Patents by Inventor Rollie Richard Herzog
Rollie Richard Herzog 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: 7005983Abstract: A detection apparatus for detecting refrigerator door openings is coupled to at least one switch configured to be activated by a door opening. When the door is opened, the switch is activated and inputs a signal to the detection apparatus. The detection apparatus rectifies the signal; and phase-shifts the rectified signal so that it leads or lags the line voltage. The shifted output signal is fed to a processor that detects the opening of the door based upon the shifted signal. Signals output by a plurality of switches that generate a signal when activated mixed using an opto-coupler. Relative impedance of the lead and lag circuits may be adjusted to differentiate a phase shift of one shifted signal relative to another signal. The processor converts a value in degrees of phase shifting of the mixed signal to a time value, and based upon the time value, the processor determines which of the doors is open.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2001Date of Patent: February 28, 2006Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: John Steven Holmes, Jerry J. Queen, II, Rollie Richard Herzog, Mark Robert Mathews, Robert Marten Bultman
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Patent number: 6795871Abstract: A control system for an appliance utilizing a plurality of peripheral devices includes a controller and a communications bus coupled to the plurality of peripheral devices and to the controller. The controller is configured to receive data from the peripheral devices over the communications bus and transmit control operations to the peripheral devices based on the data received. The communications bus reduces overall wiring requirements due to elimination or reduction of power wiring of the peripheral devices, facilitates distributed displays and human machine interfaces, and allows model differentiation with late point identification by a population of bus connections with a sensor, display, interface, or a blank. A data collision detection scheme is also provided to ensure proper communication along the bus.Type: GrantFiled: December 22, 2000Date of Patent: September 21, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Tam Nolan, Wolfgang Daum, Rollie Richard Herzog, Mark Robert Mathews, Robert Marten Bultman, John Steven Holmes
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Patent number: 6772597Abstract: An adaptive defrost control includes a microcomputer for controlling the initiation and termination of a defrost operation based, at least in part, on opening of the fresh food door and the freezer door. The control monitors the compressor run time and the fresh food and freezer door open times and adjusts the time until defrost accordingly. A pre-chill operation cools the freezer prior to defrosting the evaporator coils so that the defrost heat will have less of an affect on the maximum temperature after defrost, and enables the freezer compartment to be maintained at a temperature a few degrees higher than with known refrigerators, providing energy savings.Type: GrantFiled: October 14, 1999Date of Patent: August 10, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Martin Mtichell Zentner, Rollie Richard Herzog, Peter Brand, Gary Lester Chastine, Matthew Graham Taylor, Tam Nolan
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Patent number: 6762577Abstract: A method for controlling speed in a pulse-width-modulation-controlled motor powered by a load voltage source is provided. The method includes the steps of measuring the motor load voltage, and setting a pulse-width-modulation duty cycle based on the measured voltage.Type: GrantFiled: November 14, 2001Date of Patent: July 13, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Steven Gray, Wolfgang Daum, John Steven Holmes, Rollie Richard Herzog, Mark Robert Mathews
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Publication number: 20040098812Abstract: Systems and methods for controlling locking of a washing machine lid are described. The washing machine includes an agitation element and a basket. The method, in one example embodiment, comprises the steps of sensing a spin speed associated with a spin speed of at least one of the agitation element and the basket, and causing the lid to be locked when the sensed spin speed exceed a first predetermined speed.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 26, 2002Publication date: May 27, 2004Inventors: Rollie Richard Herzog, John Steven Holmes
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Patent number: 6574974Abstract: An electronic controller for an automatic icemaker includes a thermistor coupled to an icemaker mold, a first transducer coupled to a rake, a second transducer coupled to a feeler arm, and a processor. Time and temperature dependent calculations are summed at successive time intervals and compared to a predetermined value to determine when ice is frozen and ready for harvesting. Harvesting is delayed a pre-selected time based upon the position of the feeler arm to avoid premature harvesting. A harvest fix algorithm is executed when ice is not harvested within a predetermined time period by operating a heater at an elevated temperature and by de-energizing a motor. A water fill algorithm determines whether the mold is full of water based upon a change in the thermistor reading.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2000Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Rollie Richard Herzog, Michael Edward Johnson, Craig Iung-Pei Tsai, Qiao Lu, Lisa Gay Smith
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Publication number: 20030090229Abstract: A method for controlling speed in a pulse-width-modulation-controlled motor powered by a load voltage source is provided. The method includes the steps of measuring the motor load voltage, and setting a pulse-width-modulation duty cycle based on the measured voltage.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 14, 2001Publication date: May 15, 2003Inventors: Steven Gray, Wolfgang Daum, John Steven Holmes, Rollie Richard Herzog, Mark Robert Mathews
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Publication number: 20030009610Abstract: A control system for an appliance utilizing a plurality of peripheral devices includes a controller and a communications bus coupled to the plurality of peripheral devices and to the controller. The controller is configured to receive data from the peripheral devices over the communications bus and transmit control operations to the peripheral devices based on the data received. The communications bus reduces overall wiring requirements due to elimination or reduction of power wiring of the peripheral devices, facilitates distributed displays and human machine interfaces, and allows model differentiation with late point identification by a population of bus connections with a sensor, display, interface, or a blank. A data collision detection scheme is also provided to ensure proper communication along the bus.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2000Publication date: January 9, 2003Inventors: Tam Nolan, Wolfgang Daum, Rollie Richard Herzog, Mark Robert Mathews, Robert Marten Bultman, John Steven Holmes
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Publication number: 20030006126Abstract: A detection apparatus for detecting refrigerator door openings is coupled to at least one switch configured to be activated by a door opening. When the door is opened, the switch is activated and inputs a signal to the detection apparatus. The detection apparatus rectifies the signal; and phase-shifts the rectified signal so that it leads or lags the line voltage. The shifted output signal is fed to a processor that detects the opening of the door based upon the shifted signal. Signals output by a plurality of switches that generate a signal when activated mixed using an opto-coupler. Relative impedance of the lead and lag circuits may be adjusted to differentiate a phase shift of one shifted signal relative to another signal. The processor converts a value in degrees of phase shifting of the mixed signal to a time value, and based upon the time value, the processor determines which of the doors is open.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 5, 2001Publication date: January 9, 2003Inventors: John Steven Holmes, Jerry J. Queen, Rollie Richard Herzog, Mark Robert Mathews, Robert Marten Bultman
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Patent number: 6310330Abstract: An improved system and method for controlling the temperature of a resistance heater in a heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (“HVAC”) system is disclosed. The control circuit and method includes three separate thermostats per heater leg and are designed to trip at three, sequential pre-selected temperatures to address certain issues associated with prior art designs for thermal overload protection. One of the thermostats is of an automatically resettable type wherein the remaining two are of a “one-shot” design and will remain open until there is human intervention.Type: GrantFiled: April 12, 2000Date of Patent: October 30, 2001Assignee: Transport International Pool, Inc.Inventors: Ljubisa Dragoljub Stevanovic, Ahmed Elasser, Thomas Bernard Breen, Wayne William Mihailov, Rollie Richard Herzog
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Patent number: 5816060Abstract: An air flow control arrangement for a side-by-side refrigerator which results in temperature variations, both spatial and temporal, of approximately about .+-.1.degree. F. in the fresh food compartment, is described. Such air flow control also is believed to even further reduce the internal "sweat" in the fresh food compartment. In one embodiment, and with respect to a side-by-side refrigerator, the middle duct in the center mullion wall is closed off, and a duct is added in the center mullion wall, or could be installed as a separate duct outside the mullion, connecting a supply port in the top, back, left hand corner in fresh food compartment to a position in the evaporator chamber. The added duct also seals off direct airflow between the evaporator chamber and the fresh food compartment.Type: GrantFiled: December 23, 1996Date of Patent: October 6, 1998Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Thomas Arthur Brownell, Robert Leonard Fulks, Joanna Marie Diederich, Rollie Richard Herzog, John August Sedovic
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Patent number: 5642628Abstract: A refrigerator includes at least a first compartment cooled to a first temperature and a second compartment cooled to a second temperature, and a multiplex damper system disposed in a cooling-air passage so as to selectively direct the cooling-air flow from the refrigeration apparatus to the compartments. The multiplex damper system comprises a single movable control damper mounted in the cooling-air passage and a drive control system responsive to the cooling demands of the respective compartments and that is coupled to the single control damper so as to selectively dispose the control damper in a plurality of respective air flow positions. The range of air flow positions includes a first compartment-only air flow position, a second compartment-only air flow position, and at least one divided-flow position in which cooling air flow is proportionally directed into both the first and the second compartments.Type: GrantFiled: May 9, 1996Date of Patent: July 1, 1997Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Walter Whipple, III, Thomas Arthur Brownell, Rollie Richard Herzog