Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100101317 | LID BASED AMOUNT SENSOR - A device for determining the amount of a substance in a container includes an amount sensor disposed within the container, a transmitter coupled to the sensor and configured to transmit an output thereof, and an electrical power source powering the sensor and the transmitter. | 04-29-2010 |
20100102959 | MODULAR ATTRIBUTE SENSING DEVICE - A modular device for determining attributes of a substance stored in a container having a sensing module, a transmitter module and a power source module. The sensing module is capable of sensing attributes of a substance and providing an output. The transmitter module is configured to transmit an output of the at least one sensing module when operably coupled to the sensing module. The power source module is capable of being operably connected to the sensor module and the transmitter module to power the sensor module and the transmitter module. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106446 | ATTRIBUTE SENSING PROCESSES - Methods for determining an attribute of a substance in a container in response to an access event. The methods include a method for determining an attribute of a substance including activating the sensor in response to an access event and transmitting, in response to the activating, an output of the sensor providing an indication of an attribute of the contents. The methods also include a method having the steps of associating a sensor having an identifier with the container; and receiving the identifier and an output of the sensor providing an indication of the amount of the contents. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106521 | CONSUMABLES INVENTORY MANAGEMENT METHOD - A method of managing an inventory includes associating an identifier with a container system component such as a container, a sensor or a substance, where the sensor is configured to determine an indication of an attribute of the substance stored in the container. The method further may include associating an identifier with a container system member within a dataset remote to the container; remotely receiving container system data including the identifier and the indication of the attribute; and performing at least one data processing task associated with the container system data. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106624 | METHOD OF INVENTORY MANAGEMENT - A method of managing an inventory of a consumable substance stored in a portable container including sensing at least an indication of an attribute of the substance and generating data from said sensing. The method may further provide generating a notification based on the generating, such as by applying a notification trigger rule, receiving data including the indication of the attribute of the substance, evaluating the notification trigger rule using the data, and selectively generating an access notification based on the evaluating. The method may include sensing or generating in association with a container access event. The method may include associating an identifier with one of a container, a sensor or a substance. A system implementing this and other inventory management methods is also disclosed. | 04-29-2010 |
20100106626 | SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR TRACKING INVENTORY HISTORY - A method and system of managing inventory of consumables stored in containers including associating with a container a sensor configured to determine an indication of the amount of an attribute, such as an indication of an amount of substance stored in the container, and storing the indication of amount at various times as a usage history. | 04-29-2010 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20130340450 | ON-LINE ENERGY CONSUMPTION OPTIMIZATION ADAPTIVE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION - An appliance includes an appliance housing, an interface adapted to receive power information, a plurality of sensors for sensing environmental conditions, a plurality of controls for controlling operations of the appliance, and an intelligent control. The intelligent control is disposed within the appliance housing and operatively connected to the interface and the plurality of sensors and adapted to dynamically select control values associated with the plurality of controls based on at least one of the power information, the environmental conditions, or a combination thereof to increase energy efficiency of the appliance. | 12-26-2013 |
20140056723 | REFRIGERATOR WITH ENERGY CONSUMPTION OPTIMIZATION USING ADAPTIVE FAN DELAY - A method of determining a time delay for turning off an evaporator fan in a refrigerator after a compressor of the refrigerator is turned off includes operating the evaporator fan in the refrigerator for a period of time, operating the compressor of the refrigerator to cool the refrigerator to a predetermined temperature after turning off the evaporator fan, determining a power consumption value for operating the compressor to cool the refrigerator, repeating the previous steps to obtain a plurality of times and a plurality of power consumption values, selecting the time coinciding with a lowest power consumption value, and adapting the refrigerator to use the time as the time delay for turning off the evaporator fan in the refrigerator after the compressor of the refrigerator is turned off. | 02-27-2014 |
20140057213 | BOIL AND BOIL-DRY DETECTION SYSTEMS FOR COOKING APPLIANCES USING VIBRATION SENSORS - A cooking sensor system that includes a burner assembly; and a vibration sensor assembly configured to generate a vibration signal that corresponds to vibrations of cookware situated on the burner assembly. The cooking sensor system also includes a processor to receive the vibration signal and determine at least one of a boiling condition and a boil-dry condition for a liquid contained within the cookware, wherein the determination is based at least in part on the vibration signal. The cooking sensor system further includes an indicator element coupled to the processor to indicate the at least one of a boiling condition and a boil-dry condition. The cooking sensor system may also include a control element coupled to the processor to operate the burner assembly based at least in part on the at least one of a boiling condition and a boil-dry condition. | 02-27-2014 |
20140057214 | BOIL AND BOIL-DRY DETECTION METHODS FOR COOKING APPLIANCES USING VIBRATION SENSORS - A method of boil and boil-dry detection for appliances. The method includes the steps: detecting vibrations that correspond to cookware situated on a burner assembly; generating a vibration signal based on the vibrations; and performing signal processing on the vibration signal. The method also includes the steps: collecting vibration data related to the vibration signal; and detecting boiling and boil-dry conditions for a liquid contained within the cookware based at least in part on an evaluation of the vibration data. The method may also include the steps: indicating the boiling and boil-dry conditions; and controlling the burner assembly based at least in part on the boiling and boil-dry conditions. | 02-27-2014 |
20150211775 | ON-LINE ENERGY CONSUMPTION OPTIMIZATION ADAPTIVE TO ENVIRONMENTAL CONDITION - An appliance includes an appliance housing, an interface adapted to receive power information, a plurality of sensors for sensing environmental conditions, a plurality of controls for controlling operations of the appliance, and an intelligent control. The intelligent control is disposed within the appliance housing and operatively connected to the interface and the plurality of sensors and adapted to dynamically select control values associated with the plurality of controls based on at least one of the power information, the environmental conditions, or a combination thereof to increase energy efficiency of the appliance. | 07-30-2015 |
20150211778 | REFRIGERATOR WITH ENERGY CONSUMPTION OPTIMIZATION USING ADAPTIVE FAN DELAY - A method of determining a time delay for turning off an evaporator fan in a refrigerator after a compressor of the refrigerator is turned off includes operating the evaporator fan in the refrigerator for a period of time, operating the compressor of the refrigerator to cool the refrigerator to a predetermined temperature after turning off the evaporator fan, determining a power consumption value for operating the compressor to cool the refrigerator, repeating the previous steps to obtain a plurality of times and a plurality of power consumption values, selecting the time coinciding with a lowest power consumption value, and adapting the refrigerator to use the time as the time delay for turning off the evaporator fan in the refrigerator after the compressor of the refrigerator is turned off. | 07-30-2015 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100202795 | XEROGRAPHIC MACHINE TONER CONTAMINATION CONTROL SYSTEM - This is a toner control system for use in a cleaning station of a xerographic marking apparatus. A sensor is located in the air conduits of the system to measure airflow throughout the system. The sensor is in contact with a controller that is configured to adjust the blower speed to normal conditions (i.e. sea level and clean filter conditions) as the flow rate is reduced due to normal apparatus use. The system has an air blower(s), a filter(s), air conduits, a sensor(s) and a controller(s) in communication with the sensor(s). | 08-12-2010 |
20110052244 | FREQUENCY DAMPENING DUCT - This is an environmental unit useful in a xerographic system that reduces or eliminates pulsation and vibration in the system. This is accomplished by the use of flexible bladders on a wall of the air duct work pumping air into the print housing. When the vibration is abated, the banding problems on images are eliminated. | 03-03-2011 |
20110081178 | Waste Cyclone Dispense System with Controlled Rotating Cylinder Gate - This is a waste cyclone toner dispense system with a controlled gate and a collection bag below the gate. The controlled gate prevents pressure from entering the bag thereby permitting the use of relatively inexpensive bags for collection of toner debris. The gate has rotating blades tightly pushed against a sealing wall, such as rubber or the like. The wall must prevent pressure from reaching the bag and remaining only above the bag. The rotating blades convey waste toner from an upper collection to the collection bag. | 04-07-2011 |
20110081179 | Waste Cyclone Dispense System With a Controlled Gate - This is a waste cyclone toner dispense system with a controlled gate and a collection bag below the gate. The controlled gate is configured to be opened and closed at a predetermined time thereby permitting the use of relatively inexpensive bags for collection of toner debris. The gate is hinged to permit easy opening by a controller and motor. The controller turns off any pressure while the gate is open. The drop gate conveys when open waste toner from an upper waste collection funnel to the collection bag. | 04-07-2011 |
20110081180 | WASTE DRY INK SYSTEM WITH PRESSURE EQUALIZING HERMETICALLY SEALED OUTER BOX - This is a novel xerographic marking system having a novel toner waste dispensing assembly. The assembly comprises a hermetically sealed outer box that houses a disposable waste toner container. The container is a biodegradable carton or bag that can be removed from the outer box when filled with waste toner. A feature of this invention is that the dispensing assembly can easily be retrofitted into existing marking systems. Also because the containers are inexpensive and biodegradable, the expensive prior art non-degradable waste containers and their adverse effect on the landfills can be avoided. | 04-07-2011 |
20130155138 | System For Detecting Leakage of Phase Change Inks - A printing apparatus includes a printhead module having an ink leakage detector to detect a leaked phase change ink. The ink leakage detector includes a plurality of resistance temperature detectors or resistive thermal devices to detect the leaked phase change ink. A horizontally mounted overdriven thermistor can also be used to detect leaked ink. | 06-20-2013 |
20130192169 | APPARATUS AND METHODS FOR PRINTER SYSTEM FILTER PACKAGING - A printer filter packaging apparatus includes a base for supporting a filter having delicate filter media. Side wraps extend from two opposite sides of the base and cover two opposite sides of the filter. A rear wrap includes a handle, and covers a rear and a top of the filter. A front wrap defines a slit for receiving the handle; the front wrap covers the top and a front of the filter. The wrapped or covered filter may be lifted by the handle, the filter being supported by a combination of the base and front, rear, and side wraps. | 08-01-2013 |
20140022319 | INK DELIVERY SYSTEM FOR AN IMAGING DEVICE - An ink delivery system for transporting thermally treated ink from different ink reservoirs to multiple print he ads of an imaging device includes a rigid injector assembly, and multiple pliable tubes attached to the injector assembly. The injector assembly includes two T-shaped members made of a conducting material, positioned one a top the of her. Each of the two members has grooves provided within it. The grooves within one of the members align with the grooves within the other member, to create channels, which carry ink to the pliable tubes. The pliable tubes are made of a flexible material, such that the lower end of each pliable tube is freely movable with respect to the injector assembly. A heating mechanism surrounds the injector assembly and the pliable tube, and remains in thermal communication with the system, to keep the ink in molten state all through the transportation path within the ink delivery system. | 01-23-2014 |