Abstract: An electrical logic circuit for incorporation in the common power supply system of an appliance including a plurality of electrical components which have intermittent power requirements comprises a system for designating the components as dominant and subsidiary components and circuitry to direct power to the dominant component preferentially and to the or a subsidiary component only in dependence on the instantaneous power requirement of the or a more dominant component. The logic circuit may include a standby facility to direct power selectively to the subsidiary component. The invention may be applied to an ironing system including a heatable iron as the dominant component and a heatable board as the subsidiary component.

Abstract: An electric grilling appliance includes a pair of infrared radiation emitting heaters disposed within a housing on opposite sides of a food holder. The food holder includes a pair of metal food holder plates of a size and configuration to directly contact, on their inner surfaces, substantially the complete outer surface of the food article to be grilled. The outer surfaces of the metal food holder plates are blackened to absorb the infrared radiation emitted by the heaters. Springs urging the metal food holder plates towards each other into firm contact with the food article to be grilled.

Abstract: A multiplex heating system for measuring and regulating the temperature of a plurality of heating elements is disclosed. The heating system includes a plurality of heating elements, which also function as temperature sensing elements, that exhibit a known change in resistance as a function of temperature. The heating system further includes a power source, a control apparatus for regulating the respective heating power of each heating element, a measurement apparatus for measuring changes in resistance in the heating elements, and a plurality of switching arrangements. Each switching arrangement is coupled between one of the heating elements and, alternately, the control apparatus and the measurement apparatus, connecting the heating element to either the control apparatus or the measurement apparatus.

Abstract: A microcomputer-based, closed-loop electronic temperature control system and method for an electrically heated cold weather garment having a plurality of independently heated zones. In one preferred embodiment the system comprises a potentiometer for selecting the desired temperature at which a plurality of areas of the garment are to be maintained, a thermistor for determining a reference temperature of the interior areas of the garment, and a plurality of conductive heating wires operable to heat each area of the garment independently. The system further includes a plurality of solid-state semiconductor power devices for controllably allowing current flow through each heating wire and, a plurality of current sensing circuits for sensing the current flow through each heating wire. The microcomputer receives information from the potentiometer, the thermistor and the current sensing circuits, and determines therefrom the level of heating required for each zone.

Abstract: A hot water heater control device and method for a building such as a home will allow the consumer user maximum savings with a modest investment by allowing the user to program into a control module a particular living cycle and assign a desired temperature to each of a predetermined number of heating start/stop times within the cycle. A structure exists for the user to program a desired high, medium, low and off temperature into a control module. Also, any one of several special condition modes may be activated as needed in order to provide maximum flexibility and savings.

Abstract: An electronic control arrangement for controlling the power applied to an electrical load, in which the electronic control includes in its memory a predetermined power control parameter look-up table associated with each of a plurality of potentially applicable voltage ranges. Each table contains the appropriate control parameters for controlling the load when the associated one of the input voltage ranges is applied to the load. The control, in response to an input signal identifying the voltage to be applied, selects the control parameters from the look-up table associated with the identified voltage. This signal may be generated by voltage sensing circuitry which monitors the supply voltage, or by a manually adjustable circuit which enables presetting for a particular supply voltage.

Abstract: A process and device for controlling heating of a furnace by means of electrical resistors using switching devices, particularly thyristors, associated with the electrical resistors, and whose operation is to be controlled. The switching devices are controlled in syncopated mode by an industrial computer, a programmable industrial robot or equivalent which performs a set of functions which make it possible to compute the power to be dissipated in the resistors, and control directly the switching devices so as to dissipate the previously coputed power. The invention applies particularly to controlling industrial furnaces and more particularly of glassmaking furnaces, particularly furnaces for heating of glass for the tempering and/or bending of the glass.

Abstract: A hybrid, open-loop electronic temperature control system and method of heating for an electrically heated cold weather garment having a plurality of independent heating zones. In one embodiment the system includes: a plurality of conductive heating wires, with at least one such heating wire being disposed in each zone of the garment and operable to heat each zone of the garment independently; a plurality of solid-state semiconductor power switching devices for controllably allowing current flow through each heating wire; and plurality of power selection circuits, with each having a potentiometer and being associated with each solid-state power switching device, for providing individual power level selection for each heating wire of the garment. This gives the wearer individual control over the temperature level of each zone of the garment.

Abstract: An instantaneous fluid heater having a fluid heating chamber including therein a plurality of electrical heating elements. The supply of electrical power to the respective ones of the electrical heating elements is controlled by a solid state switch which is gated by a zero crossing trigger device to supply power to the heating elements. Each of the trigger devices includes means for comparing a control potential and ramp signal potential coupled to them to selectively gate the solid state switches to energize the heatiing elements in response to the comparison of the potentials. In this fashion, all of the heating elements are not turned on at the same time, and undesirable light flickering and unacceptable disturbances in the line voltage is eliminated.

Abstract: This power adjustment device for electric power systems, in particular for electric power systems with electric ovens, has the aim of optimizing the electric absorption of the system by reorganizing the power requests of the various users comprised in the system. The device comprises elements for detecting the power requests of a plurality of users, a control and management unit adapted to check if the available power is sufficient to feed the requesting users and to enable and disable selectively some of the users operating at that moment according to the available power and according to criteria of priority or of elapsed operating time.

Abstract: A control device for controlling the heating capacity of the heating element of a cooking or heating plate, on which a cooking vessel, roasting vessel, or the like, can be placed and heated. The temperature on or in the cooking vessel is determined by means of a temperature sensor, conveyed to a logic circuit, and used in this for the control of the heating element by means of an output stage in dependence on the actual temperature determined and/or the temperature increase in the heating phase. In order for control of the heating output of the heating element to also be performed during a roasting process with a roasting pan placed on the cooking or heating plate, a program selection switch provided to select between various cooking processes, such as rapid simmering, steaming, warming and the like has a coordinated switching position for each and for a roasting process has an additional switching position.

Abstract: The present invention relates to controllable electric heaters, in particular heaters employing tungsten halogen lamps and suitable for use in cookers of the type having a ceramic hob below which are placed the heaters.It is an object of the present invention to provide a controllable electric heater employing two tungsten halogen lamps and other components of an inexpensive nature and which allows six different power settings to be obtained.

Abstract: An integral infinite switch is provided for controlling a first coil and a second coil of a radiant heating element. The integral infinite switch includes a first switch assembly for opening and closing an electrical path between a first AC electrical line L1 and a first end of the first coil. The first AC electrical line L1 is directly connected to a first end of the second coil. The integral infinite switch includes a second switch assembly for opening and closing an electrical path between a second AC electrical line L2 and a second opposite end of both the first coil and the second coil. A spindle is rotatable between an OFF position, a first range of ON positions for the second coil and a second range of ON positions for the first coil and the second coil. A cam member is mounted on the spindle for rotation with the spindle.

Abstract: A control circuit for a refrigerator combined with a microwave oven includes signal delay selecting and comparing circuitry start sensing circuitry timer circuitry and load driving circuitry in order to properly control operations of the refrigerator and the microwave oven. The control circuit eliminates unnecessary delay time of the operation of the microwave oven during operation of the refrigerator, and makes the refrigerator operate after start-up of the microwave oven is completed.

Abstract: A humidifier boiler has a plurality of electrodes supplied with electric current through circuitry which includes at least one solid state switch or relay such as inverse parallel thyristors or triacs arranged to switch at zero voltage so that, when the humidifier is called upon to vary the quantity of water vapor output from the boiler through an outlet pipe in response to a control signal from a humidity controller, the control signal causes the duration of the "on" and/or "off" periods of the, or each, solid state switch or relay to be varied in order to vary the power to the electrodes.

Abstract: A temperature control method is provided which is capable of carrying out a more efficient temperature control through an impartial starting of a plurality of temperature control objects such as the respective heating elements in the liquid tank portion and the drying portion of a developing device for photosensitive material. According to the method of the present invention, a required actuating time is allocated for each of the heating elements within one cycle of a predetermined length of time. As a result, it is possible to supply the required energy for each of the heating elements in a well-balanced manner.

Abstract: The control device (25) comprises a thermostat (15) interconnected between a supply source (S) and a heating resistor (4) which comprises two heating elements (41, 42), one of which (42) is supplied only during one of the heating regimes. A temperature limiter (18) is interconnected between the source (S) and the heating element (42). This temperature limiter is sensitive to the heat produced by a resistor (17) having a high resistance value so as to cut-off the supply of said heating element (42) at the time of initial opening of the switch (15a) of the thermostat (15). The device (25) is particularly applicable to electric convectors having a natural convection regime and a blowing regime.

Abstract: The invention relates to a control and switching apparatus for electric heating, comprising a micro-processor-based operation control unit (2) provided with control switches, and a regulating circuitry unit (5) associated with said control unit and comprising a plurality of regulating circuits. At least some of the regulating circuits are connectable to electronic sensors (8), whereby the combined effect of measuring messages fiven by said sensors, control data from the operation control unit (2) as well as set values (6) selected by the regulators provides the basis on which the regulating circuits (5) are adapted to control the ON/OFF-switches of electric loads, said switches being triac-switches (9a). One regulating circuit can be modified to operate as a regulating circuit suitable for controlling an electric sauna stove, said circuit being connectable, by means of a selector device, in power transposition with one or several other regulating circuits.

Abstract: A power control arrangement for controlling the power output of a plurality of resistive heating elements (9a, 9b) comprises a multi-position switch (S1, S2) for connecting the heating elements in series and in parallel, a zero voltage switch (4), AND-gate (5), clock pulse generator (6), shift register (7) and semiconductor device (8) such as a trail which cooperate to vary the duty cycle applied to the heating elements in both serial and parallel modes.

Abstract: An improved data entry and control arrangement for an appliance which includes an electronic display having a plurality of digits. User actuable up and down keys enable the user to adjust the value displayed. The control changes the display by a first amount, for example, one minute for a time display, in response to each momentary actuation of an up or down key. In response to continuous actuation, the control, after initially changing the display by the first amount, then switches the least significant digit of the display to zero and thereafter periodically changes the display by a second amount evenly divisible by ten, such as for example 10 minutes. The preferred update interval between changes is on the order of 0.45 seconds duration. The control also enables the user to change the update interval.

Abstract: A low cost system for permitting the remote load management control of electrical residential room heating units that is compatible with existing heating systems of the type wherein each room heating element is controlled by a manually settable line voltage thermostat responsive to ambient room temperature. Included in the system is a normally closed low voltage operable thermal relay included immediately downstream of a resident circuit breaker and in the power transmission line for each room heating element and an associated single user programmable set back thermostat for shifting said thermal relays from normally closed to open position in response to residential dictated parameters of operation capable of also being operated in response to a remotely generated signal from a load management control center.

Abstract: A toaster oven/broiler is provided with a visual indicator which is continuously illuminated when the device is in the toast, oven or broil mode. The indicator is not extinguished when the device is in the oven mode and thermostat switch contacts open to deenergize the heating elements.

Abstract: A fusing system for a xerographic printer in which the energy from a plurality of flash lamps is used to melt and fuse toner particles to paper sheets as said sheets travel through the fusing station. Each flash lamp has an associated storage capacitor and a charging circuit for that capacitor which is operative to develop a charge on its associated storage capacitor depending upon the length dimension of the paper sheets flowing through the system. Moreover, the capacitor charging circuits are rendered operative in a predetermined serial order so as not to unduly load down the alternating current source for the system. A lamp triggering circuit synchronized with the zero-crossings of the alternating current supply voltage provides the ignition potential for the flash lamps such that firing takes place at a time when the supply voltage is at a minimum.

Abstract: A combined electric sauna stove and sauna room heater having a plurality of electrical resistors and electrical circuitry for controlling the current supply to the resistors. In order to eliminate the need of separate room heating elements in the sauna room, the electric sauna stove is provided with a heating resistor for maintaining a normal room temperature in the room where the stove is located while the room is not used for bathing. This heating resistor may be a room heating resistor separate from the electrical resistors of the stove or it may be formed by connecting in series two or three of the electrical resistors of the stove.

Abstract: Load resistors connected in parallel in a heating circuit having switches operable to connect and disconnect the resistors from a common supply line for heating a plurality of zones to maintain predetermined temperatures therein, are tested by disconnecting all of the load resistors from the supply line to begin a testing operation. Any current conducted when all load resistors are disconnected from the supply line is measured, after which the load resistors are then individually and successively reconnected to the supply line. The current then conducted from the supply line in succession to the load resistors is measured and compared with reference values of current through the load resistors when functioning properly.

Abstract: A microwave oven and a refrigerator are combined into a single cabinet housing a shared power supply with an electrical supply disconnect for the magnetron of the oven during a start-up power demand by the compressor of the refrigerator and for a period of time depending upon a rating of the compressor.

Abstract: A method of controlling several clocked loads controllable individually and independently of each other, more particularly heating loads of an electric oven, for minimizing the demand on an alternating current mains due to switching transients. More particularly, the loads are energized in sequence to prevent flickering when the loads are coupled to a common phase of the alternating current mains are switched on each time at the beginning of their clock period. The clock periods of the various loads are of equal length. All loads neither switched off nor switched to full power in a switching cycle are connected to the mains so as to be interlinked in time in a manner such that, when the preceding load is switched off, the next load is switched on. Such a switching cycle is started again each time at the beginning of a common clock period independently of the length of the switching cycle.

Abstract: Uniform electrical heating of a circular, single crystal germanium window (18) uses its bulk resistance and pairs of electrodes (20) equally spaced about the window's periphery. The electrode pairs are sequentially switched at a rate high enough to avoid thermal switching transients.

Abstract: A microwave oven includes a heating chamber in which food is heated, a high frequency heating circuit for supplying high frequency energy to the heating chamber, a thermal heater provided in each of the upper and lower areas of the heating chamber, a switching circuit for selecting the high frequency heating circuit or the thermal heaters, a first switching circuit for permitting intermittent power to the high frequency heating circuit when the high frequency heating circuit is selected by the switching circuit, a second switching circuit connected in parallel with the first switching circuit so as to provide a bypass of the first switching circuit when closed, a first contact mounted in the first switching circuit to permit intermittent power supply to one of the two thermal heaters in the heating chamber, and a second contact mounted in the second switching circuit to provide a bypass of the first contact.

Abstract: An improved electric cooking appliance with a plurality of heating units arranged in two groups, a first group adapted for energization by a first AC power signal and a second group adapted for energization by a second AC power signal, 180.degree. out of phase relative to the first power signal. The heating units of the first and second groups are each connected to a common neutral power line.

Abstract: A thermal printer with a fault detection circuit for detecting faults in heating elements of the printer includes a print head containing heating elements and a heating circuit for each heating element and a power supply for supplying power to the heating elements. Power is supplied to the print head either directly through one terminal of the power supply or indirectly, during a test mode, through a fault detection circuit which is also connected to the print head. The fault detection circuit includes a constant voltage source, preferably formed of series-connected diodes, through which power flows to the print head. Current passing through the constant voltage source activates a photocoupler having an output the voltage of which determines whether a current is or is not flowing into the print head. A CPU which controls overall operations in the printer monitors the photocoupler and selects either a normal printing mode or a print head test mode.

Abstract: A hot water heater having upper and lower electric heating elements and associated thermostatic switch controls in their electric circuits is provided with an energy saving control circuit for maintaining the lower heating element deenergized at all times except when it is needed to assist the upper heating element to heat the entire contents of the hot water heater tank. The energy saving control circuit includes an energy saving switch in the electric circuit of the lower heating element. A full tank relay switch is connected in parallel with the energy saving switch and the relay coil is connected to a transformer secondary winding through a holding circuit provided by a holding relay switch the coil of which is connected to the transformer secondary through a momentary make switch. The holding relay switch serves to maintain the holding relay coil connected to the transformer secondary after the momentary make switch is opened.

Abstract: A power control system for operating a heating element in a cooking appliance in response to the selection of one of a plurality of user selectable power settings. Approximate heating element temperature information is provided by a heater energy counter. Each power setting has associated with it a corresponding steady state power level and a corresponding predetermined steady state energy count. The steady state energy count is approximately proportional to the steady state operating temperature of the heating element when operated at its corresponding steady state power level. The energy counter is selectively incremented and decremented to approximately track the heating element temperature when the count is respectively less than or greater than the steady state count for the applied power level. At least certain ones of the power settings have corresponding minimum threshold counts less than the steady state counts and maximum threshold counts greater than the steady state counts.

Abstract: An electric power control device is composed of plural resistor loads (1.sub.0 -1.sub.4) the heat-generating powers of which are different from one another, switch means (3.sub.0 -3.sub.4) connected in series to each of the resistor loads and adapted for the ON-OFF control of an ac power (2), and means (4.sub.0 -4.sub.4) for ON-OFF controlling the switch means so as to turn on or turn off the ac power and also for selectively controlling the individual resistor loads so as to adjust the heat-generating powers of all of the resistor loads in accordance with their corresponding desired heat-generating powers.

Abstract: A microcomputer operates in response to user selected flow rate and water temperature inputs to calculate the temperature difference between the cold water input and the hot water delivery output from a multisection continuous flow electric water heater wherein a plurality of electric resistance heater elements contained therein provide 5.degree. F. temperature increase increments each, while one heater element is comprised of three sub-sections, two of which provide 2.degree. F. temperature increments and one section provides a 1.degree. F. temperature increase increment. The microcomputer constantly monitors the water temperature difference and controls activation of the required heater elements or element sub-sections to heat the water to a selected delivery temperature with an output solenoid being additionally controlled to provide delivery at a selected flow rate.

Abstract: A heated sock (14 or 16 of FIG. 1) for keeping the wearer's foot warm in a cold environment and including a resistive heating unit (10 or 12) secured in two of the socks, a battery source (76 FIG. 2) having first (78) and second (80) terminals and which is carried on the wearer's body, and switches (36 and 64) controllable by the wearer for acting in combination with the resistive heating unit (10 or 12) to selectively cause different and controllable amounts of electric current from the battery source (76) to flow through the resistive heating unit (10 or 12) to thereby generate different and desired amounts of heat in the sock (14 or 16).

Abstract: In the case of an electric cooker with at least two electric hotplates having several heating resistors and controlled via separate power control devices, one hotplate has a high power additional heating resistor for an initial cooking operation. While intermediately connecting a temperature switch and an additional contact of the associated power control device, the additional heating resistor is connected to the electric mains via a further additional contact. The further additional contact is a component of the power control device of the other electric hotplate and is only closed if its power consumption drops below a predetermined switching value.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling a rice cooker has at least one heater used for heating a cooking pot. This circuit comprises a temperature detection element capable of detecting the temperature of the pot; a converter, connected to receive a detection signal from the temperature detection element, for converting the received signal to a specified electrical signal; a selector, connected to receive an electrical signal from the converter, for producing a first or second selection signal based on whether the value of the electrical signal is or is not within a specified range; and a display capable of displaying a plurality of cooking operation states. This circuit further includes a first controller which receives the first selection signal and supplies to the heater specified turn-on control signals for dividing the cooking operation into a plurality of states and sequentially performing each cooking operation.

Abstract: A control switch system for a railway switch heater with an environment probe near the switch and controlling switching on and off of the switch heater in a predetermined mode.

Abstract: The heating device for an appliance for gluing sheet-like textile articles has several heating regions (23, 24), the electrical heaters (25) of which can be switched on or off individually. To achieve the best possible setting of the temperature of the heating regions, the individual heaters (25) can, in addition, be changed over to different power inputs, preferably between a series connection and a parallel connection. Also, the individual heaters (25) can each have two or more heating wires which can be changed over between a series connection and a parallel connection in each heater.

Abstract: An asphalt heating system is comprised of a fuel fired, flue type tank heater, a heat transfer oil system for heating the oil circulated through the plant, and an electric booster heater for heating the oil and for use as a back-up heating means for the tank heater. Control means are provided for automatically activating the electric booster heater in the event of flame failure of the tank heater.

Abstract: An electric blanket for a person with arthritis and circulatory problems in their legs is provided having a control switch which is located at the top of the blanket for controlling an upper heating element disposed over the body of the person and a lower heating element disposed over the feet of the person so that heat can be supplied in various combinations to the body and feet of the person.

Abstract: The bushing balance controller is an electronic device which measures the voltage drop across each segment of a multiple segment glass fiber forming bushing and measures the current flow in the bushing. The device uses these measurements to produce error signals proportional to the difference in the set point temperature and the instantaneous temperature of each segment of the bushing. The device diverts current from each segment of the bushing whose error signal is greater than the average of the error signals for all segments of the bushing. The device also sums all error signals and passes this signal to a bushing controller which adds current to the bushing when the sum of the error signals falls below a preset value.

Abstract: A through-flow electric water heater has a cannister through which water to be heated flows and in which are disposed a first heating means comprising a plurality of electric heating elements and second heating means comprising at least one electric heating element. A control unit comprising a microprocessor receives a first input signal from a flow sensor and a temperature sensor which sense, respectively, the flow rate and temperature of the water flowing into the cannister and switches the plurality of heating elements of the first heating means on and off in different combination to achieve different heating levels and adjusts the level of heat dissipated by burst firing the at least one heating element of the second heating means to achieve a desired total heating level.

Abstract: A power control and diagnostic arrangement illustratively embodied in an electric range having multiple surface heating units which are selectively coupled to an AC power supply by commutated relay switching circuitry. The commutated relay switching circuitry includes two switching networks. Each network includes a diode commutated master relay serially connected to a pair of pilot relays. Each pilot relay is serially connected to one of the surface units. Timing and control circuitry periodically interrupts operation of the power circuit in a normal mode to operate in a diagnostic mode. In the diagnostic mode the relays are switched in a predetermined sequence to test for a short circuit failure of the master relays or commutated diodes, an open circuit failure of the diodes, an open circuit failure of the master relays, a short circuit failure of the pilot relays and an open circuit failure of any individual pilot relay.

Abstract: A power control arrangement particularly applicable to a multiple surface unit cooking appliance providing a griddle heated by the combination of a standard surface unit and an automatic surface unit. Temperature information for the standard surface unit is provided by a counter implemented in the controller which is incremented and decremented at rates which cause the count to approximately track the griddle temperature proximate the surface unit.

Abstract: An improved touch control circuit arrangement for electrical appliances having one or more electrical loads to be individually controlled in accordance with user selected power settings. Each load has associated with it a power relay for coupling the load to an external power supply. Each relay is coupled to a latch circuit operative when set to close the relay and when reset to open the relay. The touch control arrangement includes a matrix array of touch keys having an input line for each row and an output line for each column to facilitate the multiplexing of touch key information to the microprocessor in conventional fashion. However, the OFF keys are continuously enabled and coupled to the reset input of the associated latch circuit such that user actuation of an OFF key directly resets the relay control circuit for the associated load. This enables the user to turn off the load independent of the microprocessor.

Abstract: A heating power source device includes a pair of loads connected to a secondary side of a power source transformer by way of four thyristor units. Each of the thyristor units includes pair of thyristors connected in anti-parallel relationship to each other and is controlled so as to connect the loads in parallel relationship to each other at the beginning of energization and then to connect the loads in serial relationship to each other after the resistance of the loads has been reduced below a predetermined level.

Abstract: A display arrangement for a cooking appliance using a heater energy counter based power control system which provides a user discernible signal signifying that the appliance heating element has reached the steady state temperature associated with the user selected power setting. The heater energy counter is selectively incremented or decremented at a rate in accordance with the selected power setting such that the count rate is approximately proportional to the rate of increase or decrease respectively of the temperature of the heating element for the power setting selected. When so incremented and decremented the count of the counter provides an approximation of the actual heating element temperature. The display arrangement generates a user discernible signal when the count of the heater energy counter indicates that the associated heating element has approximately reached the steady state temperature for the selected power setting.

Abstract: A tankless electric water heater includes a housing provided with a plurality of separate serially connected heating chambers defining a water flow path from a cold water inlet port to a heated water outlet port. Each chamber is provided with a separate electric immersion heating element and a separate temperature sensor for producing a signal indicative of the water temperature in that chamber. The heating element of each chamber is independently controlled by a control system responsive to signals from each of the temperature sensors and the signal produced by an water outlet temperature selector so that the heating element in a chamber is energized only if the sensed water temperature in that chamber is less than the desired outlet water temperature. The number of heating elements energized is proportional to the flow rate, necessary water temperature and heating capability of the heating elements, thus eliminating the problem of overheating at low flow rates.