Including Heater Patents (Class 361/164)
  • Patent number: 11058121
    Abstract: A method of controlling a cooking oven including a contactor, a relay, and a heating element, the contact, the relay, and the heating element in a series-type configuration. The method includes during a first operation, placing the contactor in a closed position, and during the first operation, selectively providing power, via the relay, to the heating element. The method further includes during a second operation, bypassing the relay while the contactor is in the closed position, and during the second operation, providing power to the heating element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: THE MIDDLEBY CORPORATION
    Inventors: William S. Schjerven, Sr., James Jeffery Hanson, Ricky Joe Sullivan McIntosh
  • Patent number: 9945576
    Abstract: An information handling system includes a plurality of components, and a controller. The controller determines a separate thermal resistance for each of the components, categorizes each component into one of a plurality of cooling domains based on the thermal resistance of the component and an amount of air flow around the component, and adjusts cooling controls for each of the components based on the respective cooling domain of the component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 8, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: DELL PRODUCTS, LP
    Inventors: Dominick A. Lovicott, William K. Coxe
  • Patent number: 9413182
    Abstract: Provided is a system method for periodically charging a sub-battery for an electric vehicle. In this method, an SOC self-discharge rate of the sub-battery is calculated. An LDC output voltage and a charging time of the sub-battery are set using the SOC self-discharge rate of the sub-battery and information received from an IBS. It is determined whether or not an SOC of a main battery is equal to or greater than a set value. Periodic charging is performed on the sub-battery through an operation of an LDC when the SOC of the main battery is equal to or greater than the set value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Jun Yeon Park
  • Patent number: 7498913
    Abstract: A thermal trip device in which a bimetal (2) is heated by overcurrent and performs trip operation of a circuit by curvature of the heated bimetal (2), wherein at least one part of the surface of the bimetal (2) is made to be black or matte black (7). Thereby, temperature of the bimetal (2) can be highly accurately measured using a no-contact thermometer. Furthermore, a temperature measurement part (8) of the bimetal is provided with a bending part (11), and the surface of the bending part is made to be matte black.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 21, 2004
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2009
    Assignee: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
    Inventors: Kouji Kawamura, Hiroyuki Akita, Masatoshi Murai, Hirotoshi Yonezawa, Satoru Naito
  • Patent number: 6628039
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) device is provided that includes a microelectronic substrate, a microactuator disposed on the substrate and formed of a single crystalline material, and at least one metallic structure disposed on the substrate adjacent the microactuator While the MEMS device can include various microactuators, one embodiment of the microactuator is a thermally actuated microactuator that may include a pair of spaced apart supports disposed on the substrate and at least one arched beam extending therebetween. Thus, on actuation, the microactuator moves between a first position in which the microactuator is spaced apart from the at least one metallic structure to a second position in which the microactuator operably engages the at least one metallic structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2003
    Assignee: Memscap, S.A.
    Inventor: Vijayakumar R. Dhuler
  • Patent number: 6333583
    Abstract: Improved microelectromechanical structures include spaced-apart supports on a microelectronic substrate and a beam that extends between the spaced-apart supports and that expands upon application of heat thereto to thereby cause displacement of the beam between the spaced-apart supports. A heater, located on the beam, applies heat to the beam and displaces with the beam as the beam displaces. Therefore, heat can be directly applied to the arched beam, thereby reducing thermal loss between the heater and the arched beam. Furthermore, an air gap between the heater and arched beam may not need to be heated, thereby allowing improved transient thermal response. Moreover, displacing the heater as the arched beam displaces may further reduce thermal loss and transient thermal response by reducing the separation between the heater and the arched beam as the arched beam displaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2000
    Date of Patent: December 25, 2001
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase Corporation
    Inventors: Ramaswamy Mahadevan, Edward A. Hill, Robert L. Wood, Allen Cowen
  • Patent number: 6291922
    Abstract: A microelectromechanical (MEMS) device is provided that includes a microelectronic substrate, a microactuator disposed on the substrate and formed of a single crystalline material, and at least one metallic structure disposed on the substrate adjacent the microactuator such that the metallic structure is on substantially the same plane as the microactuator and is actuated thereby. For example, the MEMS device may be a microrelay. As such, the microrelay may include a pair of metallic structures that are controllably brought into contact by selective actuation of the microactuator. While the MEMS device can include various microactuators, one embodiment of the microactuator is a thermally actuated microactuator which advantageously includes a pair of spaced apart supports disposed on the substrate and at least one arched beam extending therebetween. By heating the at least one arched beam of the microactuator, the arched beams will further arch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 25, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 18, 2001
    Assignee: JDS Uniphase, Inc.
    Inventor: Vijayakumar R. Dhuler
  • Patent number: 6157897
    Abstract: A temperature IC is mounted to a card mounted within an electronic apparatus for monitoring airflow rate around the card to provide an alarm signal. The temperature IC includes a first IC including a temperature sensor and a second IC disposed downstream of the first IC. The second IC includes a temperature sensor and a resistor as a heating element. The second IC includes a first arithmetic unit that forms the difference in temperature out of two inputs of the temperature sensors, and a second arithmetic unit that determines thermal resistance of the second IC out of the difference in temperature and the quantity of heat released from the resistor. A memory stores date indicative of a relation between values of airflow rate and values of thermal resistance. A third arithmetic unit is provided to refer the stored data using the determined thermal resistance to find airflow rate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2000
    Assignee: NEC Corporation
    Inventor: Minoru Yoshikawa
  • Patent number: 6009924
    Abstract: An apparatus for the thermal binding of sheets includes at least one support (5-5a-5B) for a binding element (3). The binding element has a binding back on which an amount of glue (4), which melts under the influence of heat, is provided. A heating element (6) co-operating with the support (5-5A-5B) or forming part thereof, a detection device (7) to detect the presence of the binding element (3) in the apparatus (1) and a control/switching device (8), which is connected to the detection device (7) and is connected to the heating element (6) in order to switch it on and/or off, are also included. The detection device (7) is applied underneath the support (5-5A-5B).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 1997
    Date of Patent: January 4, 2000
    Assignee: Unibind (Cyprus) Limited
    Inventor: Guido Peleman
  • Patent number: 5994816
    Abstract: A MEMS actuator is provided that produces significant forces and displacements while consuming a reasonable amount of power. The MEMS actuator includes a microelectronic substrate, spaced apart supports on the substrate and a metallic arched beam extending between the spaced apart supports. The MEMS actuator also includes a heater for heating the arched beam to cause further arching of the beam. In order to effectively transfer heat from the heater to the metallic arched beam, the metallic arched beam extends over and is spaced, albeit slightly, from the heater. As such, the MEMS actuator effectively converts the heat generated by the heater into mechanical motion of the metallic arched beam. A family of other MEMS devices, such as relays, switching arrays and valves, are also provided that include one or more MEMS actuators in order to take advantage of its efficient operating characteristics. In addition, a method of fabricating a MEMS actuator is further provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1997
    Date of Patent: November 30, 1999
    Assignee: MCNC
    Inventors: Vijayakumar R. Dhuler, Robert L. Wood, Ramaswamy Mahadevan
  • Patent number: 5570262
    Abstract: An overload relay including a thermal actuator heated by a control circuit is disclosed herein. The overload relay includes a contactor having a pair of contacts for interrupting the application of power from one or more power conductors to a load such as a motor. The relay also includes current transformers associated with each power conductor configured to produce signals representative of the electrical current in the power conductor. The control circuit is coupled to the current transformers and monitors the current signals when the contacts of the contactor are closed. In response to the current signals exceeding predetermined limits, the control circuit applies a heating current to the thermal actuator. In response to the heating current, the thermal actuator opens a switch which controls the application of power to the solenoid of the contactor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 29, 1996
    Assignee: Siemens Energy & Automation, Inc.
    Inventor: Bruno C. Doerwald
  • Patent number: 4674344
    Abstract: An engine starter has a plunger electromagnetically actuated by holding and attracting coils to move a pinion toward a ring gear on the engine and also to move a first movable contact on the plunger towards first and second stationary contacts to be electrically connected together by the first movable contact to electrically energize a starter motor. A relay is provided and has normally open contacts electrically connected in series to a power source and the connection between the holding and attracting coils. The relay coil is connected in series to a starter switch and a temperature sensor. The temperature sensor is formed by a normally closed switch having a third stationary contact connected to the relay coil, and a bimetallic element carrying a second movable contact grounded through the bimetallic element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 1985
    Date of Patent: June 23, 1987
    Assignee: Nippondenso Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Sadayosi Kazino, Naoki Yoshikawa