...that it was melting ice cream that inspired the invention of the outboard motor? It was a lovely August day and Ole Evinrude was rowing his boat to his favorite island picnic spot. As he rowed, he watched his ice cream melt and wished he had a faster way to get to the island. At that moment the idea for the outboard motor was born!
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 |
| 7944672 | Control device for an actuator A control device applicable to an actuator and including a voltage detection unit and a limit switch control unit. The control device is inbuilt inside the actuator without any additional control circuit for the control of the limit switches and the detection of the... | 05/17/2011 |
| 7423332 | Vertical laminated electrical switch circuit A vertical laminated electrical switch circuit includes a first, second, and third ceramic substrate positioned in juxtaposed relationship relative to each other. The circuit also includes a first and second electrical device electrically coupled to each other. The ... | 09/09/2008 |
| 7268516 | Circuit for use with switched reluctance machines A switched reluctance machine is energized by phase circuits with four active switches, for example MOSFETs, arranged in a bridge configuration. The switches are capable of conducting current in both a first direction and a second direction and are capable of operat... | 09/11/2007 |
| 6882155 | Remotely actuated, circuit testing emergency stop apparatus and method The present invention is a remotely actuated emergency stop (E-stop) switch, with equipment control circuitry, providing a method for testing the E-stop switch and control circuitry to assure circuit and switch integrity, anytime, without equipment operational inter... | 04/19/2005 |
| 6785111 | Electric charge detector Electrostatic discharge can damage electronic equipment. It has been known to start a fire when it occurs when a motor vehicle's gasoline tank is being filled. A device for detecting, alarming, and/or neutralizing an electrostatic charge can help avoid these problem... | 08/31/2004 |
| 6631067 | Electromagnetic actuator for engine valves An amplifier/power supply for an engine valve actuator includes a pair of switches for operating an actuator coil in several modes from a low voltage power supply. A higher magnitude voltage is regeneratively created using the inductance of the actuator c... | 10/07/2003 |
| 6078491 | Hybrid relay A hybrid relay with an electromagnetic relay system having at least one coil one core yoke unit, at least one armature which switches contacts and one power semiconductor whose switching path, in combination with the contacts switches the load circuit of ... | 06/20/2000 |
| 6028760 | Resonant power converter for energizing a coil A pulse generator is provided for energizing a coil with period bipolar current pulses for the purposes of airborne prospecting. The pulses have a generally square waveform, and the pulse generator includes a resonant DC to AC converter circuit including ... | 02/22/2000 |
| 5995356 | Method and apparatus for controlling and detecting the position of a solenoid-operated valve element A method and apparatus for controlling a solenoid-operated valve element are provided. The valve element is movable between first and second end positions, and is urgable toward the first end position by magnetic attraction caused by activation of the sol... | 11/30/1999 |
| 5930104 | PWM relay actuator circuit An actuation circuit for an electromechanical relay employs a microprocessor and a switching transistor to actuate a relay over a wide range of applied voltages. The switching transistor is connected in series with the actuator coil. A voltage sensing cir... | 07/27/1999 |
| 5796571 | Control device for a two-hand control means for controlling presses for instance A control device contains two electromagnets (61, 62) in a respective current supply circuit (41, 44; 42, 44) which includes a biassed switch (20, 21) having first and second output terminals (2, 4), wherein the switches are biassed towards the first outp... | 08/18/1998 |
| 5793599 | Control of the attraction of an armature of a switching magnet and a switching arrangement for performing the method A method of energy-saving regulation of the attraction of an armature of a switching magnet, particularly an electromagnet for a control element in an internal combustion engine, wherein a medium voltage UZ is formed by switching to the lowest-... | 08/11/1998 |
| 5771146 | Safety circuit Safety circuits with an actuating device for electrical appliances, where the actuating device is capable of being operated by means of two key buttons or switch stacks are of use in many different areas of application. In order to create a generally suit... | 06/23/1998 |
| 5731946 | Parallel circuit for driving an electromagnetic load A device for driving a load, in particular an electromagnetic load. The device includes a current detector for detecting the current flowing through the load, a power transistor connected in series to the load, which is triggered in dependence upon the cu... | 03/24/1998 |
| 5717562 | Solenoid injector driver circuit A solenoid driver circuit is controlled by an electronic control module ("ECM") and eliminates many components required for a high voltage power supply required by the prior art. The solenoid driver circuit includes a high voltage select switch, a select ... | 02/10/1998 |
| 5687052 | Flexible variable pole-count relay output circuit for controlling multiple relays A controller for controlling equipment in response to control signals received by the controller. The controller includes control line inputs, a switching arrangement, control outputs and binary switching devices. The switching arrangement is configured t... | 11/11/1997 |
| 5436789 | Signal-change surveillance equipment, in particular for use in self-checking control systems Surveillance of signal changes, especially for self-checking control systems. It is essential in self-checking control systems to create equipment to monitor signal changes and allowing to detect all conceivable initial errors or defects and to allow begi... | 07/25/1995 |
| 5425403 | Device for filling bags with a powder-like or granular flowable material, especially sand A device for filling bags with a flowable material has a hopper with a bottom portion for receiving the flowable material. A filling socket is connected to the bottom portion of the hopper and has a vertically downwardly extending receiving section for re... | 06/20/1995 |
| 5412531 | Apparatus and method for extending the breakdown capability of a switching circuit A circuit (16) having an extended breakdown capability is provided for switching an inductive load driver (12). The circuit (16) includes a first switch (18) for providing a first drive voltage when the first switch (18) is closed. A second switch (20) is... | 05/02/1995 |
| 5375027 | Fail safe cartridge fire unit A fail-safe circuit for preventing an inadvertent communication of a signal from an input terminal to an output terminal includes a series switching network electrically connected between the input terminal and the output terminal. The series switching ne... | 12/20/1994 |
| 5245260 | Motor drive circuit with electronic fault protection An appliance provided with an electric motor and a circuit for driving the electric motor. The drive circuit includes a first pulse switch (S1) for generating a first pulse and a first switching device (μC, T) having a holding capability and which perfor... | 09/14/1993 |
| 5170068 | Master electrical load control system A system controls electrical power to multiple loads from both a central location and from local three-way controls. In one embodiment, the system includes means for sensing the power to each load. That sensing capability, in turn, permits the master to s... | 12/08/1992 |
| 5138547 | Dual input power supply A simplified dual input power supply of the type which automatically responds to either a low level AC supply voltage (e.g. 115 volts) or a high level AC supply voltage (e.g. 230 volts) to provide a single level DC output voltage (e.g. 300 volts). The pow... | 08/11/1992 |
| 5012967 | Electric tool for driving in fixing elements An electric tool for driving in fixing elements (10) into an object (4) by means of a magnetic field generated by supplying magnetizing current to an electromagnetic device, comprises a circuit means (17) which is adapted, when activated, to supply magnet... | 05/07/1991 |
| 4975801 | Automatic by-pass for television components An automatic bypass for studio TV operation of linear devices (noise suppressors correction, etc.) having the advantage, unlike the known devices in this field, of reacting in case of processing unit supply failures and taking into consideration the chang... | 12/04/1990 |
| 4947283 | Solenoid drive circuit A solenoid drive circuit, when providing a holding current to a solenoid by means of periodically turning a drive transistor on and off, by-passes a Zener diode until immediately before the end of a holding period as a result of an on state of a first swi... | 08/07/1990 |
| 4930041 | Potentiometer position switch circuit A potentiometer position switch circuit which includes a meter mechanism having a low friction potentiometer coupled to move therewith. The output of the low friction potentiometer is coupled together with the output of a set point potentiometer across th... | 05/29/1990 |
| 4918560 | Proximity operated machine control A machine control system for electrically-operated apparatus wherein the operator's hands must be located upon separate spaced switches before the machine functions. The switches are of the proximity type to sense the presence of the operator's hand upon ... | 04/17/1990 |
| 4890001 | Electrical circuit for selectively activating electrical devices An electrical circuit assembly for selectively activating one of numerous electrical devices. Each device having a corresponding pushbutton switch, wherein activation of the switch assigned to the selected device activates the selected device and deactiva... | 12/26/1989 |
| 4812062 | Print hammer with flux detection for print pressure control A recording apparatus in which recording on a recording medium is perfomed by impacting against the recording medium. This recording apparatus has a recording unit which is constututed by a recording element supported so as to be reciprocatively movable r... | 03/14/1989 |
| 4803379 | Circuit arrangement for power supply for electrical and electronic control or regulating devices A circuit arrangement having a purely capacitive power supply, at least one power consumer, and a control element for causing power to be supplied to the power consumer. The power supply, the power consumer and the control element form a series circuit. T... | 02/07/1989 |
| 4787008 | Electronic latch circuitry A relay coil associated with a pair of contacts connects an electrical source to a load. Actuation of a coil sensing element by a trigger input signal supplies current to the coil. In response to the trigger input signal the load sensing element supplies ... | 11/22/1988 |
| 4775914 | Device for rapidly transferring current to an inductive load A device comprising an inductor connected to current supply means; a condenser designed for parallel connection to an inductive load; and switch means having a short response time and controlled so as to interconnect the aforementioned supply means, induc... | 10/04/1988 |
| 4771358 | Magnetic chuck controller In the magnetic chuck control disclosed herein, the chuck winding is selectively energized in one direction or the other through respective triggerable semiconductor current switching devices. Successively reducing current levels are applied in successive... | 09/13/1988 |
| 4736145 | Electric control apparatus for equipment Electric control apparatus (20) for equipment (1) comprising a driving circuit (5) for generating a signal (S1) to drive the equipment as installed in a vehicle, the driving circuit including circuitry having a first specified working voltage r... | 04/05/1988 |
| 4734817 | Magnetic clutch A device is provided that begins an electrical starting mode in a parallel circuit configuration providing an improved speed of response and after an interval of time, current is switched to a series circuit configuration for operation during a run mode. ... | 03/29/1988 |
| 4706619 | Automotive valve actuation method A circuit and method for actuation of a gas intake or exhaust valve which is electromagnetically held in its opened and closed positions by an actuator assembly having a ferromagnetic element attractable by actuating solenoids. Control of the holding curr... | 11/17/1987 |
| 4704655 | Solenoid drive circuit A solenoid drive circuit in which a solenoid is intermittently driven while in a powered state. A diode and a resistor are connected from ground to opposite ends of the solenoid to quickly discharge the solenoid. However, during intermittent driving the r... | 11/03/1987 |
| 4677281 | Electric heating apparatus with integrated solid state comfort control and overheat protection A heated bedcover containing an electrical heating element therein is provided with an integrated solid state control circuit which functions providing control over the heating element both for comfort control so as to maintain a desired heat output from ... | 06/30/1987 |
| 4670810 | Zero-current a.c. switching system A zero-current a.c. switching system is provided for controlling actuation of relay contacts between a power supply and a load. A primary switch selectively energizes the relay to maintain the relay contacts in the closed state. The load current flowing t... | 06/02/1987 |