Patents by Inventor MIGUEL F. THIMANN

MIGUEL F. THIMANN 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: 10147571
    Abstract: A knob assembly includes a repositionable knob having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an interior, light-transmissive indicia provided on the knob and viewable from the outer surface, at least one light source located relative to the repositionable knob and emitting light into the interior of the knob to backlight the light-transmissive indicia, a position sensor providing a position output indicative of the position of the repositionable knob, and a controller configured to receive the position output and control the at least one light source to maintain a predetermined backlighting of the indicia.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2018
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew P. Ebrom, Neomar Giacomini, Eric J. Schuh, Miguel F. Thimann
  • Publication number: 20170162346
    Abstract: A knob assembly includes a repositionable knob having an outer surface and an inner surface defining an interior and a light-transmissive indicia provided on the knob and viewable from the outer surface, at least one light source located relative to the repositionable knob and emitting light to transmit light into the interior of the knob and backlight the light-transmissive indicia, a position sensor providing a position output indicative of the position of the repositionable knob, and a controller configured to receive the position output. The at least one light source may be controlled to provide light into the interior of the knob to illuminate the light-transmissive indicia so that it is viewable from the exterior of the knob.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: MATTHEW P. EBROM, NEOMAR GIACOMINI, ERIC J. SCHUH, MIGUEL F. THIMANN
  • Patent number: 9607792
    Abstract: A knob assembly includes a repositionable knob having an interior framework and a light-transmissive indicia, at least one light source for projecting light into the knob to back-illuminate the indicia, a position sensor for providing an output dependent on the position of the knob, and a controller receiving the output from the sensor and controlling the intensity of the at least one light source to compensate for any light blocked by the interior framework, and maintain a substantially uniform illumination of the light-transmissive indicia so that it is viewable from the exterior of the knob.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Matthew P. Ebrom, Neomar Giacomini, Eric J. Schuh, Miguel F. Thimann
  • Publication number: 20160181028
    Abstract: A knob assembly comprising a repositionable knob, a light-transmissive indicia provided on the knob, at least one light source, a position sensor, and a controller. The at least one light source may be controlled to provide light into the interior of the knob to illuminate the light-transmissive indicia so that it is viewable from the exterior of the knob.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 18, 2014
    Publication date: June 23, 2016
    Applicant: WHIRLPOOL CORPORATION
    Inventors: MATTHEW P. EBROM, NEOMAR GIACOMINI, ERIC J. SCHUH, MIGUEL F. THIMANN