Other

Liautaud; James P.

Emerson Electric Company

Nidec Motor Corporation

Digital Appliance Controls, Inc.

Peter F Stultz

James P Liautaud

David L Maloney

Gregory A Peterson

John K Westberg, Ii

Ellis Paul Lipp

Daniel E Hilton

Thomas Musser

An appliance timer operable in a selection mode and an operation mode includes a shaft assembly, a switch assembly, a cam device, a bi-directional motor, and a display device. The shaft assembly is operable to select an operation cycle and to drive the display device in the selection mode. The motor rotates in a first rotational direction and a second rotational direction opposite to the first rotational direction in the operation mode. When the motor rotates in the first rotational direction, the motor drives the cam device to operate the switch assembly to actuate or deactivate a plurality of electrical circuits associated with a plurality of appliance functions. When the motor rotates in the second rotational direction, the motor drives the display device to indicate an operational status of the appliance. The rotation of the motor is controlled by a microprocessor.

Appliance timer

An integrated electric motor and controller assembly includes a motor, a controller mounted to the motor, and a sensor device disposed at an interface between the motor and the controller. The sensor device includes a sensor disposed at the controller and a magnet disposed at the motor. An alignment structure is provided at the interface between the motor and the controller for positioning the sensor relative to the magnet when the controller is mounted to the motor. The magnet is recessed in the motor and the sensor is protected by a controller housing of the controller. This arrangement has the advantages of protecting the sensor device from damage during shipment and assembly and providing a quick assembly and connection of the sensor device to the motor and the controller.

Electric motor and controller assembly with integrated sensor device

An appliance controller includes a plurality of LEDs that are configured annularly about a control knob of the appliance controller. The LEDs are operated so as to indicate status of the operation of the appliance when the appliance is in a run mode. In one form, the appliance controller illuminates one of the LEDs to indicate at what point the appliance is in its cycle of operation. When the appliance is in a stop mode, the LEDs are operated to indicate where the control knob is positioned when a user is selecting a particular operation with the appliance controller. In one form, as a user rotates the control knob, the appliance controller determines the rotational or angular location of the knob, particularly via a selection indicator of the knob, and illuminates a corresponding LED.

Appliance control system with LED operation indicators

An appliance controller includes a control knob assembly and detection mechanism having various mechanical and electrical components that are configured to detect the position of the knob assembly and produce a position signal indicative of the knob assembly position. The position signal is provided to the appliance controller that produces a control signal in response thereto. The control signal is used to initiate various appliance functions based on the specific position of the knob assembly. In one form, the detection mechanism includes a variable resistor assembly that is comprised of a wiper and resistor pad arrangement. In another form, the detection mechanism includes a shaft encoder mechanism that is comprised of a light transmitter and receiver, and an associated apertured disc secured to the knob assembly.

Appliance control system with cycle selection detection

An appliance control system includes a housing and a user cycle selector which is movable in relation to the housing between a first selector position and a second selector position. The appliance control system further includes a first spring secured to the housing, the first spring being configured to retain the user cycle selector at (i) the first selector position during a first period of time, and (ii) the second selector position during a second period of time. Additionally, the appliance control system includes a mode switch positioned within the housing, the mode switch having an actuated state and a deactuated state. The appliance control system also includes a second spring having a spring arm which is movable between a first arm position and a second arm position. Movement of the user cycle selector from the first selector position to the second selector position causes the spring arm to move from the first arm position to the second arm position. And movement of the spring arm from the first arm position to the second arm position causes the mode switch to be switched from the deactuated state to the actuated state.

Appliance control system with auxiliary inputs

An appliance includes a rotating position switch and a selector switch. The rotating position switch has a first position associated with a first appliance function and a second position associated with a second appliance function. The second appliance function modifies the first appliance function. The selector switch has an actuated state configured to generate a signal representative of a selection of the first appliance function when the rotating position switch is in the first position. The actuated state is further configured to generate a signal representative of a selection of the second appliance function when the rotating position switch is in the second position.

Appliance control methods and apparatus

An appliance control system includes a housing and a user cycle selector which is movable in relation to the housing between a first selector position and a second selector position. The appliance control system further includes a first spring secured to the housing, the first spring being configured to retain the user cycle selector at (i) the first selector position during a first period of time, and (ii) the second selector position during a second period of time. Additionally, the appliance control system includes a mode switch positioned within the housing, the mode switch having an actuated state and a deactuated state: The appliance control system also includes a second spring having a spring arm which is movable between a first arm position and a second arm position. Movement of the user cycle selector from the first selector position to the second selector position causes the spring arm to move from the first arm position to the second arm position. And movement of the spring arm from the first arm position to the second arm position causes the mode switch to be switched from the deactuated state to the actuated state.

Appliance control system with knob control assembly

An apparatus for generating a digital pulse train from a dial rotation indicating the direction and degree of rotation. The device incorporates two facing disks mounted to a stem and having mating teeth on adjacent surfaces. One disk is mounted for free rotation about the winding stem and projects an actuating lever arm from its periphery. The other disk is mounted for axial movement and is keyed to rotate with the shaft. Left and right micro-switches are mounted proximate the disks and positioned to be contacted by the actuating lever when it is rotated in the respective left and right directions. During this rotation the stem moves the keyed disk in the selected direction of rotation. The keyed disk engages the free disk and causes it to rotate until the actuating lever arm contacts a micro-switch. When such contact occurs, the free disk is prevented from further rotation and the keyed disk shifts over the teeth of the free disk. This shifting repetition causes the lever arm to be periodically forced against the micro-switch to cause periodic switching during stem rotation.

Rotary pulse switch

Adjustable support stand for an electronic device

A battery charger for supplying charging current to the rechargeable battery of a portable battery powered device includes a one-piece housing and removable bottom plate. A first portion of the housing includes a receptacle for receiving the device. Upon insertion of the device into the receptacle electric contacts projecting from the bottom wall of the receptacle are biased by a spring acting against the bottom plate into electrical contact with the device to establish electrical communication between the device and charging circuitry within the housing. A first portion of the circuitry is contained within the first portion of the housing to provide mode indications and switch means user-actuable through an aperture in the bottom wall of the receptacle. A second portion of the circuitry is contained within a second portion of the housing having integral ribs on its exterior surface for improved heat dissipation.

Battery charger

Removable battery pack

A housing for an electronic circuit board includes a housing member and identical top and bottom cover members. Inwardly extending ribs located on the interior sidewalls of the housing member align and support the circuit board, and provide convection cooling channels which allow air to circulate freely over the circuit board. The housing member is preferably an integrally cast member formed with integral fin surfaces which dissipate heat for the protection of temperature sensitive electronic components within the housing.

Integrally cast mobile radio housing

A swivel base assembly for mounting radio apparatus or the like on a supporting surface includes a first support element for engaging the apparatus housing and a second support element for engaging the supporting surface. A spacing element in the form of a sphere allows relative movement between the support elements while maintaining a fixed minimum spacing. Locking means in the form of interlocking hook members draw the mounting plates into engagement with the spacer element to fixedly position the first plate with respect to the second plate and the supporting surface.

Swivel base assembly

A battery charger system for supplying charging current to either a battery-powered transceiver or to the rechargeable battery pack of the transceiver includes a housing housing a receptacle for receiving the transceiver. Upon insertion of the transceiver into the receptacle an electric contact projecting from the bottom wall of the receptacle contacts the transceiver to establish electrical communication between the device and charging circuitry within the housing. When supplying charging current to the battery pack an adapter having a smaller receptacle is inserted into the receptacle to establish electrical communication between the contacts and the battery pack. A reciprocatively mounted actuator stem in the adapter housing enables actuation of a deep-discharge mode select switch through an aperture in the bottom wall of the receptacle.

Growing community of inventors

Elgin, IL, United States of America

Peter F Stultz