A fork with timer for providing a cue to a user after an elapsed period of time for indicating that another bite of food using the fork may be taken.
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| D518318 | Chair base | 04/04/2006 |
| 6283851 | Make up air equipment control A system for controlling make-up air apparatus for a controlled building space includes a first sensor for sensing the operation of a first appliance within a building space. The appliance causes the air to be exhausted from the controlled building space.... | 09/04/2001 |
| 6240324 | Adaptive cascade control algorithm A process for performing real-time cascade control for use in controllers. An adaptive process module uses an algorithm to set parameters during system operation to attain the best possible control performance, while providing an easier-to-use system for ... | 05/29/2001 |
| 6220039 | Method of humidity control utilizing dewpoint A method of controlling humidity within a space, where the space communicates with humidity control equipment. The method comprises determining a dew-point temperature within the space, and comparing the dew-point temperature to a predetermined desired de... | 04/24/2001 |
| 6208263 | Multiple value multiple owner message class A method of communicating between a plurality of devices in a controller area network is disclosed. The method includes a first device transmitting a first message over the network, a second device comparing a first value in the first message with a secon... | 03/27/2001 |
| 6191956 | Circuit for generating high voltage to ignite oil or gas or operative neon tubes A solid state power supply circuit for providing high frequency power to ignite oil or gas and operate neon sign transformers. A switch operates in conjunction with a resonant tank circuit to supply power to the resonant tank at a predetermined time. The ... | 02/20/2001 |
| 6169937 | Subbase programmable control system A control unit such as a thermostat has a subbase which mounts on the surface holding the control unit and has electrical terminals for connecting to an operating unit. A controller is designed to mechanically attach and electrically interface to the subb... | 01/02/2001 |
| 6158719 | Bent crankshaft for motorized valves A bent crankshaft assembly for motorized valves. The crankshaft is formed having three distinct regions, a connection region, a bend region, and a sphere retaining region. These regions are formed in a unitary rod without staking or milling operations.... | 12/12/2000 |
| 6126708 | Air plenum filter sealing system An air duct has a filter mount opening originally intended to accept a shallow filter element for filtering air entering the duct. The opening has an interior flange whose original purpose was to support the shallow filter element. This flange has interio... | 10/03/2000 |
| 6101824 | Flexible thermostat controller that permits various control point profiles when controlling multistage HVAC equipment A thermostat for use with multistage Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) plants where a proportional/integral control loop is present for each stage of the multistage HVAC plant. Filter constants, Ki and Kp as well as stage control points and... | 08/15/2000 |
| 6098893 | Comfort control system incorporating weather forecast data and a method for operating such a system In a comfort controls system for multiple buildings (whether residential, commercial or industrial), a weather forecast unit sends weather forecast data over the Internet to a building management provider which handles building management services for a n... | 08/08/2000 |
| 6078843 | Neural network including input normalization for use in a closed loop control system An apparatus and method for controlling a process using a neural network which operates as part of a closed loop control system. The state of the control system is defined by one or more process condition signals and monitored for a predetermined set of c... | 06/20/2000 |
| 6041264 | Deadband control assistant eliminating offset from setpoint A deadband control assistant, operating as part of a control system, eliminates oscillation of a controlled process output around a desired setpoint. The deadband control defines a deadband range, and steady-state-stabilization-time for the process being ... | 03/21/2000 |
| 5865612 | Hot surface ignitor An ignition circuit and method for a hot surface ignitor. The ignition process and apparatus enforces a short warm-up period for the hot surface ignitor where approximately half power is supplied at start-up to the ignitor until the ignitor warms to a poi... | 02/02/1999 |
| 5644173 | Real time and/shed load based on received tier pricing and direct load control with processors for each load A method of employing add/shed routines to individual load controllers in a system for a building or plant that has more than one load. It allows for cooperative adjustments of energy usage in accord with prearranged exigency information agree between the... | 07/01/1997 |
| 5625644 | DC balanced 4B/8B binary block code for digital data communications An apparatus and method for transmission of data. A four bit data word is converted into an eight bit code word having a run-length of (0,1) which includes four binary ones and four binary zeros is defined where the start and end bits comprise a 01 or 10 ... | 04/29/1997 |
| 5622310 | Adaptive recovery control scheme for conventional and heat pump systems An adaptive recovery process and apparatus for use in temperature control devices for controlling different kinds of HVAC plants. The process and apparatus include main and auxiliary heat ramps in the adaptive recovery portion for dealing with both conven... | 04/22/1997 |
| 5604684 | Embedded programmable sensor calibration method A method for quick and low cost calibration of a sensor to remove span and offset errors. Span and offset errors are removed using a circuit which produces a corrected output signal as a function of calculated gain and offset values. The gain and offset v... | 02/18/1997 |
| 5598349 | Responding to pricing signals from a power supplier using mixed add/shed and profile setback delta schemes A method for employing utility-supplied information relies on two schemes for accommodating such pricing information. All subsystems in a building function based on the individual controller responsible for that subsystem and the user-defined predetermine... | 01/28/1997 |
| 5581027 | Dual integral ballast flow sensor A flow sensor package having dual porous integral restrictors and a substantial bend between an inlet and a passage for housing the flow sensor and connecting the inlet to an outlet.... | 12/03/1996 |
| 5543667 | Load control for partially increasing/decreasing power usage An add/shed load controller which will add/shed or increase/decrease the electrical usage of a load. A maximum decrease limit may be set for analog loads to insure that comfort is not overly affected due to load usage reductions.... | 08/06/1996 |
| 5473986 | Fuse for a projectile A programmable fuse for a projectile is supplied with voltage during the programming phase by rectifying the inductively transmitted program information. The program information is laid down via a microprocessor (U3) within a non-volatile memory (U4). Wit... | 12/12/1995 |
| 5461372 | System and method for modifying security in a security system A system and method for modifying security levels within a security system. External modifications are allowed only if the security of a point is increased.... | 10/24/1995 |
| 5460328 | Method for the automatic optimization of a heating curve A method for the automatic optimization of the heating curve of a heating controller in a heating plant is devised, whereat the heating curve is approximated by the potential function y=k.multidot.x, in which function the coefficient k a... | 10/24/1995 |
| 5412576 | Selective assembly of component kits A computerized method for the automatic selection of component kits from an inventory of component parts. A first list of component parts is created by a rule-based expert system and a second list of component parts is created by a previously trained node... | 05/02/1995 |
| 5381436 | Ring laser gyro employing radio frequency for pumping of gain medium A ring laser gyro comprising a ring laser gyro block having a gain bore filled with a gain medium and apparatus for transmitting RF energy embedded within the ring laser gyro block proximate to the gain bore. The RF energy apparatus may be located so as t... | 01/10/1995 |
| 5371754 | Laser gyro single transformer power supply The invention provides a laser gyro with a single transformer power supply. The power supply receives a single 15 volt DC supply that is converted to a 320 volt DC supply, a 280 volt DC supply and a 500 volt DC supply. The invention implements a Royer Osc... | 12/06/1994 |
| 5363194 | Laser gyro microprocessor start up control method and apparatus A laser gyro start up apparatus and method that safely and quickly starts a laser gyro. A microprocessor sequences the mechanical and electrical systems of the laser gyro such that the gyro is started up quickly in the proper sequence. The microprocessor ... | 11/08/1994 |
| 5272650 | Self correcting time base for inaccurate oscillators An apparatus and method for providing a microprocessor having an inaccurate oscillator with a desired time base. The cycles of the output signal of the oscillator are counted by a first counter until the counted number equals a predetermined correction co... | 12/21/1993 |
| 5238184 | Thermostat having simple battery level detection A thermostat having a simple battery level detection circuit. The output of an oscillator, having a frequency dependent upon the battery level, is compared to the output of a battery level independent time base. If the two outputs are not in a predetermin... | 08/24/1993 |
| 5230482 | Electronic time thermostat with a temporary next period adjustment means A thermostat having a temporary "now" and "next" functions. The temporary "next" function allows the user to program a temporary deviation from a preprogrammed schedule used to control the temperature within a space. The combination temporary "now" and "n... | 07/27/1993 |
| 5225806 | Security system having mode control of sensor points A security system in which sensors are included in one or more groups which are stored in the system. Groups of sensors are selectably actuable by a user entering mode information into the system so that only the selected group(s) will provide indication ... | 07/06/1993 |
| 5225377 | Method for micromachining semiconductor material A structure is formed from two layers of material having opposite conductivity types. A first region is formed within the structure, and extends at least in part into a layer to be etched. A surface of the structure is then masked and etched. The result i... | 07/06/1993 |
| 5211332 | Thermostat control A process of operating an electronic thermostat so that it models the effects of a mechanical thermostat anticipator.... | 05/18/1993 |
| 5203497 | Communicating thermostat A thermostat providing external communication comprising two microprocessors. One microprocessor may be dedicated to the external communication while the other microprocessor runs the application programming. The thermostat is separated into a thermostat ... | 04/20/1993 |
| 5197668 | Communicating thermostat A thermostat which includes a transceiver for receiving and sending communications externally of the thermostat. A thermostat receiving external communications from another thermostat includes an external temperature responsive portion to modify the setpo... | 03/30/1993 |
| 5174156 | Pressure transducer with reduced offset signal A structure and method of making a piezoresistive transducer with reduced offset current. The transducer is comprised of a piezoresistive die having a support rim and a diaphragm, and a support housing having a wall and an aperture. The shape of the diaph... | 12/29/1992 |
| 5172565 | Air handling system utilizing direct expansion cooling A system for controlling the operation of an HVAC system which includes a direct expansion coil, a condenser, a pre-cool coil, and a control system. The control system includes a controller and sensors. The controller receives signals indicative of air fl... | 12/22/1992 |
| 5170635 | Defrost for air handling system utilizing direct expansion cooling A system for controlling the operation of an HVAC system which includes a direct expansion coil, a condenser, a pre-cool coil, and a control system. The control system includes a controller and sensors. The controller receives signals indicative of air fl... | 12/15/1992 |
| 5156052 | Ribbed and bossed pressure transducer A pressure transducer having means for improving the linearity and sensitivity of an output signal from the pressure transducer. Ribs and bosses are introduced in the diaphragm region to collect the moments caused by a difference in pressure on the two si... | 10/20/1992 |