Abstract: An automatic breadmaker with improved thermal sensing, wiring, and a simplified assembly procedure. The breadmaker preferably includes a high voltage circuit board coupled to an interior wall of the breadmaker, the interior wall separating the baking chamber of the breadmaker from a component compartment. One or more thermal control devices electrically connected to the high voltage circuit board are disposed in a heat transfer relationship with the interior wall, thereby improving device accuracy and avoiding the need for leads to the thermal control devices. In the most preferred embodiment of the present invention, the high voltage circuit board is coupled to the interior wall via a component mounting bracket which also holds the thermal control devices against the interior wall.

Abstract: The system described in the specification detects and visually indicates the presence of significant calcification in a conduit made of clear (i.e., light-transmitting) material. The present invention directly determines calcification and indicates cleaning of the clear water conduit. An infrared transmitting circuit emits an infrared pulse through the clear conduit. As long as calcification has not formed on the conduit to block the infrared pulse, a phototransistor or infrared receiving circuit receives the infrared pulse. When calcification has formed to a degree sufficient to block the emitted infrared pulse, the receiving circuit determines that calcification has occurred and provides a visual indication to a user that the conduit needs cleaning.

Abstract: A power-off control circuit for a household appliance, including a manually operating momentary switch having conductive and non-conductive states. The switch is connected to a source of electric power so when the switch is momentarily manually operated into the conductive state, power flows into the power-off control circuit. There is a power regulator connected to the manually operating switch for receiving the power during the conductive state and for converting the received power into a voltage. A timer is connected to the power regulator and when activated, initiates a predetermined time period in which the household appliance operates. The circuit also includes a relay connected to the timer and the source of electrical power so as to be in parallel with the manually operating switch. The relay operates in a conductive and non-conductive state and is in the non-conductive state until receiving a signal from the timer at which time the relay changes to the conductive state.

Abstract: An electric pressing iron having a motion and attitude sensor including a mercury switch connected to a timer, and in conjunction therewith is adapted to disable the electric heater of the iron when the iron is oriented with the soleplate substantially horizontal and is not moving. The motion and attitude sensor and timer are also adapted to disable the electric heater when the iron is oriented with its soleplate vertical after the passage of a preselected period of time.

Abstract: A multiplexer for an ultrasonic ranging device for a vehicle having a resettable digital counter is disclosed herein. The digital counter receives a plurality of pulses from an oscillator and provides a counter output signal indicative of the stored count of the number of pulses. A plurality of logic gates are connected to the digital counter for control thereby. A plurality of ultrasonic transducers are connected to the logic gates, the logic gates sequentially energizing the transducers in response to the stored count in the digital counter.

Abstract: An ultrasonic ranging device for use in a vehicle having a high frequency oscillator supplying continuous sine wave signals to a power amplifier through a first gate controlled by a timer. A second gate controlled by the timer supplies an amplified sine wave signal from the power amplifier to a piezoelectric transducer mounted on an exterior portion of a vehicle. The transducer produces a series of repeated ultrasonic pulses and receives echoes from nearby objects converting the echoes into electrical return signals. A receiver amplifies the return signals and supplies them to a coincidence gate, which is enabled for relatively short time intervals by a timer. The coincidence gate supplies an output signal to an indicator when the return signal is detected during the interval that the gate is enabled.