Thermally Responsive Patents (Class 219/494)
  • Patent number: 8436281
    Abstract: Food heating devices and methods of removing one or more rollers from food heating devices are disclosed herein. An embodiment of a food heating device configured in accordance with the present disclosure includes a base structure, a food rotating system, a food heating system, and a plurality of rollers. One end of a roller can be left unsupported, either by separating a sidewall of the base structure or by separating an insert from the sidewall. In turn, an opposite end of the roller can be disconnected from the food rotating system, and the roller can be displaced axially with respect to the food heating system, which remains fixed relative to base structure. Accordingly, the roller(s) can be removed, cleaned separately, and subsequently reinstalled or replaced with respect to the base structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 7, 2013
    Assignee: C. Cretors & Company
    Inventor: Charles D. Cretors
  • Publication number: 20130105421
    Abstract: A system of outer supports for in vacuum girders driven by two lead screws, supported at the approximate quarter points and a second set of less massive in vacuum girders. The embodiment of the design is comprised of two spherical joints, outer holds bellows, inner threads into the girder, and split coupling. This invention makes changing bellows easier, allowing for bellow replacement without disturbing magnet shimming. This system provides the overall rigidity necessary to maintain the required straightness and flatness of the magnet modules over a range of magnet gaps and varying attractive magnetic forces.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Inventor: Alex K. Deyhim
  • Publication number: 20130106147
    Abstract: A heated seat (302) comprising: a cushion with one or more trench (30) areas; a heater (300) comprising: a carrier (2) with a periphery, the carrier (2) further including: a first electrically functional layer (4) that is made of a conductive material that substantially circumscribes at least a portion of the carrier (2); and a second electrically functional layer (8) that is made of a resistive material; one or more electrical conductors {12} attached to the first electrically functional layer; a trim layer (40) that covers the cushion when the heater is placed over the cushion, and wherein the periphery includes a first side edge (18) and a second side edge (20), and each side edge includes a cutout (26), and the cutouts are located adjacent to each other—forming a neck portion (28); wherein the heater is attached to the cushion by placing an attachment device (32) over the neck portion (28) of the heater and securing one or both ends of the attachment, device (32) to the cushion so that the neck portion (2
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 12, 2011
    Publication date: May 2, 2013
    Applicant: W.E.T. AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS, LTD.
    Inventors: Marinko Lazanja, Matthew Zuzga, Sergiu Csonti, Syed Rafat Iqbal, Igor Spasojevic, Tim Normand
  • Patent number: 8431872
    Abstract: A countertop cooking device such as a slow cooker or rice cooker which operates to initially reach a heat within the cooking cavity sufficient for sauteeing or braising food. A microprocessor communicating with a temperature sensor monitors the cooking cavity in order to sense drops in temperature. When a sudden drop in temperature occurs due to the addition of liquid to the cooking cavity, the device is caused to drop to a lower cooking temperature appropriate for boiling, simmering, or maintaining food warmth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Inventor: Peter Chang
  • Patent number: 8431876
    Abstract: The present invention provides system for testing an electrical winding element that is usually a stator bar or a stator winding. The stator bar is attached to a short circuit conductive element to form a closed short circuit of a single turn that acts as a primary circuit. The closed short circuit is connected to a step-up transformer that will act as a secondary circuit and which has at least two turns. The step-up transformer uses a controlled variable voltage source that charges the closed short circuit. Charging the closed short circuit creates a current in the stator bar inner conductive element, causing heat on the stator bar by induction. The system of the present invention is suitable for an accelerated thermal aging test that simulates closely how heat is created by induction on stator bars of electric machines.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2013
    Assignee: Empresas Publicas de Medellin E.S.P.
    Inventors: Jose Armando Bohorquez Cortazar, Andres Emiro Diez Restrepo, Juan Carlos Toro Londoño, Jairo Leon Restrepo Velasquez, Hector Diego Gonzalez Sanchez, Hugo Alberto Cardona Restrepo, Gabriel Jaime Lopez Jimenez, Idi Amin Isaac Millan, Emiro De Jesus Diez Saldarriaga
  • Publication number: 20130098891
    Abstract: The invention provides a method and a device for heating an electronic component and an electronic apparatus using the method/device. A heater is disposed at the electronic component. The heating method includes following steps: driving the heater according to a duty ratio by using electrical energy of a power module. If the output voltage of the power module is greater than a first threshold, set the duty ratio as a first ratio. If the output voltage of the power module is less than a second threshold, set the duty ratio as a second ratio. If the output voltage of the power module is between the first threshold and the second threshold, adjust the duty ratio so that the difference between the output voltage of the power module and the second threshold is positively proportional to the duty ratio.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 14, 2012
    Publication date: April 25, 2013
    Applicant: GETAC TECHNOLOGY CORPORATION
    Inventors: Chia-Chang CHIU, Chun-Chi WANG
  • Patent number: 8420986
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer-readable medium for controlling power applied to a heating element. A rectifier receives AC voltage supplied from an AC voltage supply and rectifies the AC voltage to DC voltage. A pulse-width modulation controller generates and transmits a pulse-width modulation signal, and a DC voltage modulator receives the DC voltage from the rectifier and the pulse-width modulation signal from the pulse-width modulation controller. Based on the pulse-width modulation signal, the DC voltage modulator supplies an analog DC voltage signal to the heating element. A feedback circuit reports the actual DC voltage applied to the heating element to a microcontroller and, if the actual DC voltage deviates from the DC voltage encoded in the pulse-width modulation signal, the pulse-width modulation controller modulates the pulse-width modulation signal to minimize or eliminate the deviation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: BSH Home Appliances Corporation
    Inventors: Donald Hendricks, David Nowak, Phil Springer
  • Patent number: 8423193
    Abstract: A control system and methods are provided that limit power provided to a power receiving device to a value less that that produced at full line voltage. The system includes at least one power receiving device and a power controller operatively associated with the power receiving device, the power controller comprising a power limiting function that limits the power provided to the power receiving device to a value less than that produced at a full line voltage through the use of a scaling function.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Watlow Electric Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Kenneth J. Fennewald, Louis P. Steinhauser
  • 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
  • Patent number: 8420984
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a household appliance for performing a housekeeping task. The household appliance comprises a data input device (16) adapted to remotely sense a property in a sensing area (18), and a controller (22) coupled to the data input device and adapted to control an operation of the household appliance in accordance with the sensed property.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 16, 2013
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products Corporation N.V.
    Inventors: Kersten Kaiser, Alwin Neukamm, Claudio Cenedese
  • Patent number: 8415592
    Abstract: The present invention relates to an oven comprising a first chamber and a second chamber, which are separated by separation means, conveyor means for guiding products from the inlet through these chambers to the outlet, temperature control means for controlling the temperature in each chamber individually using a fluid, respectively, and means to adjust the flow distribution over the width of the conveyor means depending on at least one process parameter or recipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: CFS Bakel B.V.
    Inventor: Hendrikus Antonius Jacobus Kuenen
  • Publication number: 20130082045
    Abstract: Braking current generated by an electrical motor on mining equipment during a retard interval is switched through one or more grid resistors that are liquid cooled. Under low ambient temperatures, a heating current can be switched through the grid resistors when the electrical motor is not operating in a retard interval. An integrated cooling system can be used to cool grid resistors and power modules. Heat dissipated by the grid resistors and the power modules can be circulated through auxiliary heating loops to heat portions of the mining equipment under low ambient temperatures. Multiple liquid-cooled power modules, liquid-cooled grid resistors, auxiliary heating loops, control modules, radiators, and pumps can be coupled by a liquid distribution system with various combinations of parallel and serial branches. Temperature, pressure, and flow rate in each branch can be independently controlled. Operation of the integrated cooling system can be controlled by a computational system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2011
    Publication date: April 4, 2013
    Applicant: SIEMENS INDUSTRY, INC.
    Inventor: Joy Mazumdar
  • Patent number: 8410401
    Abstract: A powertrain/driveline warm-up system includes a vehicle controller, an electrical power source interfacing with the vehicle controller, at least one heater interfacing with the vehicle controller and at least a portion of a vehicle powertrain provided in thermal contact with the at least one heater.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2013
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Steven Thomas, John Edward Brevick
  • Publication number: 20130077944
    Abstract: Thermal energy storage devices, systems, and thermal energy storage device monitoring methods are described. According to one aspect, a thermal energy storage device includes a reservoir configured to hold a thermal energy storage medium, a temperature control system configured to adjust a temperature of the thermal energy storage medium, and a state observation system configured to provide information regarding an energy state of the thermal energy storage device at a plurality of different moments in time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 28, 2011
    Publication date: March 28, 2013
    Inventors: Maria C. Tugurlan, Francis K. Tuffner, David P. Chassin
  • Patent number: 8405006
    Abstract: A device for heating a biological sample, the device having a heating source comprising a semiconductor chip. A sample chamber, or other medium to be heated, is positioned adjacent the heating source, wherein the sample chamber is configured to house a biological sample at a predetermined temperature. A microcontroller is electrically coupled to the semiconductor chip and a sensor positioned inside, at, or near the sample chamber. The microcontroller supplies a load current to the heating source to generate heat from the heating source, and the sensor is coupled to the microcontroller to provide feedback for controlling the heat generated by the heating source. The device may also support different heating profiles that are software and/or hardware selectable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Los Alamos National Security, LLC
    Inventor: Torsten Albert Staab
  • Patent number: 8406932
    Abstract: An embodiment of a spa control system includes a heater, a pump for circulating water through the pump, one or more sensors for monitoring temperature, and an electronic controller coupled to the heater, pump and sensor(s) for controlling the heater and pump based on the rate of change in temperature at the sensor(s). A method of controlling a heater in a spa with a spa control system is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 26, 2013
    Assignee: Balboa Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerrell P. Hollaway
  • Patent number: 8399812
    Abstract: A cooking and storage system comprises a refrigeration device, a cooking device and controller for controlling the cooking device, and the refrigeration device provides to the controller temperature information relating to the temperature within the refrigeration device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 4, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignee: Merrychef Limited
    Inventors: Nigel Thorneywork, Andrew Brown, David Crayfourd
  • Publication number: 20130055661
    Abstract: A heating system for use with roofing shingles, the heating system including a flexible grounding layer having a transverse dimension that is no greater than substantially equal to a transverse dimension of the roofing shingles, a flexible heater laminated to the flexible grounding layer, wherein the flexible heater includes a substrate, a conductive resistive ink pattern disposed on the substrate, wherein the ink pattern generates heat when electricity passes through the ink pattern, wherein the heating system includes a nailing portion that extends longitudinally along one side of the heating system, the nailing portion of the heating system having a transverse dimension that is at least substantially equal to a transverse dimension of a nailing portion of the roofing shingles, wherein the flexible heater is disposed on the flexible grounding layer such that the ink pattern is disposed outside of the nailing portion of the heating system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: Calorique, Ltd.
    Inventor: Eugene B. McGillycuddy
  • Publication number: 20130055902
    Abstract: The device (2) comprises: a first water heater (9), having at least a first water duct (45) and at least a first heating member (43); and a second water heater (23), having at least a second water duct (55). The first water heater (9) and the second water heater (23) are in thermal connection the one to the other one.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Giovanni Berto, Massimo Baldo, Marco Santini
  • Publication number: 20130058637
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating or cooling a fluid is provided. In one embodiment, a heat exchanger is provided. The heat exchanger includes a first subassembly comprising an insert. The insert comprises a body having a blind passage formed axially in the body, a plurality of nozzles formed therein, and a first plurality of heat exchange elements disposed within the body. The heat exchanger also comprises a second subassembly comprising a sleeve and a second plurality of heat exchange elements disposed within the sleeve, wherein the insert is sealably engaged inside the sleeve and the insert and the sleeve cooperatively define a thin gap, and wherein each of the plurality of nozzles are disposed radially between the blind passage and the thin gap.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2012
    Publication date: March 7, 2013
    Inventors: Tao Hou, Son T. Nguyen, Kenric T. Choi, Anh N. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8392027
    Abstract: A spa control system that measures the flow of water through the heater and accurately reports water temperature in the spa using only one solid-state sensor in the heater. The rate of flow is determined by energizing the pump, with the heater still de-energized, and observing the rate in which the moving water cools the inside of the heater. If there is no circulation of water through the heater, the temperature of the sensor will continue to rise from the energy applied when the heater was briefly energized. This rise will be quite significant and a clear indication of a flow problem. If the flow is found to be adequate, the heater will be energized for a normal period of time. The sensor is now carefully monitored for a sudden increase in temperature, which would indicate loss of a normal flow of water.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Balboa Instruments, Inc.
    Inventor: Jerrell P. Hollaway
  • Patent number: 8388901
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for heating and sensing the temperature of a chemical reaction chamber without direct physical contact between a heating device and the reaction chamber, or between a temperature sensor and the reaction chamber. A plurality of chemical reaction chambers can simultaneously or sequentially be heated independently and monitored separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2013
    Assignee: Applied Biosystems, LLC
    Inventors: John S. Shigeura, Janice G. Shigeura
  • Publication number: 20130048624
    Abstract: A pressure-sensitive adhesive strength exhibiting unit including: a thermal head including heat-generating elements aligned in a row, for heating the pressure-sensitive adhesive label from the pressure-sensitive adhesive layer side to cause each of the heat-generating elements to form a bore in the functional layer; a platen roller for conveying the pressure-sensitive adhesive label while sandwiching the pressure-sensitive adhesive label between the thermal head and the platen roller; and a control part for applying heat energy to each of the heat-generating elements independently, wherein when the control part continuously forms perforation lines in which a plurality of the bores are aligned in a row by repeating the application of heat energy, the control part applies high heat energy, whose energy amount is higher than an energy amount of heat energy applied to the heat-generating elements during formation of a previous perforation line, to the heat-generating elements to form the perforation line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2012
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Yoshinori Sato, Kazuo Tani, Norimitsu Sanbongi
  • Publication number: 20130048623
    Abstract: A housing may generally include a test cell being enclosed and having at least one test cell wall and one sealable opening and has a cell central axis defined along the center line of the length of the test cell, a thermal element in thermal communication with the test cell, and an insulation, at least a portion of the insulation being disposed about the test cell and the thermal element. An apparatus may generally include a housing, a drive connection, and a shaft operably connected to the test cell and extending parallel to the cell central axis from the test cell through the insulation to the drive connection to which the shaft is operably connected. A modular system may include at least one apparatus and a frame that houses at least a portion of the housing, and a driving mechanism operably connected to the drive connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventors: Dale E. Jamison, Kenneth Heidt Matthews, Ketan Chimanlal Bhaidasna
  • Publication number: 20130048625
    Abstract: A method of estimating a temperature of a material being heated is described. The method may comprise supplying electrical power to a heating element in dependence on a measured temperature, calculating a rate at which the amount of electrical power supplied changes over time, comparing the calculated rate with a plurality of known values in order to determine the value of a parameter relating to thermal properties of the material being heated, and calculating an estimated temperature based on the determined value of said parameter. In some embodiments, the method may further comprise detecting a drop in temperature of the material being heated, by detecting a change in the calculated rate at which the amount of electrical power supplied changes over time.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 18, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Applicant: KONINKLIJKE PHILIPS ELECTRONICS N.V.
    Inventors: Marcel Sladecek, Michael Tolk
  • Patent number: 8383993
    Abstract: A temperature control device is disclosed that includes a heating wire being connected to an alternating current power source though a SCR, a sensing wire being disposed parallel to the heating wire, a thermo-sensitive resin insulating the heating wire and the sensing wire from each other and changing its impedance according to a change in temperature, and a temperature sensing unit outputting a temperature control signal to turn the SCR on or off according to a change in electric current flowing through the thermo-sensitive resin, in which the SCR is turned on or off by a sensing unit diode. The heating wire is heated by a heating current that flows in a heating cycle only, in which a forward voltage is formed in the SCR, and the sensing wire conducts a sensing current that flows in a sensing cycle only, in which a reverse voltage is formed in the SCR.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Bokuk Electronics
    Inventors: Min-Ja Kim, Byung-Dong Kim, Chang-kyu Moon, Jung-Moo Kim
  • Patent number: 8383992
    Abstract: A controllable heating pad, having a heating conductor embedded in the heating pad, a sensing conductor embedded in the heating pad, a resistive material providing a distributed electrical path between the heating conductor and the sensing conductor, a first current sensor to sense a current in the heating conductor and a second current sensor to sense a current in the sensing conductor. A method of controlling a temperature of a heating pad, including the steps of: warming the heating pad to at least a first predetermined temperature by use of an adjustable on/off signal to the controllable switch, measuring currents through an NTC material or a combination of a PTC material and an NTC material; and maintaining a temperature of the heating pad to within a predetermined temperature range by use of the adjustable on/off signal to the controllable switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2013
    Assignee: Kaz USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Zhijing Wang, Rumao Zhong, Hechuang Duan
  • Publication number: 20130043234
    Abstract: A heating device and a temperature control device are provided. The heating device includes a heating element, and a heat conducting film disposed on the surface of the heating element, wherein the heat conducting film has a surface area that is larger than the contact area between the heat conducting film and the heating element. The heat conducting film is used for uniformly conducting heat generated by the heating element. Therefore, the existing non-uniform heating and slow heat dissipation problems for the heating element having a large surface area can be solved. Furthermore, because the metallic heat conducting film has good heat conduction, the heat can be quickly spread over a larger area to prevent localized overheating and damage to the heating element itself or the electrical product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 18, 2011
    Publication date: February 21, 2013
    Inventors: Ming-Wei TSAI, Min-Lang Huang
  • Patent number: 8378272
    Abstract: Disclosed is a heat treatment apparatus for performing a heat treatment on an object to-be-processed by a heater, which can inhibit variation in thermal histories among the objects to-be-processed. The heat treatment apparatus includes, among others, a correction part to correct a power control signal output from an adjusting unit so that a conduction rate of an AC voltage applied to a heater is decreased. Specifically, the correction is performed based on a value obtained by multiplying a first correction value with a second correction value, where the first correction value is generated according to a ratio of the voltage detection value of AC power source to a predetermined reference voltage, and the second correction value is generated according to a ratio of the resistance value of the heater to a predetermined reference resistance value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 19, 2013
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Kenichi Shigetomi, Tsutomu Fukunaga, Yasuhiro Uchida
  • Publication number: 20130037534
    Abstract: Provided is a method of controlling temperatures of objects to be heated in a heating unit by adjusting a heating rate of each of a plurality of heating elements, based on temperature detection values detected at a plurality of temperature detection elements, wherein the plurality of temperature detection elements are positioned at different positions and the plurality of heating elements are positioned at different positions. The method includes estimating a temperature of each of the plurality of temperature detection elements by using a first estimation algorithm when one of the plurality of temperature detection elements is broken, based on the temperature detection values of the temperature detection elements excluding the broken temperature detection element, and controlling the temperatures of the objects to be heated based on the estimated temperatures.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Koji YOSHII, Tatsuya Yamaguchi, Wenling Wang, Takanori Saito
  • Publication number: 20130037533
    Abstract: Provided is an electronic device including a temperature measuring part measuring a temperature of a heat generation source generating heat caused by power consumption or of a portion inside a housing that varies in temperature due to heat generation of the heat generation source; and an ambient temperature calculating part calculating a temperature by use of a predetermined relational formula that differs according to a model based on a difference between a first temperature measured by the temperature measuring part after the elapse of a first predetermined period of time from the start of constant power consumption by the heat generation source and a second temperature measured by the temperature measuring part further after the elapse of a second predetermined period of time as an ambient temperature of an environment in which the housing is placed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 18, 2012
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Kimiyasu NAMEKAWA, Akihiro EGAWA
  • Patent number: 8372683
    Abstract: An RTP heating system and an RTP heating method, which can heat a photovoltaic-device intermediate product having a glass substrate, a Mo layer, and a light absorption layer in formation. The RTP heating system is composed of a chamber; a support member located in the chamber; a heating element mounted in the chamber for emitting infrared rays for heating; and a plurality of temperature sensors and a temperature control device for sensing and controlling thermal sources from the heating element and the support member. The infrared rays can be mostly reflected off the Mo layer to apply less direct heating to the glass substrate. Accordingly, the upper and lower surfaces of the photovoltaic-device intermediate product can be heated under different temperatures separately to prevent the glass substrate below the photovoltaic-device intermediate product from softening and deformation and to allow production of the light absorption layer on the Mo layer.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Assignee: ADPV Technology Limited
    Inventor: Shiezen Steven Huang
  • Patent number: 8367984
    Abstract: A water heater comprises a body defining a chamber for holding water to be heated, an inlet opening and an outlet opening in communication with the chamber for flowing water therethrough and one or more power consuming features/functions including a heater for heating the water within the chamber. A controller is operatively connected to the one or more power consuming features/functions. The controller is configured to receive and process a signal indicative of a utility state. The controller operates the water heater in one of a plurality of operating modes, including at least a normal operating mode and an energy savings mode, in response to the received signal. The controller is configured to at least one of selectively adjust and deactivate at least one of the one or more power consuming features/functions to reduce power consumption of the water heater in the energy savings mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 15, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2013
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: John K. Besore, Jeff Donald Drake, Michael F. Finch, Darin Franks, John Joseph Roetker, Steven Keith Root, Natarajan Venkatakrishnan, Eric K. Watson
  • Publication number: 20130020310
    Abstract: A monitoring and control system for monitoring and controlling at least one thermal regulation system (TRS), where the monitoring and control system includes a thermal sensor for sensing temperature in the TRS; a controller, operatively associated with the TRS and the thermal sensor, where the controller receives data from the thermal sensor including temperature measurements thereof and analyzes the data for allowing disconnecting TRS from its power supply once the temperature in the TRS, sensed by the sensor, reaches at least one predefined threshold; and a breaking mechanism, operatively associated with the controller, including at least one circuit breaker for allowing disconnecting the TRS from its power supply when identifying an electrical overload or once disconnected by the controller operatively associated therewith.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 19, 2012
    Publication date: January 24, 2013
    Inventor: Sasson Yuval Hacham
  • Publication number: 20130015176
    Abstract: A heater includes at least one heating element having a resistance that varies non-linearly with respect to a temperature of the heating element. The heating element includes a first surface, a second surface opposite the first surface, a third surface extending between the first and second surfaces, and a fourth surface extending between the first and second surfaces, opposite the third surface. The heating element has a height defined between the first and second surfaces, and a width defined between the third and fourth surfaces, and wherein the width is less than the height. The heater also includes at least one electrode coupled to the first surface and configured to generate an electric field across the heating element and cause a current to flow through the heating element.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 14, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Robert Christopher Twiney, Christopher Martin Morter
  • Publication number: 20130016959
    Abstract: A radiant heating system comprising a substantially hollow housing having detachable baffle plates internally positioned within the housing. The housing has an inlet and outlet for a flow of coolant to enter into and leave the housing, and a top plate sealing the upper surface of the housing has openings defined therein for insertion of heating elements to project into the housing and be in direct contact with the coolant to heat it. The inlet and the outlet are interconnected with piping to form a closed fluid flow circuit. Two or more baffle plates are used to increase turbulence of the coolant within the housing as it flows through, and temporarily keep coolant in the housing longer to heat it.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 13, 2012
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventor: Ray King
  • Publication number: 20130015548
    Abstract: To provide an integrated circuit with functionality under environment with temperature lower than a working condition, the integrated circuit is designed to include a heating element incorporated with signal pins on a carrier, such as a lead frame, that supports a chip die and controlled by a heating control unit to increase temperature of the chip die. The heating control unit provides voltage for the heating element when a detecting unit detects that the temperature of the chip die falls below a predetermined temperature and a power control unit provide operation power for the chip die when the temperature of the chip die detected by the detecting unit reaches or falls above the predetermined temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 11, 2011
    Publication date: January 17, 2013
    Inventors: Hsieh-Chun Chen, Tsang-Yi Chen
  • Patent number: 8350195
    Abstract: A method and an apparatus for the heating of a solution, such as a dialysis solution, to a desired temperature includes heating the solution presented in a bag. The heating is effected with a heater system, which includes a heater, by means of a two-step control. The temperature forming the lower switch-on threshold of the heater and the temperature forming the upper switch-off threshold of the heater vary.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Fresenius Medical Care Deutschland GmbH
    Inventors: Frank L. Hedmann, Stephan Klatte
  • Patent number: 8334485
    Abstract: An apparatus and a method for measuring temperature in a cooking appliance, both of which utilize a circuit for reading an input from a thermal resistive device. By including a processor and an amplifier in the circuit, embodiments reduce the number of processor pins required to modify the amplified input arising from the amplifier. In one embodiment, the processor utilizes a single processor pin, through which is distributed a control output corresponding to the input and modifying the operating parameters of the amplifier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 18, 2012
    Assignee: General Electric Company
    Inventors: Patrick Ryan Cox, David Lepie, Gregory Francis Gawron, Sr.
  • Publication number: 20120313657
    Abstract: A temperature control unit for an electronic component and a handler apparatus, which are excellent in responsibility during cooling and heating, is obtained. The temperature control unit for an electronic component includes a cooling cycle device having a refrigerant passage circulating through a compressor, a condenser, an expander, and an evaporator; a thermally conductive block having an outer surface capable of coming in contact with the electronic component that is an object to be temperature-controlled, where an inner surface corresponding to the outer surface is placed opposite to the outer surface so as to be brought in contact with or apart from the evaporator; at least one first heater for heating the thermally conductive block; and a compressed air feeding circuit for feeding compressed air between facing surfaces of the evaporator and the thermally conductive block to part them.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 23, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: SEIKO EPSON CORPORATION
    Inventor: Satoshi NAKAMURA
  • Patent number: 8330476
    Abstract: A supply voltage management system and method for an integrated circuit (IC) die are provided. The supply voltage management system includes one or more temperature sensing elements located on the IC die and configured to sense temperature of the die and to output a sensed temperature value for the die. A dynamic voltage controller is located on the die and is configured to receive the sensed temperature value for the die and to identify a technology process category of the die. Based on the sensed temperature value and the identified technology process category of the die, the dynamic voltage controller adjusts an output voltage to at least one circuit of the die.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2005
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: ATI Technologies ULC
    Inventors: Nancy Chan, Ramesh Senthinathan
  • Patent number: 8330083
    Abstract: A portable countertop electric oven for cooking food includes: a cooking housing; a power head operative to attach, connect, and/or couple, to the cooking housing, at least a portion of the power head extending into an interior of the cooking housing; a base operative to attach, connect, and/or couple, to the cooking housing; and a first securing element operable to secure the cooking housing to the base. A porting element may be provided, such as a handle formed from a portion of the power head, which may include first and second bulged regions of the power head. At least one of: the cooking housing; the power head and the base, may have a substantially elliptical shape, and may include two bulged portions at respective distal ends. The first securing element may be an attachment clip including a first region operable to engage with the cooking housing and a second region operable to engage with the base.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Hearthware, Inc.
    Inventors: Jung S. Moon, Gene H. Kim, Mikale K. Kwon, Eung Y. Choi, Byong G. Choi
  • Patent number: 8324537
    Abstract: An article of composite material includes a plurality of plies of material consolidated through the application of pressure and heating, in which each material ply is made by a resin matrix reinforced with fiber material. The article includes heating electrical resistance and temperature sensing devices embedded in the composite material, which are respectively placed in at least one interface zone between the material plies and are suitable to allow a temperature control of the article in service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: Alenia Aeronautica S.p.A.
    Inventors: Alfonso Apicella, Michele Iannone, Generoso Iannuzzo, Giovanni Sagnella
  • Patent number: 8319157
    Abstract: Fluid temperature control and sensor calibration is disclosed. In an embodiment, a fluid temperature control unit includes a heater configured to heat a first fluid in a first fluid path, a first temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of the first fluid in the first fluid path, a second temperature sensor configured to measure a temperature of a second fluid in a second fluid path, and a controller configured to control the heater on the basis of the temperature sensed by the first sensor and the temperature sensed by the second sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 26, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: ASML Netherlands B.V.
    Inventors: Arjan Hubrecht Josef Anna Martens, Pieter Jacob Kramer
  • Publication number: 20120292304
    Abstract: A device case for a portable electronic device is provided and includes mechanical protection for the device, an active thermal element incorporated within the mechanical protection and a controller to control an operation of the active thermal element, the controller being configured to limit power consumption of the active thermal element and to maintain a predefined internal device temperature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
    Inventors: Joshua D. Burchard, Michael J. Forte, Zamir G. Gonzalez, Jenny S. Li
  • Patent number: 8309874
    Abstract: A method and apparatus for heating or cooling a fluid. An inlet conduit coupled to a plurality of distribution nozzles in fluid communication with a channel at the periphery of the apparatus. An insert and a sleeve cooperatively define a thin gap, in fluid communication with the channel, through which the fluid flows. Thermal inserts near the thin gap generate heat flux into or out of the fluid, which exits through an outlet conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Tao Hou, Son T. Nguyen, Kenric Choi, Anh N. Nguyen
  • Patent number: 8309893
    Abstract: A heating appliance includes an electric heating element, and a relay for selectively connecting the heating element to a power supply that supplies an alternating electric current to the electric heating element to generate heat. The relay includes an inductive actuator that controls a switching state of the relay, and a switch can interrupt a supply of electric current from a power source to the inductive actuator to adjust the switching state. A flyback path for conducting a decaying electric current includes a selective conductor and a voltage regulator that maintains a flyback voltage across the inductive actuator above a minimum flyback voltage. And a controller transmits a control signal that adjusts the switching state of the relay to cause interruption of the alternating electric current being supplied to the heating element after the alternating electric current being conducted through the relay falls below a peak value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 13, 2012
    Assignee: Electrolux Home Products, Inc.
    Inventor: Robert C. Harris
  • Publication number: 20120279955
    Abstract: In the present invention, temperature drop amounts of heating plate regions when the substrate is mounted on a heating plate are detected to detect a warped state of the substrate. From the temperature drop amounts of the heating plate regions, correction values for set temperatures of the heating plate regions are calculated. The calculation of the correction values for the set temperatures of the heating plate regions is performed by estimating steady temperatures within the substrate to be heat-processed on the heating plate from the temperature drop amounts of the heating plate regions using a correlation obtained in advance. From the estimated steady temperatures within the substrate and the temperature drop amounts of the heating regions, the correction values for the set temperatures of the heating plate regions are calculated. Based on the correction values for the set temperatures, the set temperatures of the heating plate regions are changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 8, 2012
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Masahide TADOKORO, Ryoichi UEMURA, Mitsuteru YANO, Shinichi SHINOZUKA
  • Patent number: 8304698
    Abstract: Whether a temperature of a portion of a die of an integrated circuit device having a central processing device and one or more peripheral components has exceeded a first temperature threshold is determined. In response to determining that the temperature of the portion of the die has exceeded the first temperature threshold, a first thermal reduction process for a first peripheral component of the one or more peripheral components is selected and the first thermal reduction process for the first peripheral component is implemented.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Inventor: Brett A. Tischler
  • Publication number: 20120273479
    Abstract: Provided is a multipurpose heating pad that can be placed atop a chair, mat, or other surface and used or placed below the same and used, and is formed as a standalone heating pad. The pad includes a heating element controlled and operated by a controller that is selectively connectable to an AC or DC power supply, and one of various types of cover materials in which the heating element is entirely enclosed. As the pad can be selectively used with an AC power supply, DC power supply, or a rechargeable power supply as required, it can be effectively used indoors, outdoors, and in moving vehicles. Further, when the inner heating element is formed in sections and the sections are sequentially operated, a significant amount of power is saved due to the heating effects of latent heat, so that the power consumption is reduced.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 12, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Inventor: Soo Ho Kim