With Switch Or Other External Circuit Completing Means Patents (Class 219/414)
  • Patent number: 11296498
    Abstract: A method for protecting an electronic system against a voltage surge, which electronic system is connected to a telecommunication network and includes a control integrated circuit, the method including successively connecting the electronic system to a remote server containing meteorological data; recovering meteorological data originating from the remote server; analyzing by the control circuit the recovered meteorological data to assign thereto a danger level of the current or imminent meteorological event; and, when the assigned danger level exceeds a main warning threshold: sending by the control circuit a warning signal to a display terminal connected to the electronic system; displaying a first warning message on the display terminal from information contained in the warning signal, the first warning message warning a user of the display terminal of a risk of voltage surge due to the current or imminent meteorological event; and electrical isolating a port of the electronic system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: SAGEMCOM BROADBAND SAS
    Inventors: Florian Kerhoas, Mathieu Abrahami
  • Patent number: 11271768
    Abstract: The possibility of an undesirable situation happening to a user is reduced in controlling an operation of an electrical appliance in accordance with issued disaster prevention information. An electrical appliance (3) is at least assigned a primary and a secondary operation of a two-stage operation as a disaster-prevention-information-associated operation. A disaster-prevention-information-associated control device (2) instructs the electrical appliance (3) to perform the primary operation in response to a detection of an issuance of disaster prevention information and instructs the electrical appliance (3) to perform the secondary operation after a prescribed period of time has elapsed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: SHARP KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Ataru Okura
  • Patent number: 10934654
    Abstract: Systems and methods of for controlling and appliance are provided. A control system for operating a load of an appliance can be provided. The control system includes a processor and memory device. Memory device is configured to store instructions that when executed by processor cause the processor to perform operations. Operations include determining an operational state of a first load control device, generating a first control signal based on the operational state of the first load control device, determining the operational state of a first load control device enable circuit; generating a second control signal based on the operational state of the first load control device enable circuit; generating a first load control signal based on the first control signal and second control signal; and operating a second load control device based on the first load control signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 25, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 2, 2021
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Brett Alan Farris, Maria Alejandra Contreras
  • Patent number: 10746410
    Abstract: A method and arrangement is provided for setting a peak operating power level for an oven having an oven compartment, a user interface, and a controller having a memory with a maximum peak operating power level stored therein. The method includes the steps of displaying an oven set-up user interface window on the user interface during an initial start-up of the oven; in response to an input for selecting a maximum output for the oven, displaying a maximum output user interface window on the user interface. Further, after input of a peak operating power level, the method stores the peak operating power level in the memory and selectively provides a power control signal to generate heat that corresponds to the peak operating power level. The oven is either an electric oven or gas oven. In operation, the oven heats at the peak operating power level, which is less than the maximum peak operating power level.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 18, 2020
    Assignee: THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION
    Inventors: John H. Wiker, William S. Schjerven, Sr., Theodore James Chmiola, Richard H. Van Camp
  • Patent number: 10466112
    Abstract: A method for alerting a user of a heating apparatus condition comprising the steps of energizing the heating apparatus configured with a sensor; activating a timer electrically connected to the heating apparatus; counting a predetermined amount of time; sending a signal using a transmitter when the predetermined amount of time has elapsed; receiving the signal with a remote receiver located in a room separate from the heating apparatus; and activating a reminder of the energized condition. Additionally, this method would further comprise the steps of de-energizing the heating apparatus after a predetermined time period after sending the signal; and ending transmission of the signal to the remote receiving device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventor: Elmer Algin Rose
  • Patent number: 10103646
    Abstract: In a control device, a load determiner determines whether a power converter is in a high-load state or a low-load state. A high-load controller controls on-off operations of the first rectifiers such that on durations of the first rectifiers are respectively synchronized with each other when it is determined that the power converter is in the high-load state. A low-load controller controls on-off operations of the first rectifiers to reduce the on durations of the first rectifies synchronized with each other when it is determined that the power converter is in the low-load state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshinori Hayashi, Tomotaka Suzuki
  • Patent number: 10085310
    Abstract: An oven may include a housing having a cooking receptacle configured to hold content therein, a heating element carried by the housing and configured to heat the content, and a proximity detector carried by the housing in the cooking receptacle and configured to detect surface movement of the content. The proximity detector may include at least one SPAD.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2018
    Assignee: STMICROELECTRONICS (RESEARCH & DEVELOPMENT) LIMITED
    Inventor: John Kevin Moore
  • Patent number: 9817052
    Abstract: An electric appliance (100) is disclosed. The electric appliance has an electric load (205), and a driving element (215) for selectively energizing/de-energizing the electric load (205). The driving element (215) has a first driving terminal (A1) coupled to a first load terminal (T1) of the electric load, a second driving terminal (A2) coupled to a first power supply terminal (TN), and a control terminal (G) for switching on/off the driving element (215) thereby allowing said selective energization/de-energization, respectively. The electric appliance also has a switching element (230) for selectively coupling a second power supply terminal (TL) to a second load terminal (T2) of the electric load (205).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2017
    Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Alessandro Cecco, Paolo Driussi
  • Patent number: 9255712
    Abstract: An oven appliance with a cabinet that defines a chamber is provided. A pair of doors is mounted proximate the cabinet and provides selective access to the cabinet. One of the pair of doors includes a tongue. Another of the pair of doors defines a groove configured for receipt of the tongue when the pair of doors is in a closed position. The tongue and groove can limit heat loss through a gap between the pair of doors or assist with sealing the pair of doors against the cabinet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John Adam Yantis, John Mark Chilton, Scott Thomas Kershner, Eric Sugalski, David Schoon, David Perry
  • Patent number: 8859941
    Abstract: An oven includes an oven liner defined by front, top, bottom, back and side panels, a heating element thermally coupled to the oven liner, a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of a panel of the oven cavity, and a controller operatively coupled to the temperature sensor and the heating element. The controller is configured to energize the heating element as a function of the detected temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 14, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Matthew David Gladhill, Paul Newsom, Heather Ann Thomas
  • Patent number: 8692166
    Abstract: A device for heating a substrate with light from a flash lamp having a semiconductor switch connected in series to the flash lamp. After triggering of a trigger electrode of the flash lamp, a first drive signal and a second drive signal are output from a gate circuit. The time period when the semiconductor switch is on due to the second drive signal is longer than the time period that the semiconductor switch is on by the first drive signal. Then, the semiconductor switch is switched on and off by the first drive signal and the substrate temperature is increased to a temperature, which is lower than the desired temperature to be targeted, and is maintained a that temperature for a short time, after which the surface temperature of the substrate is increased to the desired target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 8, 2014
    Assignee: Ushio Denki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehiko Yokomori
  • Publication number: 20140034630
    Abstract: The oven (1) of the present invention comprises a body (2), at least one oven cavity (3), a casing (4) surrounding the oven cavity (3) and at least one opening (5) disposed on the casing (4) that allows delivery of hot and humid air from the oven (1) to the exterior environment, at least one transmitting member (9, 109) that provides the assembly of the carrier (8) on the body (2), at least one discharge pipe (6, 106), one end connected to the opening (5) and the other end to nipple (7, 107) and starting from the casing (4) maintains the successive contact of the metal surfaces to each other thus providing the flow of electricity by delivering a probable electric leak to the ground for grounding the oven (1).
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2011
    Publication date: February 6, 2014
    Inventors: Yalcin Yaman, Fatih Ceylan, Merih Tarimtoru, Serdar Turkoz
  • Patent number: 8569660
    Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a heat source; an input unit configured to input a plurality of operational modes of the heat source for cleaning a cavity; and a control unit configured to operate the heat source in accordance with a mode input through the input unit, wherein the input unit comprises a selection unit configured to select a specific mode of the plurality of operational modes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2013
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Chae Hyun Baek, Jeong Ho Lee, Yong Soo Lee, Seung Chan Lee, Yang Kyeong Kim, Seung Jo Baek
  • Patent number: 8541719
    Abstract: According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a system for reducing peak power consumption in an electromechanically controlled cooking appliance is provided. The system comprises a surface heating unit comprising at least one duty cycle controlled surface heating element, a temperature controlled oven heating element, a controller configured to receive and process utility state signals indicative of the operating state of an associated utility, and a switch responsive to the controller, switchable between a first state and a second state for selectively coupling the oven heating element to a first relatively high voltage power supply and a second relatively low voltage power supply respectively. The controller is configured to switch the switch to the first and second states as a function of the utility state signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventor: Brian M. Steurer
  • Patent number: 8476561
    Abstract: A device for heating a substrate with light from a flash lamp having a semiconductor switch connected in series to the flash lamp. After triggering of a trigger electrode of the flash lamp, a first drive signal and a second drive signal are output from a gate circuit. The time period when the semiconductor switch is on due to the second drive signal is longer than the time period that the semiconductor switch is on by the first drive signal. Then, the semiconductor switch is switched on and off by the first drive signal and the substrate temperature is increased to a temperature, which is lower than the desired temperature to be achieved, and is maintained a that temperature for a short time, after which the surface temperature of the substrate is increased to the desired target temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2013
    Assignee: Ushiodenki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Takehiko Yokomori
  • Patent number: 8455798
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an oven (1) comprising a cooking chamber (2) wherein the cooking process is performed, a heater (3) for cooking the foodstuffs emplaced in the cooking chamber (2), a thermostat that controls the operation of the heater (3) and a control unit (4) that regulates the cooking parameters of temperature and duration such that energy savings is maintained at different temperature values (T1) defined by the user such as 160° C., 180° C., 200° C., 220° C., . . . according to type of food to be cooked.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 4, 2013
    Assignee: Arcelik Anonim Sirketi
    Inventors: Levent Akdag, Asli Kayihan
  • Patent number: 8418684
    Abstract: A catalytic conversion unit treats emissions emanating from a cooking event. The unit comprises a housing to contain the other components that connects either directly or through the use of ancillary components to the oven cavity of a residential range, or oven. Contained within the housing are an electric heating element and a catalyst unit. The housing may connect to additional components to complete the venting of the exhaust to the atmosphere. The electric heating element is arranged so that infrared radiation from the hot surface of the element is visible by the inlet face of the catalyst. The power output of the heater is sized so that the catalyst reaches a minimum operating temperature to initiate the catalytic reaction in advance of the temperature increase in the air coming from the cavity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Catalytic Combustion Corporation
    Inventor: John W. Robinson, Jr.
  • Patent number: 8402884
    Abstract: In a toaster, a toasting carriage is latched during toasting by an electromagnet actuated by a timer control circuit, and released when toasting time has elapsed. One of two rectifying circuits is always live and supplies a DC current to the timer control circuit and another, separate rectifying circuit supplies a DC current to energise the electromagnet when the toasting cycle is initiated. A first switching module switches a current flow through the heating element, while a second switching module isolates the always live rectifying circuit from the heating element. Switches of the first and second switching modules are disposed in an array and are closed by movement of the toasting carriage to the toasting position. More responsive and stable electromagnetic latching contributes to reducing risks associated with a fire that could occur during use of the toaster.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Hon Way Plastic & Metal Mfg. Co. Ltd.
    Inventor: Hon Man Choi
  • Patent number: 8378265
    Abstract: A convection oven having a vapor collection system; water injection system; easily accessible electrical components; and a variable-speed, reversible blower is disclosed. The vapor collection system collects vapor from the cooking chamber during a cooking event, condenses the vapor, and drains the condensed vapor. The water injection system injects water for impact against a blower wheel for dispersion into the air circulating through the cooking chamber. The electrical components are housed within a housing that in a closed position conceals the components and in a closed position exposes the components for easy access. The rotational speed and direction of the variable-speed, reversible blower is controlled during a cooking event according to predetermined speed curves which may include one or more reversal events to achieve more uniform cooking of food. A main controller is programmable via an operator input (e.g., liquid crystal display touch screen) to control operating parameters of the oven.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Jack Greenwood, Robert J. Reese
  • Patent number: 8367979
    Abstract: A household range includes a first oven having a first electric cooking element, and a second oven includes a second electric cooking element. A power management system is used to distribute power such that when the second electric cooking element is energized the first electric cooking element is de-energized.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Max Douglas Oyler, Siva Kiran Chekka
  • Patent number: 8309893
    Abstract: A heating appliance includes an electric heating element, and a relay for selectively connecting the heating element to a power supply that supplies an alternating electric current to the electric heating element to generate heat. The relay includes an inductive actuator that controls a switching state of the relay, and a switch can interrupt a supply of electric current from a power source to the inductive actuator to adjust the switching state. A flyback path for conducting a decaying electric current includes a selective conductor and a voltage regulator that maintains a flyback voltage across the inductive actuator above a minimum flyback voltage. And a controller transmits a control signal that adjusts the switching state of the relay to cause interruption of the alternating electric current being supplied to the heating element after the alternating electric current being conducted through the relay falls below a peak value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Harris
  • Publication number: 20120240787
    Abstract: A safety device for an electrical stove comprising a main control button and a timer relay interposed between the control button and the stove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 22, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Inventor: Tony Boulanger
  • Patent number: 8242413
    Abstract: A method of controlling an oven is provided. The oven includes a first heater, a second heater having a lower output than the first heater, at least one third heater, and at least one fan blowing a heat of the third heater to a cavity. The first heater operates for cooking food and then the second heater operates after the first heater stops. Then, the third heater and the fan continuously operate while the first heater and second heater operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Moo Yeon Choi, Eui-Seog Jeong
  • Patent number: 8237093
    Abstract: A power supply device having function of heating includes a body, a circuit board, and a heating plate. An accommodation space is defined in the body. The circuit board is disposed in the accommodation space. An input connector and an output connector are disposed on the circuit board. The circuit board receives an external power via the input connector, selectively transforms the external power into a first output power or a second output power, and outputs the first output power via the output connector. The heating plate is disposed on a bottom side of the body and electrically connected to the circuit board to receive the second output power to generate heat for increasing the temperature thereof. The thermal insulator is disposed between the circuit board and the heating plate for isolating heat transferred from the heating plate to the circuit board.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Assignee: Hannspree, Inc.
    Inventor: Wen-Hung Huang
  • Patent number: 8190302
    Abstract: A system for reducing peak power usage in a cooking appliance having an oven cavity therein is provided. The system includes at least one power consuming unit with at least two separately controllable elements, a user adjustable electromechanical switching device for controlling energization of the at least one power consuming unit, a control configured to receive and process a utility state signal indicative of the current state of an associated utility; and an element switching device responsive to the control and configured to selectively enable and disable energization of one of the elements in response to the utility state signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Ashley Wayne Burt, Brian M. Steurer, Mark Davis Johnson
  • Patent number: 8138453
    Abstract: A electric oven is provided that includes a body, a cooking chamber located within the body for receiving food, the cooking chamber having an upper surface, a lower surface, and a rear surface joining the upper surface to the lower surface, at least one of a convection heater located at the rear surface of the cooking chamber and a bake heater located at the lower surface of the cooking chamber, and at least two broil heaters located at the upper surface of the cooking chamber, each of the at least two broil heaters being individually operable. Methods for preheating the electric oven are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jae Kyung Yang, Hyeun Sik Nam, Dong Seong Kwag, Seong Ho Cho, Wan Soo Kim
  • Patent number: 8110779
    Abstract: There is provided a door lock control device in a heating cooker that prevents a door from being accidentally unlocked when the door is locked and a temperature inside the heating cooker is a predetermined temperature or more such as during self-cleaning. When the temperature inside the cooker is low and a thermal switch 8 of a lock detection and thermal switch portion 6 is closed, the lock detection and thermal switch portion 6 can be energized, and a power supply line 2 can supply power to a drive motor 5 to lock and unlock the door. In the case of self-cleaning or the like, the door is locked and a detection switch 7 is on a door lock side 7a, but the temperature inside the cooker is high and thus the thermal switch 8 is opened, and the power supply line 2 is interrupted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2012
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masamitsu Kishimoto
  • Publication number: 20110108543
    Abstract: A self cleaning cooking oven comprises a cabinet having walls defining an oven cavity; a door for closing said oven cavity, a supporting structure for supporting a removable rack structure within said oven cavity, a heating means for heating said oven cavity, and a control means for said heating means selectively operable to control said heating means to effect a cooking operation or a pyrolysis operation, wherein the oven further comprises an actuation means which is removably positionable within said oven cavity by a user, said actuation means, when present within said oven cavity, directly or indirectly acts on said control means to control said heating means for effecting the pyrolysis operation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 13, 2008
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Applicant: ELECTROLUX HOME PRODUCTS CORPORATION N.V.
    Inventors: Tobias Weber, Dietmar Hildner, Harald Poerner, Tobias Boeheim, Bernd Heisswolf
  • Publication number: 20110100977
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an oven (1) comprising a cooking chamber (2) wherein the cooking process is performed, a heater (3) for cooking the foodstuffs emplaced in the cooking chamber (2), a thermostat that controls the operation of the heater (3) and a control unit (4) that regulates the cooking parameters of temperature and duration such that energy savings is maintained at different temperature values (T1) defined by the user such as 160° C., 180° C., 200° C., 220° C., . . . according to type of food to be cooked.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 11, 2008
    Publication date: May 5, 2011
    Inventors: Levent Akdag, Asli Kayihan
  • Patent number: 7910861
    Abstract: A cooking device including a cooking cavity, a fan located in the cooking device, the fan being configured to force air into the cooking cavity, and at least one optical heater to supply optical wave energy to heat the forced air provided by the fan.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2011
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Hyeon Sik Nam, Wan Soo Kim, Dong Seong Kwag, Seong Ho Cho
  • Patent number: 7720555
    Abstract: A heating device for a field-device display module includes a heating element. The heating element is adapted to the shape of the field-device display module and is equipped such that it converts an electrical current to thermal energy. The heating element can be coupled to the field-device display module such that by the heating element the field-device display module can be heated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 18, 2010
    Assignee: Vega Grieshaber KG
    Inventor: Holger Staiger
  • Publication number: 20100025390
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oven (1), especially to a domestic oven, with a cooking cavity (2), wherein means (3, 4, 5, 6) are arranged for supplying hot air to the cavity (2). To improve the cooking result the invention is characterized in that the means (3, 4, 5, 6) comprise at least two heating elements (3, 4), wherein air is ventilated along or through the heating elements (3, 4) by at least one fan (5, 6). Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating such an oven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 30, 2007
    Publication date: February 4, 2010
    Inventor: Florian Ruther
  • Patent number: 7589299
    Abstract: In one aspect, a cooktop heating system that include a first cooktop heating element, a second cooktop heating element, and an interface device. The system also includes a controller for selectively associating the interface device with any one or both of the first cooktop heating element and the second cooktop heating element. In another aspect, the system includes at least one cooktop heating element, a potentiometer, and controller arrangement operatively connected between the potentiometer and the at least one cooktop heating element to determine heating of the at least one cooktop heating element responsive to the input provided by the potentiometer and control power provision to the at least one cooktop heating element responsive to the determination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2009
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Gary Fisher, Chris Ray Blackson
  • Publication number: 20090197428
    Abstract: An impurity-activating thermal process is performed after a target is subjected to an impurity introduction step. In this thermal process, while a spike RTA process including a holding period for holding a temperature at a predetermined temperature is performed, at least one iteration of millisecond annealing at a temperature higher than the predetermined temperature is performed during the holding period of the spike RTA process.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 30, 2009
    Publication date: August 6, 2009
    Inventors: Kazuma Takahashi, Kenji Yoneda
  • Patent number: 7554058
    Abstract: A household appliance includes a body having a front, an appliance port including a cooling air inlet port and/or a vapor exhaust port disposed on the body, and a door. A console-type user control and display unit is provided including a control and display element, a housing, and control electronics disposed in the housing. The control electronics provide signal communication with the control and display element and with power electronics of the household appliance. At least a first portion of the user control and display unit is disposed on the door so as to be cooled by a flow of ambient air and so as to shield, when the door is in a closed position, the appliance port from view in a direction perpendicular to the front of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Miele & Cie. KG
    Inventors: Matthias Stahl, Hermann Bronstering, Claudia Scholt
  • Patent number: 7554062
    Abstract: An electronic appliance is provided including a display unit movably installed along a guide rail, a protection cover which slides between a first position covering the display unit and a second position exposing the display unit, and a connection unit connecting the sliding movement of the protection cover between the first and second positions with the movement of the display unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Seung-Jae Lee
  • Publication number: 20090039069
    Abstract: The present invention is related to home appliance, in particular, to a multi-function toaster, which is designed not only for toasting bread, but also for frying eggs or cooking coffee. The present invention increases an electric oven to a lateral side of the toaster, the electric oven is formed with the electric oven integrally as a whole by injection molding. An electric circuit of the electric oven is connected to an electric circuit of the toaster. The present invention is aimed to combine the toaster with the electric oven altogether. Therefore, users can toast bread, at the same time, fry eggs or cook coffee, milk by the increased electric oven.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2007
    Publication date: February 12, 2009
    Inventor: Wen-Hsien Lin
  • Patent number: 7446282
    Abstract: In general, this invention involves various improvements relating to food service apparatus, including an energy-compensation feature to compensate for the transfer of heat from one food-holding compartment to another food-holding compartment, and an energy-limit feature for preventing overheating of the apparatus in the event it is incorrectly programmed by an operator, for example.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 4, 2008
    Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Co.
    Inventors: Steven M. Shei, Timo Henk
  • Patent number: 7442901
    Abstract: An electric oven includes an oven body, a first convection system having a first convection heater and a first convection fan that are installed in the oven body to operate for a first space in the oven body, and a second convection system having a second convection heater and a second convection fan that are installed in the oven body to operate for a second space in the oven body. Further, the first and second convection fans are driven by a single common driving unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 25, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2008
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yang Kyeong Kim, Jae Kyung Yang, Dong Seong Kwag
  • Patent number: 7378620
    Abstract: Oven control system, including a display screen, a data input means and a calculation unit able to send instructions to the display screen and to receive instructions from the data input means, the said calculation unit including a means for grading cooking programs at least as a function of a first criterion of family of products to be cooked, of product to be cooked within a family, or of recipe or of method of cooking, and a means for adjusting the cooking program according to at least one second internal final criterion and one third external final criterion, the display screen being able to simultaneously display the selected values of the said criteria or the values of the said criteria currently being selected by a user, with a zone for displaying the values of the second and third criteria and which is designed to also display unselected values of the said criteria in such a way that the selected values can be read graphically, the said display zone being able to display a window adapted to each type
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 27, 2008
    Assignee: Thirode Grandes Cuisines Poligny
    Inventor: Yves Lubrina
  • Patent number: 7368686
    Abstract: An electric cooking appliance is provided. The electric cooking appliance includes a plurality of surface heating elements and a plurality of sensors configured to monitor an operational status of a corresponding surface heating element. The electric cooking appliance also includes a first cooking unit, a second cooking unit and an electronic control to facilitate sharing power between the first cooking unit and the second cooking unit based on the operational status of the plurality of surface heating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2008
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John L. Etheredge, Philip A. Barber, Brian Henninger, Timothy Scott Shaffer
  • Patent number: 7319209
    Abstract: A manual control mechanism for a heating unit of a domestic cooker (1) having a front face is in the form of a twist grip (11, 12, 13) operable by rotation about a substantially horizontal axis parallel to the front face of the cooker. A plurality of such control mechanisms are provided in a rail (7) mounted on the front of the cooker.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: January 15, 2008
    Assignee: Lincat Group plc
    Inventors: Mark Francis, David Fisher
  • Patent number: 7313931
    Abstract: After carrying an LCD substrate in a reaction container of a heat treatment unit, blowing a previously heated helium gas from a gas supply part, which opposes to the surface of the LCD substrate, over the entire surface of the LCD substrate. The temperature of the LCD substrate is raised by radiation heat of a heater and heat exchange with the helium gas. After performing CVD or annealing in the reaction container, cooling the LCD substrate by blowing a gas for heat exchange having a temperature about a room temperature from the gas supply part over the entire surface of the LCD substrate. Return the cooled LCD substrate to a carrier in the carrier chamber via a conveyance chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2005
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2008
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventor: Takaaki Matsuoka
  • Patent number: 7301127
    Abstract: The cooking device of the present invention operates in the 100 to 250 volt AC range acting as either, a grill, a smoker, an oven or a rotisserie. The cooking device is compact, being portable or fixed so as to allow the user to maximize limited space such as on a balcony or patio. A digital microprocessor-based temperature controller with LED readout is used for the set temperature and the process temperature. The shell is made of stainless steel which retains maximum heat and has a removable grease tray. The device is approximately 23? wide by 14? high by 21? deep and has stainless steel round rods for the cooking grates and warming rack.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Richard K. Derridinger, Jr.
  • Patent number: 7282677
    Abstract: A menu selection device for a cooking device is provided which is constructed such that a single display device may be divided into a menu guide unit and a menu selection unit. The menu guide unit is used to display a variety of menus, whereas the menu selection unit is constructed in the form of a touch screen which allows for selection of a particular menu from among the menus displayed on the menu guide unit. Use of a menu guide unit and a menu selection unit within a single display device makes a greater variety of cooking alternatives available to a user, while decreasing the size of the touch screen portion of the menu selection device and decreasing production costs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2007
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventor: Dae-Ho Kang
  • Patent number: 7250587
    Abstract: A method for toasting bread and simultaneously cooking or warming another food with a single device, comprising the steps of: inserting at least one piece of bread into a vertically oriented bread slot of a combination bread toaster and steamer device; placing water into a heater pan of a steamer compartment on the combination bread toaster and steamer device; placing another food into the steamer compartment; and activating at least one heating element associated with the bread slot and the steamer compartment
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Back to Basics Products, LLC
    Inventors: David Ely, Brian K. Beesley, Alan Parkinson, Claude Brandt
  • Patent number: 7250588
    Abstract: A combination bread toaster and steamer device includes a pair of vertically oriented bread slots extending into a housing from a top of the housing; means for elevating and lowering bread in the bread slots; a steamer compartment, disposed on the housing, including a heater pan configured to receive water; and at least one heating element associated with the bread slots and the steamer compartment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2005
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2007
    Assignee: Back To Basics Products, LLC
    Inventors: David Ely, Brian K. Beesley, Alan Parkinson, Claude Brandt
  • Patent number: 7241978
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cooking heater which continues cooking without apparently stopping the operation of the cooking heater when a door switch is momentarily turned OFF due to a shock during operation of the cooking heater though the door is not actually opened as far as continuation of the OFF-state is within a predetermined range. Upon receiving a door opening signal, a timer of control means starts counting and when a first period lapse judgment section judges that the count time exceeds a first period T1, a central control section instructs a heating means control section to stop the operation of heating means. Then, before the count time is judged to exceed a second period T2, when a second period lapse judgment section receives a door closing signal, the central control section restarts the operation of the heating means and continues the operation of the cooking heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Sharp Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Masayuki Iwamoto
  • Patent number: 7238921
    Abstract: A combination bread toaster and steamer device and method includes inserting at least one piece of bread into a bread slot of a combination bread toaster and steamer device; placing water into a heater pan of a steamer compartment on the combination bread toaster and steamer device; placing another food into the steamer compartment; activating at least one bread heating element disposed adjacent the bread slot and a steamer heating element disposed adjacent the steamer compartment; and activation of the steamer heating element reducing wattage to the bread heating element that would be used by the bread heating element when operating alone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2007
    Assignee: Back to Basics Products, LLC
    Inventors: Brian K. Beesley, Eric Hales
  • Patent number: 7227102
    Abstract: An oven for transferring heat to food in trays and a method for using the oven. The oven includes a cabinet with partitions dividing the interior into a plurality of separate, thermally isolated holding compartments each adapted for removably receiving a tray of food. Heat sources above the tray emit radiant heat to warm the food in the trays. A control mechanism controls the duration of the total hold time for the food having a duration of heated holding time during which a respective heat source is activated. The oven also includes a forced air mechanism under the control of the control mechanism for delivering forced air into the compartments. The heat sources are activated and deactivated during successive duty cycles to thereby to maintain the food in a respective compartment at a selected holding temperature for a duration of heated holding time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 1, 2003
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2007
    Assignee: Duke Manufacturing Company
    Inventor: Steven M. Shei