Patents by Inventor Eric Knappenberger
Eric Knappenberger 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).
-
Patent number: 11860240Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. An example method includes accessing a selected operating mode for a heating element of the electric grill using at least one user input device of the electric grill, the heating element connected to a voltage line and a neutral line; measuring, using a temperature probe, a temperature of the heating element; estimating an ambient temperature at a location within a cook box of the electric grill spaced apart from the heating element, the estimation of the ambient temperature based on the measured temperature of the heating element; and using the estimated ambient temperature to determine when a target temperature corresponding to the selected operating mode is reached.Type: GrantFiled: August 25, 2022Date of Patent: January 2, 2024Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
-
Publication number: 20230315184Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control for two or more electrical loads. Some disclosed embodiments provide continuous, variable power and other disclosed embodiments provide discrete power levels. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. In some embodiments, the microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power array in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker. Portions of the disclosure include a band controller for delivering power to achieve and maintain a desired target temperature, and a wireless controller for controlling temperature from a remote device.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 1, 2023Publication date: October 5, 2023Inventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
-
Patent number: 11703928Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control for two or more electrical loads. Some disclosed embodiments provide continuous, variable power and other disclosed embodiments provide discrete power levels. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. In some embodiments, the microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power array in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker. Portions of the disclosure include a band controller for delivering power to achieve and maintain a desired target temperature, and a wireless controller for controlling temperature from a remote device.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 2019Date of Patent: July 18, 2023Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
-
Publication number: 20230209659Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. A protections circuit may be used in a device, such as an electric grill, that has one or more electric loads, such as heating elements. The protection circuit may protect against various failure scenarios, including, without limitation, instances of ground fault, over current, driver failure, and failure of a microprocessor. In response to a failure, the protection circuit may trip a latch relay or disable a triac driver to stop current from flowing.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 28, 2023Publication date: June 29, 2023Inventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
-
Patent number: 11622420Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. A protections circuit may be used in a device, such as an electric grill, that has one or more electric loads, such as heating elements. The protection circuit may protect against various failure scenarios, including, without limitation, instances of ground fault, over current, driver failure, and failure of a microprocessor. In response to a failure, the protection circuit may trip a latch relay or disable a triac driver to stop current from flowing.Type: GrantFiled: November 19, 2019Date of Patent: April 4, 2023Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
-
Publication number: 20220404434Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. An example method includes accessing a selected operating mode for a heating element of the electric grill using at least one user input device of the electric grill, the heating element connected to a voltage line and a neutral line; measuring, using a temperature probe, a temperature of the heating element; estimating an ambient temperature at a location within a cook box of the electric grill spaced apart from the heating element, the estimation of the ambient temperature based on the measured temperature of the heating element; and using the estimated ambient temperature to determine when a target temperature corresponding to the selected operating mode is reached.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 25, 2022Publication date: December 22, 2022Inventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
-
Patent number: 11454677Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. A protections circuit may be used in a device, such as an electric grill, that has one or more electric loads, such as heating elements. The protection circuit may protect against various failure scenarios, including, without limitation, instances of ground fault, over current, driver failure, and failure of a microprocessor. The microprocessor may further be in wireless communication with a remote device and wirelessly communicate error codes indicative of an error, and receive control signals from the remote device for controlling temperature or turning the grill off. The remote device may also receive operating parameters and create a log of the electric grill's conditions at the time of an error.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2017Date of Patent: September 27, 2022Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
-
Publication number: 20200201414Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control for two or more electrical loads. Some disclosed embodiments provide continuous, variable power and other disclosed embodiments provide discrete power levels. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. In some embodiments, the microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power array in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker. Portions of the disclosure include a band controller for delivering power to achieve and maintain a desired target temperature, and a wireless controller for controlling temperature from a remote device.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 23, 2019Publication date: June 25, 2020Applicant: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
-
Publication number: 20200100615Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control, and control variable power, for two or more electrical loads. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. The microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power army in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2019Publication date: April 2, 2020Applicant: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
-
Publication number: 20200084837Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. A protections circuit may be used in a device, such as an electric grill, that has one or more electric loads, such as heating elements. The protection circuit may protect against various failure scenarios, including, without limitation, instances of ground fault, over current, driver failure, and failure of a microprocessor. In response to a failure, the protection circuit may trip a latch relay or disable a triac driver to stop current from flowing.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 19, 2019Publication date: March 12, 2020Applicant: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
-
Patent number: 10551893Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control for two or more electrical loads. Some disclosed embodiments provide continuous, variable power and other disclosed embodiments provide discrete power levels. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. In some embodiments, the microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power array in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker. Portions of the disclosure include a band controller for delivering power to achieve and maintain a desired target temperature, and a wireless controller for controlling temperature from a remote device.Type: GrantFiled: May 5, 2017Date of Patent: February 4, 2020Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
-
Patent number: 10537199Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control, and control variable power, for two or more electrical loads. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. The microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power array in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2016Date of Patent: January 21, 2020Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
-
Patent number: 10524312Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. A protections circuit may be used in a device, as an electric grill, that has one or more electric loads, such as heating elements. The protection circuit may protect against various failure scenarios, including, without limitation, instances of ground fault, over current, driver failure, and failure of a microprocessor. In response to a failure, the protection circuit may trip a latch relay or disable a triac driver to stop current from flowing.Type: GrantFiled: July 1, 2016Date of Patent: December 31, 2019Assignee: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
-
Publication number: 20180004271Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control for two or more electrical loads. Some disclosed embodiments provide continuous, variable power and other disclosed embodiments provide discrete power levels. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. In some embodiments, the microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power array in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker. Portions of the disclosure include a band controller for delivering power to achieve and maintain a desired target temperature, and a wireless controller for controlling temperature from a remote device.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
-
Publication number: 20180007739Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. A protections circuit may be used in a device, such as an electric grill, that has one or more electric loads, such as heating elements. The protection circuit may protect against various failure scenarios, including, without limitation, instances of ground fault, over current, driver failure, and failure of a microprocessor. The microprocessor may further be in wireless communication with a remote device and wirelessly communicate error codes indicative of an error, and receive control signals from the remote device for controlling temperature or turning the grill off. The remote device may also receive operating parameters and create a log of the electric grill's conditions at the time of an error.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 5, 2017Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
-
Publication number: 20180000277Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for a digital power supply that can provide independent power control, and control variable power, for two or more electrical loads. Disclosed embodiments may reduce the magnitude of harmonic currents and/or flicker introduced into a power system. Embodiments include a microprocessor that delivers power to electric loads using phase-controlled AC current. The microprocessor may calculate a power array corresponding to a requested power for each electric load. Logic is provided for populating the power array in a pattern that reduces the magnitude of harmonic currents and flicker.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2016Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
-
Publication number: 20180007738Abstract: Provided is an apparatus and method for protecting against unsafe electric current conditions. A protections circuit may be used in a device, as an electric grill, that has one or more electric loads, such as heating elements. The protection circuit may protect against various failure scenarios, including, without limitation, instances of ground fault, over current, driver failure, and failure of a microprocessor. In response to a failure, the protection circuit may trip a latch relay or disable a triac driver to stop current from flowing.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2016Publication date: January 4, 2018Applicant: Weber-Stephen Products LLCInventors: Eric Knappenberger, Julio C. Zuleta, Matthew Lerch, Jeffery C. Emmerich
-
Patent number: 6174449Abstract: A method for forming an etch mask is described. In particular, an etch mask is formed using masking particles positionally restrained by a matrix medium. Either the masking particles or the matrix medium is more magnetically conductive with respect to the other. A magnetic field is applied for making a random distribution of the masking particles less random. Consequently, agglomeration of the masking particles is reduced. Masking particles with submicron dimensions may be used for providing features of less than a micron. The mask formed may be an etch mask employed in forming a field emitter tip for a field emission display.Type: GrantFiled: May 14, 1998Date of Patent: January 16, 2001Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventors: James J. Alwan, Eric Knappenberger
-
Patent number: 6156669Abstract: A method for forming semiconductor devices involves nebulizing a liquid suspension of particles to form tiny droplets of particles and liquid which are well separated from one another. The nebulized droplets may correspond roughly to the average particle size which may be, for example, about one to two microns. The particles in droplet form then form a vaporous dispersion which can be dried to remove the liquid. The particles may be biased so as to repel one another to further form a well defined separation between adjacent particles. The particles may then be collected on a substrate so that a random distribution of masking particles are formed. The randomly distributed particles may be used as a mask for defining features in a semiconductor structure. The mask may be utilized, for example, to define emitters in a field emission display or spacers in a liquid crystal display.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1999Date of Patent: December 5, 2000Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Eric Knappenberger
-
Patent number: 6054395Abstract: A method for forming semiconductor devices involves nebulizing a liquid suspension of particles to form tiny droplets of particles and liquid which are well separated from one another. The nebulized droplets may correspond roughly to the average particle size which may be, for example, about one to two microns. The particles in droplet form then form a vaporous dispersion which can be dried to remove the liquid. The particles may be biased so as to repel one another to further form a well defined separation between adjacent particles. The particles may then be collected on a substrate so that a random distribution of masking particles are formed. The randomly distributed particles may be used as a mask for defining features in a semiconductor structure. The mask may be utilized, for example, to define emitters in a field emission display or spacers in a liquid crystal display.Type: GrantFiled: October 24, 1997Date of Patent: April 25, 2000Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.Inventor: Eric Knappenberger