Patents Examined by Philip H. Leung
  • Patent number: 7525064
    Abstract: The purpose of the present invention is provide a method of forming a flux layer on an aluminum plate member, wherein a heating step for drying after a spray-coating of a flux composition can be omitted. The invention relates to a flux layer 2 composed of solid constituents of 5-25 g/m2 formed on a surface of an aluminum plate member 1, by spray-coating a flux composition from a nozzle 20 to the plate member 1 with a thickness of 0.2-1.6 mm, which was press-molded and heated for degreasing in a heat-degreasing oven 10, while a temperature of the plate member 1 is kept from 120 to 180° C. under the remaining heat after completing a heating step for degreasing, and naturally drying for volatilizing volatile constituents of the flux composition utilizing the remaining heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignees: Denso Corporation, Harima Chemicals, Inc.
    Inventors: Koji Onouchi, Shouei Teshima, Ichiro Taninaka
  • Patent number: 7525074
    Abstract: A method, apparatus, and computer usable program code for detecting a presence of metal objects placed in a microwave cooking unit. A metal detection unit is activated to scan for the presence of a metal object placed into a cooking area of the microwave cooking unit. In response to receiving an indicator of the presence of a metal object from the metal detection unit, the process generates an alert indicating the presence of the metal object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2009
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: James Edward Bostick, Randolph Michael Forlenza, John Paul Kaemmerer, Raghuraman Kalyanaraman, Courtney Joseph Spooner
  • Patent number: 7518091
    Abstract: A system and method is provided in which a radio frequency transmitter and/or a microwave frequency transmitter applies radio and/or microwave frequency energy, respectively, to an imprinted material to cure the imprinted material. In some embodiments, an oven may be used to apply thermal energy to the imprinted material in conjunction with the radio and/or microwave frequency energy to cure the imprinted material. In other embodiments, an oven is not used. The imprinted material may also include a susceptor that absorbs radio and/or microwave frequency energy and responsive thereto emits thermal energy to aid in curing the imprinted material. Further, at least one susceptor may be located externally and adjacent to the imprinted material. The external susceptor may absorb radio and/or microwave frequency energy, respectively, and responsive thereto emits thermal energy towards the imprinted material to aid in curing the imprinted material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2009
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Shalabh Tandon, Mitesh C. Patel
  • Patent number: 7514656
    Abstract: An induction hob comprises an inductor support plate with an opening therein. The position and size of the opening are defined in such a way that the opening is equally spaced at its edges relative to at least three inductors to be fitted to the inductor support plate. A tray-like receptacle with a control mechanism and power electronics is fixed to the inductor support plate beneath the opening. The inductors are fixed to the other side of the inductor support plate and then electrically connected by connecting cables through this opening to the control mechanism and/or power electronics. Advantageously, the cable pass through the opening unimpeded.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: E.G.O. Elektro-Geraetebau GmbH
    Inventor: Thomas Haag
  • Patent number: 7514659
    Abstract: Various constructs and systems for heating a dough-based food item in a microwave oven are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2009
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Terrence P. Lafferty
  • Patent number: 7507938
    Abstract: A speed cooking oven (1) has a cooking cavity (2), and a microwave waveguide (20a) with slotted antenna (70) which efficiently emits electromagnetic energy (51a) to assist with the speed cooking of food product (10).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Turbochef Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: David McFadden
  • Patent number: 7507939
    Abstract: Apparatus for cooking food products on both sides thereof, including a base member (2) associated to a bottom heating surface (3) adapted to support food products to be cooked, an upper member (4) associated to a top heating surface (5) and joined in an articulated manner to the base member (2) so that, when the upper member (4) is displaced towards the base member (2), the top heating surface (5) comes to lie opposite to the bottom heating surface (3) so as to enclose the food products therebetween. The upper member (4) is adapted to close in onto the base member (2) so as to form a cooking cavity (6) containing the heating surfaces (3, 5), wherein the cooking cavity (6) defines a radiation shield capable of retaining the microwaves inside the cooking cavity (6) itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2009
    Assignee: Electrolux Professional SpA
    Inventor: Udo Baumann
  • Patent number: 7501608
    Abstract: The present invention provides a microwave oven and a method of operating a microwave oven, which minimises user involvement when heating a food item to a desired target temperature. According to the invention, the initial temperature of the food item is measured prior to the heating process, and the required heating time is determined automatically based on the initial temperature, the target temperature, and the amount of food as entered by the user. In order to heat a food item to a desired target temperature, the user only needs to position a container for temperature measurement and enter the amount of food. In particular, the present invention is preferably adapted for heating of baby food, such as baby milk contained in a baby bottle, and in such case the target temperature is preferably preset to about 37° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Fredrik Hallgren, Patrik Rydin, Per Torngren
  • Patent number: 7498548
    Abstract: A heating apparatus for removing volatiles from a saturated adsorbent is provided. The heating apparatus can include a vessel including a first end and a second end. The vessel can be adapted to receive the saturated adsorbent. The heating apparatus can also include a channel in communication with the first end of the vessel and a radiation source that provides energy to heat the vessel. The heating apparatus can further comprise a lateral waveguide coupled to the radiation source and disposed within the channel to transmit the energy from the radiation source to the vessel to heat the saturated adsorbent disposed within the vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Ranger Research, Inc.
    Inventor: Stephen H. Opperman
  • Patent number: 7495197
    Abstract: In a method for heat treating a fuel assembly channel made of zircaloy, the channel is continuously moved relative to a heat-treatment device and, longitudinal sections of it are heated to the beta phase range in an inductive heating zone. The longitudinal section of the channel heated in this manner is than cooled in a cooling zone to a temperature within an alpha phase range. The heat treatment is effected by at least two heating devices, which are spaced apart from one another, operate independently of each other, and each contain at least one induction coil and together form a heating zone. The channel section is first heated using a first heating device and then heat-treated using a second heating device which has less power and in that cooling is effected using a stream of inert gas applied to the outer surface of the channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2009
    Assignee: Areva NP GmbH
    Inventors: Maximilian Körzendörfer, Andreas Möckel, Bernd Block, Hans-Joachim Lippert
  • Patent number: 7491916
    Abstract: A portable induction tool is provided for soldering or brazing sections of metal pipe together. A work coil head (with induction coil) is U-shaped, allowing placement of the head around lengths of pipe, heating a susceptor (e.g., the pipe) to form a joint, and then to be withdrawn after the pipe joint is made. In one form, the tool uses heat pipes to remove thermal energy from the head, and also a heat exchanger for higher-powered units. Power capacitors are generally included with the induction (work) coil to create a tank circuit of a resonant frequency. The induction coil uses Litz wire, copper tubing, or heat pipes with a conductive outer skin to carry the high-current being delivered to the induction coil. The induction coil has a general racetrack configuration, which is typically wound in a U-shape (or as a semicircle) as a single winding, with multiple turns.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2009
    Assignee: Nexicor LLC
    Inventors: John P. Barber, Robert C. Cravens, II, Antonios Challita, Susan A. Stanton
  • Patent number: 7482559
    Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for inductively heating a workpiece by transverse flux induction. The apparatus comprises a pair of identical coils, each of which includes a reversed head section bent to the opposite side of the workpiece. The assembled pair of coils is configured to effectively form a generally O-shaped coil arrangement on opposing sides of the workpiece. Combination electrically conductive and magnetic compensators, passive or active/passive, are also provided for use with transverse flux inductors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Inductotherm Corp.
    Inventors: Mike Maochang Cao, Vitaly A. Peysakhovich
  • Patent number: 7482561
    Abstract: A spatter guard for covering food in an oven. The guard includes: a first shell configured to cover food, having: a first semi-hemispherical barrier member with a plurality of apertures therein. Additionally, there is a second shell pivotally coupled to the first shell to substantially form a hemispherical barrier and an array of substantially parallel semi-hemispherical barriers. The array includes a second semi-hemispherical barrier member with a plurality of apertures therein. Moreover, the first shell has a plurality of protrusions extending downwardly from a bottom of the first hemispherical barrier member to space the first shell from a surface. Further, there is a flange that extends outwardly from a bottom of the first hemispherical barrier member. Further, the second shell has a protrusion extending outwardly therefrom and is configured to be used as a handle for actuating the second shell between the first and second positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Inventor: Bradley Henderson
  • Patent number: 7482562
    Abstract: A microwave range having a hood for removing contaminated air includes a chamber and first and second vent fan assemblies respectively positioned at opposite lateral sides of the chamber. The first and second vent fan assemblies draw contaminated air in through an air inlet located on a bottom surface of the microwave range below the chamber, and exhaust the air drawn in through the air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Bae Song, Sang Bum Sohn, Jong Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 7482563
    Abstract: A microwave range includes a primary air inlet through which contaminated air is drawn in and an auxiliary air inlet through which contaminated air is drawn in. A primary vent fan assembly draws in and exhausts contaminated air drawn in through the primary air inlet, and an auxiliary vent fan assembly draws in and exhausts contaminated air drawn in through the auxiliary air inlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Sung Bae Song, Sang Bum Sohn, Jong Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 7482560
    Abstract: Microwaveable container that provides for accelerated microwave cooking times and more uniform internal temperature distribution. The container is manufactured from a laminate structure, the laminate structure including a first layer of microwave-transparent material and a second layer of microwave-reflective material. The second layer has at least one aperture defined therein, the at least one aperture having a width dimension W, a length dimension L, and a perimeter dimension P. The aperture is sized such that at least one of the width dimension W or length dimension L is sized about an energy maximum. Accordingly, the width and/or the length dimension is defined as within ?? of a predetermined dimension D. The predetermined dimension is equal to ¼?+n(½)?, wherein n is an integer and ? is a microwave wavelength associated with a predetermined range of microwave frequencies. Preferably, the predetermined range of microwave frequencies is between about 2.0-3.0 GHz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Pactiv Corporation
    Inventors: Craig A. Golden, David C. Schiltz, Jim E. Bunds
  • Patent number: 7481704
    Abstract: A fan rack fixture for fixing a fan rack to a housing of an electronic device is disclosed. The fan rack fixture includes a first positioning portion installed on a first side of the fan rack, a first locking portion installed on a first side of the housing for fixing the first positioning portion, a second positioning portion installed on a second side of the fan rack and opposite to the first positioning portion, and a second locking portion installed on a second side of the housing for fixing the second positioning portion. By virtue of the fan rack fixture, the fan rack can be assembled/disassembled to/from the housing of the electronic device, even without the use of any tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2009
    Assignee: Inventec Corporation
    Inventors: Kuang-Yi Kao, Lin-Wei Chang, Chi-Kang Hsieh
  • Patent number: 7476830
    Abstract: Various constructs are provided for heating a plurality of different food items to their respective desired serving temperatures in a microwave oven in about the same amount of time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2009
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventors: Scott W. Middleton, Lorin R. Cole, Patrick H. Wnek
  • Patent number: 7473875
    Abstract: Various blanks are provided for forming sleeves, containers, and other constructs for heating, browning, and/or crisping of a food item in a microwave oven, and for holding and/or transporting the food item after heating. The various blanks, sleeves, containers, and other constructs include a removable portion defined by one or more lines of disruption that enable the removable portion to be separated from the remainder of the blank, sleeve, container, or other construct.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Graphic Packaging International, Inc.
    Inventor: Kelly R. Fitzwater
  • Patent number: 7473871
    Abstract: A heating apparatus that enables an abnormally high temperature detection section that detects, when a heating element heated by means of electromagnetic induction reaches an abnormally high temperature, this abnormally high temperature, to operate speedily and reliably irrespective of the material and temperature characteristic of the heating element in a low-cost and compact configuration. In this apparatus, thermostat 301 is disposed on the same side as exciting coil 231 with respect to heat generating belt 210 and between winding bundles of a conductor wire of exciting coil 231. This allows coil guide 234 to hold both thermostat 301 and exciting coil 231 and allows these wires and terminals to be concentrated on one location, thus making it possible to reduce the number of parts and assembling man-hours and configure the body of the apparatus in a low-cost and compact configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 24, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2009
    Assignee: Panasonic Corporation
    Inventors: Noriyuki Tajima, Koichi Baba, Akihiro Yasuda, Keisuke Fujimoto, Shigemitsu Tani, Masayuki Isayama