Patents by Inventor Michael G. VAN Bavel

Michael G. VAN Bavel 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: 5337604
    Abstract: A device for measuring sap flow in a stem region comprises a rigid housing, configured like a clam-shell, and insulated and sealed from intrusion from radiation or water or weather by a collar which circumscribes the housing situated around the stem region being measured. Enclosed within this housing is a substrate preferably constructed from a composite of foam tape and rubber gasket material to provide a means for the electronics to conform to a diversity of stem cross-sections and irregularities. Temperature-sensing electronics measure energy transferred from an internal heater strip to the ambient, to the stem region, and to measure heat flowing up the stem. Heat transfer related to sap flow in a stem region is determined from four signals, two signals provided by two pair of differential thermocouples, a signal generated from a thermopile, and a signal indicative of the millivoltage delivered to the heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 16, 1994
    Inventors: Cornelius H. M. Van Bavel, Michael G. Van Bavel
  • Patent number: 5269183
    Abstract: A device for measuring the sap flow in herbaceous plants and trees directly without the necessity of an empirical calibration, using the heat balance method. A strap-on, removable, and reusable collar device powered by a 0.2 to 5.0 watt heater is abuttably affixed to the periphery of a stem or trunk. A plurality of temperature sensors are embedded in a weatherproof collar and shield assembly and are automatically processed by a small battery-operated recorder which also periodically stores in its memory the sap flow rate and the accumulated total thereof. These sap flow rate records may be obtained periodically for further analysis. A method is also provided for mass production thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 6, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 14, 1993
    Inventors: Cornelius H. M. Van Bavel, Michael G. van Bavel
  • Patent number: 4158431
    Abstract: A microwave oven is disclosed as a typical appliance controlled by a microprocessor device. The oven has an LED digital display, a number of indicator LED's, and a capacitive touch keyboard, along with circuits for controlling a magnetron, a broiler unit, and a blower. A "self-test" feature causes the system to sequence through test routines whereby all LED's are lighted in a set order, each digit of the display counts up from 0 through 9, keyboard inputs entered are displayed as a code, and the magnetron and broiler are turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1979
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael G. VAN Bavel, Alan J. Shannon
  • Patent number: 4158432
    Abstract: A microwave oven is disclosed as a typical appliance controlled by a microprocessor device. The oven has an LED digital display, a number of indicator LED's, and a capacitive touch keyboard, along with circuits for controlling a magnetron, a broiler unit, and a blower. A "self-test" feature causes the system to sequence through test routines whereby all LED's are lighted in a set order, each digit of the display counts up from 0 through 9, keyboard inputs entered are displayed as a code, and the magnetron and broiler are turned on. The test is initiated by control switches separate from the keyboard so that the keyboard can be bypassed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1976
    Date of Patent: June 19, 1979
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventor: Michael G. VAN Bavel
  • Patent number: RE31864
    Abstract: A microwave oven is disclosed as a typical appliance controlled by a microprocessor device. The oven has an LED digital display, a number of indicator LED's, and a capacitive touch keyboard, along with circuits for controlling a magnetron, a broiler unit, and a blower. A "self-test" feature causes the system to sequence through test routines whereby all LED's are lighted in a set order, each digit of the display counts up from 0 through 9, keyboard inputs entered are displayed as a code, and the magnetron and broiler are turned on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1985
    Assignee: Texas Instruments Incorporated
    Inventors: Michael G. van Bavel, Alan J. Shannon