Comprising Timing Or Cycling Means Patents (Class 219/492)
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Patent number: 6757988Abstract: A control system for a clothes dryer includes a control circuit adapted to set the amount of power sent to a main heater of the dryer during various cycles of operation. The control circuit automatically controls the maximum temperature reached in a particular dryer cycle through the use of a thermostat that switches the main heater from a full power setting to a low power setting when the temperature in the dryer reaches a certain maximum preset temperature. By providing low power, rather than no power as the thermostat trips at its preset high temperature, the total drying time required to dry articles of clothing within the dryer is reduced.Type: GrantFiled: May 22, 2002Date of Patent: July 6, 2004Assignee: Maytag CorporationInventors: Jordan S. Bruntz, Joel L. Herr
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Patent number: 6756570Abstract: A control system for a cooking appliance enables a consumer to perform a complete cooking operation regardless of whether food is placed into an oven after a preheating operation or from a cold start. In general, under circumstances where the consumer does not intend to allow the oven to be properly preheated prior to inserting the food to be cooked therein, an initial programming operation is followed by an additional control sequence by the user to establish a cold start cooking operation wherein the lack of preheating is automatically compensated for, preferably by causing the oven to reach a peak temperature for the oven which is well above a temperature set by the user for the overall cooking operation. After the peak temperature is reached, the oven temperature is allowed to gradually reduce to the preprogrammed cooking temperature.Type: GrantFiled: November 22, 2002Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Maytag CorporationInventor: Kenneth E. Sauter
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Patent number: 6756569Abstract: A heating unit for use in a cooktop is disclosed. The heating unit includes a pan with an insulation structure supporting a heating element. The heating unit further includes a temperature sensor and indicator to be used as a visual indication to the user that the heating unit is energized.Type: GrantFiled: May 13, 2002Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Assignee: Emerson Electric Co.Inventors: Jeffrey A. Bates, Christopher R. Taylor, James E. Small
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Patent number: 6756567Abstract: An apparatus for melting paraffin wax is provided. It includes an integral plastic inner tub attached to an integral aluminum plate holder, each of which has a flat bottom and a sloped wall. A positive temperature coefficient heating element is attached to the flat bottom of the aluminum plate holder for self regulating to a preset temperature by autonomously varying the positive temperature coefficient heating element electrical resistance in response to the temperature of the positive temperature coefficient heating element thereby varying a power dissipation of the positive temperature coefficient heating element in order to maintain the positive temperature coefficient heating element at the preset temperature. Heat from the positive temperature coefficient heating element is transferred from the integral aluminum plate holder to the integral plastic inner tub via the flat bottoms and the sloped walls thereby melting any wax inside the integral plastic inner tub.Type: GrantFiled: September 19, 2002Date of Patent: June 29, 2004Inventor: Chi Ming Suen
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Publication number: 20040118830Abstract: A cycle skipping power control apparatus comprising: a power controller adapted for receiving a power command and a switch closure feedback signal and for generating a high resolution pulse command; and a pulse generator adapted for receiving the high resolution pulse command and, optionally, the power command, and generating a compensated enable pulse and the switch closure feedback signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 22, 2002Publication date: June 24, 2004Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Harry Kirk Mathews, John Stanley Glaser
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Patent number: 6753511Abstract: A system and method for limiting the temperature of a burner for a cooking appliance without the use of a temperature sensor. The method includes the step of sensing the conduction state of a thermal switch and feeding back the sensed signal to control the duty-cycle (and thus “on” time) of bang-bang thermal limiting control. The power to the burner is reduced until the sensed duty-cycle (near 100%) cycling is reduced (lower frequency and amplitude) resulting in smoother power and temperature control. Preferably, the control system and method is implemented for controlling power applied to a burner for a glass-ceramic cooktop.Type: GrantFiled: September 26, 2002Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Harry Kirk Mathews, Jr., Joseph Lucian Smolenski, John Stanley Glaser
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Patent number: 6753510Abstract: A device that heats food quickly by using more than one power level during a heating cycle, and a method of toasting including the step of heating a food item at more than one power level during a toasting cycle.Type: GrantFiled: April 19, 2002Date of Patent: June 22, 2004Assignee: Salton, Inc.Inventors: Lawrence Lile, Peter Huggler
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Patent number: 6747375Abstract: A time control unit having both a time base dial that allows the user to set the cycle time duration and a duty cycle dial that allows the user to set the percentage of time a load connected to the time control unit in activated during each cycle time. The time base dial includes a series of discrete time base settings that increase non-linearly from a minimum setting to a maximum setting. The duty cycle dial also includes a series of discrete duty cycle settings ranging between a maximum and a minimum duty cycle value. The amount of increase in the percentage of the cycle time between successive duty cycle settings is smaller near the minimum (0%) and maximum (100%) settings and larger near the midpoint between the minimum and the maximum settings such that the duty cycle dial has greater resolution near the maximum and minimum settings.Type: GrantFiled: July 11, 2001Date of Patent: June 8, 2004Assignee: Ranco Incorporated of DelawareInventor: William P. Tanguay
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Patent number: 6744019Abstract: An electric cooking apparatus can be used for many purposes and includes heating programs and a control device. The heating programs can be changed freely through the operation of an operation panel. The heating temperature and time can be programmed according to a user's taste and are set and stored as a heating program, thereby making it possible to cook various ways. The setting of the heating program is carried out through the operation of the operation panel making the program setting extremely simplified. The control device is provided with a storage device for storing the heating programs set through the operation of the operation panel.Type: GrantFiled: May 1, 2002Date of Patent: June 1, 2004Assignee: K. K. Takegoshi SeisakushoInventor: Takao Takegoshi
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Publication number: 20040099656Abstract: A control system for a cooking appliance enables a consumer to perform a complete cooking operation regardless of whether food is placed into an oven after a preheating operation or from a cold start. In general, under circumstances wherein the consumer does not intend to allow the oven to be properly preheated prior to inserting the food to be cooked therein, an initial programming operation is followed by an additional control sequence by the user to establish a cold start cooking operation wherein the lack of preheating is automatically compensated for, preferably by causing the oven to reach a peak temperature for the oven which is well above a temperature set by the user for the overall cooking operation. After the peak temperature is reached, the oven temperature is allowed to gradually reduce to the preprogrammed cooking temperature.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 22, 2002Publication date: May 27, 2004Applicant: Maytag CorporationInventor: Kenneth E. Sauter
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Publication number: 20040079748Abstract: A proportional and staging control circuit is provided for a FPTU including heating element(s) selected so that the maximum heating capacity that can be provided by the unit is the highest practical for its size. Portions of this maximum heating capacity are switch selected for a given application of a FPTU with the switches each corresponding to portions (10% to 100%) of the selected maximum heating capacity so that a portion of the total heating capacity of a FPTU most closely equal to a desired heating capacity can be selected by operation of that switch. Each selected heating capacity is in turn staged with the heating capacity staging again being switch selected. FPTUs including the proportional and staging control are quickly switch configured for a given application without the need of a skilled electrician or technician.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2002Publication date: April 29, 2004Inventor: Edward Kenneth Carrick
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Patent number: 6727478Abstract: An oven includes an oven cavity, at least one heat source disposed in the cavity, and an oven controller operationally coupled to the heat source. The oven controller is configured to accept data regarding a number of racks and control the at least one heat source based upon the accepted data.Type: GrantFiled: February 5, 2002Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Jennifer Elizabeth Rael, Coleen Judith Muegge, Peta-Gaye Sonya Whitbourne, Charles Ray Smith, David Laurence Kinny
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Patent number: 6727476Abstract: Device and method for controlling a heater in a cooker, the device including a plurality of heaters, a relay part for supplying/cutting off a power applied to the heaters, a current detecting part for detecting a current value applied to the heaters, and a controller for controlling the relay part according to the current value detected at the current detecting part and a preset current value, to adjust a preset heater operation time period for the present cooking, thereby improving a quality of cooking by solving a deviation of operation power caused by variation of heaters and/or power by compensating the cooking time period.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2002Date of Patent: April 27, 2004Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.Inventor: Seog Tae Kim
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Patent number: 6723965Abstract: According to the present invention, when controlling a heater in an air-fuel ratio sensor, a crack of sensor element due to an exhaust condensed water is certainly avoided. To this end, an element temperature is detected by measuring an impedance of the sensor element and a power supply amount to the heater for heating the sensor element is feedback controlled so that the element temperature reaches a target temperature. Here, the target temperature is set to a lower side temperature, compared to other conditions, on a condition that a wall temperature of an exhaust system is low and a water content in the exhaust is condensed in the exhaust system. Or, an initial value of the power supply amount is set corresponding to the element temperature before the start of power supply to the heater.Type: GrantFiled: June 22, 2001Date of Patent: April 20, 2004Assignee: Unisia Jecs CorporationInventors: Shigeo Ohkuma, Hiroyuki Ohsaki
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Publication number: 20040069768Abstract: A system for controlling temperature control elements used to alter temperatures of a liquid comprises a temperature sensor, a first temperature control element, a second temperature control element, and logic. The temperature sensor is configured to sense temperatures of the liquid, and the first and second temperature control elements are each configured to alter a temperature of the liquid. The logic is configured to selectively control, based on the sensed temperatures, activation states of the first and second temperature control elements such that a total activation time associated with the first temperature control element is substantially equal to a total activation time associated with the second temperature control element.Type: ApplicationFiled: November 20, 2002Publication date: April 15, 2004Inventors: Wade C. Patterson, Terry G. Phillips
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Patent number: 6717117Abstract: A cooktop comprising at least one cooktop heater and a controller coupled to the heater and operable to control operation of the heater, including cool down of the heater and drift detection, is described. In one embodiment, the cooktop further comprises a control interface coupled to the controller. The interface comprises a power setting selection unit for operator selection of a power level setting for the heater. The controller is configured to switch off supply of power to the heater if a second power level selection for the heater is a lower power level than a first power level selection, and to then resume standard heater operation once a temperature corresponding to the second power level selection is reached.Type: GrantFiled: October 25, 2001Date of Patent: April 6, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Cecilia Maria Blanchard, Scott A. Horning, Michael Paul McGonagle, Jeffrey Alan Kern
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Publication number: 20040060923Abstract: A system and method for limiting the temperature of a burner for a cooking appliance without the use of a temperature sensor. The method includes the step of sensing the conduction state of a thermal switch and feeding back the sensed signal to control the duty-cycle (and thus “on” time) of bang-bang thermal limiting control. The power to the burner is reduced until the sensed duty-cycle (near 100%) cycling is reduced (lower frequency and amplitude) resulting in smoother power and temperature control. Preferably, the control system and method is implemented for controlling power applied to a burner for a glass-ceramic cooktop.Type: ApplicationFiled: September 26, 2002Publication date: April 1, 2004Applicant: GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANYInventors: Harry Kirk Mathews, Joseph Lucian Smolenski, John Stanley Glaser
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Patent number: 6713730Abstract: A timing system includes a control member being operationally coupled to a heat-emitting device of the oven and a heat-emitting device of each of the burners for turning the heat-emitting devices on or off. A temperature selection member is operationally coupled to the control. A plurality of heat level selection members is operationally coupled to the control member for selectively choosing a desired relative heat level for each of the burners. A plurality of timing members is operationally coupled to the control member for selectively turning the heat-emitting devices off after a pre-selected amount of elapsed time. Each of the timing members is associated with one of the heat-emitting devices. The selected heating emitting device may be turned on for a selected amount of time by the timing member and are turned off by the timing member when the selected amount of time is expired.Type: GrantFiled: September 14, 2001Date of Patent: March 30, 2004Inventor: Zahra M. Zakerin
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Patent number: 6710308Abstract: A system used to program and coordinate the cooking operations for two or more ovens such that the cooking operations are completed at the same time, independent of particular setting variations. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a single controller is utilized to program each of the ovens, with the controller incorporating an auto sequencing feature which causes the different cooking operations to be automatically performed, while terminating at the same time. Preferably, the system enables a second cooking operation to be programmed and initiated after a first cooking operation, while still providing for the auto sequencing of the cooking operation.Type: GrantFiled: July 31, 2002Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Maytag CorporationInventors: Kenneth E. Sauter, Richard H. Zay
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Patent number: 6710309Abstract: A means for determining the voltage of a power source is disclosed. A portion of the available power from the power source is applied to a heating element. By measuring a rate of change in the temperature of the heating element the input voltage can be determined.Type: GrantFiled: August 23, 1996Date of Patent: March 23, 2004Assignee: Hewlett-Packard Development Company, L.P.Inventor: B. Mark Hirst
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Patent number: 6707013Abstract: A rotary nozzle device has: a nozzle composed of plural rotatable hollow links which are mutually passable through, a pump for press-feeding a fluid into the hollow links, and at least one fluid injection port in at least one hollow link of the nozzle, wherein the fluid is injected from the injection port while the hollow link is rotated by the force of the fluid pressurized by the pump, and the motion of the injection port is set in chaotic state by adjusting a characteristic of the nozzle.Type: GrantFiled: July 27, 2001Date of Patent: March 16, 2004Assignee: Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.Inventors: Hiroyoshi Nomura, Noboru Wakami, Kazuyuki Aihara
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Patent number: 6703591Abstract: An appliance control system is configured to operate an appliance in at least a normal mode and a holiday mode wherein normal mode operation of appliance feature elements is altered to better conform to religious customs, such as Orthodox Jewish customs. In response to user manipulation of a control interface panel, the control system is configured to enter the holiday mode upon user manipulation of the control interface panel with a designated key sequence. When in the holiday mode, response to user manipulation of the control interface panel is delayed for a randomly determined time, and appliance features of the normal mode that violate religious custom are disabled.Type: GrantFiled: January 5, 2001Date of Patent: March 9, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Wolfgang Daum, Kresimir Odorcic, Tanveer Iqbal, John Steven Holmes
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Patent number: 6696676Abstract: An oven includes both radiant cooking elements and a microwave cooking element that are controlled to reduce cooking time in relation to known radiant ovens. The oven is operable in a speed cooking mode utilizing radiant and microwave cooking elements, a microwave cooking mode utilizing only the magnetron, and a radiant cooking mode utilizing only radiant lamps. In addition, and using a time adjustment algorithm, the total energy into the food is maintained constant for input voltages in a range between about 108 Volts and 132 Volts to suitably cook food even when the input voltage varies.Type: GrantFiled: January 11, 2000Date of Patent: February 24, 2004Assignee: General Electric CompanyInventors: Todd Vincent Graves, Dennis Patrick Kill, Jesse Spalding Head, Charles Ray Smith
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Publication number: 20040026407Abstract: A generic, self-tuning control system deployable in a wide variety of systems is achieved from a digital system effectuating a matrix chain. Each matrix in the chain yields an output based upon two or more inputs. The outputs of the various matrices making up the chain are used as inputs to other matrices in the chain. Measured inputs are state variables of the system under control. Some inputs that are generated by other matrices are state variables. Consequently, the set of values generated by the matrices results from the state variables describing the system at a given point in time. Initially, the matrices exhibit a quality referred to as symmetry. This quality serves to cause the system under control to transition to desired state. In addition to the controlling force exerted by virtue of the symmetry of the matrices, a learning algorithm may be introduced to the matrix chain.Type: ApplicationFiled: August 9, 2002Publication date: February 12, 2004Applicant: Matrix Innovations LLCInventor: Gary Dale Sullivan
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Publication number: 20040020915Abstract: An oven for transferring heat to food in trays and a method for using the oven. The oven includes a cabinet with partitions dividing the interior into a plurality of separate, thermally isolated holding compartments each adapted for removably receiving a tray of food. Heat sources above the tray emit radiant heat to warm the food in the trays. A control mechanism controls the duration of the total hold time for the food having a duration of heated holding time during which a respective heat source is activated. The oven. also includes a forced air mechanism under the control of the control mechanism for delivering forced air into the compartments. The heat sources are activated and deactivated during successive duty cycles to thereby to maintain the food in a respective compartment at a selected holding temperature for a duration of heated holding time.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 1, 2003Publication date: February 5, 2004Applicant: Duke Manufacturing CompnayInventor: Steven M. Shei
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Publication number: 20040016747Abstract: A user control generates a heat level input signal responsive to a user of a cooktop heating element. Logic generates an output signal having a duty cycle corresponding to the input signal. An electromechanical device connected to apply power from a source to the heating element in response to the output signal.Type: ApplicationFiled: July 26, 2002Publication date: January 29, 2004Inventors: Eric K. Larson, Juan Barrena
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Publication number: 20040016741Abstract: The present invention relates to a portable adhesive dispensing appliance with adjustable duty cycle. Rather than applying power continuously to the heating element, the element power is intermittently switched over to a variable duty cycle. Savings are gained in three areas: extended life of the element; less heat lost to thermal radiation; and less adhesive waste due to dripping and overheating. The duty cycle may be adjusted manually or automatically based on the temperature of the heating element, or tip. Additionally, the voltage and/or current to the heating element may be adjusted, either manually or automatically, for more rapid recovery during high usage periods. Higher throughput is achieved by sensing the temperature, comparing the temperature to a desired temperature, and then increasing the duty cycle by either or both one of increasing the frequency of duty pulses and/or lengthening the duration of the duty pulses.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 20, 2003Publication date: January 29, 2004Inventor: Walter Evanyk
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Patent number: 6675700Abstract: A toaster has a chassis, a pair of end plates, a frame positioned in between and supported by the end plates. There is a pair of heating elements supported by the frame and a receiving bay between the frames. A carriage is movable within the receiving bay between a receiving/dispensing position and a cooking position. The carriage interacts with the frame during movement to transfer the frame and thereby re-size the receiving bay. As a result, the heating elements move closer to the bread during toasting and more away from the toast when toast has completed.Type: GrantFiled: December 17, 2002Date of Patent: January 13, 2004Inventor: Tian Tan Hong
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Patent number: 6670586Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to an oven for cooking foodstuffs such as pizza by infrared radiation. The oven includes nichrome-quartz heating elements which are governed by a pulse type controller. The pulse type controller cause the heating elements to generate infrared radiation over selected time periods to efficiently cook a foodstuff.Type: GrantFiled: March 15, 2002Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Redi-Kwik Corp.Inventors: Mats O. Ingemanson, Robert H. LaPrad
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Patent number: 6670591Abstract: A microwave oven performs a cooking operation in one of several cooking modes having a first cooking time period and a second cooking time period. The first cooking time period is determined in accordance with an output value of a sensor which senses a state of air in a cooking cavity of the microwave oven. The second cooking time period is determined in accordance with the first cooking time period such that the first and second cooking time periods are expressed by a functional relation. The cooking modes include a standard mode with a standard second cooking time period, a high mode with a longer cooking time than the standard second cooking time period, and a low mode with a shorter cooking time than the standard second cooking time period.Type: GrantFiled: October 2, 2002Date of Patent: December 30, 2003Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventors: Jong-Chull Shon, Won-Woo Lee, So-Hyun Lee, Keun-Seuk Oh
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Patent number: 6655262Abstract: The invention concerns a toaster comprising a housing (1) containing a bread-holder carriage (4) mobile between an ejecting position wherein it is returned by an elastic device (5) and a toasting position wherein it is retained by an electromagnetic device (14), the electromagnetic device (14) including a ferromagnetic component (15) secured to the bread-holder carriage (4) and an electromagnet (16) secured to the housing (1), and a control device acting on the circuit powering the coil (L) of the electromagnet.Type: GrantFiled: February 25, 2003Date of Patent: December 2, 2003Assignee: SEB S.A.Inventors: Julian Arnedo, Antonio Basora Sanjuan
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Publication number: 20030213794Abstract: A heating system including a power supply and a heating element for conducting a current from the power supply. A temperature sensing device is adopted to detect a temperature of the heating element, and a switch is connected in a circuit containing the power supply and the heating element to switch the current on or off. Further, a microprocessor produces a pulse-width-modulated signal as a function of the detected temperature, where the pulse-width-modulated signal drives the switch.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 22, 2003Publication date: November 20, 2003Inventors: Michael Krieger, Bruce Randolph
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Patent number: 6649881Abstract: The present invention is directed to a water heater which includes a water container; an element located to heat water in the water container; a sensor located to sense temperature proximate the element; and a controller connected to the element and the sensor, the controller being programmed to energize the element with at least one electrical pulse over a predetermined time interval, comparing temperature information received from the sensor with a predetermined temperature, and disengaging the element in the event that the temperature received from the sensor is greater than a predetermined temperature for the predetermined time interval.Type: GrantFiled: October 23, 2001Date of Patent: November 18, 2003Assignee: American Water Heater CompanyInventors: Allen Scott, William Stout
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Publication number: 20030197004Abstract: A portable heater/cooler system comprises a thermal electric module conducting a current through the module; a heater/cooler cavity coupled to the thermal electric module; a variable speed fan for blowing air over the thermal electric module and into the cavity; a first temperature sensor coupled to the thermal electric module for measuring the temperature of the module; a second temperature sensor coupled to the heater/cooler cavity for measuring the temperature in the cavity; and a microprocessor for adjusting a speed of the fan and the current flow through the thermal electric module as a function of the measured temperatures of the thermal electric module and the cavity.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 25, 2002Publication date: October 23, 2003Inventors: Michael Krieger, Bruce Randolph
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Publication number: 20030197002Abstract: The present invention relates to a device that heats food quickly by using more than one power level during a heating cycle.Type: ApplicationFiled: April 19, 2002Publication date: October 23, 2003Inventors: Lawrence Lile, Peter Huggler
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Publication number: 20030183618Abstract: The invention relates to a method for heating water in a domestic water heating system, that comprises the steps of: (a) providing a water tank containing mw liters of water, (b) providing at least one temperature sensing unit in said water tank for sensing the temperature of the water in the tank: (c) providing a heating element in said water tank; (d) providing a control unit for activating said heating element, said control unit continuously receiving indication for the water temperature from said temperature sensing unit; (e) providing to said control unit a desired water temperature, and designating a time for using the water at said desired temperature; (f) knowing the current water temperature, the desired water temperature at said designated time, the power of the heating element, and the specific heat of the water, calculating by the control unit the heating period &Dgr;t needed for heating the water in the tank from the current temperature as measured by said temperature sensing unit, to the desiredType: ApplicationFiled: May 6, 2003Publication date: October 2, 2003Inventor: Benjamin Moreno
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Publication number: 20030183619Abstract: The invention presented here applies to a heating system with PTC heating elements for heating-up a medium that flows. In order to avoid unnecessary heating up of the PTC elements when the streaming fails, the required heat output, that is to be generated by the PTC elements, is compared to the electrical power actually consumed and, if a specified threshold value is under-run, the required heat output that was set is reduced accordingly.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 14, 2003Publication date: October 2, 2003Applicant: Catem GmbH & Co. KGInventors: Franz Bohlender, Michael Zeyen
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Patent number: 6627858Abstract: In a control unit of a hot-water supply system, a boiling time period is estimated based on a hot-water amount stored in a tank at a time of 23:00, a boiling start time is adjusted so that boiling operation is finished at a time immediately before 7:00. For example, when the hot water amount stored in the tank is smaller at the time of 23:00, the boiling time period is made longer and the boiling start time is made earlier. On the other hand, when the hot water amount stored in the tank is larger at the time of 23:00, the boiling time period is made shorter and the boiling start time is made later.Type: GrantFiled: November 28, 2001Date of Patent: September 30, 2003Assignees: Denso Corporation, Tokyo Electric Power Company, Central Research Institute of Electric Power IndustryInventors: Satoshi Nomura, Hisayoshi Sakakibara, Eiji Takahashi, Tomohisa Yoshimi, Tomoaki Kobayakawa, Kazutoshi Kusakari, Michiyuki Saikawa
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Publication number: 20030178408Abstract: The invention provides a water heater system having a water heater, a mixer valve, and a controller. The water heater includes a thermostat connected to a heating element. The water heater is connected to a cold in pipe and a hot out pipe. The mixer valve is positioned between the cold in pipe and the hot out pipe and provided an output of mixed hot and cold water. The controller is coupled to the thermostat.Type: ApplicationFiled: October 24, 2002Publication date: September 25, 2003Inventor: Bobby A. Ghent
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Publication number: 20030173350Abstract: An electric cooking apparatus which can be used for multi-purpose. The heating program of a control device can be changed freely through the operation of an operation panel 5. Heating temperature and time according to a user's taste are set and stored as heating program, thereby making it possible to make various types of cooking. As the setting of the heating program is carried out only through the operation of the operation panel 5, the program setting is extremely simplified. The control device is provided with a storage device for storing the heating program set through the operation of the operation panel 5, so that the precisely the same program can be repeated.Type: ApplicationFiled: May 1, 2002Publication date: September 18, 2003Applicant: K.K. Takegoshi SeisakushoInventor: Takao Takegoshi
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Patent number: 6610968Abstract: A system and method for processing a workpiece in a thermal processing furnace by measuring the temperature of the workpiece in the thermal processing furnace, and based upon an intended temperature profile and the measured temperature of the workpiece, moving the workpiece through the furnace to heat process the workpiece generally according to the intended temperature profile.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2000Date of Patent: August 26, 2003Assignee: Axcelis TechnologiesInventors: Ali Shajii, Brian Matthews, Jeffrey P. Hebb, John Danis
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Heater energization control circuit, heater energization control method, and image forming apparatus
Publication number: 20030136777Abstract: A heater energization control circuit includes a heater, a power source that supplies an alternating current to the heater, a first capacitor that charges and discharges in accordance with a first time constant that is determined by an electrostatic capacity of the first capacitor and a resistance value of a first resistor, and a second capacitor that charges and discharges in accordance with a second time constant that is determined by an electrostatic capacity of the second capacitor and a resistance value of a second resistor. A controller determines an energization start timing to the heater in accordance with a size relationship between a voltage of the first capacitor and a voltage of the second capacitor, and starting to supply the alternating current to the heater by the power source for supplying under this timing.Type: ApplicationFiled: January 16, 2003Publication date: July 24, 2003Applicant: MURATA KIKAI KABUSHIKI KAISHAInventor: Seino Okubo -
Patent number: 6593556Abstract: A microwave oven accumulatively counts a cooking time by decreasing the cooking time where an actual cooking operation is not carried out, and various electrical parts, including a high voltage transformer, are cooled. The microwave oven increases the cooking time where a power relay of the microwave oven is actually driven and the cooking operation is carried out. Accordingly, the microwave oven counts the cooking time in consideration of cooking conditions. Additionally, the microwave oven decreases an output power level where the counted cooking time has reached a preset overheating prevention time, and compulsorily recovers the output power level to perform the remaining cooking operation where a cooling period has elapsed.Type: GrantFiled: September 25, 2002Date of Patent: July 15, 2003Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.Inventor: Jun-Beom Kim
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Publication number: 20030121904Abstract: The disclosed invention relates to an oven for cooking foodstuffs such as pizza by infrared radiation. The oven includes nichrome-quartz heating elements which are governed by a pulse type controller. The pulse type controller cause the heating elements to generate infrared radiation over selected time periods to efficiently cook a foodstuff.Type: ApplicationFiled: March 15, 2002Publication date: July 3, 2003Inventors: Mats O. Ingemanson, Robert H. LaPrad, Phillp T. LaPrad
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Publication number: 20030116557Abstract: A system and method for controlling heater element operation in an oven includes a proportional heater signal generator that is mounted in associated with an oven operational mode switch. The signal generator operates in a sub-interval about a mode indicator to generate a proportional signal for controlling a heater element. The proportional signal may be used to alter the input voltage or timing control of the heater element.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 16, 2002Publication date: June 26, 2003Inventor: Timothy E. Graff
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Patent number: 6576875Abstract: Disclosed is a process for controlling selective application of heat into a material, preferably into a biological material, having an ultrasonic-wave generating unit which couples the ultrasonic waves into the material, an ultrasonic-wave-detecting unit which detects the ultrasonic waves emerging from the material and an evaluation unit which generates information-providing parameters on the basis of the detected ultrasonic waves which provide information about the thermal and structural changes inside the material.Type: GrantFiled: July 26, 2001Date of Patent: June 10, 2003Assignee: Fraunhofer-Gesellschaft zur Forderung der Angewandten Forschung E. VInventors: Bernard Kleffner, Robert Lemor
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Patent number: 6571687Abstract: An electric toaster includes a power switch unit driven by an electromagnet, for holding a spring-loaded carriage mounted in a toasting compartment when the carriage is moved from an upper position to a lower position, so as to switch from an OFF-mode, where the electromagnet is disposed in a deactivated position, to an ON-mode, where the electromagnet is disposed in an activated position. A control unit enables the electromagnet to be excited when the carriage is moved from the upper position to the lower position so as to attract the carriage such that the electromagnet subsequently moves with the carriage from the deactivated position to the activated position.Type: GrantFiled: September 27, 2002Date of Patent: June 3, 2003Assignee: Tsann Kuen USA Inc.Inventors: Tsan-Kuen Wu, Chi-Ting Chen
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Patent number: 6570138Abstract: A warming chamber defining a heated internal cavity is presented having a door that may be opened or closed to provide access to the cavity for the storage of, for example, food products. The chamber includes a temperature sensor that sends signals to a control regarding the sensed temperature within the cavity. The control then activates heating elements when necessary to maintain the cavity at a predetermined temperature. The control further senses when the door has been opened, and supplies a power boost to the heating elements in anticipation of a cooling effect even though a temperature drop within the cavity has not yet been sensed.Type: GrantFiled: February 15, 2001Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: Alto-Shaam, Inc.Inventors: William J. Hansen, David J. Redanz, Michael Lemcke
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Patent number: 6570136Abstract: A dual-heating element oven comprising a bake heating element and a broil heating element in combination with a control system that permits the selective alteration of the output of the broil heating element by the user to control the browning of a food item during the bake cycle.Type: GrantFiled: May 31, 2002Date of Patent: May 27, 2003Assignee: Whirlpool CorporationInventors: John W. Lockwood, James Pyles, Barbara A. Hodson, Karen M. Embury, Madelyn A. Cook
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Publication number: 20030094449Abstract: A method of and device for checking a device for influencing the temperature of a baking oven includes switching on devices for influencing the temperature of a baking oven for a predetermined time and subsequently comparing a measured temperature obtained with a predetermined comparison temperature. A fault signal is output dependent upon the comparison result.Type: ApplicationFiled: December 30, 2002Publication date: May 22, 2003Inventors: Martin Keller, Manfred Plankl, Michael Ulmer