Patents Examined by Kevin Guanhua Wen
  • Patent number: 12233478
    Abstract: Laser additive manufacturing apparatus, systems, and methods for the fabrication of high quality freeform high value structures. The apparatus, systems, and methods utilize a material powder having varying particle size and shape as raw material. It can also be adopted to use a wire as the feed material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2025
    Assignee: Lawrence Livermore National Security, LLC
    Inventor: Stavros G. Demos
  • Patent number: 12232241
    Abstract: A method for controlling an induction heating device includes acquiring a temperature value of a high-power working coil, when an absolute value of a difference between a first final driving frequency of a first working coil and a second final driving frequency of a second working coil is equal to or greater than a predetermined noise avoidance value and when a final driving frequency of a low-power working coil differs from a target frequency of the low-power working coil, determining whether the temperature value satisfies a predetermined output change condition, setting a required power value of the high-power working coil to a predetermined minimum power value when the temperature value satisfies the output change condition, and determining the first final driving frequency of the first working coil and the second final driving frequency of the second working coil again.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2025
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventors: Hanna Kim, Kyelyong Kang
  • Patent number: 12207764
    Abstract: A fryer includes a controller that can perform a first cooking mode and second cooking mode. In the first cooking mode, an object to be cooked is cooked by controlling the pulse combustor with a prescribed first heat quantity when the cooking oil contained in the oil bath is in a prescribed first oil amount, and the object to be cooked is in a prescribed first rated amount. In the second cooking mode, an object to be cooked is cooked by controlling the pulse combustor with a prescribed second heat quantity larger than the first heat quantity when the cooking oil is a prescribed second oil amount larger than the first oil amount, and the object to be cooked is in a prescribed second rated amount larger than the first rated amount.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: PALOMA RHEEM HOLDINGS CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hideki Kijimoto
  • Patent number: 12213235
    Abstract: A wireless power transmission apparatus for induction heating includes: a working coil that is configured to change operation based on selection of a mode of operation from among a plurality of operating modes, the plurality of operating modes including a wireless power transmission mode configured to wirelessly transmit power and a heating mode configured to heat one or more objects, an inverter that is configured to output, to the working coil, current at an operation frequency, and a controller. The controller is configured to detect a target object, and determine, in the wireless power transmission mode, whether the target object is (i) a device from among a first group of devices including a device with a reception coil or (ii) an induction heating device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 26, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyunwook Moon, Euisung Kim, Yangkyeong Kim
  • Patent number: 12207754
    Abstract: Exemplary embodiments herein provide a device for finish roasting and brewing primary roasted and ground coffee beans. Preferably a pod handle assembly contains the primary roasted and ground coffee beans and removably connects with a roaster brewer assembly which performs both a roasting phase of hot air followed by a brewing phase of hot water and/or steam. A user selection dial (or other input) allows a user to select a desired roast level, preferably from very light to very dark. The pod handle assembly can be filled manually by the user, or pre-filled pods which already contain the primary roasted and ground beans may be used. Airflow from a fan should preferably be directed through a heating assembly before contacting the ground coffee beans and exiting through an aperture at the bottom of the pod handle assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 2019
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2025
    Assignee: New Roast Coffee Holdings LLC
    Inventor: Kate Hay
  • Patent number: 12188101
    Abstract: A method for manufacturing at least one portion of a part using successive deposition of layers, involving the steps of: a) depositing a first layer of a molten metal on a substrate such that a first metal strip is formed on the substrate; b) depositing a second layer of a molten metal on the first strip such that a second metal strip is formed on the first strip; and c) repeating steps a) and then b) for each new metal layer to be deposited on a preceding strip until the at least one portion of the part has been formed. The method may further include step d) compressing the formed bead after performing n instances of step c), n being greater than or equal to 1. The step of compressing the formed bead may be performed before the complete cooling of said bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignee: SAFRAN
    Inventors: Daniel Cornu, Jawad Badreddine, Vincent Dessoly
  • Patent number: 12186839
    Abstract: A metal laminating and modeling method includes a first inclination angle modeling step including a first inclination step of setting a table on which the metal layers are to be formed at a first table inclination angle and setting a welding torch at a first torch inclination angle and a first welding step of forming a weld bead that becomes a part of the modeled object by arc welding with the welding torch and a second inclination angle modeling step including a second inclination step of inclining the table at a second table inclination angle that is larger than the first table inclination angle and setting the welding torch at a second torch inclination angle and a second welding step of forming the weld bead.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2021
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2025
    Assignees: MITSUBISHI HEAVY INDUSTRIES COMPRESSOR CORPORATION, Yamazaki Mazak Corporation
    Inventors: Yasunori Sakai, Kazuhiro Ishibashi, Yasuyuki Tanaka, Atsushi Suzuki, Seigo Ouchi
  • Patent number: 12181155
    Abstract: The present invention is a cooking oven for foodstuffs, comprising: a cooking chamber, wherein foodstuffs can be placed for being cooked, having a bottom wall provided with a first cooking chamber outlet positioned in such a way to receive grease collected in the bottom wall; a grease conduit configured for draining grease from the cooking chamber, wherein the first cooking chamber outlet is fluidly connected to the grease conduit; a heating device configured for heating the internal of the cooking chamber; and a vapour outlet duct configured for discharging vapour from the cooking chamber. The bottom wall of the cooking chamber is further provided with a second cooking chamber outlet, distinct from the first cooking chamber outlet and fluidly connected to the vapour outlet duct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2024
    Assignee: Electrolux Professional S.P.A.
    Inventors: Davide Pelliccia, Michele Simonato, Mirko Sfreddo, Fabio Burlon, Denis Marson, Franco Tassan Mangina, Alberto Foda, Antonio Asquini, Riccardo Furlanetto
  • Patent number: 12150590
    Abstract: Embodiments of a cooking station having a main body and a griddle with a hood pivotably coupled to the griddle are provided. The hood is pivotably moveable between closed and fully open positions. Further, the hood is removable from the griddle to be positioned, for example, along a rear side of the main body in a low-profile position such that the hood may be suspended from the griddle with a hook structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: November 26, 2024
    Assignee: North Atlantic Imports, LLC
    Inventors: Tyler J. Fullmer, Mauricio J. Escobedo, Michael R. Giebel, Paul J. Simon
  • Patent number: 12144455
    Abstract: A machine for preparing beverages includes at least one tank for the water, fluidly connected, by means of a circuit, to a filtering container suitable to contain an aromatic mixture to be brewed, a pump to feed the water from said tank to said circuit, a heating device to heat the water in transit, and a control and command unit functionally connected to a user interface comprising commands suitable to select the characteristics of said beverage to be prepared.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2024
    Assignee: DE' LONGHI APPLIANCES S.R.L. CON UNICO SOCIO
    Inventors: Giuseppe De' Longhi, Gianpaolo Trevisan, Renzo Mazzon
  • Patent number: 12140314
    Abstract: Pellet grills and associated methods of operation are disclosed. An example pellet grill includes a lid, a cooking chamber, an engine, and one or more processors. The lid is movable between a closed position and an open position. The engine is configured to output heat to the cooking chamber. The one or more processors are configured to detect a closing movement of the lid. In response to detecting the closing movement, the one or more processors are configured to command the engine to operate in an increased output mode that increases the heat output of the engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 2023
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products LLC
    Inventors: Brian Donnelly, Ryan P. Lundberg, David Jonathan Eckhardt
  • Patent number: 12144084
    Abstract: According to various embodiments, an electronic device attachable to and detachable from a side of a cooking vessel that is heated based on a magnetic field generated from an induction cooktop includes: a magnetic harvester circuit configured to generate electric energy based on the magnetic field generated from the induction cooktop based on the electronic device being attached to the side of the cooking vessel; a temperature sensor configured to be driven based on the electric energy and configured to detect a temperature; and a communication circuit configured to transmit the temperature to the induction cooktop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Cheonyong Lim, Daehyun Kim, Sungbum Park, Youngho Ryu, Kyungwoo Lee
  • Patent number: 12122216
    Abstract: A heater device includes a contact determination unit for determining contact or non-contact of an object based on a change in capacitance between a plurality of electrodes. The contact determination unit is configured to determine (i) the contact of the object in response to a determination that the change in capacitance between the plurality of electrodes per predetermined unit time is a change in one direction and equal to or larger than a first determination threshold value. The contact determination unit is configured to determine (ii) the non-contact of the object in response to a determination that the change in capacitance between the plurality of electrodes per predetermined unit time is a change in a direction opposite to the one direction and equal to or larger than a second determination threshold value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 23, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Kimitake Ishikawa
  • Patent number: 12121183
    Abstract: A pot lid assembly comprises a pot lid, an electric motor assembly and a mixing apparatus. The electric motor assembly is fixed to the pot lid. The mixing apparatus includes a stirring rod and a plurality of stirring vanes. The electric motor assembly includes an electric motor. The electric motor includes a rotary shaft operatively connected with the stirring rod so that the electric motor can cause the stirring rod to rotate. The pot lid is configured to cover the pot body to form a closed cooking space. When the pot lid is removed from the pot body, the rotary shaft is disengaged from the stirring rod, and the mixing apparatus can stand in the cooking space of the pot body, with the stirring vanes serving as a support. The mixing apparatus remains in the cooking space of the pot body after the removal of the pot lid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2024
    Assignee: IB APPLIANCES US HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Yude Han, Yi Qin, Jiwei Wang
  • Patent number: 12120804
    Abstract: In a method for treating food in a food handling device with a parameter configuration a measured value distribution of a surface property of the food is determined after expiration of the period of time by means of a sensor. A pattern of change is calculated from a comparison of the p-th measured value distribution with a measured value distribution determined previously. An assessment value Bq which represents a difference between a deviation of a target distribution from the measured value distribution and a deviation of the target distribution from a prediction pattern is calculated for all patterns of change stored hitherto. The prediction pattern is formed by superimposing the measured value distribution with the respective pattern of change, and the parameter configuration is set for which the assessment value Bq meets at least one predetermined criterion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2024
    Assignee: BSH Hausgeräte GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Kuchler, Kerstin Rigorth, Sebastian Sterz, Matthias Vogt
  • Patent number: 12108903
    Abstract: An apparatus (1) for preparing foodstuffs accommodated in a vessel, the apparatus includes a steam-generating unit for generating steam, a steam-feeding unit connected to the steam-generating unit in a steam-conducting manner via a steam-supply line and having a steam probe containing at least one steam-discharging opening, and further includes a drive unit for adjusting the steam-feeding unit in translatory fashion, relative to a rinsing device (2) arranged beneath the steam-feeding unit and having a rinsing tray (3) and a rinse-water-application unit or spray nozzle (18), for rinsing the steam probe following foodstuff-preparation, wherein the rinsing tray (3) is connected to an outflow-line portion (13) for discharging dirty rinse water, wherein, on the rinsing tray (3), a drain funnel (10), which can be released from the rinsing tray (3) without any tools, for cleaning and/or changeover purposes and is sealed in relation to the rinsing tray (3), is secured to the outflow-line portion (13).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: Carogusto AG
    Inventor: Thomas Grendelmeier
  • Patent number: 12108904
    Abstract: An apparatus for detecting status of a cooker lid relative to a cooker body is provided. The apparatus comprises a block mounted to the cooker lid near its periphery rim, and a pole disposed about an upper rim of the cooker body and being movable relative to the cooker body. The block engages with the pole such that the pole is at a first location relative to the cooker body when the cooker lid is separated from the cooker body; the pole is at a second location relative to the cooker body when the cooker lid is placed on the upper rim of the cooker body and is out of position for a predetermined cooking mode, and the pole is at a third location relative to the cooker body when the cooker lid is placed on the upper rim of the cooker body and is in position for the predetermined cooking mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 8, 2024
    Assignee: IB APPLIANCES US HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Yi Qin, Robert Wang
  • Patent number: 12089323
    Abstract: In some aspects, a plasma torch head for a plasma arc torch can include ports disposed within a base portion that are configured to receive fluids and electrical signals from a plasma torch lead via a plasma torch receptacle, the ports being shaped to align the torch head and the plasma torch receptacle during connection and including: a central coolant supply port to convey a liquid coolant to the torch head, the central coolant supply port extending a length to primarily align the plasma torch head with the torch receptacle, the central coolant supply port further including a flat surface shaped to secondarily align the torch head with the torch receptacle upon mating engagement, and an ohmic contact connector defining a tertiary alignment feature; and a connector disposed about the base portion shaped to engage with and couple to the torch receptacle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Hypertherm, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian J. Currier, Jeremy Beliveau, Stephen M. Liebold
  • Patent number: 12083930
    Abstract: A power battery heating system of an electric vehicle including: a heating module configured to heat the power battery of the electric vehicle; a solar sunroof; and a sunroof control unit configured to control the operation of the heating module and the electric energy output of the solar sunroof; wherein the heating system is configured to start a power battery heating operation based on the solar sunroof when the power battery is not in a high voltage output state and the temperature of the power battery is lower than a temperature threshold, the power battery heating operation including: controlling the solar sunroof to output electric energy to the heating module such that the heating module performs the heating of the power battery using the electric energy from the solar sunroof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2024
    Assignee: Volvo Car Corporation
    Inventors: Haibo Liang, Xi Wang, Chenchen Wang, Changzheng Shao
  • Patent number: 12070157
    Abstract: A grill plate includes a body having a top surface for supporting food, a grease trap associated with said body, a cavity defined by said grease trap, and an opening to said cavity disposed proximate said top surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 27, 2024
    Assignee: SHARKNINJA OPERATION LLC
    Inventors: Danny Martins Raposo, Christopher T. Martin, Joshua D. Anthony, John Benoit