Abstract: In accordance with one embodiment of the present invention, a method of forming a toroidal winding assembly comprises: forming a longitudinal assembly having a first assembly end and a second assembly end; bending the longitudinal assembly to form a generally toroidal assembly; and bonding the first assembly end to the second assembly end to form the toroidal winding assembly.

Abstract: A low cost and easy to assemble communicating utility meter provides selectable measurement, calibration, display, and communications means so as to be re-configurable based on several factors including; harmonic content of the power signal measured, LCD display alternatives, time of use measurements, bandpass filter settings, power quality measurements, PLC communications alternatives, radio frequency communications alternatives, optical communications alternatives, and hard wire communications alternatives.

Abstract: A low cost and easy to assemble communicating utility meter provides selectable measurement, calibration, display, and communications means so as to be re-configurable based on several factors including; harmonic content of the power signal measured, LCD display alternatives, time of use measurements, bandpass filter settings, power quality measurements, PLC communications alternatives, radio frequency communications alternatives, optical communications alternatives, and hard wire communications alternatives.

Abstract: A cooking range with an acoustic sensing system for determining the boil state of the contents of a cooking utensil. The acoustic sensing system, which includes at least one acoustic sensor, is positioned on or in the cooking appliance to detect acoustic emissions in one or more specific ranges of frequencies that are characteristic of emissions resulting from the heating and boiling of liquids in a variety of cooking utensils or vessels.

Abstract: A current sensor assembly includes a sensor coil, an electrostatic shield coil, a core, a housing, and a magnetic shield. The sensing coil, electrostatic shield coil, core, housing, and magnetic shield can be of toroidal symmetry and arranged coaxially about a pair of primary current conductors. The conductors can be either asymmetric or symmetric with respect to the geometric center of the remaining sensor assembly. The core and a secondary winding make up a current sensor. The core is cylindrically shaped and fabricated of non-magnetic material. The secondary winding is wound over the cylindrical core to form a toroidally shaped winding. When assembled into the current sensor assembly, the core and windings are disposed around two single turn primary windings through which AC currents to be measured flow. Alternatively, the conductor can be flat and the sensor can be a solid state sensor that includes an electrostatic shield.

Abstract: A system is disclosed for determining the temperature of a cooktop having an upper surface and a lower surface. At least one controllable energy source is located below the lower surface of the cooktop to heat the area above the energy source on the cooktop, and at least one sensor with at least one detector to detect infrared radiation from the cooktop above the energy source. The level of infrared radiation is representative of the temperature of the cooktop, which may be glass ceramic. The sensor provides a signal indicative of the temperature of the cooktop which is then used to control the energy source in order to protect the cooktop from extreme temperatures. The signal may be alternatively utilized to provide an indication of a hot cooktop surface after the energy sources have been turned off. The signal optionally is also utilized to provide automatic control of the energy source to maintain a predetermined temperature, or to prevent exceeding a maximum temperature.

Abstract: A system is provided for detecting cooking utensil-related properties through a solid-surface cooktop, including the presence/absence, removal/placement, and other properties (e.g., size) of a cooking utensil on the cooktop. An energy source heats the contents of a cooking utensil placed on the cooktop; and an optical radiation source is controlled to provide an interrogation scheme for detecting the utensil properties. The utensil property detecting system may be part of a monitoring system for monitoring the properties of the cooking utensil, or may be part of a control system for controlling the energy source based on the detected utensil properties, or both.

Abstract: A sensor assembly for a glass-ceramic cooktop appliance having at least one burner assembly disposed under a glass-ceramic plate. The sensor assembly includes a waveguide having a first end disposed in the burner assembly and a second end disposed outside of the burner assembly, and at least one detector located adjacent to the waveguide's second end. A radiation collector is located adjacent to the first end of the waveguide so as to direct incident radiation into the waveguide. The radiation collector includes a plurality of reflective surfaces and a mechanism for adjusting the position of the reflective surfaces relative to one another in order to adjust the sensor assembly's field of view.

Abstract: A monitoring and control system for monitoring the boil states of the contents of a cooking utensil located on a cooking surface of a cooktop, indicating the state to a user, and controlling the energy applied to the cooking surface, which may be a glass ceramic. The system includes at least one controllable heat source located below the lower surface of the cooktop so as to heat the cooktop and cooking utensil, at least one sensor located in proximity to the cooktop, which senses the temperature of at least one of the cooktop and the cooking utensil, at least one power indicative signal, and a signal processing device receiving a temperature signal from the sensor, and the power indicative signal. The signal issued by the sensor is representative of the temperature of either the cooktop, or the cooking utensil.

Abstract: The present invention provides a method of determining the boil states of a liquid as measured by an acoustic sensor which measures the acoustic signal generated by the liquid as it is heated. The acoustic signal is smoothed and a first derivative of the acoustic signal is calculated. Also the frequency of the acoustic signal is measured. Derivative inflection points, zero slope points, and acoustic signal frequencies are utilized to determine the pre-simmer, simmer, pre-boil, boil, boil dry, and boil over states of the liquid.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for sensing properties of glass-ceramic cooktop appliance having at least one burner assembly disposed under a glass-ceramic plate. The sensor assembly includes a waveguide having a first end disposed in the burner assembly and a second end disposed outside of the burner assembly, and at least one detector located adjacent to the waveguide's second end. A radiation collector is located adjacent to the first end of the waveguide so as to direct incident radiation substantially paraxially into the waveguide. The method includes collecting radiation from the glass-ceramic plate, and directing the collected radiation onto a detector located outside of the burner assembly via a waveguide.

Abstract: A computed tomography system employs an optical communications link to reliably transmit high bandwidth data from the gantry to the associated processor. The communications link comprises an optical emitter, an optical waveguide, an induced radiated wave chamber, and an optical detector. The optical emitter is attached to the gantry of the computed tomography system. The optical waveguide generates a total internal reflection breach in response to an electric field, light energy, magnetic energy, and alternatively, in response to heat produced within a induced radiated wave chamber. The optical emitter generates a high bandwidth optical data signal which travels along the optical waveguide in correspondence with data generated by the detector array on the gantry.

Abstract: A self-powered axial current sensor for generating a signal which accurately represents current in a power line includes, in one embodiment, a housing having a bus bar opening of substantially rectangular shape extending longitudinally therethrough. The housing also includes current sensor core retaining walls which define a current sensor region, and a cover base wall which defines, with one of the retaining walls, a power core region. A current sensor core and coil are located in the current sensor region and are positioned proximate the bus bar opening. The current sensor core and coil also are substantially symmetrical with respect to the center axis of the bus bar opening. The current sensor further includes a power core and a power coil located in the power core region and positioned substantially symmetrically with respect to the center axis of bus bar opening.

Abstract: A current sensor for sensing alternating current in a current-carrying conductor includes a substantially C-shaped magnetic core having first and second ends with a gap therebetween. A current sensing element, which includes a microresonant element, is positioned proximate the gap between the first and second ends of the magnetic core such that the element oscillates when exposed to an alternating magnetic field. A biasing coil is attached to the micro-resonant element for carrying a bias current. The micro-resonant element resonates, or vibrates, at a standard oscillating frequency when no current is present in the biasing coil, and resonates at a modified oscillating frequency when current is present in both the biasing coil and the current-carrying conductor. The magnitude of current in the current-carrying conductor is determined as a multiple of the product of a ratio of the standard oscillating frequency and the modified oscillating frequency, and the bias current.

Abstract: A modular current transformer containing both air and metal cores on a common load strap provides sensing current to the electronic trip unit within the circuit interrupter along with supplying operating power to the trip unit components. The current sensing coil is arranged concentricity within the transformer core while the power generating coil is arranged concentricity outside the core.

Abstract: An alternating current sensor includes a first conductor plate, a second conductor plate positioned in spaced relationship relative to the first conductor plate and facing the first conductor plate, and a third conductor plate for electrically interconnecting the first and second conductor plates to form a connected conductive path along the first and second conductor plates. The first and second conductor plates are shaped to form respective magnetic field constituents around each of the first and second conductor plates during current flow along the conductive path. A sensor, made up of one or more air-core coils, is provided for sensing changes in magnetic flux within a predetermined region, such as in a passage between the first and second conductor plates and/or near respective outer surfaces of the first and second conductor plates.

Abstract: A current sensor includes a first conductor plate, a second conductor plate positioned in spaced relationship relative to the first conductor plate and facing the first conductor plate, and a third conductor plate for electrically interconnecting the first and second conductor plates to form a connected conductive path along the first and second conductor plates. The first and second conductor plates are shaped to form respective magnetic field constituents around each of the first and second conductor plates during current flow along the conductive path. A sensing coil, such as one or more air-core coils, is provided for sensing changes in magnetic flux within a predetermined sense region. An individual conductor, such as a rectangular plate or a suitably shaped conductive structure, is further provided for carrying all the current which flows along the conductive path to produce a magnetic field over a conductor region.

Abstract: A current sensor includes a first conductor plate, a second conductor plate positioned in spaced relationship relative to the first conductor plate and facing the first conductor plate, and a third conductor plate for electrically interconnecting the first and second conductor plates to form a connected conductive path along the first and second conductor plates. The first and second conductor plates are shaped to form respective magnetic field constituents around each of the first and second conductor plates during current flow along the conductive path. A sensing coil, such as one or more air-core coils, is provided for sensing changes in magnetic flux within a predetermined sense region. A shunt, such as a shunt plate or a suitably shaped conductive structure for shunting current, is further provided for diverting a portion of the current which flows along the conductive path to produce a magnetic field over a shunt region. The sense and shunt regions are nonoverlapping with respect to one another.

Abstract: A modular current transformer containing both air and metal cores on a common load strap provides sensing current to the electronic trip unit within the circuit interrupter along with supplying operating power to the trip unit components.

Abstract: A system for sensing spin speed and an out-of-balance condition in a washing machine is provided. The washing machine includes a washer basket and an agitator that spin about a predetermined spin axis during a spin cycle. The OOB condition can be characterized by excursions, during the spin cycle, of a tub which encloses the washer basket. The tub excursions can be in a direction generally perpendicular to the spin axis of the washer basket, for example. The system includes a magnetic source, such as a permanent magnet, positioned in the agitator for producing a predetermined magnetic field. A magnetic sensor is positioned to be electromagnetically coupled to the magnetic source for supplying an output signal that varies as the agitator rotates relative to the magnetic sensor. A signal processor is coupled to the magnetic sensor for receiving the output signal supplied by the magnetic sensor.