Patents by Inventor William Hull Bicknell
William Hull Bicknell 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: 11219101Abstract: An induction cooking appliance is provided herein. The induction cooking appliance may include an upper cooking surface, a power source, and a heating assembly in electrical communication with the power source. The power source may be configured to supply a power signal during heating operations. The heating assembly may include a first induction heating coil and a second induction heating coil. The first induction heating coil may be positioned below the upper cooking surface in electrical communication with the power source. The second induction heating coil may be positioned coaxial with the first induction heating coil below the upper cooking surface. The second induction heating coil may be disposed in electrical communication with the power source in non-series communication with the first induction heating coil.Type: GrantFiled: May 3, 2018Date of Patent: January 4, 2022Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Isaac Nam, William Hull Bicknell
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Patent number: 10873994Abstract: An induction heating system with a plurality of resonant inverter tanks can be provided. The induction heating system can include a power source configured to supply power to the heating system and a plurality of parallel resonant inverter tanks in electrical connection with the power source. Each of the parallel resonant inverter tanks can include one or more parallel resonant capacitors, one or more parallel induction coils and one or more switches configured to disconnect each of the parallel resonant inverter tanks from the power source. The induction heating system can include a controller configured to perform operations, wherein the operations include determining when a cooking vessel is present at each induction coil and in response to determining that a cooking vessel is not present at a resonant inverter tank, operating the one or more switches such that the parallel resonant inverter tank is disconnected from the power source.Type: GrantFiled: July 24, 2017Date of Patent: December 22, 2020Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Isaac Nam, William Hull Bicknell
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Patent number: 10477624Abstract: Systems and methods of quasi-resonant induction heating are provided. In particular, an induction heating system having a quasi-resonant topology can have a quasi-resonant inverter. The inverter can include an induction heating coil configured to inductively head a load with a magnetic field, and a power supply circuit configured to supply a power signal to the induction heating coil. The inverter can further include a first switching element and a second switching element coupled in parallel with the first switching element. The inverter can further include a resonant capacitor coupled in parallel with the induction heating coil. The inverter can further include one or more control devices configured to control operation of the first and second switching elements to regulate an amount of current provided to the induction coil based at least in part on a desired operating frequency associated with the quasi-resonant inverter.Type: GrantFiled: April 13, 2016Date of Patent: November 12, 2019Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Scott Michael Gelber, William Hull Bicknell, Mingwei Shan
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Publication number: 20190342953Abstract: An induction cooking appliance is provided herein. The induction cooking appliance may include an upper cooking surface, a power source, and a heating assembly in electrical communication with the power source. The power source may be configured to supply a power signal during heating operations. The heating assembly may include a first induction heating coil and a second induction heating coil. The first induction heating coil may be positioned below the upper cooking surface in electrical communication with the power source. The second induction heating coil may be positioned coaxial with the first induction heating coil below the upper cooking surface. The second induction heating coil may be disposed in electrical communication with the power source in non-series communication with the first induction heating coil.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 3, 2018Publication date: November 7, 2019Inventors: Isaac Nam, William Hull Bicknell
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Publication number: 20190029081Abstract: An induction heating system with a plurality of resonant inverter tanks can be provided. The induction heating system can include a power source configured to supply power to the heating system and a plurality of parallel resonant inverter tanks in electrical connection with the power source. Each of the parallel resonant inverter tanks can include one or more parallel resonant capacitors, one or more parallel induction coils and one or more switches configured to disconnect each of the parallel resonant inverter tanks from the power source. The induction heating system can include a controller configured to perform operations, wherein the operations include determining when a cooking vessel is present at each induction coil and in response to determining that a cooking vessel is not present at a resonant inverter tank, operating the one or more switches such that the parallel resonant inverter tank is disconnected from the power source.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 24, 2017Publication date: January 24, 2019Inventors: Isaac Nam, William Hull Bicknell
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Patent number: 10088169Abstract: A cooktop appliance and method of operation is provided. The cooktop appliance may include a user interface, a power source, a burner, a thyristor, and a relay switch. The power source may be operably connected to the user interface. The burner may include a first radiant heat element and a second radiant heat element electrically coupled in parallel to the power source. The thyristor may be operably connected to the user interface and electrically coupled in series between the power source and the first radiant heat element to control activation of the first radiant heat element. The relay switch may be operably connected to the user interface and electrically coupled in series between the power source and the second radiant heat element to control activation of the second radiant heat element.Type: GrantFiled: July 15, 2016Date of Patent: October 2, 2018Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.Inventors: Scott Michael Gelber, William Hull Bicknell
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Publication number: 20180017265Abstract: A cooktop appliance and method of operation is provided. The cooktop appliance may include a user interface, a power source, a burner, a thyristor, and a relay switch. The power source may be operably connected to the user interface. The burner may include a first radiant heat element and a second radiant heat element electrically coupled in parallel to the power source. The thyristor may be operably connected to the user interface and electrically coupled in series between the power source and the first radiant heat element to control activation of the first radiant heat element. The relay switch may be operably connected to the user interface and electrically coupled in series between the power source and the second radiant heat element to control activation of the second radiant heat element.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 15, 2016Publication date: January 18, 2018Inventors: Scott Michael Gelber, William Hull Bicknell
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Publication number: 20170303345Abstract: Systems and methods of quasi-resonant induction heating are provided. In particular, an induction heating system having a quasi-resonant topology can have a quasi-resonant inverter. The inverter can include an induction heating coil configured to inductively head a load with a magnetic field, and a power supply circuit configured to supply a power signal to the induction heating coil. The inverter can further include a first switching element and a second switching element coupled in parallel with the first switching element. The inverter can further include a resonant capacitor coupled in parallel with the induction heating coil. The inverter can further include one or more control devices configured to control operation of the first and second switching elements to regulate an amount of current provided to the induction coil based at least in part on a desired operating frequency associated with the quasi-resonant inverter.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 13, 2016Publication date: October 19, 2017Inventors: Scott Michael Gelber, William Hull Bicknell, Mingwei Shan
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Publication number: 20160095168Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting vessel presence for an induction heating apparatus are disclosed. A detector circuit generates an output signal based on a feedback signal corresponding to a signal, such as current, flowing through an induction heating coil. The output signal has low frequency components that are averaged over multiple integer periods and compared to a reference value to determine the presence or absence of a vessel on the induction heating coil.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 30, 2014Publication date: March 31, 2016Inventors: Mingwei Shan, Gregory Francis Gawron, SR., William Hull Bicknell, John Michael Kulp, JR.
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Patent number: 8853991Abstract: A system and method of detecting phase angle in an inverter is provided. A shunt resistor is coupled to a controller which is part of an inverter circuit and a phase angle may be directly derived from the detected voltage across the shunt resistor. The detected shunt voltage may be used to adjust the power delivery from the inverter to the load.Type: GrantFiled: January 31, 2012Date of Patent: October 7, 2014Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Mingwei Shan, William Hull Bicknell, Eric K. Watson, Richard D. Suel, II
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Publication number: 20130194851Abstract: A system and method of detecting phase angle in an inverter is provided. A shunt resistor is coupled to a controller which is part of an inverter circuit and a phase angle may be directly derived from the detected voltage across the shunt resistor. The detected shunt voltage may be used to adjust the power delivery from the inverter to the load.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 31, 2012Publication date: August 1, 2013Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Mingwei Shan, William Hull Bicknell, Eric K. Watson, Richard D. Suel, II
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Patent number: 8092611Abstract: A method, and corresponding system, for dishwasher operation including receiving an operation setting at a dishwasher to be performed by the dishwasher, where the dishwasher is configured to receive an input of electrical power at a defined operating voltage and frequency; and causing an operation of the dishwasher based on the operation setting by causing an inverter of the dishwasher to operate a pump motor of the dishwasher at an electrical power condition different from the defined operating voltage and frequency received at the dishwasher, where the electrical power condition at the pump motor causes the dishwasher to operate in accordance with a quiet dishwashing cycle, a high water pressure dishwashing cycle, a constant mass flow operation, or a minimum water use operation.Type: GrantFiled: January 29, 2009Date of Patent: January 10, 2012Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Edward James Hatfield, Mariano Pablo Filippa, William Hull Bicknell, Robert Keith Hollenbeck
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Publication number: 20100186772Abstract: A method, and corresponding system, for dishwasher operation including receiving an operation setting at a dishwasher to be performed by the dishwasher, where the dishwasher is configured to receive an input of electrical power at a defined operating voltage and frequency; and causing an operation of the dishwasher based on the operation setting by causing an inverter of the dishwasher to operate a pump motor of the dishwasher at an electrical power condition different from the defined operating voltage and frequency received at the dishwasher, where the electrical power condition at the pump motor causes the dishwasher to operate in accordance with a quiet dishwashing cycle, a high water pressure dishwashing cycle, a constant mass flow operation, or a minimum water use operation.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 29, 2009Publication date: July 29, 2010Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Edward James Hatfield, Mariano Pablo Filippa, William Hull Bicknell, Robert Keith Hollenbeck
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Patent number: 7340509Abstract: A reconfigurable appliance control system includes a dedicated appliance control (DAC) for controlling operation of an appliance. The system further includes an appliance communication control (ACC) for communicating with at least one appliance. The system includes an appliance communication connection for interfacing the ACC to the appliance. The system also includes an external host control (EHC) for communicating with a remote system. The system further includes a host communication connection for interfacing the external host control with the ACC.Type: GrantFiled: July 18, 2002Date of Patent: March 4, 2008Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Wolfgang Daum, William Hull Bicknell
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Patent number: 7164956Abstract: A remote operation management system for commercial appliances is provided. The system includes a user interface for authorizing use of an appliance and a dedicated appliance controller coupled to the user interface and the appliance for controlling operation of the appliance. An appliance communication controller is coupled to the user interface over an appliance communication connection, and an external host controller is coupled to the appliance communication controller over a host communication connection. The external host controller is configured to communicate a message for the appliance to the appliance communication controller. A remote management system is coupled to the external host controller and configured to control a function of the appliance.Type: GrantFiled: June 30, 2003Date of Patent: January 16, 2007Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: William Hull Bicknell, Donald Richard Dickerson, Jr., Stephen James West
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Publication number: 20040267383Abstract: A remote operation management system for commercial appliances is provided. The system includes a user interface for authorizing use of an appliance and a dedicated appliance controller coupled to the user interface and the appliance for controlling operation of the appliance. An appliance communication controller is coupled to the user interface over an appliance communication connection, and an external host controller is coupled to the appliance communication controller over a host communication connection. The external host controller is configured to communicate a message for the appliance to the appliance communication controller. A remote management system is coupled to the external host controller and configured to control a function of the appliance.Type: ApplicationFiled: June 30, 2003Publication date: December 30, 2004Inventors: William Hull Bicknell, Donald Richard Dickerson, Stephen James West
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Patent number: 6826267Abstract: Appliances (102, 102, 106 and 108) are controlled by providing a source (2016, 112) of command fields (CMD, FIG. 2) that include a context subfield (Community, FIG. 4) defining operating modes and a command subfield (Command, FIG. 4) defining operations to be performed within the context subfield. A network (119) transmits the command fields between the source and the appliance. A controller (112, 116) processes the command fields so that an operation defined by one of the command subfields is performed.Type: GrantFiled: July 12, 2001Date of Patent: November 30, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Wolfgang Daum, John Steven Holmes, William Hull Bicknell, Scott Alan Horning, Tanveer Iqbal, John Kenneth Hooker, Robert Marten Bultman, Ziqiang Hu, Scott Charles Evans, John Erik Hershey
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Publication number: 20040015570Abstract: A reconfigurable appliance control system includes a dedicated appliance control (DAC) for controlling operation of an appliance. The system further includes an appliance communication control (ACC) for communicating with at least one appliance. The system includes an appliance communication connection for interfacing the ACC to the appliance. The system also includes an external host control (EHC) for communicating with a remote system. The system further includes a host communication connection for interfacing the external host control with the ACC.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 18, 2002Publication date: January 22, 2004Inventors: Wolfgang Daum, William Hull Bicknell
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Publication number: 20030109938Abstract: Appliances (102, 102, 106 and 108) are controlled by providing a source (2016, 112) of command fields (CMD, FIG. 2) that include a context subfield (Community, FIG. 4) defining operating modes and a command subfield (Command, FIG. 4) defining operations to be performed within the context subfield. A network (119) transmits the command fields between the source and the appliance. A controller (112, 116) processes the command fields so that an operation defined by one of the command subfields is performed.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 12, 2001Publication date: June 12, 2003Inventors: Wolfgang Daum, John Steven Holmes, William Hull Bicknell, Scott Alan Horning, Tanveer Iqbal, John Kenneth Hooker, Robert Marten Bultman, Ziqiang Hu, Scott Charles Evans, John Erik Hershey
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Publication number: 20030046377Abstract: A method and apparatus for service diagnostics of appliances includes connecting to a local area appliance network, accessing an appliance in the local area appliance network, accessing functions of the appliance, and performing service diagnosis of the appliance using the functions. A diagnostic interface is used to diagnose and service the appliance. The local area appliance network may be a power line carrier communication carrier network. The diagnostic interface may connect to a remote system for service diagnostic information.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 27, 2000Publication date: March 6, 2003Inventors: Wolfgang Daum, John Steven Holmes, William Hull Bicknell, Scott Allen Horning, Tanveer Iqbal, Scott Charles Evans