Automatic Regulating Or Control Means Patents (Class 219/490)
  • Patent number: 11930561
    Abstract: An aerosol provision device includes a power source, at least one heating element for generating aerosol, and temperature monitoring means configured to monitor the temperature of the heating element. In an operational configuration the device is configured to control the supply of power to the heating element to: supply power to the heating element to initially raise the temperature of the heating element to a first threshold temperature; remove power supplied to the heating element when the temperature monitoring means detects that the temperature of the heating element is at the first threshold temperature, such that the temperature of the heating element decreases to a second threshold temperature; supply power to the heating element when the temperature monitoring means detects that the temperature of the heating element has reduced to the second threshold temperature, such that the temperature of the heating element increases towards the first threshold temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2024
    Assignee: NICOVENTURES TRADING LIMITED
    Inventor: Mark Potter
  • Patent number: 11765799
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a microwave heating apparatus includes a microwave source adapted to feed microwaves to a cavity via a transmission line, including measuring a power of microwaves transmitted from the microwave source to the cavity, receiving operational data indicative of the power supplied to the microwave source, and adjusting at least one of an impedance of the transmission line or the impedance matching between the microwave source and the transmission line based on the measured power of the transmitted microwaves and the received operational data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ulf Nordh, Hakan Carlsson, Olle Niklasson, Fredrik Hallgren
  • Patent number: 11723414
    Abstract: A control method and device, and an electronic cigarette. The method includes: obtaining the maximum output power during the secure output of an atomizer connected to a body; detecting whether the currently-set target power of the atomizer is higher than the maximum output power; and if the target power is higher than the maximum output power, executing a preset operation, the preset operation including at least one of controlling, the atomizer to output at power lower than or equal to the maximum output power and displaying a first reminder message, according to a cigarette lighting signal. The method resolves the problem that dry burning would easily occur in an atomizer, and has the function of protecting the atomizer and preventing the shortening of the life of a heating component caused by the burning of the heating component due to high power output of the atomizer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: JOYETECH EUROPE HOLDING GMBH
    Inventors: Weihua Qiu, Zhongzhou Wang
  • Patent number: 11721053
    Abstract: A cooking device is disclosed. The disclosed cooking device comprises: a driving device for cooking food to be cooked; an input device for receiving, from a user, a control command for a cooking operation of the cooking device; an imaging device for photographing the food to be cooked; and a processor for controlling the driving device such that a cooking operation corresponding to the inputted control command is performed, wherein the processor controls the imaging device such that the food to be cooked is photographed, analyzes each of a plurality of frames of the captured image so as to generate an edited image, and generates cooking content by using the edited image and the inputted control command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jieun Yeon, Kyungjin Jeon
  • Patent number: 11684087
    Abstract: A smoking article and a method for making a smoking article are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 27, 2023
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventors: Alfred Charles Bless, Rajesh Sur, Stephen Benson Sears, Tim Williams
  • Patent number: 11638333
    Abstract: A method for analyzing a frequency response of a cooking device is disclosed. The method comprises controlling a plurality of RF signals within an operating range of the cooking device at plurality of phase shifts between a first RF signal and a second RF signal. A plurality of efficiencies of at least one reflection signal in the resonant cavity are measured in response to a plurality of RF feeds generated from the RF signals for the plurality of phase shifts. The frequency response of the resonant cavity is modeled with a numeric model and a plurality of interpolation parameters for the numeric model are calculated based on the plurality of measured efficiencies of the RF feeds. The frequency response of the cavity is estimated for the operating range of the cooking device based on the numeric model with the plurality of interpolation parameters.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventor: Davide Guatta
  • Patent number: 11635667
    Abstract: In various embodiments, a beam-parameter adjustment system and focusing system alters a spatial power distribution of a radiation beam, via thermo-optic effects, before the beam is coupled into an optical fiber or delivered to a workpiece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 14, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: Panasonic Connect North America, division of Panasonic Corporation of North America
    Inventors: Parviz Tayebati, Francisco Villarreal-Saucedo, Bien Chann, Dat Nguyen, Michael Deutsch
  • Patent number: 11632988
    Abstract: An aerosol generating apparatus comprises: a power source; a load configured to have a resistance value that varies according to a temperature and generate an aerosol by atomizing an aerosol source or heating a flavor source when supplied with power from the power source; a sensor configured to include a resistor connected in series to the load and output a measurement value that is a current value of a current flowing through the resistor or a voltage value of a voltage applied to the resistor; and a control unit configured to control power supply from the power source to the load and receive output from the sensor, wherein the resistor has a resistance value that is set such that responsiveness of a change in the measurement value to a change in a temperature of the resistance value belongs to a prescribed range.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 25, 2023
    Assignee: JAPAN TOBACCO INC.
    Inventors: Manabu Yamada, Takeshi Akao, Kazuma Mizuguchi, Masayuki Tsuji, Hajime Fujita
  • Patent number: 11617240
    Abstract: A microwave heating device includes radiating portions adapted to radiate microwaves to the heating chamber and is operated according to operational configurations that differ in frequency or in phase shift(s) between the radiated microwaves. A learning procedure is executed by sequentially operating the radiating portions in several operational configurations. Energy efficiency data are calculated for those operational configurations. An operating frequency is selected based on energy efficiency data. An operational configuration with a maximum energy efficiency at the selected operating frequency is taken as a reference. A heating procedure is executed by sequentially operating the radiating portions in operational configurations having the selected operating frequency and respective phase shift(s) chosen around the respective phase shift(s) of the reference operational configuration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: ILLINOIS TOOL WORKS INC.
    Inventors: Francesco Gambato, Marco Bullo, Chiara De Massari, Nicola Lanza, Fabrizio Dughiero, Andrea Baccara
  • Patent number: 11506395
    Abstract: A method for operating a connected oven based on subjective user feedback, wherein the connected oven includes a set of in-cavity sensors configured to monitor the foodstuff throughout a cooking session; the method comprising: executing a cooking session according to an initial set of operation instructions to achieve a target food output condition; collecting subjective feedback values from the user for the resulting food output condition of the foodstuff after the cooking session; and updating the initial set of operation instructions based on the feedback values from the user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: June Life, Inc.
    Inventor: Nikhil Bhogal
  • Patent number: 11488847
    Abstract: An apparatus for heat-treating a substrate includes: a stage where the substrate is disposed; a heating part configured to change an output; a first temperature measurement part configured to measure a temperature at which the substrate is heated; a second temperature measurement part configured to measure the temperature, and having a level of measurement accuracy which is lower than that of the first temperature measurement part in a first temperature region and is higher than that of the first temperature measurement part in a second temperature region; a temperature calculator configured to calculate a weighted average temperature of the temperatures measured by the first and second temperature measurement parts if a reference temperature is in a temperature range between the first and second temperatures, and configured to change a weight of the weighted average temperature; and a controller configured to control the output based on the weighted average temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Hiroyuki Miyashita, Shohei Yoshida, Takahisa Mase
  • Patent number: 11435101
    Abstract: An air mover system for use in an indoor unit of a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system includes a blower comprising a motor and a blower control unit configured to control operations of the motor. The blower control unit includes a controller and a sensor communicably coupled to the controller. The sensor is configured to sense air inside the indoor unit and to provide sensor information to the controller. The controller is configured to determine whether a refrigerant is present in the air based on the sensor information and to control the blower to move the air out of the indoor unit in response to determining that the refrigerant is present in the air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: RHEEM MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventors: Michael W. Branson, Sivakumar Gopalnarayanan
  • Patent number: 11419753
    Abstract: A heat exchanger module (HEM) and system uses a flexible substrate with one or more open channels, to which a substrate cover is bonded, thereby forming closed channels in the flexible substrate. Thermoelectric coolers (TECs) are attached to optional thermally diffusing copper squares atop the substrate cover. An interface cover is attached to the TEC tops, with a compliant thermally conductive material opposite the TECs and ultimately in contact with a patient. A liquid is passed through the closed channels, which act as thermal references for the TECs. Current is supplied by a controller to the TECs to induce TEC cooling or heating relative to the liquid. One or more temperature sensors detect the temperature of the interface cover, which are used as inputs to the control of the TEC supply current. The HEM may be used for heating, cooling, or cycling between heating and cooling for various medical uses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2022
    Assignee: THE REGENTS OF THE UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA
    Inventors: Julio L. Vergara, Andrew Padula, Lucas Restrepo
  • Patent number: 11333562
    Abstract: Techniques are described for using temperature data collected by wearable remote temperature sensor (WRTS) to augment temperature monitoring and adjustment by a temperature regulating device (TRD) within a property and thereby improving user comfort. In some implementations, a determination that a user is located within a property is made. A current body temperature of the user measured by a temperature sensor worn by the user is obtained. A reference body temperature of the user indicated by historical temperature data collected for the user is obtained. As determination to adjust to a set point temperature of a temperature regulating device located within the property is made. An instruction is then provided for out to the temperature regulating device that, when received, causes the temperature regulating device to adjust the set point temperature of the temperature regulating device in accordance with the determined adjustment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 17, 2022
    Assignee: Alarm.com Incorporated
    Inventors: Kyle Rankin Johnson, William Wireko Mensah
  • Patent number: 11322149
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are an artificial intelligence apparatus for generating recipe information including a learning processor configured to generate recipe text including at least one of cooking ingredient information or description text of cooking from cooking content, by providing the cooking content to a recipe text generation model, and a processor configured to generate recipe information of the cooking based on the recipe text, and a method of operating the same.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 23, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 3, 2022
    Assignee: LG ELECTRONICS INC.
    Inventor: Hyeongjin Kim
  • Patent number: 11143414
    Abstract: An aided safety cooking appliance includes a housing having a front side with an oven aperture extending through to proximal a rear side and a rear side extending above the top side to form an upper panel. An oven door is coupled to the housing to open and alternatively cover the oven aperture. A range top comprises a plurality of burners coupled within the top side of the housing. A plurality of heating elements is coupled within each of the plurality of burners and the oven aperture. A pair of control units comprises an upper control unit and a lower control unit. Each of the pair of control units comprises a plurality of buttons. A CPU is coupled to the housing and is in operational communication with the plurality of buttons of each of the pair of control units and with the plurality of heating elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Inventor: Karen Spence
  • Patent number: 11102851
    Abstract: A method for voice control on a microwave oven, and a microwave oven. The method for voice control on a microwave oven comprises a step of receiving a voice instruction input by a user (S10), a step of checking whether default menu parameters corresponding to the voice instruction are pre-stored (S20), a step of controlling the operation of a microwave oven according to the default menu parameters (S30), and a step of controlling, when receiving a parameter change instruction, the operation of the microwave oven according to changed parameters, and updating the default menu parameters (S40). The microwave oven comprises a receive module (10), a check module (20), a control module (30) and an update module (40). The parameters of the microwave oven can be changed to meet different requirements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 24, 2021
    Assignee: MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Nanjun Li, Junyang Zhou, Jianming Wu, Haishi Lin
  • Patent number: 11067288
    Abstract: An embodiment of an electric heating element is disclosed, including an electrically resistive inner heating element, an electrically resistive outer heating element, and a thermostat positioned along a cold leg of the inner heating element. The thermostat is configured to selectively allow electrical current to be delivered to the inner heating element while maximum electrical current, for example, continues to be provided to the outer heating element. The thermostat cycles the electrical current on and off when detecting maximum and minimum desired temperatures radiated from the electric heating element. The inner heating element has a pair of cold legs that extend parallel to a pair of cold legs of the outer heating element, some or all of which may be supported by a terminal bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 9, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 20, 2021
    Assignees: BACKER EHP INC., WAKO (USA) INC.
    Inventors: Stacy Springer, Dan Maxwell, Shahid Ikram, Mitch Taylor, Zachary Newcomb
  • Patent number: 11035575
    Abstract: The invention relates to a power module, preferably induction module for powering one, two, three, four, at least one, at least two, at least three or at least four heating element (s), preferably electrical, radiant and/or induction heating elements, more preferably induction coils (3), of a cooking appliance, preferably a cooking hob, more preferably a radiant or induction hob (1), the power module (10) at least comprising: —one, two or at least two heating power units (11), in particular three or at least three heating power units, more in particular four or at least four heating power units, preferably heating frequency units and/or induction generators (11), each for providing power, in particular electrical power, to one, two, three, at least one, at least two or at least three heating elements (3); —one or at least one controller (12) for controlling the heating power unit(s) (11); —a communication interface (13) for coupling the power module (10) with one or at least one user interface (5); —wherein,
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: Electrolux Appliances Aktiebolag
    Inventors: Laurent Jeanneteau, Alex Viroli, Massimo Nostro, Fabio Angeli
  • Patent number: 11029356
    Abstract: A first relational expression for a temperature of a semiconductor device and forward voltage of a temperature measurement diode is obtained in advance. A second relational expression is obtained in advance for ON voltage of the semiconductor device and an amount of temperature change from a first time point before ON of the semiconductor device until a second time point after OFF of the semiconductor device. An amount of forward voltage change of the temperature measurement diode from the first time point until the second time point is obtained. Next, the amount of temperature change from the first time point until the time second point is calculated using the first relational expression and the amount of forward voltage change. An ON voltage of the MOS gate semiconductor device after correction for the calculated amount of temperature change is obtained using the second relational expression.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 8, 2021
    Assignee: FUJI ELECTRIC CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yuki Sawa
  • Patent number: 10736540
    Abstract: A system for the control of an implant (32) in a body (11), comprising first (10, 20) and second parts (12) which communicate with each other. The first part (10, 20) is adapted for implantation and for control of and communication with the medical implant (32), and the second part (12) is adapted to be worn on the outside of the body (11) in contact with the body and to receive control commands from a user and to transmit them to the first part (10, 20). The body (11) is used as a conductor for communication between the first (10, 20) and the second (12) parts. The second part (12) is adapted to receive and recognize voice control commands from a user and to transform them into signals which are transmitted to the first part (10, 20) via the body (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: August 11, 2020
    Inventor: Peter Forsell
  • Patent number: 10518608
    Abstract: A vehicle air-conditioner safety device includes a controller which, in a case in which an abnormality has occurred in a heating device that heats coolant with a heater, determines whether or not the abnormality is a restorable abnormality or a non-restorable abnormality. When the abnormality is determined to be the restorable abnormality, it is determined whether or not the restorable abnormality has been removed. Heating by the heater is prohibited when the restorable abnormality or the non-restorable abnormality has occurred. Heating by the heater is restored when the restorable abnormality has been removed after heating by the heater is prohibited due to occurrence of the restorable abnormality.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 4, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: CALSONIC KANSEI CORPORATION
    Inventors: Naohisa Kamiyama, Takeshi Satou, Takeshi Ogasawara, Hiroki Yoshioka
  • Patent number: 10495346
    Abstract: A method for electronic, remote control of an existing heating element. A temperature probe is monitored programmatically. That data is managed via wifi connectivity. A user can then control the operation of the device (water heater or other) at any time and from any location.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Avralis LLC
    Inventor: Branden Lamar Hughes
  • Patent number: 10483781
    Abstract: A method of controlling an electrical system is provided, the electrical system including a primary charging device including a first rechargeable power supply, and a portable device including a second rechargeable power supply, the method including monitoring an ambient temperature adjacent the primary charging device, determining a charging current for charging the first rechargeable power supply of the primary charging device, in dependence on the ambient temperature, and charging the first rechargeable power supply of the primary charging device at the determined charging current. There is also provided a system and device for performing the method.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: PHILIP MORRIS PRODUCTS S.A.
    Inventor: Raphael Holzherr
  • Patent number: 10413119
    Abstract: An actively heated or cooled portable container has a body with a chamber that receives and holds a liquid, and one or more heating or cooling elements in thermal communication with at least a portion of the chamber. An outer surface of the body has one or more electrical contacts. A module is removably coupled to a portion of the body. The module has one or more electrical contacts on an outer surface of the module that contact the one or more electrical contacts on the outer surface of the body, control circuitry, and one or more power storage elements that provide power to the control circuitry and/or the one or more heating or cooling elements. The control circuitry wirelessly communicates with a mobile electronic device to wirelessly transmit information to the mobile electronic device associated with the operation of the module and/or wirelessly receive instructions from a user via the mobile electronic device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2019
    Assignee: Ember Technologies, Inc.
    Inventor: Clayton Alexander
  • Patent number: 10359216
    Abstract: Vehicle air comfort systems and methods. The systems and methods may comprise: (1) a plurality of flow tunnels for passage of a heat-transfer fluid; (2) a thermoelectric cooler in thermal communication with the flow tunnels for thermally conditioning the heat-transfer fluid in the flow tunnels; (3) an air inlet for receiving unconditioned air; (4) a thermal exchange assembly for facilitating thermal exchange between the thermally conditioned heat-transfer fluid and the unconditioned air to result in conditioning of the air; and (5) an air outlet for outputting the conditioned air into the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 23, 2019
    Assignee: ThermoTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Tony Quisenberry, Sam K. McSpadden, Christopher Alan Polser, Niran Balachandran
  • Patent number: 10333339
    Abstract: A charger for an aerosol delivery device is provided. The charger comprises a housing, a connected coupled to the housing, and a power supply. The connector may be coupled to the housing and configured to engage a control body coupled or coupleable with a cartridge to form the aerosol delivery device. The power supply may comprise a supercapacitor within the housing, connected with the power source when the connector is engaged with the control body, and configured to provide power to recharge the power source. The power source may also comprise a photovoltaic cell coupled to the housing, and connected to and from which the supercapacitor is chargeable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Assignee: RAI Strategic Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: Rajesh Sur
  • Patent number: 10303495
    Abstract: A robot system preventing a worker from mistaken operation due to mistaken assumptions resulting from differences in operation of the GUIs. The robot system includes a machine attribute value storage part storing a combination of values corresponding to attributes of types, appearances, and display positions for addition of display elements of the robot on the GUI screen of the display device and a combination of values corresponding to attributes of various definition types of both operations and responses of the display elements and includes a machine screen generation part using a combination of values corresponding to attributes stored in the machine attribute value storage part as the basis to generate and add display elements of the robot to the GUI screen of the machine. The machine screen generation part is configured to generate the GUI screen of the display device including the display elements of the robot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 28, 2019
    Assignee: FANUC CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hiroji Nishi, Masahiro Oyamada
  • Patent number: 10268171
    Abstract: A demand response control result presentation apparatus is used in an energy consumption amount management system granting an incentive to a user of a facility device when the facility device performs a demand response control to adjust an energy consumption amount in response to a control request. The demand response control result presentation apparatus is configured to present a control result of the demand response control performed by the facility device. The demand response control result presentation apparatus includes a control result acquiring unit configured to acquire information relating to the control result, an incentive amount acquiring unit configured to acquire information relating to an amount of the incentive, and a control result presentation unit configured to present the control result. The control result corresponds to a variation in the amount of the incentive in a predetermined period.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2019
    Assignee: Daikin Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Wakiko Sunamori
  • Patent number: 10184689
    Abstract: A fault indicating circuit for an electric heater has a first branch to conduct a supply of electrical ,energy to the electrical heater and includes a temperature sensitive device to interrupt the supply of electrical energy to the electric heater when exposed to a temperature exceeding a set temperature. The fault detecting circuit has a second branch that includes at least an element of a fault indicating device. The first branch has a first resistance R1, the second branch has a second resistance R2 and the two branches are, electrically in parallel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 22, 2019
    Assignee: Edwards Vacuum LLC
    Inventor: Budd Edward Faulkner
  • Patent number: 10143091
    Abstract: Systems and apparatus are provided for solid-state oscillators and related resonant circuitry. An exemplary oscillator system includes an amplifier having an amplifier input and an amplifier output and resonant circuitry coupled between the amplifier output and the amplifier input. In exemplary embodiments, the resonant circuitry includes an annular resonance structure that is substantially symmetrical and includes a pair of arcuate inductive elements. In accordance with one or more embodiments, the resonant circuitry includes an additional inductive element that is capacitively coupled to the annular resonance structure via an air gap to improve the quality factor of the resonant circuitry.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2018
    Assignee: NXP USA, INC.
    Inventor: Tiefeng Shi
  • Patent number: 9958184
    Abstract: A vent proving system is described for use with a gas fired appliance. The gas fired appliance includes a gas burner, a vent damper for selectively opening or closing an exhaust vent from the gas fired appliance and a relay control for operatively controlling the vent damper and the gas burner to open the damper if the gas burner is on. The vent proving system comprises a sensor for sensing a variable in the vent representing air flow direction in the vent. An electrical switch is connected in series between the relay control and the vent damper. A controller is operatively connected to the sensor, the electrical switch and to the relay control. The controller determines if a back draft condition is present in the vent when the gas burner is on and selectively operates the electrical switch to open the connection between the relay control and the vent damper if a back draft condition is present in the vent when the gas burner is on.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2018
    Assignee: Field Controls, LLC
    Inventor: James L. Aycock
  • Patent number: 9811102
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a system and method for monitoring and reducing consumption of electricity with a network of smart sensors connected to either electrical devices and/or lights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2017
    Inventors: Antonino Gulli', Lorenzo Gulli', Leonardo Alessandro Gulli', Aurora Gulli'
  • Patent number: 9777928
    Abstract: An oven appliance having at least two cooking chambers with features for ensuring the cooking chambers exit preheat and finish cooking food items within each cooking chamber at the same time is provided. A method for operating an oven appliance having at least two cooking chambers also is provided. The method includes features for ensuring the cooking chambers exit preheat and finish cooking food items within each cooking chamber at the same time.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 3, 2017
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Stephen Christopher Boedicker, Sabrina Marie Hannah
  • Patent number: 9723871
    Abstract: The present invention discloses an electronic cigarette and a method for disposing smoking data of the electronic cigarette. The electronic cigarette includes a microcontroller, a smoking signal detecting module and a memory that are both connected with the microcontroller; the smoking signal detecting module configured to detect smoking signals and send the smoking signals to the microcontroller; the microcontroller configured to record a time of each reception of the smoking signals and a continuation time length of each received smoking signal, and calculate a smoking data according to the time and the continuation time length; the memory configured to store the time, the continuation time length and the smoking data; the smoking data including a time interval between every two smoking signals and a number of receiving the smoking signals during a preset period. The smoking data of the users using the electronic cigarette can be recorded and stored.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2017
    Assignee: HUIZHOU KIMREE TECHNOLOGY CO., LTD. SHENZHEN BRANCH
    Inventor: Zhiyong Xiang
  • Patent number: 9551357
    Abstract: The invention relates to an oil management system for a compressor in a refrigeration system comprising: an oil temperature sensor; a heater arranged to heat oil in a crank case of the compressor; and a controller operatively associated with the temperature sensor and the heater, the controller arranged to control operation of the heater on the basis of ambient air temperature and oil temperature to maintain the oil temperature within a range Tmax?R?Tmin where Tmax>Tmin.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: Emerson Climate Technologies GmbH
    Inventor: Barry Granville Waller
  • Patent number: 9188628
    Abstract: A load apparatus for testing is provided. The load apparatus for testing includes a first comparison circuit, a switch circuit, a voltage-dividing load circuit and a second comparison circuit. The first comparison circuit receives an input voltage from an input terminal and obtains a first sensing voltage according to the input voltage, and compares whether the first sensing voltage is greater than a first reference voltage for providing a first sensing signal. The switch circuit receives the first sensing signal and the input voltage. The switch circuit guides the input voltage to the voltage-dividing load circuit according to the first sensing signal. The voltage-dividing load circuit generates a second sensing voltage according to an input current generated at the input terminal. The second circuit is coupled to the voltage-dividing load circuit and compares whether the input current is greater than a reference current for providing a testing signal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2015
    Assignee: Wistron Corporation
    Inventors: Kung-Hao Chang, Chih-Hao Chang, Kun-Liang Lai
  • Patent number: 9119705
    Abstract: A DVT and temperature therapy system. A temperature therapy blanket includes a fluid bladder for delivering hot and/or cold therapy to a patient. The temperature therapy blanket may also include an air bladder for providing compression. The DVT system functions independently of the temperature therapy. This Abstract is provided to comply with rules requiring an Abstract that allows a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain subject matter of the technical disclosure. This Abstract is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. 37 CFR 1.72(b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: ThermoTek, Inc.
    Inventors: Overton L. Parish, Niran Balachandran, Tony Quisenberry
  • Patent number: 9012814
    Abstract: Provided are a cooking appliance, and a system and method for controlling a cooking appliance. The system includes a RF tag and a cooking appliance. The RF tag stores food information about foods as integrants of a dish and the cooking appliance having a RF reader reads the food information stored in the RF tag. The cooking appliance includes a memory, a cooking appliance controller, and a display unit. The memory stores dish information about dishes that can be cooked using the food information. The cooking appliance controller reads dish information from the memory, and the display unit displays at least one of the dish information to a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Jun Hyun Park, Soo Cheol Yi
  • Patent number: 9012821
    Abstract: A digital control type power converter for cooking utensils includes a rectifier; a power inverting circuit composed of an IGBT and an LC shunt-resonant circuit; and a SoC chip which internally integrates a MPU, a Programmable Pulse Generator (PPG), an ADC, a COM, wherein the PPG, the ADC and the COM are connected to the MPU. One output of the MPU is connected to the PPG through a first AND gate, and a pulse signal outputted by the PPG is transmitted to the IGBT through a second AND gate. The MPU calculates the present power value according to measured current and voltage signals, and compares the present power value with the required power of the host computer to change the set pulse width value of the PPG. When a magnetic energy conversion detecting circuit outputs an enabling signal, the PPG outputs the pulse signal with the setting pulse width to drive the IGBT and realize the regulation of power.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Shenzhen CHK Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shouqing Qiu, Samson Xu
  • Publication number: 20150055940
    Abstract: A heater system includes a heater assembly, an imaging device and a control system. The heater assembly includes a plurality of heating zones. The imaging device acquires an image of the heater assembly. The control system determines variations in the plurality of heating zones based on the thermal image.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 31, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: WATLOW ELECTRIC MANUFACTURING COMPANY
    Inventor: Louis P. Steinhauser
  • Patent number: 8963055
    Abstract: Disclosed is a heat roller control device comprising a high temperature malfunction detection unit configured to receive a temperature value detected by a heat roller temperature sensor; an electrical power control unit configured to cut off, when receiving a high temperature malfunction detection signal, power feeding to a heat roller from an electrical power unit; an analog-to-digital converter configured to periodically convert plural of the temperature values from the heat roller temperature sensor to plural digital temperature values; a temperature value storage unit configured to receive and store the plural digital temperature values from the analog-to-digital converter; a temperature value processing unit configured to read and process the plural digital temperature values stored in the temperature value storage unit; and a high temperature malfunction determination unit configured to receive the processed data, and then based on the processed data, determine whether high temperature malfunction occur
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Ricoh Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Dong Liu, Xi Xu
  • Patent number: 8952299
    Abstract: A dual resistance heater for a phase change material region is formed by depositing a resistive material. The heater material is then exposed to an implantation or plasma which increases the resistance of the surface of the heater material relative to the remainder of the heater material. As a result, the portion of the heater material approximate to the phase change material region is a highly effective heater because of its high resistance, but the bulk of the heater material is not as resistive and, thus, does not increase the voltage drop and the current usage of the device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Micron Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Yudong Kim, Ilya V Karpov, Charles C. Kuo, Greg Atwood, Maria Santina Marangon, Tyler A. Lowrey
  • Publication number: 20150014299
    Abstract: A proximity sensor, in particular for use with a control panel, preferably a stove top, wherein the proximity sensor has at least one antenna, one frequency generator, and one power detector, wherein the at least one antenna is coupled to the frequency generator in order to supply it with power, wherein the power detector is supplied for determining a power level at the at least one antenna, which varies in relation to the radiated power, and wherein the power detector is further provided for emitting a signal relating to the determined power level.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 1, 2013
    Publication date: January 15, 2015
    Inventors: Markus Toesko, Alexander Graf
  • Patent number: 8921739
    Abstract: Cost efficient, lightweight and rapid windshield deicing systems and methods are disclosed. The systems utilize step-up converters or inverters, or dual-voltage batteries, to provide a voltage high enough to deice a windshield in less than thirty seconds at ambient temperatures above ?10 C. Some of the disclosed systems include sensors for deicing element and ambient temperatures, and in some embodiments windspeed. All embodiments have a controller for limiting deicing time to that sufficient to melt a boundary layer of ice. The controller of embodiments with sensors computes deicing time as a function of ambient temperature. Embodiments interact with wiper systems to enable wipers to clear ice once the boundary layer is melted.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: The Trustees of Dartmouth College
    Inventors: Victor Petrenko, Charles R. Sullivan, Oleg Nickolayev, Valeri Kozlyuk
  • Patent number: 8921742
    Abstract: A toaster cover control device with fireproofing function comprises a cover sliding-frame or a cover opening-closing mechanism and a power switch (K), a cover switch (K1) and a control circuit that are provided in the toaster. The said control circuit is provided with a microprocessor. An output terminal of the control circuit is connected with a transistor (Q1). The said control circuit is connected with a sensor (S). The sensor detects the temperature of the toaster. The control circuit provides a control signal when the detected temperature exceeds the set temperature value, so that a circuit controlling cover action keeps the cover closed. The cover can be opened normally when the detected temperature is lower than the set temperature value. It is also provided with an application method of the said control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 17, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 30, 2014
    Assignee: Crastal Technology (Shenzhen) Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Bei Zhang, Huajin Chen
  • Patent number: 8912683
    Abstract: A smart responsive electrical load (10) is operatively connectable to an electricity supply network (20). The smart responsive electrical load (10) comprises an electrical power-consuming device (30) and a control arrangement (40) for controlling a supply of electrical power from the network (20) to the device (30). The control arrangement (60, 110, 150, 160, 170) is operable to impose a variable time delay (tp) before supplying electrical power to the device (30) after a request for power to be provided to the device (30). The variable time delay (tp) is a function of a state of the network (20), for example its frequency (f) and/or its voltage amplitude (V). Optionally, the device (30) is a battery charger, for example for use with a rechargeable electric vehicle. Beneficially, the smart responsive load (10) is supplied with electrical power from a population of micro-generation devices (500) operable to provide supply network response.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2014
    Assignee: Open Energi Limited
    Inventors: Andrew Dames, Kimon Roussopoulos, Tim Norris, Andrew Howe
  • Patent number: 8909033
    Abstract: A method is provided for interconnecting a single electrical heating element of a hot water heater to first and second AC electrical power sources. Typically, these first and second AC electrical power sources include a utility provided electrical power source and a renewable power source that generates AC power from DC power. The method includes operating a controller that selectively connects and disconnects the first and second power sources. If sufficient electrical power is available from the renewable power source, the utility provided electrical power source may be disconnected to preferentially utilize renewable energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 9, 2014
    Inventor: David Kreutzman
  • Patent number: 8869880
    Abstract: A system for subsea extraction of gaseous materials from and preventing the formation of hydrates.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 28, 2014
    Assignee: Gaumer Company, Inc.
    Inventors: Jack L. McClanahan, Craig S. Tiras, Jeff McClanahan, Gaurav Dhingra
  • Patent number: 8847117
    Abstract: There is described a method for stabilizing a post-trimming resistance of a thermally isolated electrical component made from a thermally mutable material, the method comprising: generating at least one heating pulse, the at least one heating pulse having an initial amplitude corresponding to a trimming temperature, a slope corresponding to a given cooling rate and a duration corresponding to a given cooling time; and applying the at least one heating pulse to one of the thermally isolated electrical component and a heating device in heat transfer communication with the thermally isolated electrical component, after a trimming process, in order to cause the electrical component to cool in accordance with the given cooling rate, the given cooling rate being slower than a passive cooling rate determined by the thermal isolation of the electrical component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Sensortechnics GmbH
    Inventors: Oleg Grudin, Yougui Liao, Leslie M. Landsberger, Gennadiy Frolov, Lyudmila Grudina, Gerald Arzoumanian, Saed Salman, Tommy Tsang, Bowei Zhang