U.S. Philips Corporation

Koninklijke Philips Corporation N.v.

Jacob H Botma

Roelf Van Der Wal

Robert Godlieb

Schelte Heeringa

Michiel Allan Aurelius Schallig

Frans Wiebe Rozeboom

Hielke Simon Van Oostrum

Roelof Jan Wind

Kin Fatt Phoon

Peter Sofrides Viet

Jan Hans Benedictus

Wilhelmus G Ettes

Klaas Kooyker

Klaas J Lulofs

Sander Slegt

Johannes A De Wit

Hendricus J Duipmans

Lawrence S Lai

Wai H Li

Tjerk K Bij De Leij

A treating system includes a controller and a treating device having a treating unit for treating a part of a body of a subject. An imaging arrangement is configured to obtain image data. The controller is configured to analyze the image data to identify a boundary between the part of the body of the subject and the environment around the part of the body; and determine the position of the treating device relative to the part of the body of the subject based on a position of the boundary in the image data.

System and method for treating a part of a body

A tap sensitive alarm clock has a housing (), a vibration sensor () mechanically coupled to the housing for receiving a shock due to a user tapping the housing, and a control circuit () coupled to the vibration sensor for controlling a function of the alarm clock. An audio unit () is coupled to an audio circuit () for generating sound, e.g. a loudspeaker in an alarm clock or a wake up light. To avoid interference of the sound and the vibration sensor, the alarm clock is provided with a filter () coupled to the vibration sensor and the control circuit. The filter has a filter curve matched to block frequencies occurring in the sound. Advantageously it is avoided that the sound frequencies trigger the function, while the sensor is sensitive to other frequencies up to the frequency range of the sound for reliably detecting the tapping.

Tap sensitive alarm clock

A device is provided for heating a liquid in a holder, having a heater element ( ) designed to be placed in said holder and to be immersed in liquid in said holder, a temperature sensor ( ) for measuring the temperature of the liquid in the holder and coupled to a control unit ( ) for the thermostatic control of power supply to the heater element ( ), a thermal safety cut-out ( ) for interrupting the power supply to the heater element in response to heating-up of the heater element to above a given temperature, which safety cut-out ( ) is in thermally conductive contact with the heater element ( ), and a carrier ( ) which is thermally coupled by means of a thermal coupling to a portion of said heater element which is immersed in the liquid in said holder in the operational state, the temperature sensor ( ) of the thermostat being situated on said carrier ( ) at a distance from said thermal coupling.

Device for heating a liquid, and deep-frying vessel with such a device

A liquid heating vessel, such as a kettle, enables user selection of the temperature to which the liquid is to be heated. A thermal sensor is provided which is responsive to the temperature of the heating element. During the heating cycle, the operation of the heating element is interrupted, and temperature samples are obtained as the element cools. Analysis of the temperature decay function of the heating element during the interruption enables the liquid volume to be estimated, as well as the time required to heat the liquid to the selected temperature.

Heating vessel and method of controlling the heating element of such a

Electric toaster with a first heating element arranged at one side of a toasting compartment and a second heating element arranged at an opposed side of the toasting compartment. The first heating element is divided into two sub-elements. Two diodes and a switch provide the possibility to switch over from a normal two-sided toasting mode to an asymmetric single-sided toasting mode. In the normal mode the switch is closed and the sub-elements receive power only during different half-waves of the mains supply voltage, so that the effective radiant power of the sub-divided first element is equal to the radiant power of the second heating element. In the asymmetric mode the switch is opened and the resistance of the first heating element is greater than the resistance of the second element, as a consequence of which relatively more radiant power is emitted by the first heating element than by the second heating element.

Electric toaster with asymmetric heating effect

A switching power supply with synchronous rectification by means of a diode and a parallel-connected electronic switch. By means of a one-shot circuit the electronic switch is driven into conduction during a fixed portion of the time period during which the diode would be conductive without the electronic switch.

Switching voltage converter with synchronous rectification

A Toaster having heating elements whose heating area depends on the slice size. A toaster has heating elements (H1, H2) divided into sub-elements (H1A, H1B; H2A, H2B) which can be activated individually. The size of the product to be toasted (5) is detected by means of a sensor, for example a mechanical sensor (2) or an optical sensor device with a photo-emitter and a photo-receiver. The sub-elements are activated selectively in dependence on the detected size. Thus, the power consumption of the toaster is adapted to the size of the product to be toasted and overheating of the product in the proximity of the unused heating area of the heating elements is avoided.

Toaster having heating elements whose heating area depends on the slice

A toaster has electrical parts which are energized from a mains voltage. The bread is conveyed to a toasting chamber (4) by means of a lift (6) and a handle (12). In the end position of the handle (12) a main switch (SW5) is turned on, as a result of which the electrical parts can be powered from the mains voltage. The heating elements receive mains voltage via triacs controlled by a microcontroller. After completion of the toasting cycle the microcontroller turns off the heating elements, which precludes burning of the bread, even if the main switch remains in its on-position as a result of a mechanical defect. Subsequently, the microcontroller checks the presence of the mains voltage. In that case a signalling device is activated to warn the user that the mains voltage supply to the toaster has not yet been turned off.

Growing community of inventors

Drachten, Netherlands

Jacob H Botma