Whirlpool Europe B.v.

Microchip Technology Inc.

Cesare Antonio Bocchiola

Giorgio Spiazzi

Renato Colombo

Leopoldo Rossetto

Paolo Tenti

Marco Maritan

A reverse power feeding (RPF) power supply unit (PSU) for remote network distribution point unit (DPU) that is reverse powered from multiple customer premise equipments (CPEs). A plurality of power converters, each having a different primary winding and sharing a common secondary winding of a transformer at the PSU, wherein only one of the power converters is operated at a time to provide a desired output voltage.

Reverse power feed (RPF) power supply unit (PSU) and associated method of use

A method for achieving movement of a gas burner of a cooking hob relative to a cavity in which said burner rests when not in use and from which it partially emerges for its activation, by which following a command for activating the burner a magnetic force is generated on the heating element which causes it to move and partially emerge from the cavity, said force ceasing when a burner deactivation command is given, with its consequent return to its rest position within the corresponding cavity. The method is implemented by a device comprising fixed conductor means arranged to cooperate magnetically with magnetically sensitive means associated with the movable burner.

Method and device for achieving easy movement of a cooking hob gas burner

A control device for heating elements, particularly for use in household electrical appliances such as cookers, cooking hobs, ovens and the like, comprising a driven switch in series with the, a first capacitor acting as a filter in parallel with the load, a second capacitor acting as a freewheeling capacitor operationally in series with the load and with the capacitor, these two being connected in parallel, and at least one inductor means in series with the load, characterised in that: a) the driven switch is a static switch hence able to assume an open state and a closed state; b) an inductor is provided in parallel with the load, or alternatively a section of the inductor means is in parallel with the load; c) a freewheeling diode is provided connected between an intermediate point between the inductor or section and freewheeling capacitor and an intermediate point between the load and static switch, so that when the static switch is in one state the freewheeling capacitor is charged via the freewheeling diode, the load and the inductor, whereas when in the other state the capacitor is discharged via the load, the inductor and the static switch.

Device for controlling heating element power

A control circuit for a series type dc motor. The control circuit uses a switching cell to control motor speed. The switching cell and motor receive power from a filtered dc supply. A tachometer generator produces a voltage proportional to motor speed. The speed voltage is compared to a speed reference signal voltage and the difference is proportionally integrated to develop a speed error signal voltage. The speed reference signal voltage is developed at a summing node where a current generated by the control's microcontroller is summed with a current proportional to the input ripple voltage of the control's dc supply. The microcontroller also receives a voltage proportional to the control's dc input as a reference. The speed error signal voltage is compared with the output voltage of a current sensor that is in series with the motor feeder arrangement and the comparator's output is used to reset a bistable flip flop. The flip flop controls the switching cell and is set by a high frequency oscillator (100-150 khz). The cell closes when the flip flop is set and opens when the cell is reset. This control determines power absorbed by the motor and improves the motor power factor.

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Settimo Milanese, Italy

Cesare Antonio Bocchiola