With Diverse Device Patents (Class 219/679)
  • Patent number: 11971211
    Abstract: A refrigerating and freezing device includes a cabinet defining at least one storage compartment, at least one cabinet door configured to respectively open and close the at least one storage compartment, a refrigerating system configured to provide cooling capacity to the at least one storage compartment, and a heating unit. The heating unit includes a container body disposed in one storage compartment and provided with a pick-and-place opening, a door body configured to open and close the pick-and-place opening, an electromagnetic generating system configured to generate electromagnetic waves in the container body to heat an object to be processed and a cabinet door detection device configured to detect open and closed states of the cabinet door corresponding to the storage compartment provided with the container body; wherein the electromagnetic generating system stops generating electromagnetic waves when the corresponding cabinet door is in an open state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2020
    Date of Patent: April 30, 2024
    Assignees: QINGDAO HAIER SPECIAL REFRIGERATOR CO., LTD, QINGDAO HAIER REFRIGERATOR CO., LTD., HAIER SMART HOME CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Haijuan Wang, Sen Mu, Peng Li, Kunkun Zhao
  • Patent number: 11731351
    Abstract: An apparatus, system and method are provided for launching, deploying and moving mobility platforms used to produce a three-dimensional product using additive printing. The product, or object, is made by collecting materials in-situ at an off-Earth celestial body. A sintering apparatus, such as a laser, is used to consolidate the planetary regrowth into a solid object. The apparatus can receive power, and can apply heat to assist in the consolidation process. The apparatus is moveable to the build site, and includes a print head having a collector for receiving collected materials, a conditioner for sintering and heating the collected materials, and an extruder, specifically a slip form opening in which the materials can be dispersed over the surface of the extraterrestrial body where the powder form of the conditioned materials are sintered, fused, or consolidated into a hard solid bead of material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Assignee: ICON Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Jason D. Ballard, Michael McDaniel, Evan Jensen, Alex LeRoux
  • Patent number: 11713651
    Abstract: A method and an assembly for heating and evaluating a formation of the Earth while drilling a wellbore filled with drilling mud are described. A first drilling mud temperature at a depth in the wellbore is received from a first sensor by a controller. The formation proximal to the depth is heated by a heat source mounted to the assembly to a temperature greater than a formation temperature as the drilling assembly drills the wellbore. A second drilling mud temperature is received from a second sensor by the controller. The heat source is positioned in between the first sensor and the second sensor. A difference between the first drilling mud temperature and the second drilling mud temperature is compared to a threshold drilling mud temperature difference value by the controller. Based on a result of the comparison, the drilling assembly is controlled and directed in the formation.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventors: Mustafa A. Al-Huwaider, Shouxiang Mark Ma
  • Patent number: 11659633
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a microwave detector and manufacturing method thereof and stray electromagnetic radiation suppression method, wherein the microwave detector includes a reference ground, a radiation source, a driving circuit, and at least a set of suppression fence posts. The driving circuit is electrically connected with the feed point of the radiating source, wherein the radiating source, the reference ground and the driving circuit are arranged in order along the thickness direction of the microwave detector. The radiation source and the reference ground are separated and spaced to form and define a radiating gap between the radiation source and the reference ground, wherein a spacing distance between the reference ground and the driving circuit is greater than or equal to 1/128?, wherein ? is the wavelength of the radiated wave of the microwave detector.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Inventor: Gaodi Zou
  • Patent number: 11624503
    Abstract: A waste treatment incinerator includes a furnace and a microwave transmitting module. The furnace includes a housing defining a treatment space. The furnace includes an activated charcoal layer located in the treatment space. An exhaust pipe is connected to the activated charcoal layer. The microwave transmitting module aligned with the activated charcoal layer. Treatment equipment includes the waste treatment incinerator, a heat exchange system, and a purification module. The heat exchange system includes a first heat exchange module connected to the exhaust pipe of the furnace and a reservoir connected to the first heat exchange module. The purification module includes a gas inlet and a gas outlet. The gas inlet intercommunicates with the first heat exchange module. A sprinkling area is disposed between the gas inlet and the gas outlet.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 28, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 11, 2023
    Inventor: Shih-Yuan Ke
  • Patent number: 11528926
    Abstract: A thermal increase system may be coupled to a containment structure for containing a load. The system includes a plurality of shelf support structures disposed within a cavity. The plurality of shelf support structures is configured to support a repositionable electrode at a plurality of positions within the cavity. The system includes a first electrode disposed at a first surface of the containment structure, wherein the repositionable electrode is disposed within the containment structure so as to divide the cavity into separate volumes. The system includes a radio frequency signal source electrically connected to one or both of the first electrode and the repositionable electrode. The radio frequency signal source is configured to provide radio frequency energy to either or both of the first electrode and the repositionable electrode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 7, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: NXP USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Dong Wu, Qi Hua, Tonghe Liu, Yang Deng
  • Patent number: 11473412
    Abstract: An apparatus for processing components of a fluid having a first fluid component and a second fluid component in a fluid property-dependent fluid device includes an energy device configured to input energy to the fluid, the energy selectively changing a property of one of the first and second components more than the other of the first and second components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 18, 2022
    Assignee: BAKER HUGHES OILFIELD OPERATIONS LLC
    Inventor: Rocco DiFoggio
  • Patent number: 11435089
    Abstract: A display assembly for an appliance includes an outer frame mounted to or positioned within a cabinet of an appliance and a screen assembly slidably mounted to the outer frame. A drive mechanism, such as an electric drive motor rotating a threaded rod, is operably coupled to the screen assembly for moving the screen assembly between an extended position where it is visible and accessible for user interaction and a retracted position where it is concealed from view.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 2, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2022
    Assignee: Haier US Appliance Solutions, Inc.
    Inventors: Kyle Andrew Kozinski, Joshua Adam Mayne
  • Patent number: 11313615
    Abstract: Disclosed is a refrigerator having an improved rear structure of a door. The refrigerator includes a main body including a storage compartment, a door rotatably coupled to the main body to open and close the storage compartment, a dispenser provided on a front surface of the door, a case mounted on a rear surface of the door and accommodating a water tank disposed adjacent to the dispenser to store water supplied to the dispenser, and a filter including a filter body disposed below the water tank in a transverse direction, and a filter handle configured to allow the filter body to be inserted or withdrawn through an inner side surface of the door from the inside of the case.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2022
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sang Min Park, Juno Kwon
  • Patent number: 11306969
    Abstract: The invention relates to a sintering furnace (1) for components (15) made of a sintered material, in particular for dental components, comprising a furnace chamber (2) having a chamber volume (VK), wherein a heating device (5), a receiving space (9) having a gross volume (VB) located in the chamber volume (VK) and delimited by the heating device (5), and a useful region (10) having a useful volume (VN) located in the gross volume (VB), are disposed in the furnace chamber (2). The furnace chamber (2) has an outer wall (3) consisting of a plurality of walls having a wall portion (7) to be opened for introduction of a component to be sintered having an object volume (VO) into the receiving space (9). In the furnace chamber (2) the heating device (5) has a thermal radiator (6) having a radiation field (13) which is disposed on at least one side of the receiving space (9).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: April 19, 2022
    Assignee: DENTSPLY SIRONA INC.
    Inventors: Peter Fornoff, Christian Schmidt
  • Patent number: 11274876
    Abstract: A combination microwave and refrigerator system is provided. The microwave oven is connected to a source of power and has a control circuit for controlling the operation of the microwave oven. A first power supply outlet is provided on the microwave oven. A refrigerator is connected to the source of power by connection to the first power supply outlet. The control circuit is configured to disable the cooling operation of the refrigerator, when the microwave oven demands cooking power, and enable the cooling operation of the refrigerator when the microwave oven is not drawing cooking power. A safety sensor is provided in the microwave oven, and is configured to cause cooking power to the microwave oven to be turned off upon the safety sensor sensing a dangerous condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2022
    Assignee: Intirion Corporation
    Inventors: Gregory Allan Thomas Hall, Philip Emma, Jim Estill, Bryan Stuart Cunningham, Dennis O'Brien
  • Patent number: 11229933
    Abstract: A treatment system, including at least one of: a solid waste material treatment module with the capabilities of disinfecting, sterilizing and/or destruction of potentially hazardous materials; a liquid waste material treatment module; and, a gaseous waste material treatment module, wherein the solid, liquid and gaseous material treatment modules can be used separately or selectably interconnectable to each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: January 25, 2022
    Assignees: Applied Research Center, Inc.
    Inventor: George G. Wicks
  • Patent number: 11077632
    Abstract: In one aspect, methods of post-processing an object made by additive manufacturing are described herein. In some embodiments, a method of post-processing an object described herein comprises providing the object in a microwave absorptive state and exposing the object in the absorptive state to a field of microwave radiation. In some cases, providing an object in a microwave absorptive state comprises heating the object, including by non-microwave heating. Moreover, in some embodiments, the object is exposed to a uniform or substantially uniform field of microwave radiation in a microwave cavity. In addition, in some instances, exposing an object to a field of microwave radiation in a manner described herein comprises increasing the density of the object and/or reducing the volume of the object, including in an isotropic or substantially isotropic manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2021
    Assignee: 3D SYSTEMS, INC.
    Inventors: Luis N Folgar, Carlos E Folgar, Francisco Folgar, Christian E Folgar, Jim Williams
  • Patent number: 11060735
    Abstract: A connected oven, including a set of in-cavity sensors and a processor configured to automatically identify foodstuff within the cooking cavity, based on the sensor measurements; and automatically operate the heating element based on the foodstuff identity.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2020
    Date of Patent: July 13, 2021
    Assignee: June Life, Inc.
    Inventors: Nikhil Bhogal, Matthew Van Horn, Seunghoon Park, Ravishankar Sivalingam, Christopher Russell Clark
  • Patent number: 11051909
    Abstract: A system and method for mitigating pain associated with dentistry provides a removal apparatus for removing a portion of a tooth. A desiccation apparatus flows a desiccated gas to the portion of the tooth to desiccate dentinal tubules in a region surrounding the portion of the tooth, generally preventing nerve cells within the tooth from transmitting pain signals associated with the removal. The removal apparatus has a drill head with a body having an axial opening configured to accept a dental burr. An annular passage exists between the dental burr and the body within the axial opening. A chamber in the body is in fluid communication with the axial opening, where a channel is fluidly coupled to an external port and to a source of the desiccated gas to flow the desiccated gas therethrough and expose a drilling region of the dental burr to the desiccated gas to mitigate pain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 6, 2021
    Inventor: James B. Wolf
  • Patent number: 11034504
    Abstract: A methodology and product or system configurations are provided which allow food to be directly irradiated for cooking applications which involve the impingement of direct radiant energy on food or comestible items. Cooking vessels or cook-packs are used that are optically transmissive in visible or infrared narrow wavelength bands emitted in suitable narrowband cooking or heating systems.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2021
    Assignee: PRESSCO IP LLC
    Inventors: Don W. Cochran, Jonathan M. Katz, Benjamin D. Johnson
  • Patent number: 10857575
    Abstract: Methods and treatments for removing contaminants from nanotube surfaces covering a medical device are disclosed herein. These methods and treatments include commencing exposure of a nanotube surface to at least one condition that at least partially removes the contaminants including: ultraviolet light, elevated temperature, plasma, and/or combinations thereof. These methods and treatments may also include orienting the nanotube surface relative to the at least one condition in order to enhance removal of the contaminants by the at least one condition. Exposure of the nanotube surface to the at least one condition may be ceased after the contaminants are at least partially removed from the nanotube surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 8, 2020
    Assignee: Nanovation Partners LLC
    Inventors: Sungho Jin, Daniel F. Justin
  • Patent number: 10842309
    Abstract: A control system, method and computer program product for controlling food processing steps performed by a multi-function cooking apparatus and food processing steps performed by one or more remote kitchen appliances for preparing a food product. A recipe program interface is configured to access on a data storage device a recipe program for preparing the food product wherein the recipe program is configured to be executed by the cooking apparatus and to synchronize food processing steps performed by the cooking apparatus with food processing steps performed by the one or more remote kitchen appliances. A validation component is configured to check if the one or more remote kitchen appliances are registered with the cooking apparatus in an appliance registry, and is further configured to check if technical specifications of registered remote kitchen appliances comply with control parameters in respective recipe program instructions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 24, 2020
    Assignee: Vorwerk & Co. Interholding GmbH
    Inventors: Maximilian Koennings, Maria Jose Resende, Georg Hackert, Julius Ganns, Stefan Hilgers
  • Patent number: 10713878
    Abstract: The present application provides an intake mechanism for a product into a merchandiser. The intake mechanism may include an input tray, a reciprocating assembly to maneuver the input tray, an identification module, and an input control system. The input control system permits access to the merchandiser as the input tray is maneuvered by the reciprocating assembly if the product is identified by the identification module.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2020
    Assignee: THE COCA-COLA COMPANY
    Inventors: Jurgen Roekens, Jacobus P. M. Dessing
  • Patent number: 10633778
    Abstract: An online system, including a smart laundry machine, which is capable of easily and inexpensively using the smart laundry machine is disclosed. A further extended type of a smart home appliance, an online system including the same, and a method of using the online system are also disclosed. A laundry machine communicates with a server, is remotely controlled by an external terminal through the server, and has a control panel for a user interface. The control panel includes a course selection unit, an option selection unit, a start button, a display unit to display state information of the laundry machine, and a remote service activation input unit to set or cancel remote service activation according to user selection. The remote control is performed only in a case in which the remote service activation is set.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2018
    Date of Patent: April 28, 2020
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Junpil Park, Mikyung Ha, Byunggee Sung
  • Patent number: 10588452
    Abstract: The present invention provides a cooking appliance, having a door and a base. The base has a top plate, a bottom plate, a left outer housing, a right outer housing, a front plate and a rear plate, which form an accommodating space for accommodating electric devices. Some of the electric devices are fixed to the lower surface of the top plate, and the others are fixed to the upper surface of the bottom plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignees: GUANGDONG MIDEA KITCHEN APPLIANCES MANUFACTURING CO., LTD., MIDEA GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Jae man Cho
  • Patent number: 10577992
    Abstract: A disclosed microwave heating apparatus includes a casing part configured to accommodate an object to be heated; a microwave generator configured to generate a microwave; an electromagnetic wave generator configured to generate an electromagnetic wave whose frequency is different from that of the microwave; an electromagnetic wave sensor configured to measure power of the electromagnetic wave, the power of the electromagnetic wave being measured after the electromagnetic wave incident on the casing part from the electromagnetic wave generator has passed through the object to be heated; and a controller configured to control, based on the power measured in the electromagnetic wave sensor, the microwave generator to generate the microwave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Tadahiro Imada, Katsusada Motoyoshi, Tatsuya Hirose, Yoichi Kawano
  • Patent number: 10526943
    Abstract: A disclosed microwave heating apparatus includes a casing part configured to accommodate an object to be heated; a microwave generator configured to generate a microwave; an electromagnetic wave generator configured to generate an electromagnetic wave whose frequency is different from that of the microwave; an electromagnetic wave sensor configured to measure power of the electromagnetic wave, the power of the electromagnetic wave being measured after the electromagnetic wave incident on the casing part from the electromagnetic wave generator has passed through the object to be heated; and a controller configured to control, based on the power measured in the electromagnetic wave sensor, the microwave generator to generate the microwave.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 7, 2020
    Assignee: FUJITSU LIMITED
    Inventors: Tadahiro Imada, Katsusada Motoyoshi, Tatsuya Hirose, Yoichi Kawano
  • Patent number: 10494909
    Abstract: A system and method are provided that use RF energy to enhance the extraction of oil and gas from hydrocarbon bearing strata. A three-dimensional underground electromagnetic array of coupled well pipe segments is used to guide RF energy to where that energy is converted to heat in the hydrocarbon bearing strata. The three dimensional underground electromagnetic array of coupled well pipe segments includes a switch to selectively activate coupled well pipe segments and is a guided wave structure, as opposed to an antenna structure, to minimize the unwanted effects of the near fields associated with antennas. In one embodiment, the leas of the three-dimensional underground electromagnetic array are composed of production well pipe.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Highland Light management Corp
    Inventors: Preston W Grounds, III, Daniel Moos
  • Patent number: 10478101
    Abstract: A passive sensing continuous glucose monitoring system and method of use thereof. The system includes a passive antenna formed of biocompatible silicon carbide (SiC), modeled to a desired frequency, which is permanently implanted subcutaneously. The system further includes an external-to-the-body transmitting antenna to detect changes in the blood glucose level by sending a radio signal at the frequency of the implanted passive antenna into the body. This signal is received and reflected by the passive antenna, and the reflected signal is then received at an external-to-the-body receiving antenna. Changes in the glucose level lead to modifications in the signal and can be used to determine the blood glucose level externally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: University of South Florida
    Inventors: Fabiola Araujo Cespedes, Stephen E. Saddow, Christopher Leroy Frewin, Erdem Topsakal
  • Patent number: 10388102
    Abstract: Mechanisms for dispensing items such as medications and medical supplies. Different mechanisms may be tailored to dispensing different kinds of items, for example medications in single dose packages, vials, syringes, or other similarly-shaped items. The dispensers may be placed in a dispensing unit that includes a lockable restock drawer and a dispense drawer into which items are dispensed by the dispensing mechanisms. The various kinds of dispensing mechanisms may be installed in the restock drawer in any workable proportion and arrangement. The dispensing mechanisms include multiple sensing technologies for tracking and inventory of items and for accurate sensing of items as they are dispensed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2018
    Date of Patent: August 20, 2019
    Assignee: Omnicell, Inc.
    Inventors: Edith Wilson, Gerardo Moreno, Guillermo Trejo, Vikram Mehta, Herbert Lawson Fisher
  • Patent number: 10350026
    Abstract: A system and method for mitigating pain associated with dentistry provides a removal apparatus for removing a portion of a tooth. A desiccation apparatus flows a desiccated gas to the portion of the tooth to desiccate dentinal tubules in a region surrounding the portion of the tooth, generally preventing nerve cells within the tooth from transmitting pain signals associated with the removal. The removal apparatus has a drill head with a body having an axial opening configured to accept a dental burr. An annular passage exists between the dental burr and the body within the axial opening. A chamber in the body is in fluid communication with the axial opening, where a channel is fluidly coupled to an external port and to a source of the desiccated gas to flow the desiccated gas therethrough and expose a drilling region of the dental burr to the desiccated gas to mitigate pain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 16, 2019
    Inventor: James B. Wolf
  • Patent number: 10337306
    Abstract: A steam injector assembly for handling steam in a subterranean well includes a steam separation system, the steam separation system directing an initial high quality steam to a subterranean formation and directing low quality fluid mix to a heating system. The heating system includes a ceramic-containing member located in a travel path of the low quality fluid mix and an electromagnetic antenna positioned to heat the ceramic-containing member with electromagnetic waves. A relief valve is movable to an open position when an improved high quality steam within a heating chamber of the heating system reaches an injection pressure, wherein in the open position, the relief valve provides a fluid flow path out of the heating chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 2, 2019
    Assignee: Saudi Arabian Oil Company
    Inventor: Sameeh Issa Batarseh
  • Patent number: 10235041
    Abstract: There is provided an information processing device including a detection unit for detecting a state of a manipulating body in a manipulation area, a state judgment unit for judging whether the manipulating body is in an input state in which a given input manipulation process is executed according to input information input by the manipulating body or in a standby state in which the input manipulation process is not executed, based on the detection result of the detection unit, and an execution process determination unit for determining a process to be executed from a plurality of processes including the input manipulation process based on the state judged by the state judgment unit or a change of the state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventors: Yusuke Miyazawa, Ikuo Yamano, Fuminori Homma
  • Patent number: 9949462
    Abstract: A blower apparatus is supported on a frame detachably mounted on the implement mounting plate for a skid steer loader. The blower is powered by a hydraulic motor operatively connected to the auxiliary hydraulic system of the skid steer loader. The blower is mounted on the frame in a manner that orients the discharge spout upwardly to be directed at elevated structure within the chicken house. Re-orientation of the air stream from the blower can be affected by manipulating the tilt position of the implement mounting plate and by raising the boom arms of the skid steer loader to elevate the blower apparatus. By properly positioning and orienting the discharged air stream from the blower apparatus, the dirt and debris in elevated structure of the chicken house can be dislodged and removed from the chicken house to improve the health and environment for a subsequent flock of birds installed therein.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2018
    Inventor: H. Lamar Zimmerman
  • Patent number: 9867501
    Abstract: A food loading system provides the ability to stage a volume of food in a freezer or cooler that keeps food product safely stored until the product is ready to be transferred to a cooking unit. The food loading system is configured to deliver the food product directly from storage to a loading mechanism for a cooking unit or directly to a cooking unit. The food loading system includes a control panel that accepts operator inputs for transfer of food from storage, or the food loading system may be connected wirelessly or by wire to one or more Point-Of-Sale (POS) devices, such as tablets, cash registers, and the like, and the food loading system uses the input from the POS devices to transfer food automatically from storage to a cooking unit input or directly to a cooking unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 16, 2018
    Inventor: Lon Lehman
  • Patent number: 9855353
    Abstract: Rapid Disinfection System that is able to disinfect the surfaces of a Rescue Ambulance Patient Cabin after all necessary hand disinfection protocols have been completed. As with emergency situations timing is critical. This system can disinfect the patient cabin rapidly within minutes with very little operator effort. This will allow for little to no down time of the rescue ambulance. Larger populated areas may have as much as 50,000 emergency calls in a months' time and may only have 20 to 30 rescue ambulance to handle all of these calls. In these areas there may only be less than 5 minutes surface disinfection times available.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 2, 2018
    Inventor: Brian Michael Stacy
  • Patent number: 9826752
    Abstract: A machine for the thermal treatment of liquid and semi-liquid food products includes at least two tanks for containing respective products to be subjected to the thermal treatment, at least one dispenser for dispensing the product contained in said tanks, at least one stirrer mounted inside each tank for mixing the product contained therein, and thermal treatment means operatively acting on the products contained in the containers. The thermal treatment means includes at least one circuit for circulation of an operating fluid and two first heat exchangers operating according to a thermodynamic cycle; each of the two heat exchangers being associated with a respective tank. The thermal treatment means is configured to implement at least one operating mode of removing heat from the respective tank by one heat exchanger and simultaneously transferring heat to the respective tank by the other heat exchanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: November 28, 2017
    Assignee: ALI S.p.A.—CARPIGIANI GROUP
    Inventors: Andrea Cocchi, Roberto Lazzarini
  • Patent number: 9747253
    Abstract: A system and method for dispensing an article from an article dispensing machine by reducing the amount of time for completing a transaction involving the article is provided. A request related to a selected article and payment information for a balance related to the selected article may be received at the article dispensing machine through a user interface. The payment information may be validated, and simultaneously and in parallel, the selected article may be retrieved from a storage unit in the article dispensing machine. The selected article may be dispensed from the article dispensing machine if the payment information is valid. If the payment information is not valid, the selected article may be returned to the storage unit. Quicker dispensing of articles during consumer transactions with the article dispensing machine may result. The articles may include media articles, such as DVDs, Blu-Ray discs, and video game discs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 5, 2012
    Date of Patent: August 29, 2017
    Assignee: Redbox Automated Retail, LLC
    Inventors: Jim Polubinski, Jr., William Ptacek
  • Patent number: 9522201
    Abstract: The present invention provides an apparatus for disinfecting and/or sterilizing medical or laboratory apparel or accessories, comprising: a cabinet, a disinfecting system housed within the cabinet, wherein the disinfecting system comprises at least one disinfecting agent, and an embedded computer or a programmable logic controller (PLC) housed within the cabinet, wherein the embedded computer or the PLC controls one or more systems of the apparatus. The cabinet has advanced tracking features (e.g., RFID readers) that can track the apparel or accessories being disinfected. The embedded computer or PLC has the capabilities to send electronic messages to users or additional computers for further transmission of information at regular intervals. Methods for disinfecting and/or sterilizing medical or laboratory apparel or accessories are also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: NOSOCOM SOLUTIONS, INC.
    Inventors: Naresh Sunkara, Ricardo R Garcia, Nikhil Santosh Naikal, Jaya Sunkara
  • Patent number: 9334615
    Abstract: I describe a road deicer, comprising a magnetron connected to a power supply device through a power transformer, an antenna chamber connected to the magnetron through a waveguide tube, and a microwave emitter arranged inside the antenna chamber, wherein at least one slot is formed on an emitting end of the antenna chamber facing the road. The deicer generates microwave energy through a magnetron, transmits the microwave energy through a waveguide tube, and then radiates the microwave energy through a microwave emitter and slots, thereby melting the ice through microwave heating. The road deicer has higher deicing efficiency, and it won't damage the road, nor pollute the environment. It also provides a road deicing system which has high deicing efficiency and can avoid damaging the road and polluting the environment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Inventor: Wuji Yin
  • Patent number: 9337001
    Abstract: A microwave processing apparatus includes: a processing chamber; a microwave introducing unit for generating microwaves and introducing the microwaves into the chamber; and a control unit for controlling the microwave introducing unit. The microwave introducing unit has microwave sources for generating the microwaves and transmission lines for transmitting the microwaves into the chamber and introduces parts of the microwaves into the chamber simultaneously, and the control unit switches a first state of introducing said parts of the microwaves into the chamber to a second state of generating a microwave by one of the microwave sources and introducing into the chamber.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 10, 2016
    Assignee: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventor: Mitsutoshi Ashida
  • Patent number: 9310870
    Abstract: A network appliance apparatus conveys communication signals over a communication network and is constructed from a communication circuit and a power conditioning circuit in a common housing. The power conditioning circuit conditions alternating current (AC) electrical power and it is determined which power criteria are met by the conditioned electrical power. The conditioned electrical power is selectively provided to the communication circuit in response to one of the power criteria being met such that the conditioned electrical power is removed from the communication circuit when another of the power criteria is met.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: Electronic Systems Protection, Inc.
    Inventors: Robert A. Dawley, Richard J. Billingsley, John W. Blanke
  • Patent number: 9219876
    Abstract: A television monitor and microwave oven combination includes a microwave oven that with a housing having a top wall, a bottom wall, a rear wall, a first lateral wall, a second lateral wall and a front wall. The front wall has an opening therein to allow positioning of food items access an interior of the housing. A door is hingedly coupled to the first lateral wall. A first lateral edge of the door is positioned adjacent to the first lateral wall of the housing. The door is positionable in a closed position covering the opening or in an open position exposing the opening. A display monitor is mounted on the microwave oven to allow viewing of video on the display monitor. A signal conduit is electrically coupled to the display monitor. The signal conduit includes an input port mounted on the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 22, 2015
    Inventor: Roberto A. Umana
  • Patent number: 9169287
    Abstract: Systems and processes for performing solid phase peptide synthesis are generally described. Solid phase peptide synthesis is a known process in which amino acid residues are added to peptides that have been immobilized on a solid support. In certain embodiments, the inventive systems and methods can be used to perform solid phase peptide synthesis quickly while maintaining high yields. Certain embodiments relate to processes and systems that may be used to heat, transport, and/or mix reagents in ways that reduce the amount of time required to perform solid phase peptide synthesis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: October 27, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Mark David Simon, Bradley L. Pentelute, Andrea Adamo, Patrick Louis Heider, Klavs F. Jensen
  • Patent number: 9089155
    Abstract: A method of manufacturing a snack chip, the method comprising the steps of: i. providing a plurality of pellets including at least one potato ingredient; ii. compressing the pellets in a closed mould; iii. baking the compressed pellets in the closed mould at an elevated baking temperature to form a snack chip having a moisture content of from 4 to 10 weight % based on the weight of the snack chip; iv. ejecting the snack chip from the mould; and v. drying the snack chip to a final snack chip moisture content of from 0.5 to less than 4 weight % based on the weight of the snack chip.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: FRITO-LAY TRADING COMPANY GMBH
    Inventors: James Steven Edward Williams, Kathryn Elizabeth Davies
  • Patent number: 9035224
    Abstract: Disclosed is a cooking apparatus including a cooking chamber to receive materials to be cooked therein, a microwave-heating unit to radiate microwaves to the cooking chamber, a convection-heating unit to supply hot air to the cooking chamber, a grill-heating unit to supply radiant heat to the cooking chamber, a crusty plate configured to be heated by the microwaves, an input unit to receive a user fry-cooking command, and a control unit. When the user fry-cooking command is input, the control unit performs a microwave-heating stage of activating at least one of the convection-heating unit and the grill-heating unit and activating the microwave-heating unit, and performs a slim fry stage of activating the grill-heating unit and the convection-heating unit without activating the microwave-heating unit. Accordingly, the cooking apparatus achieves the fry-cooking process using the microwaves, radiant heat and convection heat without dipping the materials to be cooked in oil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Gyu Sik Lim, Sun Hee Koo, Chang Min Baek, In Young Cho
  • Patent number: 9024237
    Abstract: A microwave material fusing apparatus for fusing two or more layers of material is disclosed. The apparatus includes an end effector including a radiating strike plate and a non-radiating fusing arm. The radiating strike plate is adapted to receive microwave energy from a microwave energy source and configured to radiate microwave energy therefrom upon selective activation of the microwave energy source. The non-radiating fusing arm is disposed in substantial opposition to the radiating strike plate and includes a conductive tip on the distal end. The conductive tip of the non-radiating fusing arm is configured to compress material therebetween such that upon activation of the microwave energy source, microwave energy is transferred between the radiating strike plate and the conductive tip to fuse the material disposed therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2015
    Assignee: Covidien LP
    Inventor: Kenlyn S. Bonn
  • Publication number: 20150108119
    Abstract: Microwave appliances and methods for operating microwave appliances are provided. A method includes operating a fan of the microwave appliance in order to draw a flow of air through a circulation conduit of the microwave appliance, measuring an operational characteristic of the fan with a sensor of the microwave appliance during the operating step, and providing an indicator signal when the operational characteristic exceeds a threshold value at the measuring step.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 22, 2013
    Publication date: April 23, 2015
    Applicant: General Electric Company
    Inventors: James Lee Armstrong, Joshua Stephen Wiseman, James Tomaszewski
  • Patent number: 9006625
    Abstract: In a method for forming conductive patterns, a substrate is provided, and a pattern is formed on the substrate using a conductive pattern-forming composition and a printing method. The substrate with the pattern formed is positioned between two microwave-permeable panels and the pattern is fired using microwave. In a method for forming conductive patterns, the substrate is fixed by the microwave-permeable material during the firing of conductive patterns, and accordingly the deformation of substrate can be prevented and the firing process can be facilitated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: LG Chem, Ltd.
    Inventors: Jung-Ho Park, Joon-Hyung Kim
  • Patent number: 8981268
    Abstract: An apparatus for recovering valuable elements is provided herein. In some embodiments, the apparatus having a conveyor; a container configured to be moved on the conveyor, wherein the container has an open surface; a paper package which contains a mixture containing valuable elements, the paper package being configured to be disposed in the container and to be combusted; a cover that covers the open surface of the container, the cover having an opening for discharging valuable elements vaporized from the mixture; a microwave oven through which the container having the cover and the paper package passes, wherein the microwave oven having a microwave generator and a discharging opening for discharging the valuable elements vaporized from the mixture; and a condenser coupled to the discharge opening, wherein the condenser recovers the valuable elements vaporized from the mixture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Korea University Research and Business Foundation
    Inventor: Joon Ho Lee
  • Patent number: 8981269
    Abstract: A cooker is provided. According to an operation of the cooker, light having color different from each other is emitted into a cooking chamber according to whether it is in a cooking mode for cooking a food or a keep-warm mode for keeping the food warm. Thus, a user may easily confirm whether the food is cooked or kept warm. In addition, the food may be kept warm through a further simple structure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Yong-Ho Park, Jun-Hyun Park, Wang-Lim Lee, Dae-Eun Kim, Dong-Heon Lee
  • Patent number: 8981270
    Abstract: The time/temperature history of a food tray or pouch heated by microwave energy applied through a waveguide can be accurately assessed on positioning and stabilizing a shielded data logger in an orientation where the base of the data logger is located generally close to zero depth (near the side wall) and the tip projects to the cold spot in the tray or pouch. A frame can be used to assure stability of orientation in a pouch while bracing can be used to assure stability in a tray. The properly configured food tray or pouch can serve as an accurate witness device for food items being processed in a similar manner under microwave heating for, e.g., sterilization or pasteurization.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Washington State University
    Inventors: Juming Tang, Fang Liu
  • Patent number: 8941038
    Abstract: A support assembly is provided for supporting a household appliance such as a non-convection microwave oven in a free-standing vertical relation with another household appliance such that the non-convection microwave oven is supported above the other household appliance. The support assembly includes a base tray having a floor portion on which the non-convection microwave oven can be disposed, brackets for fixedly securing the base tray to the other household appliance, and a pair of bracket arms for securing a trim element to the base tray.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 6, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 27, 2015
    Assignee: BSH Home Appliances Corporation
    Inventors: Joseph Geiger, Anthony Larsen
  • Patent number: 8901468
    Abstract: A heating system for hot water and conditioned air uses electromagnetic energy created by one or more magnetrons operated by high voltage transformers. The heating system includes oil cooled transformers and magnetrons. Using radiators in the form of heat exchangers, heat recovered from the transformers and magnetrons is dissipated directly into the path of the return air and the air handler blower. The magnetron heating system includes a coiled conduit sized to allow complete heating of the fluid flowing therethrough. The conduit has a conical shape to allow upper magnetrons to heat the outside of the conduit and lower magnetrons to heat the inside of the conduit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: December 2, 2014
    Inventor: Vincent A. Bravo