Patents Examined by Philip H. Leung
  • Patent number: 6965098
    Abstract: An induction heat treating process with a sensor for monitoring the duration of energization of an induction heating coil each time the induction heating coil is consecutively cycled. The sensor is preferably a counting mechanism attached to or embedded within the induction heating coil and is preferably triggered by and responds to the change in voltage generated as the coil is energized. Alternative means of measuring a cycle may be implemented. The output data from the sensor provides useful information for determining the lifespan of an induction heating coil. Predicting the lifespan of a coil optimizes production by anticipating failure and replacement of a coil during a predetermined down time, limiting on-site inventory, and revolutionizing the billing cycle based on a per cycle cost while decreasing overall production costs and improving inductor coil quality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Inventor: Kathleen M. Bartz
  • Patent number: 6965101
    Abstract: A cooling structure for an oven door of a microwave oven usable as a pizza oven, which includes air inlet perforations formed through a portion of a chamber partition wall contacting one side section of the oven door to communicate with an electric device installation chamber, and thus, to receive ambient air, air inlet perforations formed through the side section of the oven door, the inlet perforations having the same shape as the first air inlet perforations such that the second air inlet perforations are aligned with the first air inlet perforations to introduce the air into the interior of the oven door, and air outlet perforations formed through the other side and top sections of the oven door to outwardly exhaust the air introduced into the interior of the oven door.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: Daewoo Electronics Corporation
    Inventors: Seung Hoc Kim, Kyung Hoi Yang
  • Patent number: 6965100
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for controlling output power of a combination hood and microwave oven, and more particularly, to an apparatus and method for controlling power of a combination hood and microwave oven, wherein an output level of a high voltage transformer for generating a high voltage can be adjusted. According to the combination hood and microwave oven of the present invention, the electric power supplied to the high voltage transformer can be increased by temporarily turning off the parts (limited to the components which can be controlled separately from the microwave oven function), such as the vent fan or the electric indicator lamp, having large power consumption. Thus, the output power level thereof can be increased. Therefore, there are advantages in that the quick cooking can be made and cooking performance can be improved due to the high output of the transformer, when the user intends to make the quick cooking with the high output power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Seog-tae Kim
  • Patent number: 6963057
    Abstract: Multiple workpieces are inductively heated by passing them through one or more induction heating coils. Passage of a section of each workpiece through a coil may oscillate in the forward and reverse directions, independent of the movement of the other workpieces, one or more times, to selectively heat each workpiece while operating the power supplies for each of the induction heating coils at constant current, voltage and/or power to maximize the efficiency of the electrical circuit and minimize the requirements for power supply control circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 18, 2003
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Inductotherm Corp.
    Inventors: Wallace Shane Swanger, Edward J. Rylicki, Oleg S. Fishman
  • Patent number: 6963056
    Abstract: An apparatus and process are provided for controlling the cross sectional temperature profile of a continuously moving workpiece with an induction coil assembly that provides for a combination of longitudinal and transverse magnetic flux field heating of the workpiece. The induction coil assembly includes means for laterally moving the workpiece in and out of the coil assembly without movement of the coil assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2005
    Assignee: Inductotherm Corp.
    Inventors: Vitaly A. Peysakhovich, Jean Lovens, Michel Fontaine, Peter Robert Dickson
  • Patent number: 6956191
    Abstract: A microwave oven includes a cooking chamber and a door. The cooking chamber includes a front opening and a bottom plate. The bottom plate is projected forward from the cooking chamber. The door selectively opens and closes the cooking chamber, and is projected forward to form a cooking space extending from the cooking chamber, together with the projected bottom plate of the cooking chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2002
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Dae-Sung Han, Yong-Woon Han, Han-Seong Kang, Joo-Yong Yeo, Seong-Deog Jang
  • Patent number: 6956190
    Abstract: The object of the invention is to provide a water supply controlling method of a high-frequency heating apparatus and the high-frequency heating apparatus wherein water supplied to a heating chamber as steam is controlled in the quantity and the quality and power can be saved. To achieve the object, it is judged whether there is the required quantity of water supplied as steam in cooking in a water tank or not and in case it is judged that the water is short, request for replacing water in the water tank is annunciated. Elapsed time since water in the water tank was last replaced is monitored and in case the elapsed time exceeds predetermined time, request for replacing the water is annunciated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Masaaki Sano, Nobuhiro Ogawa
  • Patent number: 6956189
    Abstract: An induction heating system having a fluid cooling unit, a power source, an induction heating device, a controller, and an alarm system to place the system in a safe condition when an improper operating condition is detected. The induction heating system may have a flow switch to detect fluid flow through the system. The system may operate to secure power to the induction heating device when cooling flow is inadequate. Alternatively, the system may increase fluid flow to provide adequate cooling flow. The controller may have a visual indicator of inadequate flow or an improper power source operating condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2005
    Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.
    Inventor: Paul D. Verhagen
  • Patent number: 6953920
    Abstract: A microwave oven is capable of cooking food using steam produced in a cooking cavity. The microwave oven includes a cabinet in which a cooking cavity is defined. A microwave heating unit radiates microwaves into the cooking cavity. A steaming unit is provided on a predetermined position of the cabinet to define a cooking space, which is partitioned from the cooking cavity. A steam guide passage guides steam produced in the cooking cavity, into the steaming unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 2, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: In Ki Jeon
  • Patent number: 6953919
    Abstract: A system and method for providing multiple cooking modes and an ability to automatically heat cooking vessels and other objects using RFID technology, and an ability to read and write heating instructions and to interactively assist in their execution. An induction heating range is provided with two antennas per hob, and includes a user interface display and input mechanism. The vessel includes an RFID tag and a temperature sensor. In a first cooking mode, a recipe is read by the range and the range assists a user in executing the recipe by automatically heating the vessel to specified temperatures and by prompting the user to add ingredients. The recipe is written to the RFID tag so that if the vessel is moved to another hob, into which the recipe has not been read, the new hob can read the recipe from the RFID tag and continue in its execution.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 11, 2005
    Assignee: Thermal Solutions, Inc.
    Inventor: Brian L. Clothier
  • Patent number: 6951999
    Abstract: A flexible paper microwave package in the form of an easily expandable, nontrapping bag (18) is disclosed including a bottom wall (20) and a top wall (22) interconnected together adjacent their circular outer peripheries (20a, 22a) by first and second interconnection portions (26a, 26b). In one preferred form, the top wall (22) is formed from a first portion (22d) having a generally oval shaped access opening closed by a generally oval shaped closure portion (22e) interconnected by a wet adhesive seal (40) to the first portion (22d). In a preferred form, the wet adhesive seal (40) is formed by a plurality of spaced, parallel bands (400, 401, 402) defining a plurality of spaced, parallel spaces therebetween for resisting any leakage from the interior of the bag (18) through the seal (40). The bottom and top walls (20, 22) expand into an opposing double domed shape as the food product is being popped, puffed, or expanded in the microwave oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Assignee: General Mills, Inc.
    Inventors: Randal J. Monforton, Ronald W. Hegner, Melissa L. Jacobs, Michael R. Perry
  • Patent number: 6952000
    Abstract: A rice cooking system for a microwave oven comprises an inner cooking container for containing rice and rice cooking water, main outer container holding the inner container with a space in between their side surfaces, a lid covering the outer container, and a foam control sheet having a plurality of small holes 52 and supported between the outer container and the lid. The inner cooking container is made of metal and has a folded or rolled a rim. A step at the bottom of the outer container locates the inner cooking container so that its outer wall is spaced from the outer container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2004
    Date of Patent: October 4, 2005
    Inventor: Yoshio Ohyama
  • Patent number: 6949729
    Abstract: A microwave oven, a relay box communicating with the microwave oven and a personal computer communicating with the relay box are provided in private. The personal computer is connected to a host computer storing home page information, through the public Internet. A home page storing unit of the host computer stores, corresponding to each of a plurality of cooking recipes, recipe data directly recognized by microwave oven including heating control data for heating and cooking the cooking recipe by the microwave oven, a button to be operated for transferring the recipe data through the Internet to personal computer and image display data for displaying information related to the cooking recipe as a home page image display. Therefore, in accordance with the heating control data downloaded and supplied to personal computer, microwave oven is controlled to heat and cook the desired cooking recipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 27, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Ishikawa, Tooru Fujikawa, Tomoko Ota
  • Patent number: 6946630
    Abstract: Disclosed is a combined toaster and microwave oven, including: a plurality of heaters disposed close to both surfaces of a slice of bread so as to apply a heat to the slice of bread inserted into a slot in a toaster; a control panel for selecting a bread kind and a bread baking level which a user desires; a display unit for displaying the bread kind and the bread baking level selected in the control panel; and a controller for controlling to selectively operate the heater according to the bread kind and the bread baking level selected in the control panel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 3, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics, Inc.
    Inventors: Chang Su Lee, Sung Un Shin, Young Jin Oh
  • Patent number: 6946632
    Abstract: A weight measuring device having a lever structure, a cooking apparatus equipped with the weight measuring device, and a mounting structure of the weight measuring device. A weight sensor pushed by a lever is disposed on an outer bottom surface of a cooking cavity. The lever is extended from the weight sensor to a lever passing hole to perform a lever action with a first end of the lever protruded to an inside of the cooking cavity through the lever passing hole, and a second end of the lever inserted into a lever receiving hole of a sensor housing that accommodates the weight sensor. The lever transmits pressure, which is generated when rollers pass over the protruded first end of the lever, to the weight sensor through the lever action.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2003
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Jong Chull Shon, Young Hoon Kang, Han Jun Sung
  • Patent number: 6946629
    Abstract: An induction heating type fixing device for an electrophotographic image forming apparatus is disclosed. An inducting heating coil has a plurality of bobbins each having a particular diameter and assembled in a telescopic manner. A particular conductor is wound round each bobbin beforehand with leads being laid inside of the conductor. The bobbin may be implemented as a plurality of bobbin members removably connected together.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 20, 2005
    Assignees: Ricoh Company, Ltd., Tohoku Ricoh Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akiko Miyahara, Toshiaki Higaya, Masae Sugawara, Tomotaka Takamura
  • Patent number: 6940054
    Abstract: A production/injection line including a production/injection tube and heating apparatus for heating of the production/injection tube. The line also includes insulation and heat conductive material to control the heat transfer from the heating apparatus towards the production/injection tube. A method is also described for supplying heat to a production/injection line in which cooling fluid from a process on an installation is supplied to transport channels extending along a production/injection tube. Methods are also described for manufacturing a production/injection line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 18, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Kvaerner Oilfield Products AS
    Inventor: Ole A. Heggdal
  • Patent number: 6940057
    Abstract: A microwave oven including a cabinet defining a cooking chamber therein, and a door coupled to the cabinet to open and close the cooking chamber. The door includes a door frame forming an appearance of the door, a shielding plate installed in the door frame to prevent high-frequency electromagnetic waves from radiating from a small gap between the door and the cabinet, a choke member provided at a peripheral edge of the shielding plate and having a high-frequency choke groove, a cover to cover the high-frequency choke groove, and a retaining member provided at the cover to elastically support the choke member. When the cover is attached to the choke member, an end of the choke member is supported on an inner rib section of the cover via the retaining member, thus reducing deformation of the choke member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2004
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2005
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kyoung Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 6936799
    Abstract: An induction heating cooker capable of accurately discriminating whether the material of a cooking container placed in the induction heating cooker is magnetic or non-magnetic, using a phase change in a resonant capacitor voltage of an inverter circuit and a switching pulse signal of the inverter circuit, irrespective of the load of the cooking container, and a method for operating the induction heating cooker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Eui Sung Kim, Seung Hee Ryu, Byeong Wook Park, Dong Myung Shin
  • Patent number: 6936802
    Abstract: On a home page of a home page storing unit (421) of a host computer (4), information related to a plurality of recipes and recipe data (MI) corresponding to each of the plurality of recipes are included. The recipe data includes a heating control code (DS141) common among different types of microwave ovens (1) for heating and cooking the corresponding recipe. The microwave oven has a memory (11A) that stores a plurality of different pieces of procedure information (heating sequence FLi, heating mode data MDi, heater down time data HDT) indicating procedure matching the type, for executing a heating operation. The microwave oven performs the heating operation in accordance with one or more pieces of procedure information read from the memory (11A) based on the heating control code.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 4, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2005
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Ishikawa, Kazuo Wanda