With Electrical Conductive Element Patents (Class 236/44E)
  • Patent number: 6161765
    Abstract: A protective enclosure for housing heat-generating electronics, having a sorption device for controlling humidity and a heater for heating the sorption device. The invention protects electronics placed within the enclosure from the effects of water vapor and condensation during normal operation and in the event of power loss. The sorption device adsorbs water vapor during normal operation or power loss when the temperature in the enclosure falls below the dew point. The sorption device releases collected water as water vapor when power is restored and the temperature in the enclosure rises above the dew point. The invention thereby prevents failure of the electronics due to condensation build-up and provides for effective long-term use of the sorption device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 1999
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2000
    Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason Abraham Kay, David Stevens Kerr, John Robert Morris, Jr., Ivan Pawlenko, Richard Franklin Schwartz
  • Patent number: 5844138
    Abstract: A humidity sensing device comprises a sensor unit including a humidity sensitive capacitor having a capacitance which changes as a function of relative humidity, an oscillator circuit including the humidity sensitive capacitor wherein the output frequency of the oscillator circuit is a function of capacitance, and a sensor memory unit having stored calibration data for said humidity sensitive capacitor. A data processing unit is coupled to the sensor unit and includes a data processing circuit coupled to an output of said oscillator circuit, wherein said data processing circuit provides an output indicative of relative humidity as modified by the calibration data received by and stored in another memory unit as associated with such data processing circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 1997
    Date of Patent: December 1, 1998
    Assignee: Veris Industries, Inc.
    Inventor: Roger Cota
  • Patent number: 5775580
    Abstract: An evaporative device for cooling a stream of air for cooling a space into which the air is discharged. The device includes psychrometric sensors installed in the air stream at an evaporation pad which provide signals to a control device. The stream of air is cooled by one or more mist nozzles in the incoming air stream, the flow of water to which is controlled through analog or digital control devices, enabling cooling of the stream of air to the maximum permitted by psychrometric relationships without unnecessarily high humidity or overwetting of the evaporative pad.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 7, 1998
    Inventors: Timothy J. Sizemore, Bryan L. Redd
  • Patent number: 5285960
    Abstract: A simple, relatively low cost wall mountable humidistat that continuously indicates the water vapor content of gas, most preferably air. The humidistat has a conductivity probe with electrodes extending into two interconnected vials containing lithium chloride solution. Moisture is absorbed by the solution from the humid ambient air whereby a change of the volume of the solution results and the level of humidity can be determined.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 10, 1992
    Date of Patent: February 15, 1994
    Assignee: Gas Research Institute
    Inventor: Antonios I. Zografos
  • Patent number: 5096549
    Abstract: A dehumidifier for removing moisture from a gas containing moisture comprises a first electrode which is in contact with a gas containing moisture on a first surface thereof and, when a positive voltage is applied thereto, which produces protons from said moisture, a proton conductive solid having first and second portions which is connected to a second surface of the first electrode at the first portion and allows the protons to pass therethrough, and a second electrode which is connected to the second portion of the proton conductive solid on a first surface thereof and in contact with air on a second surface thereof. In a preferred embodiment, the first electrode, the proton conductive solid, and the second electrode are formed as a laminate. When a negative voltage is applied between the first and second electrodes, hydrogen or water is produced from the protons passed through the proton conductive solid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 1990
    Date of Patent: March 17, 1992
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shiro Yamauchi, Kenichi Mori, Eiichi Nagao, Koichi Hirooka
  • Patent number: 5014908
    Abstract: A control circuit (1) for use in a humidifier (H). A capacitor functioning as a humidity sensor (55) includes a sulphonated fluorocarbon material acting as the dielectric (57) of the capacitor. The material is sandwiched between sheets (59a, 59b) of a screen material which act as plates of the capacitor. An RC oscillator (53) has a variable frequency output and incorporates the capacitor. Changes in the dielectric value of the material due to sensed changes in humidity produce changes in the oscillator output frequency. A DC voltage is supplied to the oscillator. The amount of voltage impressed on the sensor at relatively high-humidity levels is controlled to prevent leakage currents caused when the material is exposed thereto. The generation of such leakage currents otherwise adversely effects sensor operation. Operation of the circuit to control operation of the humidifier is also described.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 1989
    Date of Patent: May 14, 1991
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventor: Karmen D. Cox
  • Patent number: 5012360
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a magnetic disc apparatus having a dehumidifying element for removing the moisture flowing from a vent into the apparatus, and the magnetic disc apparatus according to the present invention is provided with a dehumidifying element having a humidity controlling element comprising a hydrogen ion conductor and a pair of porous filmy electrodes which sandwich the conductor therebetween. Applying the voltage to the humidity controlling element, the moisture in the apparatus, after contacting the electrode provided on the central side of the apparatus, is supplied to a hydrogen ion conductor and electrolyzed. The hydrogen ions obtained by electrolysis move toward the electrode provided on the peripheral side of the apparatus, where at least either of the hydrogen or water is evolved to advance the dehumidification in the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 30, 1991
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shiro Yamauchi, Naotake Rito
  • Patent number: 4964115
    Abstract: A temperature sensor, e.g. a thermistor (24, 37, 41, 46, 50', 57) is provided in a hollow space in cup-shaped shell (22, 36, 39, 42, 50, 54) of a size, e.g. 30 mm diameter and 15 mm depth, at a position of 1/3 height (i.e. 5 mm) of the depth from the bottom of the shell, the shell having wide opening (23, 33, 43, 47, 55) at its top part, and the temperature sensor is heated by feeding a controlled current to itself or to a heater provided at proximity thereto; the temperature sensor senses environmental condition in the similar manner to human sensation, taking account of air temperature, air flow and radiant heat from nearby matter such as wall or ceiling; thereby enabling comfortable air controlling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 16, 1990
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akio Tajima, Katsumi Ishii
  • Patent number: 4911357
    Abstract: In a humidity measuring part a thermistor or similar temperature sensing element is used, as a humidity sensing element, in a heated state and an electric signal of humidity is obtained as a function of absolute humidity proportional to the water content of the atmosphere in a constant temperature and humidity bath through utilization of a change in the thermal conductivity of moist air. The absolute humidity signal and an absolute humidity set value or a set value of absolute humidity converted from a relative humidity set value through use of a temperature set value are compared, and a humidity control signal is produced in accordance with the result of this comparison. A forced humidifying signal is generated upon turning ON of the power supply, and the generation of this signal is stopped upon occurrence of the humidity control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 1989
    Date of Patent: March 27, 1990
    Assignee: Shibaura Electronics Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kenzo Kitamura
  • Patent number: 4890932
    Abstract: In a thermal-environment sensor which detects thermal conditions in an indoor environment based on the surface temperature of a heating element supplied with a thermal quantity, the spectral emissivity of the outer surface of said heating element closely conforming to the spectral emissivity of the surface of the human skin or clothes thereon so as to bring the radiant heat transfer coefficient of the sensor remarkably near that of the human body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 1987
    Date of Patent: January 2, 1990
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Masahiro Kobayashi, Noboru Kobayashi, Kunikazu Torikoshi, Shigehiro Uemura
  • Patent number: 4801211
    Abstract: A humidity detector using a ceramic sensor and a heater to periodically clean the sensor. The output of the sensor is sampled and held while the heater is on. When the detector is turned on, the heater is not started until the sensor has been sampled and held. The timer controlling this operation can be externally reset. When the ceramic sensor is temperature corrected, the humidity output indicates a dew point at a fixed temperature. By adjusting this fixed temperature dew point output according to a sensed temperature, the dew point can be detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 31, 1989
    Assignee: NGK Spark Plug Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hideaki Yagi, Takahito Kojima, Katsuhiko Horii
  • Patent number: 4780254
    Abstract: The humidity within a controlled chamber is detected with a humidity detector and the proportional value, integrated value and differentiated value of the difference between the detected signal and a preset objective value are added to form an operation amount signal. A predetermined period is divided into a spray time during which an oscillator of an ultrasonic humidifier is operated at an amplitude obtaining a predetermined sprayed amount per unit time and a stopping time during which the oscillator cooperated with such small amplitude as to generate no spray. The predetermined period is repeated and the spraying time in each fixed period is adjusted in response to the above mentioned operation amount signal to keep the humidity within the controlled chamber constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 1987
    Date of Patent: October 25, 1988
    Assignee: Yukyan Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Iwao Ando
  • Patent number: 4703886
    Abstract: An atmospheric thermostat having an auxiliary humidity input, for controlling heating and cooling so as to provide a controlled temperature modified by the humidity present thereby to provide a desirable comfort level to humans within the controlled environment. The thermostat is of the type which controls heating and cooling equipment through the use of electronic logic or a microcomputer. The thermostat operates the controls of the heating and cooling equipment and, where necessary, humidifying or dehumidifying equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 1985
    Date of Patent: November 3, 1987
    Inventor: Chris Kirby
  • Patent number: 4643351
    Abstract: An ultrasonic humidifier for atomizing water in a vessel by an ultrasonic oscillator and supplying atomized water with air into a room by a blower comprising a humidity sensor detecting the humidity in the room and a thermosensor detecting the temperature in the room. The operation of said ultrasonic oscillator is controlled in such a manner that the value of the detected humidity compensated by said thermosensor may be set for the desired value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 17, 1987
    Assignee: Tokyo Sanyo Electric Co.
    Inventors: Toshio Fukamachi, Kazuto Matsuda, Kouichi Noma, Toshiaki Kawada, Toshio Sakurai, Takeshi Osawa
  • Patent number: 4546916
    Abstract: A humidifier for controlling ambient moisture includes a moisture sensor having a capacitor component and a resistor component which may vary in response to the ambient moisture, a pseudo AC square-wave generator for supplying a square-wave source voltage to the sensor which is the sum of two separate square-wave voltages, and a moisture detector section to which a sensor output voltage and a reference voltage electrically representing an objective moisture value are supplied. When the sensor output voltage reaches the stable potential after the transient phenomenon to be caused by the sensor capacitor component, the moisture detector section compares the stable voltage with the above reference voltage, thereby performing the moisture detection which faithfully corresponds to the sensor resistor component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 1984
    Date of Patent: October 15, 1985
    Assignee: Tokyo Shibaura Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Hajime Tsuaki
  • Patent number: 4465229
    Abstract: A humidity responsive circuit is adapted to be connected to a thermostat to provide a humidity comfort offset to the thermostat. The humidity comfort offset circuit can be added to a retrofit item or could be added during the manufacture of an electronic thermostat which has a bridge in its input for measuring the temperature. The humidity comfort offset circuit have an output range with at least one humidity value being equal to the balance value of the bridge.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 1982
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1984
    Assignee: Honeywell, Inc.
    Inventor: Arlon D. Kompelien