Abstract: A device for monitoring the voltage or current applied to sensitive components on a circuit board by an assembly tool protects the sensitive components from damage caused by the voltage or current applied to the circuit board.

Abstract: An electrical heating assembly (2) includes a control system (26). The control system (26) comprises cooking mode selection means (34) having a plurality of settings whereby a predetermined cooking mode is user-selectable for the electrical heating assembly (2), and cooking value selection means (36) adapted for user-selection of a cooking temperature within a predetermined temperature range. The control system (26) is adapted whereby operation of the cooking mode selection means (34) from one setting to at least one other setting results in a change in the predetermined temperature range provided by the cooking value selection means (36).

Abstract: Among other things, light that carries information about cooking is directed in a first direction towards a redirection element and, at the redirection element, the light is redirected to be visible to a person cooking.

Abstract: A household appliance includes a body having a front, an appliance port including a cooling air inlet port and/or a vapor exhaust port disposed on the body, and a door. A console-type user control and display unit is provided including a control and display element, a housing, and control electronics disposed in the housing. The control electronics provide signal communication with the control and display element and with power electronics of the household appliance. At least a first portion of the user control and display unit is disposed on the door so as to be cooled by a flow of ambient air and so as to shield, when the door is in a closed position, the appliance port from view in a direction perpendicular to the front of the body.

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.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a oven and a method of controlling the same.

Abstract: A disappearing interface system for a device, such as an appliance (e.g., a cooking range) having an interactive user interface, a light-emitting device (e.g., a LED), a microprocessor based LED fader electronic control system that uses a PWM signal to drive an A/D circuit to control the intensity (e.g., fade in/out) of the light-emitting device.

Abstract: A heating apparatus includes a plurality of heating means that heat a heated object, a temperature measuring means that measures temperatures of some of the plurality of heating means, a heated object information storing means that stores, in a coordinate manner, heated object identification names, target heating temperatures at the heating means, and sets of heating ratios respectively assigned to the heating means, a heating information storage means that defines a relationship between temperatures during heating of the heating means up to the target heating temperatures and heating intensities at the temperatures, a heated object identification name obtaining means that obtains one of the heated object identification names, a heated object information reading-out means that reads out one of the target heating temperatures and one of the sets of heating ratios respectively assigned to the plurality of heating means, corresponding to the heated object identification name from the heated object information st

Abstract: A cooking apparatus using barcodes, including: a barcode reader which reads a barcode including cooking information recorded in the barcode; a cooking information calculator which analyzes the basic cooking information based on an analysis rule for analyzing the cooking information and calculating a final cooking condition based on the analyzed cooking information; and a controller which controls elements of the cooking apparatus to perform cooking so as to achieve the final cooking condition.

Abstract: A system and method is presented for a fail-safe sensor for an HVAC system. The sensor comprises a temperature detector operable to measure a temperature of a component or a medium present at the sensor, a PTC heater operable to heat the sensor to a self-regulating temperature, the heater comprising a resistive element having an electrical impedance which increases with increasing temperature in accordance with a positive temperature coefficient characteristic, and a sensor housing comprising the PTC heater and the temperature detector provided within a single housing. An algorithm is provided for HVAC systems, wherein the sensor is heated to the self-regulating temperature by the PTC heater and is then measured by the temperature detector to confirm that the temperature detector is operating properly. Further, the sensor may be allowed to cool to a temperature of the surrounding medium or the component for sensing the temperature thereof.

Abstract: A method of determining the presence of scale on a water heating element (12), the method comprising comparing signals indicative of heating element temperature to determine whether the compared signals indicate a temperature decrease (44) greater than a predetermined value during a predetermined time interval and determining the presence of scale if the indicated temperature decrease is greater than said predetermined value.

Abstract: A method of operating a cooking appliance including an input interface panel and a processor includes: inputting a first cooking time and a first cooking power level; manually changing the first cooking time such that the first cooking time is either extended or shortened; and automatically determining the actual cooking time using the processor.

Abstract: The present invention provides a combination weighing apparatus (1) capable of eliminating the need for memo paper for messages and reminders. A memory (22) of a control unit (20), which comprehensively controls the operation of the combination weighing apparatus (1), is provided with a memo information storage unit (22b) that stores memo information. In addition, the control unit (20) is provided with a retrieval control unit (21a) that retrieves memo information stored in the memo information storage unit (22b), and a display control unit (21b) for displaying the memo information retrieved by the retrieval control unit (21a). Furthermore, a touch screen (30), which is a memo information input means for inputting memo information, is connected, capable of sending and receiving signals, to the control unit (20).

Abstract: Disclosed is a temperature control apparatus including: a resistance heater to have a characteristic such that a resistance value of the resistance heater changes dependently on a temperature thereof; a signal generator to output a control signal having two voltage levels of an on-voltage and an second-voltage; a switching section to flow a first current through the resistance heater when the voltage level of the control signal is the first-voltage, and to flow a second current having a current value smaller than that of the first current through the resistance heater when the voltage level of the control signal is the second-voltage; and a voltage measuring instrument to measure a voltage value across the resistance heater at the time when the second current flows through the resistance heater, wherein the signal generator controls the temperature of the resistance heater based on the voltage value measured by the voltage measuring instrument.

Abstract: A toaster has a user selectable supplementary toasting cycle that is intended to change the shade of a food after or during a toasting cycle.

Abstract: A temperature sensor, such as a thermistor, senses the temperature inside a power source connector, or other portion, of a power supply. This sensed temperature may then be used to determine if the output power should be reduced or switched off in order to avoid overheating of the connector, or other portion of the power supply. Overheating of the power supply may occur, for example, if contact between the connector and a cigarette lighter power receptacle is incomplete. A microcontroller may be used to monitor the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor and reduce or disable the power supply if the temperature is above a threshold temperate. Accordingly, heat damage to the plastic components of the power supply, the cigarette lighter receptacle, may be reduced.

Abstract: A blanket for warming patients during surgery and other medical procedures. The blanket includes one or more temperature sensors and a shut-off timer to prevent prolonged exposure of excessive heat to a patient. Embodiments of the present invention provide a safety feature that cuts power to a heating blanket after a certain period of time has elapsed, irrespective of the feedback provided by a temperature sensor concerning the blanket temperature. That period of time is longer than it takes for the blanket to reach its threshold temperature but shorter than it takes to cause thermal burn injury.

Abstract: The heat blanket (10) comprises an operative unit (20) and a control/power supply unit (40) which can be electrically connected on one side to the power mains and on the other side to the operative unit (20). The operative unit (20) comprises a foldable sheet (21) and a linear heating element (22) distributed in the sheet (21), with a first and second conductor extending one along the other, separated by a first electrically insulating material and enclosed by a second electrically insulating material; the first and second conductor are electrically connected to the control/power supply unit (40) and have respective first terminals inside the panel which are connected together. The control/power supply unit (40) comprises a power supply group (41) for the heating element (22), intended for the connection to the electric mains, and a microprocessor configured to control the power supply for the heating element (22).

Abstract: A heating device includes a case having a plurality of openings and a plurality of slits are defined in bars of the case so that a plurality of heating boards are engaged with the slits of the case at an equal distance. A power control device is connected to the case and includes a power line having a plurality of male connectors. Each heating board includes a heating layer sandwiched between two isolation plates. Two wires are connected to the heating layer and each wire has female connectors, which are connected with the male connectors of the power line. The heating layers of the heating boards dispense heat evenly from the openings of the case.

Abstract: Provided is a cooking appliance, such as a convection cooking appliance. The appliance includes a heating element, an annunciator, and a user interface for receiving a plurality of control settings from a user. The control settings include a time setting. The appliance further includes a controller operatively connected to the user interface for provision of the plurality of control settings to the controller. The controller includes an alarm point determination section for determining an alarm point based on the time setting, an annunciator control section for controlling the annunciator based on the alarm point, wherein the annunciator produces periodic annunciations, and a repeat period determination section for determining a repeat period for the periodic annunciations.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a plurality of heating elements and a plurality of user interface devices for receiving heating element settings. An input device for allows a user to arbitrarily selectively associate any one or more of the heating elements with any one or more of the user interface devices.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to record the registration of the connection of a household appliance to a bus line configuration to which a plurality of household appliances is to be, or is, connected, for the transmission of data. To this end, the household appliance in question is provided with an intrinsic interface that can be connected to the cited bus line configuration, and by which data can be transmitted into and/or from the household appliance. The household appliance also contains at least one display device for displaying operating states and/or operating data of the household appliance, the display device also being used to visualize the course and/or state of the registration of the connection of the household appliance to the bus line configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods for monitoring conditions that affect the quality of food being served. Conditions such as temperature and elapsed time affect the quality of food and the safety of food consumers. Various embodiments of monitoring systems can be incorporated with different types of food containers. Sensors such as temperature probes can provide temperature information about the container and/or the food being served. The monitoring system can use such information in conjunction with elapsed time information in various ways. The monitored information can be displayed generally “real-time,” or it can be stored for subsequent analysis. The monitored information can also be used to trigger an alarm or similar indicator when a condition detrimental to food-serving is present. Various embodiments of the monitoring system having such features can be packaged in various embodiments, including a self-contained unit and an assembly of modular components linked by wire and/or wireless connections.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus using barcodes, including: a barcode reader which reads a barcode including cooking information recorded in the barcode; a cooking information calculator which analyzes the basic cooking information based on an analysis rule for analyzing the cooking information and calculating a final cooking condition based on the analyzed cooking information; and a controller which controls elements of the cooking apparatus to perform cooking so as to achieve the final cooking condition.

Abstract: A scale having an electronic weighing system to generate a weight-dependent signal and a digital signal processing unit (18). The digital signal processing unit (18) has a circuit or program parts which measure the time elapsed since connection of the voltage to the scale. To dramatically reduce the time required for the scale to reach its full accuracy after connection of the voltage supply, the digital signal processing unit (18) has computation modules (34, 35) that correct the weight-dependent signal generated by the weighing system by a correction value that depends on the time elapsed. The magnitude of this correction value, starting from an initial correction value, converges with increasing time elapsed to a constant end value that differs from the initial correction value.

Abstract: A food preparation system includes a non-contact power supply for energizing a cooking appliance. The food preparation system includes a communication system for enabling communication between a food appliance and the system. The appliance transmits an identifier to the system. If the appliance does not have a transmitter, the system attempts to determine the type of appliance from a characterization of the power consumption by the appliance. If the appliance cannot be characterized, the food preparation system can be operated manually.

Abstract: A microwave oven for use in cooking food having a door and door mounted controls and a cooling system where the door mounted controls are disclosed. The microwave oven having an external enclosure defining an outer cabinet and an oven cavity supported within the external enclosure where the oven cavity has a front access opening. The door is rotatably supported adjacent the external enclosure for selectively closing the access opening. A control unit is mounted within the door and a ventilation cooling path is formed within the door for cooling the control unit mounted with the door. A blower is supported within the external enclosure for directing an air flow toward the door and into the ventilation cooling path. The microwave can further include a housing which is supported within the door for enclosing the control unit and where the housing forms part of the ventilation cooling path.

Abstract: A cooking stove which prevents the quantity of heat generated by a gas burner from increasing continuously contrary to the user's expectations, while allowing the user to easily operate the appliance. A cooking stove includes an operation portion 6 having touch switches provided on a glass top plate 2 covering a top surface of a cooking stove main body 1 accommodating burners 4a and 4b, the touch switches allowing a user to give instruction on activation of the burners 4a and 4b, the touch switches sensing an object that contacts or approaches the top surface of the glass top plate 2, and a controller for determining whether each of the touch switches is on (sensing state) or off (non-sensing state) to control activation of the burners 4a and 4b in accordance with the result of the determination. When a thermal power up switch for the burner 4a in the operation portion 6 is kept on while the burner 4a is in operation, controller increases the thermal power of the burner 4a by only one level.

Abstract: Method and control device for operating an oven. The control device comprises an operating panel which is substantially flat and sealed. One or more touch-sensitive regions of the panel define electronic on/off switches and an electronic rotary switch. Processing means connected to the rotary switch are suitable for detecting a property of a movement by a finger over at least a portion of a round path defined by the rotary switch. The property may be that of standstill, distance covered, speed and acceleration of the movement. The rotary switch provides the user with the possibility of running through selection options, shown on the display means, for recipes for the operation of the oven hygienically, quickly, easily and with a high resolution, of altering values for selection options and of monitoring the progress of the operation of the oven according to a selected recipe.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a cooking apparatus and cooking system which allows a user to change cooking information that is suitable to the preferences of the user and the amount of food when cooking food using automatic cooking information, and a cooking control method using the same. The cooking apparatus using automatic cooking information includes an automatic cooking information acquisition unit for acquiring the automatic cooking information; an automatic cooking information change unit for allowing a user to change the acquired automatic cooking information; and a control unit for controlling a series of cooking operations on the basis of the changed cooking information.

Abstract: A relay apparatus for relaying communication between a water heater main body and a radio remote control unit, comprising: a switch section for setting an address of the radio remote control unit; a control section for establishing communication with the water heater main body and commanding and controlling to read out maintenance information stored in the water heater main body assuming that input information at the switch section is a request from the radio remote control unit having an address which was set by operation of the switch section; and a display section for displaying the maintenance information received from the water heater main body.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus, cooking system, and cooking control method using a bar code, in which automatic cooking of food is performed when the bar code attached to a package of the food is lost or damaged. The cooking apparatus for cooking food using cooking data includes a memory for storing identification data and cooking data of the food; an image capture device for obtaining an image of the food; and a controller for identifying the food by comparing the image of the food to the identification data of the food, stored in the memory, obtaining the cooking data of the identified food, and controlling the cooking apparatus so that the cooking of the food is performed based on the cooking data.

Abstract: In an in-store oven system audible customer messages are automatically generated based upon a food product cooked in an oven within the store.

Abstract: A grip heater control apparatus (7) capable of increasing the opportunities to enable a heater (2) to warm a grip (1) while suppressing a voltage drop of a battery (10), the grip heater control apparatus comprising a heater (2) for generating heat by means of electric power supplied from the battery (10), the heater being provided in a grip (1) of a steering handle of a vehicle having a generator (9) for generating electricity interlocking with the rotation of an engine as a propulsive source and the battery (10) charged by the generator (9), and a heater control unit for controlling the electric energy supplied to the heater (2) from the battery (10), wherein a revolutions detecting unit is provided for detecting the number of revolutions of the engine or the generator (9) and the heater control unit includes a unit for determining an upper limit on the upper limit electric energy supplied to the heater (2) depending on the detected number of revolutions.

Abstract: A menu selection device for a cooking device is provided which is constructed such that a single display device may be divided into a menu guide unit and a menu selection unit. The menu guide unit is used to display a variety of menus, whereas the menu selection unit is constructed in the form of a touch screen which allows for selection of a particular menu from among the menus displayed on the menu guide unit. Use of a menu guide unit and a menu selection unit within a single display device makes a greater variety of cooking alternatives available to a user, while decreasing the size of the touch screen portion of the menu selection device and decreasing production costs.

Abstract: A temperature control device comprising a heater, a plurality of heater temperature sensors, a heater temperature controller, and a power supply unit, and adapted to prevent overheating and fires caused by the overheating of a heater, is disclosed. The heater adapted to increase in temperature in response to receiving power, each heater temperature sensor is adapted to sense a temperature of the heater and generate a corresponding sensed heater temperature, and the heater temperature controller is adapted to generate an interlock control signal when at least one of the sensed heater temperatures respectively sensed by the plurality of temperature sensors exceeds a heater reference temperature. In addition, the power supply unit is adapted to stop supplying power to a power supply controller, thereby stopping power from being supplied to the heater, when the heater temperature controller provides the interlock control signal to the power supply unit.

Abstract: Various present invention devices enable adherence to requirements for medical items. A medical item of the present invention includes a monitoring or data recording device to monitor and/or record medical solution conditions. The device may further include indicators to indicate compliance of the medical solution with prescribed requirements (e.g., manufacturer, medical standard or regulation, etc.). The medical item may alternatively include a barcode or transponder to uniquely identify the medical item to a thermal treatment system measuring and storing conditions in a central database. The present invention further includes various thermal treatment systems that monitor medical items for prescribed requirements and display the monitored parameters to medical personnel. In addition, the present invention may place time stamp information on medical items to enable determination by medical personnel of compliance with prescribed requirements.

Abstract: A food and food-plate warming device includes a base plate that has a planar top surface and has an outwardly beveled edge provided with laterally stepped ridges concentrically spaced from the top surface center. A cover plate is positioned on the base plate and has an outer lip that is nested on one of the stepped ridges. Handles are conjoined to the outer lip for receiving at least four contiguous metacarpals therethrough. A mechanism is included for heating the base plate top surface such that the food and food-plate interfitted between the base plate and the cover plate can be heated. The heating mechanism includes a heating element intercalated between the top and bottom surfaces of the first base plate. An automatic shut off switch is coupled to the heating element for interrupting power to the heating element when an interior temperature of the device reaches a maximum threshold temperature.

Abstract: Disclosed is a sterilizing apparatus for footwear. The sterilizing apparatus includes a plane heater having a carbon fiber embedded heating paper, a pair of electrodes installed at one side of the carbon fiber embedded heating paper while being spaced from each other, and insulating members stacked on upper and lower portions of the carbon fiber embedded heating paper and edge portions of which are thermally bonded to each other; a housing made of a flexible material and formed at an inner peripheral portion thereof with an insertion groove, in which the housing has a power line receiving hole at a lower end of a bottom surface thereof, a cation generating material receiving hole, and a plurality of corrugated grooves; an AC/DC converter having a time display section and a timer setting section; and a cation generating material fixedly inserted into the cation generating material receiving hole by adhesive.

Abstract: An electric cooking assembly includes a cooking surface having supported under the surface an electric heater incorporating an electric heating element and a temperature limiter including a thermally responsive assembly incorporating only a single switch, the switch being adapted to open at a predetermined sensed temperature. A control is provided, adapted to energise the electric heater from a power supply through the switch of the temperature limiter. A modular electronic monitoring device is provided, separate from the control, adapted to monitor energising of the electric heater and to activate a signal device when the cooking surface is too hot to touch.

Abstract: An induction foil cap sealer which includes a visual display device that shows power consumption in a bar graph format.

Abstract: A food timing system is disclosed that includes a number of timer modules associated with food holding devices in a restaurant. The timer modules are connected in a network for communicating information about the food being held in food holding compartments of the food holding devices. Each timer module includes a plurality of timers, with each timer being associated with a food holding compartment of a food holding device. The timers measure the holding time of food in each food holding compartment and are capable of transferring the holding time to another timer when the food is transferred to a holding compartment associated with the other timer.

Abstract: A cooking device containing a housing with a cooking chamber and a door to close off the cooking chamber and at least one control and display panel with an optical luminous display. The control and display panel can display the different operation modes of the cooking chamber and the on and/or off modes of the cooking chamber.

Abstract: A cooking apparatus and method thereof capable of performing a cooking process based upon a cooking condition corresponding to the amount of food introduced into a cooking chamber when the cooking process is performed using a bar code printed on a food package to be cooked.

Abstract: A method for controlling and regulating an electrical heating of a probe situated in the exhaust system of an internal combustion engine, a total heating power of the probe being set, and an actual temperature value of the probe being determined by measuring a characteristic parameter, e.g., a resistance. To prevent overheating of the probe ceramics, and therefore over-compensation of aging effects when using such a method, a rated heating power is determined by way of a program map as a function of operating points of the internal combustion engine; a control heating power is determined from the actual temperature value and a new setpoint value in a controller; and the total heating power is formed as the sum of the rated heating power and the control heating power. Moreover, due to this procedure, the regulating reserve of the controller is retained in wide ranges of the operating points. A cost advantage is yielded, because a measuring resistor and an analog-to-digital converter can be omitted.

Abstract: A system for wiring a heating element in an electrical appliance to a conventional thermostat switch in a new manner and a new thermostat for supporting the new wiring system. The new wiring system avoids switching the full heating element current for both hot power leads of a split-phase power system to reduce the amount of wiring needed to wire the thermostat switch to a heating element and a pilot lamp showing that current is being provided to the heating element.

Abstract: A device is provided for temperature controlled heating of primarily solid food in a microwave oven, which includes a block of polymeric material which is thermally insulated with respect to the food and which is provided so as to be exposed to a same microwave radiation as the food. A heat sensitive, readable marking which corresponds to a temperature of the food is provided on a surface of the block of polymeric material. A reader is connected to a heating system of the oven, and reads the marking and transmits control signals to a control circuit for controlling the heating system of the oven, when the reader reads a change of the marking.

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.

Abstract: A system configured to provide food storage, preparation, and delivery in a finished cooked state includes a computer control interface, a freezer/refrigeration module, a food transport mechanism, a heating/cooking module, and a delivery area. The meal system is configured to provide food storage, preparation, and delivery in a finished cooked state. The system may be configured in the form of an independent unit or in the form of a combination of separate modules. The computer control interface, freezer/refrigeration module, food transport mechanism, heating/cooking module, and delivery area may be communicatively interconnected wirelessly or non-wirelessly.

Abstract: The present invention provides a cooking stove that prevents an instruction from being given using the touch switch owing to a factor different from the user's operation, while hindering the user from having an incongruous or anxious feeling when operating the touch switch. Touch switches 10 to 13 are provided on a glass top plate covering a top surface of a cooking stove main body accommodating a left burner and a right burner; the touch switches 10 to 13 sense an object that contacts with or approaches the top surface of the glass top plate. When any of the touch switches is turned on and then turned off again, heating control 31 executes a pre-assigned process to the touch switch. When the touch switch is turned on, lighting control 32 changes the displays of display sections 14 to 17 to ones corresponding to the state of a burner after the process has been executed before executing a pre-assigned process to the touch switch.