Abstract: According to the present invention, a heating pad controller incorporating a discrete ASIC (Application Specific Integrated Circuit) is provided which varies the duty cycle characteristics of a periodic signal during which power is applied to a heating pad heating element during a portion of the signal (“on” time). An oscillator circuit is used to produce a controlled duty cycle control signal for controlling the power applied to the heating pad by varying the on-time of the duty cycle. User control of the length of the on-time of the duty cycle is provided by way of a user controlled switch, thereby providing for a plurality of controller operating modes (e.g., WARM, LOW, MEDIUM, HIGH, etc.). To configure the duty cycle for each heat setting the heating pad controller utilizes switchable electrical components of varying impedance connected to the ASIC.

Abstract: An improved filter element for use in an electrostatic precipitation air cleaning device, the filter element including rod electrodes arranged through a stack of alternating fluted plastic sheets and plate electrodes. Successive plate electrodes are arranged to make contact with an alternating one or the other of the rod electrodes. The plate and rod electrodes may be composed of high impedance materials such as paper and plastic, respectively. An arrangement for removably inserting a filter element into an air cleaning device is provided. The arrangement also removably provides electrical connectivity between the filter element and the air cleaning device. The filter element can thus be readily removed and re-installed by a user.

Abstract: A portable heater composed of a housing having a bottom surface, an exterior top surface, a front exterior surface which contains a grille composed of air outlet apertures is capable of providing a relatively large heat output for its size in either of a natural convection mode or a forced convection mode. The heater includes a heating element inside of a housing. A plurality of baffles define a convection chamber within the housing that extends from the housing bottom, rearward of a heating element, upwardly and forwardly to a point above the air outlet apertures on the inner surface of the housing. The convection chamber maintains exterior portions of the housing at or below a threshold temperature of about 80 degrees Celsius.

Abstract: A water filtration tank dispensing system comprised of a fill tank and a cabinet body. Disposed within the cabinet is at least one of a cooling chamber and a heating chamber and at least one tap disposed on the cabinet body. The filtration tank is mounted on the top of the cabinet body and comprises a fill tank, a filter holder tray, and a removable reservoir. The filter holder is fluidically connected between the fill tank and the removable reservoir The removable reservoir is disposed within the cabinet top and fluidically connected to the cooling and heating chambers. The fill tank is water tight and comprises a cap assembly containing a valve located on the bottom. In a preferred embodiment, the fill tank is an ultrasonic welded tank. The fill tank is removable from the filtration system for refilling at a location remote from the dispensing unit.

Abstract: A vaporizer that adjusts to the conductivity of the water used in the vaporizer, and that also adjusts to changes in the conductivity of the water while in operation, thereby decreasing warm-up time and maintaining a relatively constant boiling rate and rate of steam production. The vaporizer includes hardware circuitry or other logic that maintains constant power supplied to the electrodes of the vaporizer to decrease warm-up time, and adjusts the current supplied to the electrodes while the vaporizer is in operation and after the warm-up period to maintain a relatively constant boiling rate and rate of steam production.

Abstract: A vaporizer that adjusts to the conductivity of the water used in the vaporizer, and that also adjusts to changes in the conductivity of the water while in operation, thereby decreasing warm-up time and maintaining a relatively constant boiling rate and rate of steam production. The vaporizer includes hardware circuitry or other logic that maintains constant power supplied to the electrodes of the vaporizer to decrease warm-up time, and adjusts the current supplied to the electrodes while the vaporizer is in operation and after the warm-up period to maintain a relatively constant boiling rate and rate of steam production.