Patents Examined by Sang Paik
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Patent number: 7352960Abstract: A heating device for the vaporization of active substances, such as air freshener fragrances, disinfectants, sanitizing agents, insecticides and the like, in which a wick is immersed in a fluid active substance and heat is applied to produce vaporization. The heating is produced by one or more electrical resistance elements embedded in a circular heating ring which is hinged to move over the end of the wick and encircle it. The internal wires which carry electrical current from a source of electrical power are led through the hinged area for connection to the electrical resistance elements, and a feature of the invention is the protection of such wires as they pass through the hinged area.Type: GrantFiled: April 17, 2006Date of Patent: April 1, 2008Assignee: The Dial CorporationInventors: Kevin Hafer, Rick Althouse
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Patent number: 7346273Abstract: It is an object of the invention to provide a substrate processing equipment that can predict a temperature of a substrate and easily control temperature of the substrate. Formed in a reactor (processing chamber) 3 are four temperature adjustment zones, of which setting and adjustment of temperature can be made by zone heaters 340-1 to 340-4. A temperature controller 4 mixes temperatures detected by inner thermocouples 302-1 to 302-4 and outer thermocouples 342-1 to 342-4 to calculate predicted temperatures of substrates by means of the first-order lag calculation on the basis of time constants of temperatures of substrates heated by the zone heaters 340-1 to 340-4. Also, the temperature controller 4 calculates electric power values (operating variables) for the zone heaters 340-1 to 340-4 with the use of predicted temperatures of substrates to output the same to the zone heaters 340-1 to 340-4.Type: GrantFiled: June 18, 2004Date of Patent: March 18, 2008Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric IncInventors: Kazuo Tanaka, Masaaki Ueno, Masashi Sugishita
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Patent number: 7342203Abstract: In one example, an oven chamber has a heating element located within a first section of the oven chamber, and includes a shielding member that extends over the first section of the oven. The shielding member has an outer boundary, and one or more portions of the outer boundary are spaced away from walls of the oven chamber so as to form an open space through which convective heat is able to pass. The shielding member is supported above the heating element by support elements on which the shielding member rests and a portion of the outer boundary of the shielding member that extends away from the remainder of the shielding member to the bottom wall of the oven chamber, and the latter portion of the outer boundary of the shielding member attaches to a bracket fastened to the bottom wall of the oven chamber.Type: GrantFiled: September 20, 2005Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.Inventors: Martin Benoit, Craig Douglass Burnett
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Patent number: 7342204Abstract: A low-radiation-rate film, made of a material whose radiation rate is lower than that of a heater substrate, is formed at least entirely over the surface of a heat-subject-placing surface of a heater substrate. By applying patterning to the low-radiation-rate film, the exposure rate of the heater substrate is varied such that the radiation rate becomes smaller from the center part of the heat-subject-placing surface toward the outer peripheral part thereof, thereby enabling a uniform temperature across the surface. In addition, the power supply is reduced, thermal stress is eliminated, the wiring design flexibility is increased, and the reliability is increased by preventing short-circuit accidents.Type: GrantFiled: November 15, 2004Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: Sumitomo Electric Industries, Ltd.Inventors: Masuhiro Natsuhara, Hirohiko Nakata, Kenji Shinma
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Patent number: 7342205Abstract: In apparatus and a method for providing electronic control of an electric heating assembly, a radiant electric heater (10, 110) is arranged at a lower surface (22, 124) of a glass-ceramic cooking plate (12, 112), the plate having an upper surface (40, 138) for receiving a cooking vessel (42, 136A, 136B). A temperature sensor (24, 140) monitors temperature at or adjacent to the cooking plate (12, 112) and provides an electrical output as a function of temperature. Control means (30, 142) connected to the temperature sensor (24, 140) and to the heater (10, 110) controls energising of the heater from a power supply (28, 134) for energising the heater at a plurality of user selectable power levels including a full power level.Type: GrantFiled: January 16, 2003Date of Patent: March 11, 2008Assignee: Ceramaspeed LimitedInventors: Peter Ravenscroft Wilkins, Kevin Ronald McWilliams
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Patent number: 7335860Abstract: A multifunctional griddle having hinged top and bottom heating plate assemblies which receive reversible cooking plates or, alternatively, interchangeable cooking plates for cooking different types of foods such as waffles, pancakes, and hot sandwiches. In one embodiment the reversible cooking plates are nested in face-to-face contact with mating top and bottom heating plates to improve heat transfer to the cooking plates. This is accomplished by forming a mating waffle grid in the heating plates for receiving the waffle iron surfaces of the cooking plates in intermeshing engagement. The intermeshing engagement of the cooking plates with the heating plates also reduces the overall vertical height of the appliance providing a slimmer profile. In an alternative embodiment a set of interchangeable cooking plates is provided having a sliding interface with modified heating plates. In this embodiment the cooking plates are conveniently interchanged to vary the cooking configurations of the appliance.Type: GrantFiled: June 20, 2006Date of Patent: February 26, 2008Inventor: George T. C. Li
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Patent number: 7329839Abstract: An apparatus for a candle warming device is disclosed for providing a decorative covering over the candle warming device and for supporting a wax-filled glass candle placed upon a candle warmer. The cover includes a perimeter wall having a base portion defining a first interior surface contour that is generally of the shape of an outer perimeter of a candle warming device. An upper portion is interconnected to the base portion and defines a second interior surface contour that is generally the shape of an outer perimeter of a candle.Type: GrantFiled: April 25, 2005Date of Patent: February 12, 2008Inventor: Jeffery W. Palmer
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Patent number: 7326886Abstract: A simple and practical wafer support member which holds vacuum tight comprises a plate-shaped ceramic body having one main surface of a mount surface on which a wafer is mounted and a penetrating via hole from one main surface to the other main surface, a conductive layer provided on the mount surface, a connection conductive layer provided on an inner surface of the via hole so as to be connected to the conductive layer, a buried conductive layer which is buried in the plate-shaped ceramic body so as to be connected to the connection conductive layer, and a conducting terminal having one end and the other end and arranged apart from the via hole Of the plate-shaped ceramic body so that it is connected to the buried conductive layer in the vicinity of its one end and the other end protrudes from the other main surface of the ceramic body.Type: GrantFiled: October 26, 2005Date of Patent: February 5, 2008Assignee: Kyocera CorporationInventor: Hironori Inoue
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Patent number: 7323661Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus enables a rapid temperature rise of an object to be processed while giving an excellent economical efficiency. A heating unit heats an object to be heated by irradiating a light onto the object. A plurality of lamps are provided in a lamp house. The lamps include at least one first lamp and a plurality of second lamps each having an irradiation area smaller than that of the first lamp. The lamp house has a first lamp accommodation part at a center thereof and a second lamp accommodation part surrounding the first lamp accommodation part so that the first lamp accommodation part accommodates the first lamp and the second lamp accommodation part accommodates the second lamps.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2005Date of Patent: January 29, 2008Assignee: Tokyo Electron LimitedInventor: Masahiro Shimizu
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Patent number: 7313321Abstract: A vapor-dispensing or other environment-altering apparatus is configured to integrate with a receptacle in a discreet manner. In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, an environment-altering apparatus is configured to mimic an electrical receptacle having an outlet pattern. The environment-altering apparatus has a front surface which includes an outlet pattern substantially corresponding to the outlet pattern of the electrical receptacle, and a plug configured to interface with the electrical receptacle. A device configured to modify one or more attributes of the environment is interposed between the front surface and plug pattern. These attributes include, for example, aromatic vapor density, insecticide vapor density, ambient light intensity, ionic air content, ultrasonic frequency intensity, and the like.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2004Date of Patent: December 25, 2007Assignee: The Dial CorporationInventors: Mengtao Pete He, Carl Triplett, Mary Conway
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Patent number: 7304274Abstract: A user control generates a heat level input signal responsive to a user of a cooktop heating element. Logic generates an output signal having a duty cycle corresponding to the input signal. An electromechanical device connected to apply power from a source to the heating element in response to the output signal.Type: GrantFiled: October 3, 2005Date of Patent: December 4, 2007Assignee: Illinois Tool Works Inc.Inventors: Eric K. Larson, Juan Barrena
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Patent number: 7305176Abstract: A smoke producing device for detecting leaks in a fluid system comprises a smoke producing chamber and a fluid reservoir for containing a smoke producing fluid. A heating element is provided within the smoke producing chamber. The chamber has a pressurized gas inlet for receiving a pressurized gas and an outlet port for conveying pressurized gas and/or smoke out of said chamber. A fluid transfer device has a first portion disposed within the fluid reservoir and a second portion which is adjacent and/or in contact with the heating element. The fluid transfer device is a capillary flow device which conveys smoke producing fluid from the fluid reservoir to the vicinity of the heating element primarily by capillary action.Type: GrantFiled: October 28, 2004Date of Patent: December 4, 2007Assignee: Redline Detection, LLCInventor: Kenneth Alan Pieroni
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Patent number: 7297906Abstract: An integrated thermal unit comprises a bake station comprising a bake plate configured to hold and heat a substrate; a chill station comprising a chill plate configured to hold and cool a substrate; and a substrate transfer shuttle configured to transfer substrates from the bake plate to the chill plate along a horizontally linear path within the thermal unit and raise and lower substrates along a vertical path within the integrated thermal unit.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2005Date of Patent: November 20, 2007Assignee: Sokudo Co., Ltd.Inventors: David H. Quach, Martin Jeff Salinas
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Patent number: 7288747Abstract: A cooking apparatus having a grill part to cook food thereon, and a grill housing coupled with the grill part. The cooking apparatus includes a cover member coupled with the grill housing, to cover the grill part, and having an opening part, and at least one opening and closing member coupled with the cover member, to open and close the opening part.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2005Date of Patent: October 30, 2007Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Dae-sung Han, Han-seong Kang, Yong-hyun Kwon, Chul Kim, Han-jun Sung, Tae-uk Lee, Seong-deok Jang
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Patent number: 7285757Abstract: A bottom electric heating element for an oven wherein the electric heating element is positioned in a recessed portion in the oven bottom and comprises at least one corrugated ribbon of conductive material partially embedded in an insulating base. A glass panel is positioned over the recessed portion and on a compressible heat resistant gasket. The glass panel is transparent or semi-transparent, high temperature resistant and high impact resistant. A frame extends around the glass panel and fastens it to the oven bottom while partially and resiliently compressing the gasket to support the glass panel.Type: GrantFiled: September 6, 2005Date of Patent: October 23, 2007Assignee: Distinctive Appliances, Inc.Inventors: Antonio Muńoz, Jesus Rios, Jr., Joey J. Kitabayashi
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Patent number: 7282675Abstract: An integrated thermal unit comprising a bake plate configured to heat a substrate supported on a surface of the bake plate; a chill plate configured to cool a substrate supported on a surface of the chill plate; and a substrate transfer shuttle configured to transfer substrates from the bake plate to the cool plate, wherein the substrate transfer shuttle has a temperature controlled substrate holding surface that is capable of cooling a substrate heated by the bake plate.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2005Date of Patent: October 16, 2007Assignee: Sokudo Co., Ltd.Inventors: David H. Quach, Martin Jeff Salinas
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Patent number: 7279661Abstract: A heating apparatus for a semiconductor producing system is provided, including a heater having a mounting face, an opposed back face, a first resistance heating element, a second resistance heating element provided along substantially the same plane as the first heating element, a first terminal connected with the first heating element and a second terminal connected with the second heating element. A supporting member is fixed to the back face of the heater. First and second power supply means are respectively connected with the first and second terminals and contained in an inner space of the supporting member. A conductive connector connects the first heating element and the first terminal but not the second heating element. The first heating element is provided in a first zone, the second heating element is provided in a second zone, and the conductive connector is provided in the plane and the second zone.Type: GrantFiled: September 24, 2002Date of Patent: October 9, 2007Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.Inventors: Hisakazu Okajima, Yutaka Unno, Keiji Kawasaki
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Patent number: 7277626Abstract: Disclosed is a novel apparatus and method that combines a nightlight and an air freshener in a single device. The apparatus includes circuitry where a single resistor heats a heating block that heats and releases a volatile aromatic. The resistor also limits the current that passes through one or more light emitting diodes. The aromatic may be liquid scented oil held by a container. The container may also include a protruding wick that is heated by the heating block to facilitate oil evaporation. The light emitting diodes illuminate the housing and a decorative shield. The diodes may also illuminate fiber optic cables. The apparatus receives alternating current from a standard wall outlet. The circuitry utilized by the device ensures that the resistor is continuously powered during both half-cycles of the alternating current resulting in optimal heating of the aromatic.Type: GrantFiled: September 4, 2003Date of Patent: October 2, 2007Assignee: Bath & Body Works Brand Management, Inc.Inventors: Bradley Pesu, Cheriyan Thomas
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Patent number: 7274004Abstract: A chuck for a plasma processor comprises a temperature-controlled base, a thermal insulator, a flat support, and a heater. The temperature-controlled base has a temperature below the desired temperature of a workpiece. The thermal insulator is disposed over the temperature-controlled base. The flat-support holds a workpiece and is disposed over the thermal insulator. A heater is embedded within the flat support and/or disposed on an underside of the flat support. The heater includes a plurality of heating elements that heat a plurality of corresponding heating zones. The power supplied and/or temperature of each heating element is controlled independently.Type: GrantFiled: November 30, 2004Date of Patent: September 25, 2007Assignee: Lam Research CorporationInventors: Neil Benjamin, Robert Steger
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Patent number: 7274005Abstract: A bake station comprising a bake plate adapted to heat a substrate supported on an upper surface of the bake plate, the bake plate vertically moveable between an upper baking position and a lower cooling position; and a plurality of heat sinks adapted to be engageably coupled to a lower surface of the bake plate when the bake plate is in the lower cooling position.Type: GrantFiled: July 5, 2005Date of Patent: September 25, 2007Assignee: Sokudo Co., Ltd.Inventors: David H. Quach, Tetsuya Ishikawa