Patents by Inventor Robert J. Visher

Robert J. Visher 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: 10462852
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring the temperature of cookware to be induction-heated, using an infrared temperature sensor. An induction heater countertop may include a viewing window between the infrared temperature sensor and the cookware. Various algorithms may be applied to the sensed temperature, to adjust it to account for the presence of the viewing window, as well as variations in the cookware material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: TURBOCHEF TECHNOLOGIES, INC
    Inventors: Warren S Graber, Reinhard Metz, Robert J Visher
  • Patent number: 9848463
    Abstract: A system for holding and warming food includes a container for holding and warming food. The container consists of 300-series stainless steel. The system further includes an induction heating unit with an induction heating circuit for induction heating the container. The induction heating circuit includes a 120 volt induction coil having 40 or more turns. The induction heating circuit operates at a frequency greater than 30 kilohertz.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: COOKTEK INDUCTION SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Warren S. Graber, Reinhard Metz, Robert J. Visher
  • Publication number: 20170164428
    Abstract: A system for holding and warming food includes a container for holding and warming food. The container consists of 300-series stainless steel. The system further includes an induction heating unit with an induction heating circuit for induction heating the container. The induction heating circuit includes a 120 volt induction coil having 40 or more turns. The induction heating circuit operates at a frequency greater than 30 kilohertz.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 24, 2017
    Publication date: June 8, 2017
    Inventors: Warren S. Graber, Reinhard Metz, Robert J. Visher
  • Publication number: 20170142781
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring the temperature of cookware to be induction-heated, using an infrared temperature sensor. An induction heater countertop may include a viewing window between the infrared temperature sensor and the cookware. Various algorithms may be applied to the sensed temperature, to adjust it to account for the presence of the viewing window, as well as variations in the cookware material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: May 18, 2017
    Inventors: Warren S Graber, Reinhard Metz, Robert J Visher
  • Patent number: 9585202
    Abstract: A system and method for holding and warming food held in pans or trays having a low relative magnetic permeability, such as 300-series stainless steel, using induction heating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: COOKTEK INDUCTION SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Warren S Graber, Reinhard Metz, Robert J Visher
  • Patent number: 9568369
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring the temperature of cookware to be induction-heated, using an infrared temperature sensor. An induction heater countertop may include a viewing window between the infrared temperature sensor and the cookware. Various algorithms may be applied to the sensed temperature, to adjust it to account for the presence of the viewing window, as well as variations in the cookware material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2017
    Assignee: Turbochef Technologies, Inc.
    Inventors: Warren S. Graber, Reinhard Metz, Robert J. Visher
  • Publication number: 20150373787
    Abstract: An inductive cooking system including a non-ferromagnetic cooking surface; an induction coil disposed adjacent to the cooking surface; a contact-based temperature sensing device thermally coupled to the cooking surface; and a non-contact temperature sensing device positioned to collect heat energy from an underside of the cooking surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 22, 2015
    Publication date: December 24, 2015
    Inventors: Robert J. Visher, Reinhard Metz, Warren S. Graber
  • Publication number: 20150334785
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus including a heating element; a user-interface mechanism having a user-input for receiving at least one input from a user and a display for presenting at least one instruction to the user; and a controller configured to perform a recipe. The recipe includes an instruction phase, the instruction phase including operating the display to present an instruction to the user until at least one event occurs, the event selected from the group of events consisting of a first predetermined time elapsing and an input being received, and an execution phase, the execution phase including operating the heating element at a predetermined temperature or power level until a second predetermined time has elapsed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 15, 2015
    Publication date: November 19, 2015
    Inventors: Robert J. Visher, Warren S. Graber, Reinhard Metz
  • Patent number: 9066374
    Abstract: A method for holding and warming food. The method includes the steps of: using a container formed of 300-series stainless steel, wherein the container is formed by a cold working process; and applying to the container a magnetic field from an induction coil, wherein the magnetic field is sufficient to induce a current in the container to heat the container.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: June 23, 2015
    Assignee: COOKTEK INDUCTION SYSTEMS, LLC
    Inventors: Warren S. Graber, Reinhard Metz, Robert J. Visher
  • Publication number: 20140305931
    Abstract: A system and method for holding and warming food held in pans or trays having a low relative magnetic permeability, such as 300-series stainless steel, using induction heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2014
    Publication date: October 16, 2014
    Inventors: Warren S. Graber, Reinhard Metz, Robert J. Visher
  • Publication number: 20130119049
    Abstract: A system and method for measuring the temperature of cookware to be induction-heated, using an infrared temperature sensor. An induction heater countertop may include a viewing window between the infrared temperature sensor and the cookware. Various algorithms may be applied to the sensed temperature, to adjust it to account for the presence of the viewing window, as well as variations in the cookware material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: CookTek Inductions Systems, LLC a division of Middleby Corporation
    Inventors: Warren S. Graber, Reinhard Metz, Robert J. Visher
  • Publication number: 20120294990
    Abstract: A system and method for holding and warming food held in pans or trays having a low relative magnetic permeability, such as 300-series stainless steel, using induction heating.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 20, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: CookTek Induction Systems, LLC, a division of Middleby Corporation
    Inventors: Warren S. Graber, Reinhard Metz, Robert J. Visher
  • Patent number: 7136158
    Abstract: Apparatus for observing and measuring in realtime surface and subsurface characteristics of objects having complex shapes includes an optical fiber bundle having first and second opposed ends. The first end includes a linear array of fibers, where the ends of adjacent fibers are in contact and are aligned perpendicular to the surface of the object being studied. The second ends of some of the fibers are in the form of a polished ferrule forming a multi-fiber optical waveguide for receiving laser light. The second ends of the remaining fibers are formed into a linear array suitable for direct connection to a detector, such as a linear CMOS-based optical detector. The output data is analyzed using digital signal processing for the detection of anomalies such as cracks, voids, inclusions and other defects.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2006
    Assignee: UChicago Argonne LLC
    Inventors: William A. Ellingson, Robert J. Visher