Patents Examined by Shawntina Fuqua
  • Patent number: 8716632
    Abstract: A scent bowl may include a base having an external concave base surface and at least one sidewall extending from the base. A majority of the base and the at least one sidewall may be formed of ceramic material. A system for scenting the air in a room with scent from a scent bowl may include a scent bowl warmer configured to generate heat at a first temperature and a detachable and separate scent bowl including a base having an external concave base surface and at least one sidewall extending from the base and a scent emitter therein, the scent emitter having a fragrance and a second temperature at which the fragrance evaporates. The first temperature is high enough to evaporate at least a portion of the fragrance from the scent emitter in the bowl in less than three hours.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: Gold Canyon International, LLC
    Inventors: Maxine Pesu, Fatima Silva, Stephanie Tierney, Leann Waisath, Lynae Parrott
  • Patent number: 8716635
    Abstract: A honeycomb structure includes: a honeycomb structural portion having porous partition walls functioning as fluid passages and separating and forming a plurality of cells extending from one end face to the other end face. The partition walls and the outer peripheral wall contain silicon carbide particles as a framework and silicon as a binder for binding the silicon carbide particles. The honeycomb structure has a partition walls thickness of 50 to 200 ?m, a cell density of 40 to 150 cells/cm2, and an average particle diameter of the silicon carbide as a framework of 3 to 40 ?m. The honeycomb structural portion has a volume resistivity of 1 to 40 ?cm at 400° C., and the volume resistivity of the electrode portion at 400° C. is not more than 40% of the volume resistivity of the honeycomb structural portion at 400° C.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2014
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasushi Noguchi, Atsushi Kaneda, Mariko Kakitani, Yoshimasa Omiya
  • Patent number: 8710409
    Abstract: A home appliance that includes a power operated door includes a first sensor that is accessible to a user when the door is closed, and a second sensor that is accessible to the user when the door is open. The first sensor is used to cause the door to move from the closed position to the open position. The second sensor is used to cause the door to move from the open position to the closed position. The first sensor may be located on an exterior of the door and the second sensor may be located on an inner surface of the home appliance or on an inner surface of the door itself.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: BSH Home Appliances Corporation
    Inventors: Gerhard Busalt, Joachim Grützke, Graham Sadtler
  • Patent number: 8710406
    Abstract: An appliance includes a plurality of electrical loads and a load control circuit including at least a clock enable circuit and a full power timer. The clock enable circuit is configured and operatively connected to activate the full power timer when all of the loads are energized, and the full power timer is configured and operatively connected to de-energize at least one load selected from the plurality of loads on reaching a predetermined full power time limit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 29, 2014
    Assignee: Conair Corporation
    Inventors: Daniel Lee Sanders, Jonathan G Berera
  • Patent number: 8704139
    Abstract: The invention relates to a heating device comprising at least one tube housing in which at least one PTC heating element is arranged, and heat exchangers which are secured on the tube housing. According to the invention, it is provided that the heat exchangers are secured on the tube housing by stamping.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2014
    Assignee: BorgWarner BERU Systems GmbH
    Inventors: Michael Edgar Luppold, Alexander Dauth, Juergen Kochems, Klaus Lehmann, Joerg Weigold, Hans-Peter Etzkorn
  • Patent number: 8698049
    Abstract: Embodiments of a lamphead and apparatus utilizing same are provided. In some embodiments, a lamphead for thermal processing may include a monolithic member having a plurality of coolant passages and a plurality of lamp passages and reflector cavities, wherein each lamp passage is configured to accommodate a lamp and each reflector cavity is shaped to act as a reflector or to receive a replaceable reflector for the lamp, and wherein the plurality of coolant passages are disposed proximate to the plurality of lamp passages; and at least one heat transfer member extending from the monolithic member into each coolant passage, wherein the at least one heat transfer member extends into each coolant passage up to the full height of each coolant passage. The lamphead may be disposed in an apparatus comprising a process chamber having a substrate support, wherein the lamphead is positioned to provide energy to the substrate support.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 15, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Joseph M. Ranish, Khurshed Sorabji, Kedarnath Sangam, Alexander Lerner
  • Patent number: 8689677
    Abstract: A beverage dispenser comprises a diluent delivery system, concentrate delivery system, mixing and dispensing system, and control system. The concentrate delivery system employs a positive displacement pump. The control system receives package-specific information from a scanner and diluent flow rate information from the flowmeter, and then determines the pump speed in order to set a desired mix ratio.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Carrier Corporation
    Inventors: James J. Minard, Mark E. Bush
  • Patent number: 8692160
    Abstract: A heated counter for service of hot food has one or more hotplates, a light source illuminating each hotplate and a number of light sensors below each hotplate. When a sensor is obscured by a dish of food, power is supplied to that hotplate, and when no sensor is obscured, that hotplate is kept in stand-by mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Holmes Catering Group Limited
    Inventor: Martin Brown
  • Patent number: 8692161
    Abstract: An infrared firing furnace includes a case-integrated cooling system to provide high performance cooling as the first step in the cooling process. The cooling system includes a cooling manifold integrated into, and made from, the same case material as the adjacent firing zone. As the cooling system is made from the same material as the rest of the case, it can handle being exposed to higher temperatures. The cooling system is positioned such that the plane of its outlet is at a specific clearance level relative to the product passing underneath. High pressure cooling jets of air are directed downward toward the products as they pass under the cooling manifold in order to quickly bring the temperature of the products down from the much higher firing temperature, and minimize the dwell time of the product at the higher temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: BTU International, Inc.
    Inventors: Timothy R Doherty, Derek J Butland
  • Patent number: 8674269
    Abstract: A safe product transfer apparatus that heats refrigerated food products and then hold those heated food products in a hold drawer until they can be transferred to a heater merchandizer, preferably a roller grill as needed. The apparatus features a control assembly. A pre-heat indicator indicates when the preheat temperature has been reached so that the food products can be loaded into an operable drawer. The apparatus can heat a refrigerated product from 34° F. to greater than or equal to 140° F. in 35 minutes or less. The apparatus has a safe product transfer apparatus that has a heating cavity ranging from 250° F. to 425° F. The apparatus provides a safe product transfer apparatus that can hold the products stored therein at a safe holding temperature (ranging from greater or equal to 140° F. to not more than 205° F.), that is, not hot enough to continue heating or degrading the food product.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2014
    Assignee: Standex International Corporation
    Inventors: James E. Humphrey, Anthony Kukla, Diosdado Pangan
  • Patent number: 8669496
    Abstract: An apparatus for heat treating semiconductor wafers is disclosed. The apparatus includes a heating device which contains an assembly linear lamps for emitting light energy onto a wafer. The linear lamps can be placed in various configurations. In accordance with the present invention, tuning devices which are used to adjust the overall irradiance distribution of the light energy sources are included in the heating device. The tuning devices can be, for instance, are lamps or lasers.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: Mattson Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: Paul Janis Timans
  • Patent number: 8669499
    Abstract: A domestic apparatus, such as a cooking appliance, uses hydrogen and, optionally electrical heating, to cook food. The cooking appliance may have a cooking surface (e.g. a grilling surface) so as to result in an indoor barbeque, which may be used with no venting or reduced venting requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 11, 2014
    Assignee: G.B.D. Corp.
    Inventor: Wayne Ernest Conrad
  • Patent number: 8658947
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermally processing a substrate is provided. In one embodiment, a method for thermally treating a substrate is provided. The method includes transferring a substrate at a first temperature to a substrate support in a chamber, the chamber having a heating source and a cooling source disposed in opposing portions of the chamber, heating the substrate to a second temperature during a first time period while the substrate is disposed on the substrate support, heating the substrate to a third temperature during a second time period while the substrate is disposed on the substrate support, and cooling the substrate in the chamber to a fourth temperature that is substantially equal to the second temperature during the second time period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Khurshed Sorabji, Alexander N. Lerner
  • Patent number: 8653420
    Abstract: A temperature control circuit of an oven controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) is provided. A first and a second digital potentiometer are correspondingly arranged in a bridge circuit which outputs a voltage to an input terminal of a differential amplifier (OPAMP), wherein the resistance value of the first digital potentiometer is adjustable so as to adjust the temperature of the oven to the peak temperature of the crystal resonator, and the resistance value of the second digital potentiometer is adjustable so as to cancel the temperature gradient of the first digital potentiometer. In the temperature control circuit of OCXO, the heat generation of the heater resistor is controlled by the power transistor based on the control voltage from the differential amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2014
    Assignee: Nihon Dempa Kogyo Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Junichi Arai
  • Patent number: 8642929
    Abstract: A steaming oven having a collector plate disposed in an oven chamber. A collector plate is disposed above a boiling water reservoir in the oven chamber. The collector plate has a drain tube inserted into an overfill tube. Waste material from the steam and food droppings is conveyed from the oven chamber via the drain tube and the overfill tube. A barrier shields one or more water level probes or sensors from water turbulence, thereby providing reliable water level sensing by the water level probes or sensors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2014
    Assignee: Cleveland Range LLC
    Inventors: Victor D. Saltenis, Carl F. Scheu, III, Rupesh T. Savadekar, David S. Schwerzler, Joseph S. Bellassai, John E. Richnafsky, Jason D. Schreiner
  • Patent number: 8637796
    Abstract: An electrical heating device includes at least one heat generating element and at least one heat emitting element having opposed surfaces that abut the heat generating element. The heat generating element includes at least one PTC heating element having strip conductors on both sides of it for the electrical supply of the PTC heating element At least one of the strip conductor is provided with at least one contact projection which protrudes beyond a PTC heating element locating face formed on the strip conductor. Also disclosed is a heat generating element having at least one strip conductor provided with at least one contact projection.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Eberspacher Catem GmbH & KG
    Inventor: Franz Bohlender
  • Patent number: 8633424
    Abstract: An HVAC system for a work vehicle having an operator compartment for a vehicle operator, the system including a heating system, a compartment pressurizer blower, a compartment recirculation blower, a temperature sensor, and an operating mode switch, each operably coupled to an electronic circuit, wherein the circuit is configured to reduce pressurizer blower output when the operator selects high output from the heating system under certain predetermined temperature and conditions and operating modes to improve HVAC system performance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Leonid Chernyavsky, William H. Adamson, Alan G. Leupold, Nicholas J. Prenger, Mark D. Klassen, Michael C. Bunnel
  • Patent number: 8633423
    Abstract: Methods and apparatus for controlling the temperature of a substrate during processing are provided herein. In some embodiments, an apparatus for retaining and controlling substrate temperature may include a puck of dielectric material; an electrode disposed in the puck proximate a surface of the puck upon which a substrate is to be retained; and a plurality of heater elements disposed in the puck and arranged in concentric rings to provide independent temperature control zones.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Xing Lin, Douglas A. Buchberger, Jr., Xiaoping Zhou, Valentin Todorow, Andrew Nguyen, Anchel Sheyner
  • Patent number: 8629375
    Abstract: A defogger system includes structure defining a window or a mirror, a heating element operatively connected to the structure to selectively apply heat to the structure, and a source of electrical energy. The defogger system also includes a switch and an electrically conductive path from the source of electrical energy to the heating element. The switch includes an active material member, and is configured such that the switch interrupts the electrically conductive path when the active material member is above a predetermined temperature. The switch is also configured such that the switch does not interrupt the electrically conductive path when the active material member is below the predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: Nicholas W. Pinto, IV, Paul W. Alexander, Nancy L. Johnson
  • Patent number: 8629376
    Abstract: An oven rack is received in an oven above a lower surface of the chamber and having a bake element mounted in the chamber either above or below the lower surface. The oven rack is configured to support cooking ware on one of the lower surface of the oven chamber or on rack shelf portions provided in sidewalls of the chamber. The rack includes a first portion having a substantially planar top surface, a second portion having a substantially planar lower surface spaced from the top surface and it is also configured to support the rack in one of the rack shelf portions or on the lower surface of the oven chamber. First and second walls extend between these first and second portions whereby the walls have a first dimension slightly greater than a height from the bottom surface of the oven chamber to a top of the bake element when the bake element is mounted above the lower surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Srinivasa Palla, Philip Barber, Michael Gallant, Jonathan Sprigler