Combined (e.g., Electromechanical And Thermal) Patents (Class 219/491)
  • Patent number: 11799020
    Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for fabricating and operating diodes. In one aspect, an electrical circuit includes: (1) a diode component having a particular energy band gap; (2) an electrical source electrically coupled to the diode component and configured to bias the diode component in a particular state; and (3) a heating component thermally coupled to a junction of the diode component and configured to selectively supply heat corresponding to the particular energy band gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2023
    Assignee: PSIQUANTUM CORP.
    Inventors: Faraz Najafi, Qiaodan Jin Stone, Andrea Bahgat Shehata
  • Patent number: 11486111
    Abstract: A shovel according to embodiments of the present invention includes: a lower traveling body; an upper swivel body that is rotatably mounted on the lower traveling body; an attachment that is configured by a boom, an arm, and an end attachment; an engine that is mounted on the upper swivel body; a motor generator that is able to assist the engine; a power storage system that is mounted on the upper swivel body; a swiveling motor that is driven by electric power from the motor generator and the power storage system; temperature detection units; and a control device. The control device switches a control mode in a case where at least one of a temperature relating to the motor generator, a temperature relating to the power storage system, and a temperature relating to the swiveling motor, detected by the temperature detection units, is higher than a predetermined temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2022
    Assignee: SUMITOMO (S.H.I.) CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jitsutaka Takeo
  • Patent number: 11473978
    Abstract: A temperature measurement apparatus. The temperature measurement apparatus may include a temperature sensor body, the temperature sensor body having a substrate support surface; and a heat transfer layer, disposed on the substrate support surface, the heat transfer layer comprising an array of aligned carbon nanotubes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 4, 2019
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: APPLIED Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Dawei Sun, D. Jeffrey Lischer, Qin Chen, Dale K. Stone, Lyudmila Stone, Steven Anella, Ron Serisky, Chi-Yang Cheng
  • Patent number: 11289590
    Abstract: The various embodiments described herein include methods, devices, and systems for fabricating and operating diodes. In one aspect, an electrical circuit includes: (1) a diode component having a particular energy band gap; (2) an electrical source electrically coupled to the diode component and configured to bias the diode component in a particular state; and (3) a heating component thermally coupled to a junction of the diode component and configured to selectively supply heat corresponding to the particular energy band gap.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Assignee: PSIQUANTUM CORP.
    Inventors: Faraz Najafi, Qiaodan Jin Stone, Andrea Bahgat Shehata
  • Patent number: 10408496
    Abstract: The T&P relief valve includes a valve casing. A valve assembly is carried by the valve casing and includes a moveable valve shaft and associated valve head sealingly biased against a valve seat by a valve spring which is sealed within a protective chamber configured to contain a first protective fluid. The valve spring is protected, by the protective chamber and first protective fluid, from corrosion, calcification and/or mineral deposits which would affect the valve assembly. A thermal element assembly is carried by an internal tongue of the valve casing. A plunger casing, encasing the upper end of the elongated plunger body and sealing around the captive plunger, is configured to contain a second protective fluid to protect the upper end and captive plunger from corrosion, calcification and/or mineral deposits which could affect the thermal element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: September 10, 2019
    Inventor: Juan A Lopez
  • Patent number: 9847202
    Abstract: Disclosed is an SMD micro mixed fuse with a thermal fuse function that stably operates at high voltage surges and can interrupt electrical current at a predetermined temperature. The SMD micro mixed fuse includes: a fuse substrate provided with a first electrode and a second electrode; a variator layer formed on a front surface of the fuse substrate; a first contact terminal and a second contact terminal respectively arranged at a first side and a second side of a front surface of the varistor layer and respectively connected to the first electrode and the second electrode; at least one thermal fuse that is arranged on the front surface of the variator layer, is not connected to the first and second contact terminals, but is connected to the fuse substrate; and a fusible element that is wire-bonded to the first and second contact terminals and is not connected to the thermal fuse.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2017
    Assignee: SM HI-TECH CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hyeon Cheol Kim, Jong Sik Kim
  • Patent number: 9653673
    Abstract: A system includes at least one capacitor comprising a dielectric material having a Curie temperature, each capacitor exhibiting an increased capacitance at a temperature below the Curie temperature and exhibiting a decreased capacitance at a temperature above the Curie temperature, a liquid source positioned adjacent to the capacitor and having a temperature above the Curie temperature, and means for exposing the capacitor to the liquid source for a predetermined time so the temperature of the dielectric material exceeds the Curie temperature, at which point the capacitance decreases. A voltage storage is connected to the capacitors to capture the increased voltage discharged from the capacitors. The capacitors are then removed from the liquid source and cooled. The capacitors may iteratively be recharged, exposed to the liquid source until their temperature exceeds the Curie temperature, connected to the voltage storage, removed from the liquid source, and cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignee: THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF THE NAVY
    Inventor: Jack Y. Dea
  • Patent number: 9609696
    Abstract: There is provided a cooking device which can easily carry out heating setting when performing heating control according to a set temperature. A cooking device includes a heating unit (4) operable to heat an object to be heated; an operation unit (8) including temperature setting switch (11, 12a, 12b) for setting a heating temperature; a temperature sensor (7) operable to detect a temperature of the object to be heated; and a control unit (5) operable to control the heating unit so that the temperature detected by the temperature sensor is equal to the set temperature set by using the temperature setting switch; wherein the control unit automatically sets the cooking mode based on the set temperature.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2017
    Assignee: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Akira Kataoka, Kazunori Takechi
  • Patent number: 9510394
    Abstract: Enhanced safety for electrical appliance, such as toaster, toaster ovens or rotisseries, is provided by a circuit arrangement which removes power from all or a portion of the appliance upon detection of potentially dangerous conditions as well as activating a visual or audible alarm. The circuit arrangement includes sensors and circuitry for detecting various types of dangerous or hazardous conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 29, 2016
    Assignee: TECHNOLOGY RESEARCH, LLC
    Inventor: Raymond L. Legatti
  • Publication number: 20150108113
    Abstract: A battery heater device which heats a battery with a plurality of cells mounted on a vehicle comprises a first heater part which heats cells positioned at an outer side in the battery; a second heater part which heats cells positioned at an inner side in the battery; and a controller which controls power to be supplied to the first and second heater parts; wherein the controller reduces the power supplied to the second heater part at a predetermined timing after start of the power supply to the first and second heater parts, thereby improving quick-heating performance of the battery and heating the battery more uniformly with use of simple arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Inventors: Kazuaki Hioki, Norio Abe, Yukio Abe, Masanori Nishikawa, Koji Yoshimoto
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8933377
    Abstract: A control device for an electrical heating device for a cooking field with a cooking field plate comprises an electro-mechanical switching device for adjusting a power of said heating device with different power levels and comprises two different heating element. The switching device is configured so that starting from a zero-position and rotating in a first rotation direction, a power level for a first heating element is adjusted in a cooking-mode. Rotation in the other direction activates a second heating element in a warm-keeping mode with significantly lower power. A relay is closed by a thermomechanical temperature sensing device below a defined switching temperature of 60° C. to 100° C. and opened above the switching temperature. When closed, the relay connects the two heating elements to an operating voltage for common operation. When opened, the first heating element is switched off for exclusive operation of the second heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: E.G.O. Elektro-Gerätebau GmbH
    Inventor: Eugen Wilde
  • 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: 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: 8895904
    Abstract: An emergency shutoff system for a cooking appliance deactivates a cooking appliance upon the detection of smoke or rapidly rising heat. Three (3) embodiments are provided, depending on the presence of a gas or an electric model, each further comprises a combination heat and smoke detector located on the ceiling immediately above the appliance. The detector is connected to a control panel at the rear of the stove by a section of low voltage wiring. The control panel activates a shunt trip mechanism in the case of an electrically-powered stove or closes a low voltage solenoid valve in the case of gas-powered stove. Such features greatly reduce the affects of a fire at the cooking appliance should one occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: November 25, 2014
    Inventor: Ciriaco N. Briones, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20140263279
    Abstract: The invention relates to a thermal control system for controlling the temperature of a fluid. In particular, the invention relates to a control system having at least two heating elements, at least one of which is used for directly or indirectly heating a fluid, and at least one of which is used for heating a thermal probe used to determine the temperature of the fluid. The heating systems are controlled by at least one feedback controller.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2014
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Applicant: Abbott Point of Care Inc.
    Inventors: Gary J. Vandersleen, Sergey Gershtein, Mitchell Tilson, Jaymin Patel, Craig H. Schneider, Seth Hunter, Paul Wasserman, Pierre Emeric
  • Publication number: 20140231406
    Abstract: Present invention embodiments include a thermal treatment system for thermally treating and individually monitoring a plurality of medical or other items. The thermal treatment system includes a modular configuration with a control unit and one or more modular units coupled to the control unit, where each of the control and modular units thermally treat a plurality of corresponding medical items. The control unit includes a display to interact with a user for setting a desired temperature, and controls the modular units to thermally treat corresponding medical items to the desired temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2014
    Publication date: August 21, 2014
    Applicant: Medical Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Raymond Tsang, Bruce Heymann, Tarry Faries
  • Patent number: 8785823
    Abstract: A method and system for efficiently extending the operating temperature range of high power components within a system/device. An embedded monitor measures local temperatures such as junction temperatures of components. When the measured temperature is less than the lowest operational temperature threshold of the component, temperature control logic initiates pre-heating to raise the component's temperature to an operational level, utilizing a heating source. The component (or device) is made operational only when the temperature is at or above the operational level. The temperature control logic maintains the operational temperature of the component using the high power dissipated by components within the operating system/device as a self heating source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Edward D. Doan, Anthony P. Ferranti, Gary E. O'Neil
  • Patent number: 8680442
    Abstract: Certain embodiments of the present invention provide an electrical outlet including a power output adapted to provide electricity to an electrically coupled device, a switch adapted to activate and deactivate the power output, a temperature sensor adapted to detect a temperature, and a control unit in communication with the switch and the temperature sensor. The control unit is adapted to control the power output using the switch based at least in part on the temperature detected by the temperature sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 25, 2014
    Assignee: Allied Precision Industries Inc.
    Inventors: Thomas K. Reusche, Philip E. Chumbley, James R. McHugh
  • Publication number: 20140076883
    Abstract: An apparatus for per-operative modification of a medical device stiffness comprising a body having at least two ends, an element attached to first end of said body providing heat and mechanical treatment and adapted to abut and deform at least one portion of the medical device, a second end, opposite to said first end of said body, adapted to be grasped, a means of connecting to a power source located anywhere between said ends of said body, whereby the apparatus provides a means to enable per-operative adjustment to the stiffness of a medical device.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Publication date: March 20, 2014
    Inventors: Vladimir Brailovski, Yvan Petit, Jean-Marc Mac-Thiong, Mark Driscoll, Stefan Parent, Hubert Labelle
  • Patent number: 8658946
    Abstract: A control system for an appliance having at least a first oven and a second oven includes an electronic range control device for regulating a temperature of the first oven, an electromechanical thermostat assembly for regulating a temperature of the second oven, and a relay circuit assembly under control of the electronic range control device, the relay circuit assembly being configured to selectively enable operation of the first oven and the electromechanical thermostat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 25, 2014
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Leo Edward Hodapp, Jr., William Lee Holbrook, Michael Thomas Chezem, Michael Bernard Hitchcock, Philip Ames Barber, Jose Pintor
  • Patent number: 8513575
    Abstract: A method induces augmented levels of heat dissipation by exploiting quiescent IC leakage currents to control the temperature in high power devices. A heat control and temperature monitoring system (HCTMS) utilizes a thermal sensor to sense the junction temperature of a component, which becomes self-heated due to the quiescent leakage current inherent to the component upon the application of power to the component. By increasing the voltage level of the power source, this quiescent self-heating property is augmented, which serves to accelerate the preheating of the device, until the temperature rises above the minimum specified operating temperature of the component. The method further includes reliably initializing the system by applying full system power and triggering a defined initialization sequence/procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gary E. O'Neil, Michael E. Stopford, James B. Tate
  • Publication number: 20130146585
    Abstract: A control device for an electrical heating device for a cooking field with a cooking field plate comprises an electro-mechanical switching device for adjusting a power of said heating device with different power levels and comprises two different heating element. The switching device is configured so that starting from a zero-position and rotating in a first rotation direction, a power level for a first heating element is adjusted in a cooking-mode. Rotation in the other direction activates a second heating element in a warm-keeping mode with significantly lower power. A relay is closed by a thermomechanical temperature sensing device below a defined switching temperature of 60° C. to 100° C. and opened above the switching temperature. When closed, the relay connects the two heating elements to an operating voltage for common operation. When opened, the first heating element is switched off for exclusive operation of the second heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 9, 2011
    Publication date: June 13, 2013
    Applicant: E.G.O. Elektro-Geratebau GmbH
    Inventor: Eugen Wilde
  • Patent number: 8461492
    Abstract: An emergency shutoff system for a cooking appliance deactivates a cooking appliance upon the detection of smoke or rapidly rising heat. Three (3) embodiments are provided, depending on the presence of a gas or an electric model, each further comprises a combination heat and smoke detector located on the ceiling immediately above the appliance. The detector is connected to a control panel at the rear of the stove by a section of low voltage wiring. The control panel activates a shunt trip mechanism in the case of an electrically-powered stove or closes a low voltage solenoid valve in the case of gas-powered stove. Such features greatly reduce the affects of a fire at the cooking appliance should one occur.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 11, 2013
    Inventor: Ciriaco N. Briones, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20130119565
    Abstract: A system for and a method of curing a material is provided. A material, such as an underfill material, is rotated during a curing process. The curing system may include a chamber, a holder to support one or more workpieces, and a rotating mechanism. The rotating mechanism rotates the workpieces during the curing process. The chamber may include one or more heat sources and fans, and may further include a controller. The curing process may include varying the rotation speed, continuously rotating, periodically rotating, or the like.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 16, 2011
    Publication date: May 16, 2013
    Applicant: Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jing Ruei Lu, Yu-Chih Liu, Ming-Chung Sung, Wei-Ting Lin, Chien-Kuo Chang
  • Patent number: 8418601
    Abstract: A method for controlling heating processes in a coffee machine which is particularly suitable for preparing coffee on the basis of coffee pads. The coffee machine comprises a continuous flow heater and a pump used to convey water through the continuous flow heater. According to the inventive method, the temperature is measured in the region of the continuous flow heater and/or water which is conveyed by the pump. In order to avoid steam overpressure and to ensure a sufficient, constant temperature during the entire steeping process, the amount of water which is conveyed by the pump is influenced according to temperature. The invention also relates to an electronic control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2005
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Bosch und Siemens Hausgeraete GmbH
    Inventors: Johann Magg, Andreas Mayr, Markus Obermaier
  • Publication number: 20130052756
    Abstract: A heating device is provided according to an embodiment. The heating device comprises a heater, a temperature detecting part, a wafer warpage detecting part and a controlling part. The heater heats a wafer. The temperature detecting part detects a temperature of the wafer. The wafer warpage detecting part detects warpage of the wafer. The controlling part controls the heater based on a detection result of the wafer warpage detecting part before controlling the heater based on a detection result of the temperature detecting part.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba
    Inventors: Shintaro Okujo, Masato Fukumoto
  • Patent number: 8378271
    Abstract: A method and system for inducing augmented levels of heat dissipation by exploiting quiescent IC leakage currents to control the temperature in high power devices. A heat control and temperature monitoring system (HCTMS) utilizes a thermal sensor to sense the junction temperature of a component, which becomes self-heated due to the quiescent leakage current inherent to the component upon the application of power to the component. By increasing the voltage level of the power source, this quiescent self-heating property is augmented, which serves to accelerate the preheating of the device, until the temperature rises above the minimum specified operating temperature of the component. The system is then reliably initialized by applying full system power and triggering a defined initialization sequence/procedure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2007
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Gary E. O'Neil, Michael E. Stopford, James B. Tate
  • Patent number: 8237094
    Abstract: A pulse modulating heating system provides connection to a step heating system having a main heating controller configured for connection to a heat sensor and step heating relays connected to respective step heating element and for activating, during a heating cycle, a required quantity of mechanical relays and step heating elements to generate a required amount of heat. The pulse modulating heating system has inputs, one for each step heating relay, connectable to the main heating controller for detecting the relays activated during the cycle, i.e. the required quantity of relays. The pulse modulating system, based on the required quantity of step relays detected, activates a pulse heating element for a quantity of pulses relative to a maximum quantity of pulses for the cycle that is proportional to the required quantity of step relays relative the total number of step heating relays to generate the required amount of heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 7, 2012
    Inventor: Cherif Menassa
  • Publication number: 20120160923
    Abstract: A heating control system for controlling heating of a fluid within an associated fluid vessel includes a first sensor responsive to a low fluid level in the fluid vessel and a second sensor responsive to a temperature of the fluid within the fluid vessel. The heating control system also includes a control circuit electrically connected with the first sensor and the second sensor to control electrical power to a heating unit for heating the fluid within the fluid vessel. The control circuit allows electrical power to be connected to the heating unit upon a first predetermined condition of the first sensor and a first predetermined condition of the second sensor. The control circuit disconnects power to the heating unit upon either a second predetermined condition of the first sensor or a second predetermined condition of the second sensor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 10, 2012
    Publication date: June 28, 2012
    Inventors: Daniel John Worden, Karl James Bauer
  • 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: 8138454
    Abstract: A liquid warming device for heating sterile fluids in a removable basin is described with emphasis on the properties of the basin interaction with the liquid warming device and with a drape that works with the basin to maintain a sterile field above the drape and the top of the basin. Also disclosed are various desirable aspects for a control system for a liquid warming device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2012
    Assignee: C Change Surgical LLC
    Inventors: Patrick Kammer, Kevin Joseph Rackers
  • Publication number: 20120055915
    Abstract: Provided is a heat treatment apparatus that even when annealing SiC at high temperature, can exhibit a low heat capacity and perform uniform heating. The heat treatment apparatus includes a pair of parallel plate electrodes, high-frequency power supply that applies a high-frequency voltage to the pair of parallel plate electrodes so as to discharge between the pair of parallel plate electrodes, a temperature measurement instrument that measures the temperature of a sample to be heated which is disposed in the pair of parallel plate electrodes, a gas introduction unit that introduces a gas to the pair of parallel plate electrodes, reflection mirrors that surround the pair of parallel plate electrodes, and a control unit that controls the output of the high-frequency power supply. Heating of a gas due to discharge between the pair of parallel plate electrodes is used to thermally treat the sample to be heated.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 29, 2010
    Publication date: March 8, 2012
    Inventors: Ken'etsu Yokogawa, Masatoshi Miyake
  • Patent number: 8097834
    Abstract: A liquid heating vessel comprising heating means for heating liquid in the vessel, electronic control means, electromagnetic switching means for interrupting or reducing power to the heating means, and temperature sensing means for providing a signal dependent on the temperature of liquid in the vessel to the control means. The control means is arranged to operate the electromagnetic switching means to interrupt or reduce power to the heating means in response to the control means determining that a pre-determined temperature condition has been reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Strix Limited
    Inventors: Michael James Scott, Iain Fenna, Alan Michael George Meeks
  • Publication number: 20110290777
    Abstract: Ink drying apparatus and method for controlling ink drying apparatus are described herein. An example ink drying apparatus includes first and second heating elements positioned adjacent a drying area in a printer, and a controller to determine a temperature of the heating area and to selectively operate, based on the temperature determination, the first heating element in a burst mode and the second heating element in an on/off mode.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 31, 2010
    Publication date: December 1, 2011
    Inventors: Xavier Soler Pedemonte, José Maria Montserrat Caldero, Francisco Javier Pérez Gellida, David Toussaint, Gianni Cessel, Andrew Maxwell Frost
  • Patent number: 8044329
    Abstract: A power control system has a controller housing, a power switch disposed within the controller housing for selectively providing power from a power supply to a power load, a limiter disposed within the controller housing configured for providing a limit switching function in response to a threshold limit, and a controller disposed within the controller housing and configured for controlling one or more operations of the control system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: William C. Bohlinger, Kurt W. Peterson, Dale T. Wolfe, James P. Hentges, James H. Kreisel, Curtis A. Foster
  • Publication number: 20110166830
    Abstract: Acoustic energy (sound) released by a liquid changes upon boiling and increases in some manner as a function of the boiling intensity. Detecting and quantifying the sound emitted from the boiling liquid with a sensor and processor enables a system to not only detect the boiling of a liquid but to assess the relative intensity of the boiling. Incorporated in a feedback loop, any heat source used to boil a liquid may be manipulated to control the boiling of a liquid and avoid the uncertainty associated with control based on temperature only.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 7, 2011
    Publication date: July 7, 2011
    Inventor: Harry V. Lehmann
  • Patent number: 7902486
    Abstract: An operating device provided to equipment such as an indoor unit of an air conditioner is equipped with an analog operating member for setting a set temperature of the equipment and outputting an indication value that is associated with the set temperature and continuously varies in accordance with an operation of the analog operating member, and a set temperature adjusting unit for changing a variable range of the set temperature corresponding to a variable range of the indication value on the basis of at least one of an operation mode of the equipment and the type of the equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2011
    Assignee: Sanyo Electric Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira Shindo
  • Patent number: 7868271
    Abstract: A control device for converting a control movement along a control path into a control signal has the control path corresponding to different control stages or control types. The control device has two measuring tracks with a linearly changing resistance associated with each track. In one embodiment, these measuring tracks are positioned concentric to each other in a semicircle. A voltage U, which is tapped via two opposite interconnected sliders, is applied to both measuring tracks at a junction point while the other junction point is connected to ground. If the detected values of the tapped voltages deviate from a corresponding stored value or pairs of values, there must be a fault, due to, for example a broken slider. This makes it possible to perform a test for determining the fault or a malfunctioning control device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 11, 2011
    Assignee: E.G.O. Elektro-Geraetebau GmbH
    Inventors: Wolfgang Alfred Hamm, Martin Baier, Ralf Dorwarth
  • Publication number: 20100232772
    Abstract: A rapid heating, highly efficient and reliable hot water drinking apparatus comprises: a water machine (1); a tank (2); a water boiler (3); a funnel (4); a liquid level switch (8); a salver (9); and a weight sensor mechanism (91). Said potable water heating device is characterized in that: three heating devices (31) are disposed inside said water boiler (3), said heating device (31) consists essentially of a hot-resistant chamber (32), whose one opening is connecting to the tank (2) and the other opening is connecting to the funnel (4); a cap (33) covering one opening of said chamber (32); a hyperthermal electric heating tube (34), disposed axially inside said chamber (32), whose one end is protruded through said cap (33); and a baffle (35), disposed helicoidally on the exterior of said heating tube (34).
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 16, 2009
    Publication date: September 16, 2010
    Inventors: Hsien Mu Chiu, Chung Yuan Chen
  • Patent number: 7786412
    Abstract: A current-limiting device is provided with pressure relief facilities that are responsive to relieve internal pressures during operation of the current limiter. In a specific arrangement, the pressure relief arrangement includes a passage that is opened upon operation of the current limiter to communicate between the interior and the exterior of the current limiter. The passage includes a fusible material therein that is melted by the heating within current limiter under predetermined high-current fault conditions. In a specific arrangement, the passage is formed through a contact terminal of the current limiter. In one arrangement, the current-limiting device includes an adjoining exhaust section and the contact terminal extends into the adjoining exhaust section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 31, 2010
    Assignee: S&C Electric Company
    Inventor: Glenn R. Borchardt
  • Patent number: 7745759
    Abstract: An electrically heated water kettle comprises a vessel for holding a liquid for extraction of tea, coffee or other food material. The vessel includes a partially open immersible container sized to allow the passage of water between the walls of the vessel. The container is capable of holding the material while an opening in the container allows the entrance of water into the container upon immersion of the container in the water. The heated kettle incorporates structure to hold the container out of the water until the water reaches an appropriate extraction temperature and to immerse or withdraw the container into or from the water as is necessary to accomplish the extraction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2007
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: Edgecraft Corporation
    Inventors: Tom Long, Daniel D. Friel, Sr., Daniel D. Friel, Jr., James M. Fitzgerald, H. William Busch, Jr.
  • Publication number: 20100155388
    Abstract: A pulse modulating heating system provides connection to a step heating system having a main heating controller configured for connection to a heat sensor and step heating relays connected to respective step heating element and for activating, during a heating cycle, a required quantity of mechanical relays and step heating elements to generate a required amount of heat. The pulse modulating heating system has inputs, one for each step heating relay, connectable to the main heating controller for detecting the relays activated during the cycle, i.e. the required quantity of relays. The pulse modulating system, based on the required quantity of step relays detected, activates a pulse heating element for a quantity of pulses relative to a maximum quantity of pulses for the cycle that is proportional to the required quantity of step relays relative the total number of step heating relays to generate the required amount of heat.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2009
    Publication date: June 24, 2010
    Inventor: Cherif Menassa
  • Patent number: 7736151
    Abstract: An electrical connector for a kitchen appliance includes a socket having at least one electrical contact and at least one metallic member. A plug having at least one electrical contact and a magnet which is movably positioned within the plug. A power cord is movably positioned within the plug and is operatively connected to the at least one electrical contact of the plug. An attractive force exists between the at least one metallic member and the magnet when the plug is engaged with the socket and the magnet is within a predetermined distance of the at least one metallic member. Movement of a leading end of the power cord toward a distal end of the plug moves the magnet toward the distal end of the plug to reduce a magnitude of the attractive force and permit the plug to be more easily removed from the socket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Beach Brands, Inc.
    Inventor: Weiqun Yang
  • Publication number: 20100140250
    Abstract: A baker's oven 10 and a method of operating the baking oven 10. The baking oven 10 including heating means 50 arranged to underlie baking trays 31 to provide a substantial proportion of the heat to the baking trays 31 than to other portions of the oven, a temperature sensor 62 for providing a signal indicative of oven temperature. An interface 60 is adapted to receive information from a baker indicative of a bake program and information corresponding to products being loaded into the oven. The control means 61 is operatively connected to the heating means 50, the temperature sensor 62 and the interface 60 to receive signals corresponding to oven variables comprising the oven temperature and a fixed baking time indicative of the product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2009
    Publication date: June 10, 2010
    Applicant: MOFFAT PTY LIMITED
    Inventor: Paul Eaton Willett
  • Patent number: 7667163
    Abstract: The thermostat includes a housing having at least a portion thereof illuminated by a light that changes color via a manual input. The light illuminates the display for easy readability while the variable color of the light allows a user to match the appearance of the thermostat to best complement the surrounding décor. User input elements provide for the manual adjustment of one or more characteristics of the light, such as visible color of the light. The light source comprises at least one LED for displaying a plurality of colors. In this case, to change the color of the light illuminating the translucent portion of the housing or backlighting the display, electronics within the thermostat control the drive signals to the LED in order to operate the LED to provide the desired color. The invention also contemplates filtering the light and manually adjusting the filtering to provide the desired aesthetics.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 23, 2010
    Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of Delaware
    Inventors: Nicholas Ashworth, Grace Yoder
  • Publication number: 20090326785
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a low-voltage-powered plug (2) for preheating a diesel engine (1) air/fuel mixture. The plug (2) is powered by pulses having a predetermined amplitude and duration, said amplitude being less than a maximum amplitude (PWM_MAX). The amplitude and duration of the voltage pulses powering the plug (2) are controlled as a function of first parameters including the duration of the preceding pulses and the duration between successive preceding pulses.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 25, 2009
    Publication date: December 31, 2009
    Applicant: RENAULT S. A.S
    Inventors: Francois COLET, Richard ROTH, Nicolas PALANQUE
  • Patent number: 7600468
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a relay switch arrangement for a toaster, the arrangement has an actuating member releasably engaged to the engaging metal positioned above the electromagnet, and shifted between a power-on position and a power-off default position. A homing spring is provided biasing against the actuating member for maintaining the actuating member in the power-off position. Electrical contacts are respectively provided onto a pair of power slabs for selectively completing the circuit, wherein in the power-on position, the actuating member drives two contacts approach with each other complete the circuit to charge the electromagnet attracting the engaging metal, in the power-off default position, the circuit is powered off enabling the electromagnet to release the engaging metal, the homing spring will upwardly push the actuating member thus driving the engaging metal tilt up so as to disengage the pair of contacts for security purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 13, 2009
    Inventors: George Mohan Zhang, Huajin Chen
  • 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
  • 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