Patents by Inventor Craig E. Bryan

Craig E. Bryan has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Directionless rotary encoder control system for a household appliance
    Patent number: 7076324
    Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention uses an on-board microcontroller of a household appliance to receive signals from a directionless encoder attached to a knob for receiving user input and processing the signals from the direction encoder according to a control algorithm. The microcontroller may increase the output to an electric heating element on the appliance based on a variety of criteria, including either direction of rotation, current heating element setting, or a change in directional rotation. Alternatively, or in addition, the microcontroller may provide various types of graduated visual or audible feedback to the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2006
    Assignee: K.G.O. North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Alton Harkcom, Craig E. Bryan, Joerg Clemens