, determining a drying cycle of operation in the controller based on the measured parameter, and controlling the energization of the RF applicator according to the determination of the drying cycle of operation, wherein the textile material is dried.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 9, 2016
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: Mark L. Herman, Daniel M. Putnam
  • Publication number: 20160282045
    Abstract: A laundry treating applicator for drying laundry with a radio frequency (RF) applicator having a baffle on a drum rotatable on a non-vertical axis, an anode element in the baffle and a cathode element spaced from the anode element, wherein energization of the RF generator sends electromagnetic radiation through the applicator via the anode element and cathode element to form a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) in the radio frequency spectrum to dielectrically heat liquid within laundry disposed within the e-field.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 23, 2015
    Publication date: September 29, 2016
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: MARK L. HERMAN, GARRY L. PETERMAN
  • Patent number: 9410282
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying textile material with a radio frequency (RF) applicator and a controller, the method includes energizing the RF applicator to generate a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field), measuring a parameter related to the energization of the RF applicator, determining a drying cycle of operation in the controller based on the measured parameter, and controlling the energization of the RF applicator according to the determination of the drying cycle of operation, wherein the textile material is dried.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Mark L. Herman, Daniel M. Putnam
  • Patent number: 9194625
    Abstract: An improved method of drying operation for an article using a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) generated between an anode element and a cathode element by a radio frequency (RF) applicator between the anode and cathode elements such that liquid in the article will be heated to effect a drying of the article.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Mark L. Herman, Wallace S. Hubbard
  • Patent number: 9127400
    Abstract: A method for drying laundry with a radio frequency (RF) applicator having a plurality of baffles on a drum rotatable on a non-vertical axis, an anode element in at least one first baffle and a cathode element in at least one second baffle, the method including capacitively coupling the anode element to the cathode element, and energizing the RF applicator to generate a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) between the anode element and the cathode element, wherein liquid in the laundry residing within the e-field will be dielectrically heated to effect a drying of the laundry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 8, 2015
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Mark L. Herman, Garry L. Peterman
  • Publication number: 20150159949
    Abstract: A method for drying an article with a radio frequency (RF) applicator having anode elements and cathode elements includes capacitively coupling the anode elements, capacitively coupling the cathode elements, capacitively coupling an anode element to a cathode element, and energizing the RF applicator to generate an RF field between anode and cathode elements wherein liquid residing within the field will be dielectrically heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2013
    Publication date: June 11, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: MARK L. HERMAN, GARRY L. PETERMAN
  • Publication number: 20150102801
    Abstract: A method for detecting the presence of an energized e-field in a space, wherein the space includes at least one electrically conductive element disposed in the space and coupled with a controller, the method including receiving in the controller a signal from the at least one electrically conductive element, comparing the value to a threshold, and if the value exceeds the threshold, determining that an energized e-field occupies the space, and sending a signal from the controller indicative of the presence of the energized e-field in the space.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 16, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: MARK L. HERMAN, GARRY L. PETERMAN, DANIEL M. PUTNAM
  • Publication number: 20150101207
    Abstract: A method for drying laundry with a radio frequency (RF) applicator having a plurality of baffles on a drum rotatable on a non-vertical axis, an anode element in at least one first baffle and a cathode element in at least one second baffle, the method including capacitively coupling the anode element to the cathode element, and energizing the RF applicator to generate a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) between the anode element and the cathode element, wherein liquid in the laundry residing within the e-field will be dielectrically heated to effect a drying of the laundry.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 14, 2013
    Publication date: April 16, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: MARK L. HERMAN, GARRY L. PETERMAN
  • Publication number: 20150089829
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for drying textile material with a radio frequency (RF) applicator and a controller, the method includes energizing the RF applicator to generate a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field), measuring a parameter related to the energization of the RF applicator, determining a drying cycle of operation in the controller based on the measured parameter, and controlling the energization of the RF applicator according to the determination of the drying cycle of operation, wherein the textile material is dried.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 2, 2013
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: MARK L. HERMAN, DANIEL M. PUTNAM
  • Publication number: 20150052775
    Abstract: A radio frequency (RF) laundry dryer includes, amongst other things, an RF generator, a drying surface and a Faraday cage enclosing the drying surface. The drying surface on which textiles are supported further includes an RF applicator having an anode and cathode coupled to the RF generator. At least a portion of the cathode substantially encompasses the anode to electrically shield the anode from the Faraday cage ensuring the formation of an e-field between the anode and cathode instead of the anode and the Faraday cage upon energizing the RF generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: MARK L. HERMAN, GARRY L. PETERMAN, ARUN RAJENDRAN
  • Publication number: 20150052774
    Abstract: An improved method of drying operation for an article using a field of electromagnetic radiation (e-field) generated between an anode element and a cathode element by a radio frequency (RF) applicator between the anode and cathode elements such that liquid in the article will be heated to effect a drying of the article.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: MARK L. HERMAN, WALLACE S. HUBBARD
  • Publication number: 20150047218
    Abstract: An RF laundry dryer includes, amongst other things, an RF generator, an RF applicator having a perforated body supporting anode and cathode elements, a fan arranged relative to the perforated body to flow or draw air through the perforated body and an electromagnetic shield protecting the fan from the e-field. Both anode and cathode elements are operably coupled to the RF generator to generate an e-field between the anode and cathode upon the energizing of the RF generator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 14, 2013
    Publication date: February 19, 2015
    Applicant: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: MARK L. HERMAN, GARRY L. PETERMAN
  • Publication number: 20150020403
    Abstract: A method for drying an article with a radio frequency (RF) applicator having anode elements and cathode elements includes capacitively coupling the anode elements, capacitively coupling the cathode elements, capactively coupling an anode element to a cathode element, and energizing the RF applicator to generate an RF field between anode and cathode elements wherein liquid residing within the field will be dielectrically heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2013
    Publication date: January 22, 2015
    Inventors: MARK L. HERMAN, GARRY L. PETERMAN
  • Patent number: 6597144
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring voltage input to an appliance, such as a dryer, sensing when power input to the appliance is lost. In addition, a controller in the appliance pulses relay coils controlling motors and/or heating devices within the appliance to conserve energy on a backup capacitor that supplies the control circuit of the appliance in the event of power loss. Further, a voltage sense circuit outputting a square wave effects monitoring of the input voltage to the appliance by outputting the square wave signal whose cycle period is monitored to determine power outage. The controller stores current operation settings at the time of power outage in a memory device and ensures proper storage through the extra energy conserved from the capacitor by the pulsing of the relay coils.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2003
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Steven L. Pearson, Mark L. Herman, Scott L. Hansen, Marvin L. Fox
  • Publication number: 20020008488
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for monitoring voltage input to an appliance, such as a dryer, sensing when power input to the appliance is lost. In addition, a controller in the appliance pulses relay coils controlling motors and/or heating devices within the appliance to conserve energy on a backup capacitor that supplies the control circuit of the appliance in the event of power loss. Further, a voltage sense circuit outputting a square wave effects monitoring of the input voltage to the appliance by outputting the square wave signal whose cycle period is monitored to determine power outage. The controller stores current operation settings at the time of power outage in a memory device and ensures proper storage through the extra energy conserved from the capacitor by the pulsing of the relay coils.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2001
    Publication date: January 24, 2002
    Inventors: Steven L. Pearson, Mark L. Herman, Scott L. Hansen, Marvin L. Fox