Patents Examined by Mark Pashall
  • Patent number: 6984810
    Abstract: A heater control is performed without problems when a normal detection of a power source frequency cannot be performed. A heater control apparatus is configured and arranged to be operable by an alternating current having one of a plurality of frequencies. The heater control apparatus detects a zero-cross point of a voltage waveform of the alternating current to be supplied to a heater so as to generate a zero-cross signal and controls an electric power supply to the heater by using the zero-cross signal as a reference. At a time of tuning a power on, the frequency of the alternating current is tentatively determined before the frequency is detected so as to control the electric power supply to the heater based on the tentatively determined frequency, and to control the electric power supply to the heater, after the frequency of the alternating current is detected, based on the detected frequency.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2006
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventor: Kimiyasu Ishii