Patents Examined by Harry B. Tanner
  • Patent number: 6886556
    Abstract: The problem of the invention is to so develop known dispensers, that it is possible to very precisely determine the actual discharged medium volume. A dispenser according to the invention has a media path, which leads from a medium storage container to a discharge opening. A delivery device for delivering medium is located in said media path. The media reservoir stores a medium, particularly a fluid, which preferably incorporates at least one pharmaceutical substance. A media discharge can be brought about by means of an operating means. According to the invention, on the dispenser is provided an electronic detecting device for detecting a quantity representing the amount of medium discharged.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2002
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2005
    Assignee: Ing. Erich Pfeiffer GmbH
    Inventor: Karl-Heinz Fuchs
  • Patent number: 6883334
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a cold plate is disclosed. The temperature of the cold plate is controlled by directing compressed refrigerant along a first path configured to supply cooled refrigerant to the evaporator of the cold plate, redirecting at least a portion of the compressed refrigerant along a second path configured to supply non-cooled refrigerant to the evaporator of the cold plate, comparing a temperature reading associated with the cold plate to a predefined temperature range, and incrementally controlling the portion of the compressed refrigerant redirected along the second path responsive to the compared temperature reading. The temperature of the cold plate may be controlled to defrost the cold plate by redirecting substantially all of the compressed refrigerant along the second path for a predefined period of time responsive to a shutdown indicator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Inventor: Preyas Sarabhai Shah
  • Patent number: 6883338
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method is provided for displaying a power-off state of a refrigerator having plural chambers. When a user turns off at least one of the plurality of chambers of the refrigerator, a power-off state display apparatus of the refrigerator displays “OFF” characters on a display unit, thus confirming that a particular chamber has been turned off. The power-off state display apparatus includes a signal generating unit for generating a power-off signal when a user turns off at least one of the plurality of chambers, and a display unit for displaying the power-off state after receiving the power-off signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 7, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Dong-Kug Yu
  • Patent number: 6883339
    Abstract: A method for reducing power consumption of a refrigerator and improving a refrigerating efficiency is provided. This method controls a power saving operation of a refrigerator with two evaporators by either extending or delaying operation of at least one of, or a combination of, a freezer chamber evaporator fan, a refrigerating chamber evaporator fan, or a condenser fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jin Koo Park, Yang Kyu Kim, Se Young Kim, Yin Young Hwang, Joon Hyung Park
  • Patent number: 6880798
    Abstract: A gas valve for controlling the flow of gas to a burner. An actuator controls the flow of gas through the valve. A stepper motor operates the actuator. A first temperature sensor senses temperature of gas entering the valve. A second temperature sensor senses temperature of gas leaving the valve. A controller controls the stepper motor in response to the sensed temperatures. This gas valve provides universal single-stage, multi-stage and modulating gas flow control for appliances and furnaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.
    Inventors: Ronald W. Meyer, David L. Hart
  • Patent number: 6880354
    Abstract: A compact rooftop air conditioning unit for a vehicle, said unit having an evaporator coil located adjacent to a condenser coil. At least one cylindrical blower is mounted adjacent the evaporator coil and is arranged to provide conditioned supply air to the interior of the vehicle. An electric motor is used to turn the shaft of the blower and a condensate pump is secured to the shaft for pumping condensate generated by the evaporator coil back over the condenser coil. An electrically driven compressor is housed within the unit and is arranged so that no refrigerant lines pass outside of the unit. An inverter is also housed within the unit and provides a regulated input to the compressor and the evaporator and condenser drive motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2005
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: Robert C. Reimann, Andreas Hille, Belin Czechowicz
  • Patent number: 6877326
    Abstract: An operation control apparatus and method of a linear compressor are disclosed. The operation control apparatus includes: an ambient temperature sensor unit for sensing a temperature around a refrigerator; a second microcomputer for outputting a control signal according to a temperature statue of a temperatures sensing unit for sensing an inner temperature of the refrigerator; a load driving unit for receiving an ON/OFF control signal for driving a linear compressor from the second microcomputer and outputting a drive signal to the linear compressor; a relay switched by the driving signal and supplying an AC power to a motor of the linear compressor; and a power supply unit for converting the AC power into a DC power and supplying power to each unit inside the linear compressor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Jae-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 6877328
    Abstract: A compressor is controlled by generating and storing a compressor operation log. In addition, a compressor operation is selected from the compressor operation log in response to a sensor failure. Furthermore, the compressor is modulated according to the selected compressor operation in response to the sensor failure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 23, 2003
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2005
    Assignee: Kendro Laboratory Products, LP
    Inventors: Richard H. Bair, III, Bryan M. Elwood
  • Patent number: 6871508
    Abstract: A refrigerant circuit in an air conditioner comprises a compressor that compresses a refrigerant, a condenser that liquefies the refrigerant, a pressure reducing device that reduces the pressure of the compressed refrigerant, and an evaporator that exchanges heat by utilizing the refrigerant and generates an air-conditioning air. The condenser comprises plural fin tubes, through which the refrigerant passes, two headers, to which both ends of the fin tubes are connected and which has a firm structure, upper and lower mounting brackets that are fixed to the headers, and vibration insulating materials that collaborate with pin members and support the condenser via the upper and lower mounting brackets. The valve unit is fixed to the header or to the upper or lower mounting bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Shigeki Wanami, Mikiharu Kuwahara, Kazuo Kito, Toshiya Nagasawa
  • Patent number: 6871505
    Abstract: Disclosed are compressor-controlling device and method for an air conditioner comprising a plurality of compressors. In case several compressors selected from the plural compressors are stopped for a long period of time according to cooling or heating load, the refrigerant contained in a higher-pressure state inside of the stopped compressors moves toward a refrigerant pipe of a lower-pressure inlet port, and oil used to operate the compressors leaks toward the inlet port, thus lowering the oil level within the stopped compressors. Since the stopped compressors are operated during a second designated time when stopped time of the stopped compressors exceeds a first designated time, the stopped compressors are protected from damage due to poor lubrication.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Min Ho So, Won Hee Lee, Chang Min Choi, Yoon Jei Hwang, Deok Huh, Cheol Min Kim
  • Patent number: 6871852
    Abstract: A vacuum platen assembly for a fluid-ejection device of one embodiment of the invention is disclosed that includes a platen that has a number of vacuum holes, and one or more aerosol-collection recesses. A number of ribs extend from the platen, against which position of media is maintained by suction effect from the vacuum holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.
    Inventor: Victor Bruhn
  • Patent number: 6868686
    Abstract: A refrigeration cycle apparatus having a linear compressor is provided with a volume circulation rate instruction unit for obtaining a volume circulation rate Vco of a refrigerant in accordance with refrigerating capacity required of the refrigeration cycle apparatus, on the basis of an ambient temperature of an indoor heat exchanger (evaporator), a target temperature set on the evaporator by the user, and an ambient temperature of an outdoor heat exchanger (condenser). A volume circulation rate detector is provided for detecting a volume circulation rate Vcd of the refrigerant that actually circulates in a refrigerant circulation path of the refrigeration cycle apparatus; and an inverter is provided for generating an AC current for driving the linear compressor. The inverter is controlled so as to decrease a difference between the volume circulation rate Vco and the volume circulation rate Vcd.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Mitsuo Ueda, Makoto Yoshida, Yuuichi Yakumaru
  • Patent number: 6866203
    Abstract: A method is provided for sizing an environmental control system for controlling a temperature of a target. The method comprises the steps of: identifying the target that is to be temperature controlled by the environmental control system; selecting a desired temperature of the target that is to be temperature controlled; and determining optimal characteristics of the environmental control system. Preferably, the step of determining optimal characteristics of the environmental control system includes referring to a nomograph that charts numerical relationships of a plurality of variables. Preferably, variables charted on the nomograph include a temperature of discharge air that is to be discharged from the environmental control system, a temperature of ambient air surrounding the target, a distance between a discharge portion of the environmental control system and the target, and a volumetric flow rate of the discharge air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Unico, Inc.
    Inventors: Craig Messmer, Seden Kalyoncu
  • Patent number: 6865900
    Abstract: A temperature control method for a refrigerator includes providing a valve device, in which an inflow port where a refrigerant flows into, at least two outflow ports having a first outflow port and a second outflow port where the refrigerant flows out, and a valve element for performing opening/closing of the outflow ports are positioned in a sealed space. The method also includes providing a valve element drive device for driving the valve element. The method further includes controlling the valve element drive device, at the time a power source of the refrigerator is turned on, to reciprocate between a first mode as an OPEN-CLOSE mode and a second mode on a CLOSE-OPEN mode until a temperature in a first chamber where the refrigerant is supplied through the first outflow port, and a temperature in a second chamber where the refrigerant is supplied through the second outflow port, are lowered to reach to a prescribed temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Sankyo Seiki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigeru Ozawa, Tetsuhiko Hara
  • Patent number: 6866202
    Abstract: A heating or cooling system, such as an HVAC system, of variable output has a number of control elements and may include a variable speed compressor, a variable speed combustion (induced or forced draft) blower motor; a variable speed circulator blower motor; a variable output gas valve or gas/air premix unit; and a controller specifically developed for variable output applications. The system may utilize a pressure sensor to determine the actual flow of combustion airflow in response to actual space conditions, vary the speed of the inducer blower, and subsequently vary the gas valve output to supply the correct amount of gas to the burner system. A temperature sensor may be located in the discharge air stream of the conditioned air to provide an input signal for the circulator blower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: Varidigm Corporation
    Inventors: Paul E. Sigafus, Ralph H. Torborg, James W. Ratz, Larry L. Lutton
  • Patent number: 6863222
    Abstract: A mobile refrigerator unit is turned on and off remotely via wireless technology using a system with a secondary control switch, or a ‘remote switch’, which is part of a reefer trip remote control unit, and is operated via a wireless or combination communication link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2005
    Assignee: Statrak LLC
    Inventors: Timothy P. Slifkin, Herbert Perten, Robert Schicke, Richard F. Bladek
  • Patent number: 6860430
    Abstract: An air handler operates alternately in (a) a heating state at times when air in a space in a building is at an actual temperature that is insufficient relative to a set temperature and (b) a non-heating state at times when the air in the space is at an actual temperature that is sufficient relative to a set temperature, and at least sometimes during the non-heating state, delivering heated air to the space.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Assignee: Lipidex Corporation
    Inventor: Michael P. Sanchez
  • Patent number: 6860431
    Abstract: A strategic response control for an air conditioning system for use in an environment with increased power rates during a designated peak period. The air conditioning system includes a power board for operating the air conditioning system in one or more operating status having a controller with a processor and a real time clock, an indoor temperature sensor for generating an input signal representing the indoor temperature, an outdoor temperature sensor for generating an input signal representing the outdoor temperature, and an operating program that sets a maximum comfort level temperature, a minimum comfort level temperature and a warmup rate for the environment in which the air conditioner operates, and has a procedure for precooling the environment before the peak period, wherein on activation, the processor signals the power board to enter an operating state for precooling and an “off” or lower level operating state during the peak period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2005
    Inventor: Tumkur S. Jayadev
  • Patent number: 6857278
    Abstract: A process for cooling liquids wherein a coolant is cooled in a chiller during off-peak electrical demand periods, then directed to a first insulated storage vessel where it is stored until off-peak electrical demand periods have ended. During peak electrical demand periods, the coolant flows from the first insulated storage vessel to a flat plate heat exchanger, where a flow of liquid to be cooled, entering through a second conduit, is cooled. The cooled liquid exiting the heat exchanger is directed to a second insulated storage vessel where little or no further cooling of the liquid will be necessary during peak electrical demand periods.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Inventors: Duane A. Gruber, Michael E. Gruber
  • Patent number: 6857576
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of controlling an electronic thermostat valve that is based on the driving conditions. The method includes using controlling parameters memorized in an ECU (Electronic Control Unit). A power source to activate the thermostat valve is originated from an expanding force of a thermal element and a change of stroke of an actuating means. A cooling system of a vehicle can be maintained in an optimized state such that fuel consumption and exhaust pollutants are reduced.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2005
    Assignees: Hyundai Motor Company, Inzi Controls Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Werner Leu Peter