Patents Examined by Thor S. Campbell
  • Patent number: 11965676
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hot-air fan including a fan device for generating an air flow, a heating device for heating the air flow, and a control unit connected to the fan device and to the heating device. In this process, the control unit is designed to control the fan device in such a manner that, when the heating device is switched on, the fan device generates a starting air flow that is reduced to an operating air flow. The invention also relates to a method for operating the hot-air fan, including the steps of switching on the heating device and generating a starting air flow that is reduced to an operating air flow.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2024
    Assignee: Steinel GmbH
    Inventors: Frank Albri, Thomas Möller, Torsten Born, Heinrich Hagemeier, Tobias Zubke, Thomas Schreckenberger
  • Patent number: 11963268
    Abstract: A resistive heater capable of delivering heat loads on the same order as those produced by in-pile nuclear fuel experiments. The heater rod provides the energy for high-temperature steady-state testing, as well as the power needed to simulate the transient pulse in the Transient Reactor Test Loop (TRTL) system. The resistive heater includes a removable housing, two or more thermal conductors in the housing; and one or more stabilizers coupled to the two or more thermal conductors to keep the two or more thermal conductors separated to avoid shorting, wherein the two or more thermal conductors are coupled to the housing via an inert gas (e.g., Helium). The two or more thermal conductors comprise a material with substantially zero infrared spectrum (e.g., sapphire, silica, or glass).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2024
    Assignee: OREGON STATE UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Daniel LaBrier, Wade R. Marcum, James Nylander, Aaron W. Weiss, Salem Sharaf
  • Patent number: 11951250
    Abstract: A cartridge for an e-vaping device includes a reservoir configured to hold a pre-vapor formulation and a channel structure that includes a channel surface with one or more open-microchannels. An open-microchannel in the channel structure may be in fluid communication with the reservoir and may transport pre-vapor formulation from the reservoir to a heating element based on capillary action of the pre-vapor formulation through the open-microchannels. The heating element may vaporize the pre-vapor formulation drawn through one or more open-microchannels. The cartridge may be independent of fibrous dispensing interfaces, including one or more wicks. Fabrication of such a cartridge may be simplified, faster, cheaper, some combination thereof, or the like relative to fabrication of a cartridge that includes a fibrous or soft dispensing interface to draw pre-vapor formulation from a reservoir to a heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Raymond Lau, Ali Rostami, Eric Hawes
  • Patent number: 11944234
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus suitable for outdoor use including a substantially ellipsoid or ovoid housing which at least partially defines a cooking area within the same. The housing is substantially formed from aluminium.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Inventor: Bharatkumar Mistry
  • Patent number: 11944747
    Abstract: At least one example embodiment discloses a cartridge for an electronic vapor (e-vapor) apparatus. The cartridge includes a pre-vapor formulation compartment configured to hold a solution therein and a first connector element configured to connect the cartridge to a power section of the e-vapor apparatus. The first connector element includes a processing device configured to communicate with the power section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventors: Eric Hawes, Raymond Lau, Niall Gallagher
  • Patent number: 11944204
    Abstract: An apparatus and method to selectively create a heat transfer effect and sensation of cooling with fluid flow that is directed within bedding on a mattress or within the mattress or within a region between the bedding and the mattress. A programmable application is accessible on a wireless network and is programmed to provide appropriate settings to attain changes over time of the region. In response to receipt of signals indicative of fluid flow rate, temperature and duration settings, a heat transfer device carries out the heat transfer in accord with an initial one of the temperature settings for an initial one of the duration settings and then in accord with a subsequent one of the temperatures settings for a subsequent one of the duration settings. The subsequent one of the temperature settings constitutes a change in the temperature setting from the initial one of the temperature settings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2023
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2024
    Assignee: BEDJET LLC
    Inventor: Mark Darius Aramli
  • Patent number: 11940146
    Abstract: Presented are devices and methods for the generation of high temperature plasma, wherein air or gas is projected past a heating element, or superheated steam produced by water projection on an element and combinations thereof utilizing a heat source comprising an electrically powered heating element in a double helical (DNA) shape which allows for an efficient generation of high heat output.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: MHI Health Devices, Inc.
    Inventors: Ramgopal Vissa, Sajja Sriramu, Jainagesh Sekhar
  • Patent number: 11937647
    Abstract: An aerosol delivery device is provided that includes a reservoir configured to retain aerosol precursor composition, a valve configured to control a flow of aerosol precursor composition from the reservoir to a heating element controllable to activate and vaporize components of the aerosol precursor composition, a sensor configured to measure reflectance or temperature at the heating element and generate a signal corresponding to the reflectance or temperature so measured, and a control component. The control component controls operation of the valve including receiving the signal and based thereon determining a volume of aerosol precursor composition at the heating element, and causing the valve to decrease or increase a rate of the flow of aerosol precursor composition in response to the volume being respectively above or below a predetermined threshold volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Rajesh Sur, Stephen B. Sears, Eric T. Hunt
  • Patent number: 11942381
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide apparatus and method for reducing non uniformity during thermal processing. One embodiment provides an apparatus for processing a substrate comprising a chamber body defining a processing volume, a substrate support disposed in the processing volume, wherein the substrate support is configured to rotate the substrate, a sensor assembly configured to measure temperature of the substrate at a plurality of locations, and one or more pulse heating elements configured to provide pulsed energy towards the processing volume.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2024
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Wolfgang R. Aderhold, Aaron Muir Hunter, Joseph M. Ranish
  • Patent number: 11932040
    Abstract: A sublimation device includes a first heater and a second heater. The first heater includes a proximal end, a distal end, and an inner surface. The distal end is disposed opposite the proximal end. The inner surface extends between the proximal end and the distal end and at least partially forms a cavity. The second heater is disposed proximate the distal end of the first heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Cricut, Inc.
    Inventors: John Dalton, Cole Chamberlain, Ashish Arora
  • Patent number: 11931768
    Abstract: A dispensing system for jetting a material onto a substrate is disclosed. The dispensing system includes a plate defining a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface in a first direction, and at least one slot that extends through the plate from the first surface to the second surface, and an actuator assembly that contains a piezoelectric element and is operatively coupled to the needle. The dispensing system also includes at least one fastener that extends through the actuator assembly and the at least one slot, where the at least one fastener is configured to selectively engage the plate such that 1) in a disengaged configuration, the at least one fastener is movable within the slot and the actuator assembly is movable relative to the plate, and 2) in an engaged configuration, the at least one fastener is not movable within the slot and the actuator assembly is not movable relative to the plate such that a stroke length of the needle is adjusted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Nordson Corporation
    Inventor: Mark A. Gould
  • Patent number: 11933522
    Abstract: A portable heater that includes a ceramic substrate with a heating element configured to define a field of direct radiation, a heat reflector with a concave reflective surface configured to define a field of reflective radiation, a grill cover mounted on the heat reflector, where the ceramic substrate is mounted on an interior side of the grill cover with the heating element facing the concave reflective surface such that the field of direct radiation onto the concave reflective surface is unobstructed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: THE MERCHANT OF TENNIS, INC.
    Inventor: Jeff Green
  • Patent number: 11937341
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus and a controlling method, where the cooking apparatus includes a plurality of power input terminals, a plurality of heaters, a detection circuit connected to the power input terminals for detecting the phase of power input into the power input terminals, and a processor. The processor configured to identify a phase difference of input power based on an electronic signal of the power output from the detection circuit, and, based on the phase difference being within one of a plurality of threshold ranges, identify the voltage between live terminals among the plurality of power input terminals based on the phase difference of the power and control at least one heater among the plurality of heaters according to the identified voltage between the live terminals, and, based on the phase difference being outside the plurality of threshold ranges, stop the operation of the cooking apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kihyeon Park
  • Patent number: 11920831
    Abstract: A heating unit for a heating, ventilation and/or air conditioning (HVAC) system may have a first airflow path through the heating unit, a second airflow path through the heating unit, and a heater assembly having a first heating coil positioned within the first airflow path, a second heating coil positioned within the second airflow path, and a coil divider separating the first heating coil and the second heating coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: JOHNSON CONTROLS TYCO IP HOLDINGS LLP
    Inventors: Anthony J. Reardon, Praveen M. Gotakhindi, Sriram Ramanujam, Karan Garg, Sumedh J. Suryawanshi, Jim George
  • Patent number: 11918044
    Abstract: A heater and wick assembly for an aerosol generating system includes a capillary body, a heating element on an outer surface of the capillary body, and a pair of spaced apart electrical contacts fixed around the capillary body and coupled with the heating element. The heater and wick assembly also includes a support member extending along at least part of the length of the capillary body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Altria Client Services LLC
    Inventor: Rui Nuno Batista
  • Patent number: 11918710
    Abstract: A scent dispenser may comprise a vial retaining mechanism, a heating element, vial sensor, and a controller. The vial retaining mechanism includes a vial coupling that removeably retains a vial containing a scented solution. The includes a wick extending from a cavity of the vial through an opening of a neck of the vial. The heating element is shaped to receive and heat the wick of the vial. The vial sensor includes an array of sensor pads that are arranged in alignment with the vial retained by the vial coupling. The controller is electrically coupled to the heating element and electrically coupled to the array of sensor pads. The controller regulates a temperature level of the heating element, and receives signals from the array of sensor pads and processing the signals to determine a fluid level of the vial.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Pura Scents, Inc.
    Inventors: Brian Aaron Jones, Bruno Miranda Lima, Richard Nathanial Stapler, III, Zachary Dennis Blume
  • Patent number: 11920782
    Abstract: Vaporizer cores are disclosed including a housing and a chamber where the chamber includes a porous lattice structure that is thermally conductive. Further, the housing and the chamber including the porous lattice structure are formed as a single integral structure. Three-dimensional (3D) printing can be used to form the housing and the chamber including the porous lattice structure as a single integral structure. For certain embodiments, a concentric-circle fin design, a crisscross fin design, or a conical fin design is used to form the porous lattice structure for the vaporizer chamber. For further embodiments, techniques are implemented to resolve potential problems with 3D printing of the vaporizer cores. One example technique is encapsulation of the vaporizer core within a shell, such as a two-piece shell, to resolve potential problems with leaks. Disclosed embodiments for the vaporizer cores provide manufacturing, material, and design improvements to prior solutions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 5, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Ronald Nasman, Daniel Newman
  • Patent number: 11917730
    Abstract: A control system for controlling an operation of a resistive heater includes a dielectric parameter determination module, a prediction module, and a heater operation control module. The dielectric parameter determination module determines a material property of a dielectric material of the resistive heater when the resistive heater is in an active mode. The prediction module predicts a life expectancy of the resistive heater based on the material property of the dielectric material. The heater operation control module changes operation of the resistive heater based on the material property and the life expectancy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 27, 2024
    Assignee: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Mohammad Nosrati, Roger Brummell, Timothy Tompkins
  • Patent number: 11904401
    Abstract: A practical plasma processing machine is provided, in which attachment mechanism is provided for attaching plasma head to attachment section of a head moving device that moves the plasma head. Since the plasma head can be attached or detached, for example, it is easy to exchange it with a different type of plasma head, remove for maintenance, attaching after maintenance, or the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: FUJI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Ikedo, Takahiro Jindo
  • Patent number: 11906203
    Abstract: A water heater control system comprising a temperature sensor, an anode rod, and a controller. The controller is configured to receive a signal indicative of a temperature from the temperature sensor and apply a voltage and/or current to the anode rod. A mounting bracket mates with a spud of a water heater and provides a conduit space for conductors providing connectivity among the controller, temperature sensor, and anode rod. The mounting bracket may provide mechanical support for the anode rod and the temperature sensor. The mounting bracket may comprise a housing mechanically supporting and surrounding the controller.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 20, 2024
    Assignee: Ademco Inc.
    Inventors: Frederick Hazzard, Gregory Young, Adam Myre