Abstract: An improved gate drive circuit is provided for a power device, such as a transistor. The gate driver circuit may include: a current control circuit; a first secondary current source that is used to control the switching transient during turn off of the power transistor and a second secondary current source that is used to control the switching transient during turn on of the power transistor. In operation, the current control circuit operates, during turn on of the power transistor, to source a gate drive current to a control node of the power transistor and, during turn off of the power transistor, to sink a gate drive current from the control node of the power transistor. The first and second secondary current sources adjust the gate drive current to control the voltage or current rate of change and thereby the overshoot during the switching transient.

Abstract: A baby food maker (100). Baby food maker (100) comprises a jar (102) having an open top and an open bottom for holding food, a top cap (104) for closing the open top of jar (102), a bottom cap (106) sealingly engaged with the lower end of jar (102) for forming a cooking chamber (103), a blending or stirring mechanism (114) installed inside cooking chamber (103) for blending/stirring food, a heating tube (116) fixedly installed on the bottom of bottom cap (106) for heating food, a blender base (112) disposed underneath cooking chamber (103) for supporting cooking chamber (103), a motor (124) installed inside blender base (112) and removably coupled with mechanism (114) for driving mechanism (114) to blend or stir food, and an adapting member (110) engaged with the lower portion of jar (102) for adapting cooking chamber (103) to stand on blender base (112).

Abstract: A blend soup maker (100). Soup maker (100) comprises a jar (102) having an open top and an open bottom for holding food, a lid (104) for closing the open top of jar (102), a bottom cap (106) for closing the open bottom of jar (102), a blending blade (114) installed inside jar (102) for blending food, an electrical heating tube (116) fixedly installed on the bottom of jar (102) for heating food, a base support (112) disposed underneath jar (102) for supporting jar (102), a blending motor (124) installed inside support base (112) and removably coupled with blade (114) for driving blade (114) to blend food, and a support member (110) engaged with the lower portion of jar (102) for adapting jar (102) to stand on base support (112).

Abstract: A circuit die is disposed into a region defined by a mold. A molding material is then introduced into the region to encapsulate the circuit die. Prior to substantial curing of the molding material, at least a portion of the molding material is removed from over a surface of the circuit die, creating a recessed region in the encapsulating material. A heat spreader may then be disposed within the recessed region, as well as over the top surface of the encapsulating material. The heat spreader may have a downset that substantially aligns with the recessed region and reduces the distance between the heat spreader and the spacer for better heat dissipation.

Abstract: A blender (100). Blender (100) comprises a jar (102) having an open top and an open bottom for holding food, a top cap (104) for closing the open top of jar (102), a heated bottom (106) sealingly engaged with the lower end of jar (102) for forming a cooking chamber (107), blending or stirring device (114) installed inside cooking chamber (107) for blending/stirring food, a heating tube (116) fixedly installed on the bottom of heated bottom (106) for heating food, a blender base (112) disposed underneath cooking chamber (107) for supporting cooking chamber (107), a motor (124) installed inside blender base (112) and removably coupled with device (114) for driving device (114) to blend or to stir food, a jar base (110) engaged with the lower portion of jar (102) for adapting cooking chamber (107) to stand on blender base (112), and an in-position detector (128) installed inside blender base (112) for user safety protection.

Abstract: A stir cooker (100). Stir cooker (100) comprises a container (102) having an open top and an open bottom for holding food, a lid (104) for closing the open top of container (102), a heated bottom (106) sealingly engaged with the lower end of container (102) for forming a cooking chamber (103), stir means (114) installed inside cooking chamber (103) for stirring food, a heating tube (116) fixedly installed on the bottom of heated bottom (106) for heating food, a stir base (112) disposed underneath cooking chamber (103) for supporting cooking chamber (103), a motor (124) installed inside stir base (112) and removably coupled with stir means (114) for driving stir means (114) to stir food, and an adapting member (110) engaged with the lower portion of container (102) by means of threading for adapting cooking chamber (103) to stand on stir base (112).

Abstract: A circuit die is disposed into a region defined by a mold. A molding material is then introduced into the region to encapsulate the circuit die. Prior to substantial curing of the molding material, at least a portion of the molding material is removed from over a surface of the circuit die, creating a recessed region in the encapsulating material. A heat spreader may then be disposed within the recessed region, as well as over the top surface of the encapsulating material. The heat spreader may have a downset that substantially aligns with the recessed region and reduces the distance between the heat spreader and the spacer for better heat dissipation.

Abstract: A baby food maker (100). Baby food maker (100) comprises a jar (102) having an open top and an open bottom for holding food, a top cap (104) for closing the open top of jar (102), a bottom cap (106) sealingly engaged with the lower end of said jar for forming a cooking chamber (103), blending or stirring means (114) installed inside cooking chamber (103) for blending/storing food, a heating tube (116) fixedly installed on the bottom of bottom cap (106) for heating food, a blender base (112) disposed underneath cooking chamber (103) for supporting cooking chamber (103), a motor (124) installed inside blender base (112) and removably coupled with means (114) for driving means (114) to blend or stir food, and an adapting member (110) engaged with the lower portion of jar (102) for adapting cooking chamber (103) to stand on blender base (112).

Abstract: A cooking range (100). Range (100) comprises a cabinet (50) for housing an oven, a range top (64) installed on top of cabinet (50) for providing a cooking platform, at least one stove base (112) installed on top of range top (64) for supporting cooking accessories, a control panel (60) for controlling the operation of range (100), a cooking device (80) disposed on top of range top (64) for cooking food, an adapting member (110) engaged with cooking device (80) for adapting cooking device (80) to stand on stove base (112), a thermostat (122) installed on stove base (112) and adapted to detect and control the temperature of the bottom of cooking device (80). As cooking device (80) is properly installed on stove base (112) the electrical terminals of cooking device (80) is removably engaged with an electrical port (112c) on stove base (112).

Abstract: A cooking range having a motorized stove base (100). Range (100) comprises a cabinet (50) for housing an oven, a range top (54) installed on top of cabinet (50) for providing a cooking platform, at least one stove base (112) installed on top of range top (54) for supporting cooking accessories, a control panel (60) for controlling the operation of range (100), a cooking device (80) disposed on top of range top (54) for cooking food, blending/stirring means (114) installed inside cooking device (80) for blending/stirring food, a motor installed underneath stove base (112) for driving blending/stirring means (114), an adapting member (110) fixedly engaged with cooking device (80) for adapting cooking device (80) to removably stand on stove base (112), a thermostat (122) installed on stove base (112) for detecting and limiting the temperature of the bottom of cooking device (80).

Abstract: A modular cooking apparatus (100). Apparatus (100) comprises a container (102) having an open top and a sidewall for holding and cooking food, a lid (104) for closing the open top of container (102), a heating tube (116) fixedly installed on the bottom of container (102) for heating food, a universal base (112) disposed underneath container (102) for supporting container (102), an adapting member (110) fixedly installed on the bottom of container (102) for adapting container (102) to removably stand in position on universal base (112), and a thermostat (122) installed on universal base (112) and adapted to detect and control the temperature of the bottom of container (102).

Abstract: A popcorn maker (100). Popcorn maker (100) comprises a container (102) for holding and popping corn kernels, a popping bowl (104) installed on top of container (102) for holding and serving popped corns, a lid (105) installed on top of bowl (104) for closing the open top of bowl (104) to avoid splashing, a stirrer (114) installed inside container (102) for stirring corn kernels, a co-rotation prevention member (118) installed inside container (102) on the sidewall for preventing corn kernels from co-rotating with stirrer (114), as stirrer (114) rotates, a heating tube (116) disposed underneath container (102) for heating corn kernels, a base support (112) disposed underneath container (102) for supporting container (102), a support member (110) installed on the bottom of container (102) for adapting container (102) to stand in position on base support (112), and a motor (124) installed inside base support (112) and coupled with stirrer (114) for driving stirrer (114).

Abstract: A deep-frying apparatus (100). Deep frying apparatus (100) comprises a container (102) having an open top and a sidewall for holding food, a lid (104) for closing the open top of container (102), a perforated basket (114) installed inside container (102) for holding and rotating food, a co-rotation prevention member (118) installed inside container (102) on the sidewall for generating favorable oil flow, as basket (114) rotates, a heating tube (116) fixedly installed on the bottom of container (102) for heating food, a base support (112) disposed underneath container (102) for supporting container (102), a support member (110) installed on the bottom of container (102) for adapting container (102) to stand in position on base support (112), and a motor (124) installed inside base support (112) and coupled with basket (114) for driving basket (114).

Abstract: A blend soup maker (100). Soup maker (100) comprises a jar (102) having an open top and an open bottom for holding food, a lid (104) for closing the open top of jar (102), a bottom cap (106) for closing the open bottom of jar (102), a blending blade (114) installed inside jar (102) for blending food, an electrical heating tube (116) fixedly installed on the bottom of jar (102) for heating food, a base support (112) disposed underneath jar (102) for supporting jar (102), a blending motor (124) installed inside support base (112) and removably coupled with blade (114) for driving blade (114) to blend food, and a support member (110) engaged with the lower portion of jar (102) for adapting jar (102) to stand on base support (112).

Abstract: A stir cooker (100). Stir cooker (100) comprises a container (102) having an open top and a sidewall for holding food, a lid (104) for closing the open top of container (102), a stirrer (114) installed inside container (102) for stirring food, a co-rotation prevention member (118) installed inside container (102) on the sidewall for preventing food pieces from co-rotating with stirrer (114), as stirrer (114) rotates, a heating tube (116) fixedly installed on the bottom of container (102) for heating food, a base support (112) disposed underneath container (102) for supporting container (102), a support member (110) installed on the bottom of container (102) for adapting container (102) to stand in position on base support (112), and a motor (124) installed inside base support (112) and coupled with stirrer (114) for driving stirrer (114) to stir food.

Abstract: A heating assembly (100) for appliances. Assembly (100) comprises a tray shaped base support (102) for holding parts together, a heater plate (104) installed above support (102) for thermal diffusion and for supporting cooking utensils, a sidewall (106) extended from the peripheral outer rim of plate (104) downward to a predetermined distance and sealingly installed onto support (102), a tubular electrical heating element (116) fixedly installed under plate (104) for providing heating power, and a insulation material filled into the space enclosed by plate (104), wall (106), and support (102) for thermal insulation.

Abstract: A self-stirring cookware (100). Cookware (100) comprises a container (102) having a open top and a sidewall for holding food, a lid (104) for closing the open top of container (102), a stirrer (108) installed inside container (102) for stirring food, and a co-rotation prevention device (110) installed inside container (102) on the sidewall of container (102) for preventing food pieces from co-rotating with stirrer (108), as stirrer (108) rotates.

Abstract: An automated soup making apparatus (100). Apparatus (100) comprises a container (102) having an open top for holding foods, a cap (104) removably installed on the top of container (102), a heating element (110) for heating foods disposed inside container (102), a blade (108) installed inside container (102) for chopping foods, a base (116) disposed underneath container (102) for supporting container (102), a motor (118) installed inside base (116) and operationally coupled with blade (108) for driving blade (108) through repeating chopping cycles. Apparatus (100) incorporates chopping and cooking of foods into one single apparatus for making soups. Other benefits include temperature control for optimized heating or chopping of foods, automated stirring for uniform heating and minimized risk of burning of foods, and spillage prevention.

Abstract: First and second networks of switching devices, each of which are an insulated gate bipolar transistor with an intrinsic reverse-biased clamping diode, are controlled to selectively connect a sinusoidal input voltage and an output to different nodes within a series of capacitors during different portions of input and output voltage cycles to produce a stepped sinusoidal output voltage. The topology requires a low part count, produces relatively low harmonics without filtering when powering artificial lift equipment within a borehole, and scales up to medium voltages without a step-up transformer. During variable speed operation of the lift equipment, optimized switching angles for controlling the switching devices during the voltage cycles may be selected based on modulation producing the desired speed and phase measurements.

Abstract: A restaurant (300) and a restaurant method. Restaurant (300) comprises a dining area (302) defined by a restaurant building (304), a plurality of dining tables (306) disposed in dining area (302), a plurality of cooking stations (312), of which each cooking station is disposed at an appropriate location on each of dining tables (306), such that diners are provided with options to select and cook foods by themselves, and whereby each dish is individually cooked and customized to diners preference.