Patents by Inventor John Wojcik
John Wojcik 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).
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Patent number: 11839329Abstract: A method of operating a rethermalizing station having an induction coil includes detecting a temperature of a food pan, selecting, based on the temperature of the food pan, a selected mode from a set comprising a low temperature mode, an over temperature mode, and a keep warm mode, and varying, in accordance with the selected mode, an output power of the induction coil by controlling a supply current to the induction coil to vary between a first nonzero current value and a second nonzero current value.Type: GrantFiled: February 22, 2022Date of Patent: December 12, 2023Assignee: THE VOLLRATH COMPANY, L.L.C.Inventors: Peter Roever, Yang Wang, John Wojcik
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Publication number: 20220175183Abstract: A method of operating a rethermalizing station having an induction coil includes detecting a temperature of a food pan, selecting, based on the temperature of the food pan, a selected mode from a set comprising a low temperature mode, an over temperature mode, and a keep warm mode, and varying, in accordance with the selected mode, an output power of the induction coil by controlling a supply current to the induction coil to vary between a first nonzero current value and a second nonzero current value.Type: ApplicationFiled: February 22, 2022Publication date: June 9, 2022Applicant: The Vollrath CompanyInventors: Peter Roever, Yang Wang, John Wojcik
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Patent number: 11291330Abstract: A rethermalizing station includes a well defined by an exterior wall, a food pan configured to be inserted into the well and to hold a food item, a first induction coil surrounding the exterior wall of the well, the first induction coil configured to warm the food item via inductive heating of the food pan, a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the food pan, and a control unit coupled to the first induction coil and the first temperature sensor, the control unit configured to control the first induction coil in response to the temperature of the food pan detected by the first temperature sensor such that temperature of the food pan is maintained at a targeted temperature.Type: GrantFiled: March 26, 2019Date of Patent: April 5, 2022Assignee: The Vollrath Company, L.L.C.Inventors: Peter Roever, Yang Wang, John Wojcik
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Publication number: 20210121003Abstract: A rethermalizing station includes a well defined by a side wall, a food pan configured to be inserted into the well and to hold a food item, a first induction coil surrounding the side wall of the well, the first induction coil configured to warm the food item via inductive heating of the food pan, a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the food pan, and a control unit coupled to the first induction coil and the first temperature sensor, the control unit configured to control the first induction coil in response to the temperature of the food pan detected by the first temperature sensor such that temperature of the food pan is maintained at a targeted temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 31, 2020Publication date: April 29, 2021Applicant: The Vollrath Company, L.L.C.Inventors: Peter Roever, Yang Wang, John Wojcik
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Patent number: 10973368Abstract: A rethermalizing station includes a well defined by a side wall, a food pan configured to be inserted into the well and to hold a food item, a first induction coil surrounding the side wall of the well, the first induction coil configured to warm the food item via inductive heating of the food pan, a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the food pan, and a control unit coupled to the first induction coil and the first temperature sensor, the control unit configured to control the first induction coil in response to the temperature of the food pan detected by the first temperature sensor such that temperature of the food pan is maintained at a targeted temperature.Type: GrantFiled: June 11, 2015Date of Patent: April 13, 2021Assignee: The Vollrath Company, L.L.C.Inventors: Yang Wang, Peter Roever, John Wojcik
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Patent number: 10458152Abstract: A gate assembly including a pivoting gate element secured to a doorway and/or passageway and employing a dual actuator latching mechanism having a simple yet unique locking lever and pawl mechanism for remote and manual latch release freeing the gate to swing to an open position, and automatic re-locking of the latching mechanism. The gate assembly includes a frame element for supporting the pivoting gate element and securing the gate to a doorway and/or passageway as well as latching the gate to a closed position at the frame element.Type: GrantFiled: May 12, 2017Date of Patent: October 29, 2019Assignee: PROOFED, INC.Inventors: Amanda Schort, Christopher Hamlin, Robert Carrasca, James John Wojcik
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Publication number: 20190216260Abstract: A rethermalizing station includes a well defined by an exterior wall, a food pan configured to be inserted into the well and to hold a food item, a first induction coil surrounding the exterior wall of the well, the first induction coil configured to warm the food item via inductive heating of the food pan, a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the food pan, and a control unit coupled to the first induction coil and the first temperature sensor, the control unit configured to control the first induction coil in response to the temperature of the food pan detected by the first temperature sensor such that temperature of the food pan is maintained at a targeted temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 26, 2019Publication date: July 18, 2019Applicant: The Vollrath Company, L.L.C.Inventors: Peter Roever, Yang Wang, John Wojcik
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Patent number: 10251511Abstract: A rethermalizing station includes a well defined by an exterior wall, a food pan configured to be inserted into the well and to hold a food item, a first induction coil surrounding the exterior wall of the well, the first induction coil configured to warm the food item via inductive heating of the food pan, a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the food pan, and a control unit coupled to the first induction coil and the first temperature sensor, the control unit configured to control the first induction coil in response to the temperature of the food pan detected by the first temperature sensor such that temperature of the food pan is maintained at a targeted temperature.Type: GrantFiled: April 5, 2016Date of Patent: April 9, 2019Assignee: THE VOLLRATH COMPANY, L.L.C.Inventors: Peter Roever, Yang Wang, John Wojcik
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Publication number: 20170350165Abstract: A gate assembly including a pivoting gate element secured to a doorway and/or passageway and employing a dual actuator latching mechanism having a simple yet unique locking lever and pawl mechanism for remote and manual latch release freeing the gate to swing to an open position, and automatic re-locking of the latching mechanism. The gate assembly includes a frame element for supporting the pivoting gate element and securing the gate to a doorway and/or passageway as well as latching the gate to a closed position at the frame element.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 12, 2017Publication date: December 7, 2017Inventors: Amanda Schort, Christopher Hamlin, Robert Carrasca, James John Wojcik
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Patent number: 9774192Abstract: A case for an electronic device is provided. The case includes a battery and electrical circuitry. The electrical circuitry is configured to receive electrical power from a power source connected to the case, supply the electrical power to the electronic device, and monitor an amount of current of the electrical power used by the electronic device. The electrical circuitry is also configured to charge the battery using a remaining amount of current of the electrical power where the sum of the amount of current used by the electronic device and the remaining amount of current do not exceed a current limit for the power source.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: September 26, 2017Assignee: Otter Products, LLCInventors: James John Wojcik, Adam Douglas Center, Abhishek Joshi, Adam Benzion
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Publication number: 20160213196Abstract: A rethermalizing station includes a well defined by an exterior wall, a food pan configured to be inserted into the well and to hold a food item, a first induction coil surrounding the exterior wall of the well, the first induction coil configured to warm the food item via inductive heating of the food pan, a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the food pan, and a control unit coupled to the first induction coil and the first temperature sensor, the control unit configured to control the first induction coil in response to the temperature of the food pan detected by the first temperature sensor such that temperature of the food pan is maintained at a targeted temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 5, 2016Publication date: July 28, 2016Applicant: The Vollrath Company, L.L.C.Inventors: Peter Roever, Yang Wang, John Wojcik
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Patent number: 9395091Abstract: A food service unit for use with a cooking unit includes a food shield including an upper wall, a customer-side wall, and two lateral sidewalls, a ventilation volume defined at least in part by the food shield, a recirculating ventilation system including a filter, a fan downstream of the filter, and an exhaust vent, wherein the fan is configured to draw air from the ventilation volume through the filter and exhaust the air through the exhaust vent, a pressure sensor configured to detect a differential pressure between atmosphere and a location between the filter and the fan, a control system configured to prevent a cooking unit from operating when the detected differential pressure is outside a specified range of pressures, a fire suppression system including a nozzle and a source of fire extinguishing agent and a fire detection sensor configured to detect a fire and activate the fire suppression system.Type: GrantFiled: March 14, 2013Date of Patent: July 19, 2016Assignee: The Vollrath Company, L.L.C.Inventors: Jeffrey T. Zank, John Wojcik
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Patent number: 9307862Abstract: A rethermalizing station includes a well defined by an exterior wall, a food pan configured to be inserted into the well and to hold a food item, a first induction coil surrounding the exterior wall of the well, the first induction coil configured to warm the food item via inductive heating of the food pan, a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the food pan, and a control unit coupled to the first induction coil and the first temperature sensor, the control unit configured to control the first induction coil in response to the temperature of the food pan detected by the first temperature sensor such that temperature of the food pan is maintained at a targeted temperature.Type: GrantFiled: December 12, 2012Date of Patent: April 12, 2016Assignee: The Vollrath Company, L.L.C.Inventors: Peter Roever, Yang Wang, John Wojcik
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Patent number: 9231410Abstract: A case for an electronic device is provided. The case includes a battery, an interface to receive electrical current from an external power source, and a computer processor. The computer processor is configured to execute computer-readable instructions to receive a communication from the electronic device, limit the received electrical current to a current limit, and allocate the electrical current among the battery and the electronic device based on the received communication.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: January 5, 2016Assignee: OTTER PRODUCTS, LLCInventors: James John Wojcik, Adam Douglas Center, Abhishek Joshi, Adam Benzion
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Publication number: 20150272385Abstract: A rethermalizing station includes a well defined by a side wall, a food pan configured to be inserted into the well and to hold a food item, a first induction coil surrounding the side wall of the well, the first induction coil configured to warm the food item via inductive heating of the food pan, a first temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of the food pan, and a control unit coupled to the first induction coil and the first temperature sensor, the control unit configured to control the first induction coil in response to the temperature of the food pan detected by the first temperature sensor such that temperature of the food pan is maintained at a targeted temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 11, 2015Publication date: October 1, 2015Inventors: Yang Wang, Peter Roever, John Wojcik
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Patent number: 9092300Abstract: A peripheral device for an electronic device includes a memory configured to store at least an active firmware image and another firmware image, and circuitry configured to execute instructions provided in the firmware image. The circuitry receives, from a software application of the electronic device, commands and a firmware image included in the software application. The circuitry verifies the received firmware image file and writes the portions to a memory block different from a memory block at which the active firmware image is located. A command from the software application causes the peripheral device to specify the newly written firmware image as an active firmware image and to execute the newly active firmware image.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2013Date of Patent: July 28, 2015Assignee: OTTR PRODUCTS, LLCInventors: James John Wojcik, Kim J. Hansen, James Stephanick
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Patent number: 9048665Abstract: A protective enclosure for an electronic device is provided. The protective enclosure includes a hard shell that includes a front shell formed to a rigid shape of a front portion of the electronic device and a back shell formed to a rigid shape of a rear portion of the electronic device. The protective enclosure also includes a stretchable cushion layer over the hard shell that has a sufficient elasticity to conform to the hard shell and provide cushioning to the protective enclosure. The protective enclosure also includes a battery and electrical circuitry configured to receive electronic communications from the electronic device and distribute electrical current received from an external power source among the battery and the electronic device based on the received electronic communications.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2013Date of Patent: June 2, 2015Assignee: OTTER PRODUCTS, LLCInventors: James John Wojcik, Adam Douglas Center, Todd Eichinger, Abhishek Joshi, Adam Benzion, William Travis Smith, Jonathan Rayeski
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Publication number: 20140317611Abstract: A peripheral device for an electronic device includes a memory configured to store at least an active firmware image and another firmware image, and circuitry configured to execute instructions provided in the firmware image. The circuitry receives, from a software application of the electronic device, commands and a firmware image included in the software application. The circuitry verifies the received firmware image file and writes the portions to a memory block different from a memory block at which the active firmware image is located. A command from the software application causes the peripheral device to specify the newly written firmware image as an active firmware image and to execute the newly active firmware image.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2013Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: OAK TECHNOLOGIES, LLCInventors: James John Wojcik, Kim J. Hansen, James Stephanik
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Publication number: 20140317318Abstract: An electronic device executes a software application that includes instructions for updating firmware of a peripheral device and one or more firmware images. The electronic executes the firmware update instructions to initiate the firmware update of the peripheral device and transfers a firmware image from the software application to the peripheral device according to a response from the peripheral device. The software application sends information to the peripheral device for verifying the transferred firmware image and causes the peripheral device to use the transferred firmware image upon successful verification.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 12, 2013Publication date: October 23, 2014Applicant: 1 OAK Technologies, LLCInventors: James John Wojcik, Kim J. Hansen, James Stephanik
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Patent number: 8868796Abstract: An electronic device executes a software application that includes instructions for updating firmware of a peripheral device and one or more firmware images. The electronic executes the firmware update instructions to initiate the firmware update of the peripheral device and transfers a firmware image from the software application to the peripheral device according to a response from the peripheral device. The software application sends information to the peripheral device for verifying the transferred firmware image and causes the peripheral device to use the transferred firmware image upon successful verification.Type: GrantFiled: June 12, 2013Date of Patent: October 21, 2014Assignee: Otter Products, LLCInventors: James John Wojcik, Kim J. Hansen, James Stephanik