US 6,812,437 B2Granted

Electronic control circuit

AssigneeThe Holmes Group, Inc.

InventorsWilliam Levy, Robert A. Sherwood

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Abstract

An electronic control circuit for use with a heater, a fan, a humidifier or any device utilizing a power mode switch and a condition sensor, the electronic control circuit including a single control switch for controlling both power output and responding to a sensed condition. The electronic circuit includes a microprocessor, preferably in the form of an application-specific integrated circuit to provide the circuit logic. The single control switch is preferably a push-button switch which places the unit in the selected mode of operation. The electronic control circuit also includes a thermistor or humidity sensor to sense conditions and, depending upon the set temperature/humidity by the control switch and the sensed condition the unit will operate accordingly. The unit can also operate in a manual mode, thereby bypassing the sensor operation.

Claims12

Dependent claims

A cooking apparatus comprising:

a housing;
a heating element positioned within the housing;
a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature at the housing, wherein
the temperature sensor and the heating element are in thermal contact
with the housing;
and
an electronic control circuit electrically coupled to the heating element, and adapted to provide power thereto, the electronic control circuit comprising a single switch to turn on operating power to the cooking apparatus and to set a mode of operation to one of manual mode and automatic mode, wherein the single switch sets a plurality of pre-determined power levels of operation in manual mode, and further wherein the single switch selects a pre-set temperature value in automatic mode, the electronic control circuit further including means for comparing the pre-set temperature value to the temperature at the housing, sensed by the temperature sensor, wherein the electronic control circuit provides power to the heating element to substantially achieve the pre-set temperature value and terminates power to the heating element when the pre-set temperature value is substantially attained when set in automatic mode.

4 more elements

A method of operating a cooking apparatus, the cooking apparatus comprising:

a housing;
a heating element positioned within the housing;
a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature at the housing, wherein
the temperature sensor and the heating element are in thermal contact with the housing;
and
an electronic control circuit electrically coupled to the heating element and adapted to provide power thereto, the electronic control circuit further comprising a single control switch, the method comprising the steps of:
actuating the single control switch to turn the cooking apparatus on and off and to select a mode of operation to one of a manual mode and an automatic mode, wherein actuating the single control switch in the manual mode selects an operating power level and wherein actuating the single control switch in the automatic mode selects a pre-set temperature value;
providing operating power to the hearing element when in the manual mode;
comparing the pre-set temperature value to the temperature at the housing, sensed by the temperature sensor, when in the automatic mode;
providing operating power to the hearing element if the temperature at the housing, sensed by the temperature sensor, is not substantially similar to the pre-set temperature value when in the automatic mode;
and
terminating power to the heating element when the pre-set temperature value is substantially similar to the temperature at the housing, sensed by the temperature sensor, when in the automatic mode.

9 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/444,300Filed 23 May 2003 · continuation
Priority: 28 Apr 2000
Published: US 2003/0219240 A127 Nov 2003
Granted: 2 Nov 2004
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification4 codes

H05K 7/20209
Using a gaseous coolant in electronic enclosures: thermal management, e.g. fan control
G05D 23/1909
Using an analogue comparing device: whose output amplitude can only take two discrete values
H05K
Printed circuits
G05D
Systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables

Family

Application60/200,586Us provisional application · filed 28 Apr 2000
Application09/844,995Parent of this continuation · filed 27 Apr 2001
US 6,570,139 B1Parent of this continuation · filed 27 May 2003
US 2003/0219240 A1Pre-grant publication · published 27 Nov 2003
US 6,812,437 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.