Matsushita Electric Industrial Co., Ltd.

Panasonic Corporation

Shinichi Ito

Tadashi Ando

Noriaki Wakabayashi

Tomoaki Kitano

Toshiyoshi Yamamoto

Takaaki Kusaka

Hidetaka Yabuuchi

Toshiharu Tanaka

Masao Shimizu

Seiichi Nakada

Kiyonobu Yoshida

Toru Hanada

Koji Nakai

Chikashi Sakano

Yoshio Fukushima

Kenjiro Tomita

Keiichi Ogiso

A touch key detects that an object touches the touch key. The touch key includes an electrode arranged to be touched with the object, an oscillator for outputting a high-frequency voltage and applies the high-frequency voltage to the electrode, a rectifier for rectifying and smoothing the high-frequency voltage output from the oscillator as to output a direct-current (DC) voltage, a reference voltage generator for generating a reference voltage, a subtracter for subtracting the reference voltage from the DC voltage output from the rectifier, a judging unit for detecting a voltage difference between the voltage output from the subtracter before and after changing and for determining that the object touches the electrode when the voltage difference exceeds a predetermined value. This touch key detects that an object touches the electrode with high sensitivity, and enhances the reliability of the judging unit.

Touch key and induction heating cooking device employing the same

A catalytic combustion heating device 3 for generating heat by oxidation reaction of fuel gas stored in a fuel tank 24 and air in a combustion unit 29 is installed in a mount 4 provided in a jacket 1. The mount 4 is fastened to the waist of the body wearing the jacket 1 by a holding band 9, and the load applied on the shoulders through the jacket is lessened and comfort is improved. Thus, a warming jacket capable of warming the body comfortably is obtained.

Warming jacket

An output voltage of a commercial power source 1 is rectified through a diode 2, and partially dropped at a voltage drop element 19. Electric power supply to a heater 8 is controlled by a heater controller 7, which is activated in response to an output of a heater control actuator 4. A timer 5 counts time. When a predetermined period of time has passed, heater control actuator 4 causes heater controller 7 to open the power supply circuit of heater 8 so as to forcibly stop the power supply to heater 8. An output terminal of voltage drop element 19 is connected in series with at least two of heater control actuator 4, timer 5 and sensor 20.

Electrically controlled iron for pressing clothing and textiles with

In the cordless iron assembly, an iron (10) includes a base (11), a heater (12) for heating the base (11), a thermosensitive element (13) for sensing the temperature of the base (11), a temperature detecting circuit (14), and terminals (P1, P2, P3, and P4), and a stand (15) including a terminals (P5, P6, P7, and P8), a pulse detecting circuit (16), a temperature control circuit (17), and a cord (18). The temperature detecting circuit (14) produces a pulse signal in accordance with the temperature signal outputted from the thermosensitive element (13). The pulse signal detecting circuit (16) receives the pulse signal, and outputs the pulse signal to the temperature control circuit (17). By the temperature control circuit (17), the temperature of the heater (12) is controlled in accordance with the plate signal whereby the base temperature of the iron (10) can be correctly controlled when the iron (10) is supported on the stand (15). The pulse signal can be communicated by an electrical circuit or an optical link, possibly including an infra-red emitting diode or can be superimposed on the current supply connecting to the heater.

Cordless iron having a heater whose temperature is controlled by using

A steam iron having a soleplate to be heated by a heater, an evaporation chamber disposed upon the soleplate, a tank located above the evaporation chamber, and a pump which delivers water from the tank to the evaporation chamber, wherein the pump is driven at specified intervals so as to generate extra steam, to attain an improvement of manipulation of the steam iron in ejecting extra steam and preventing blow-off of hot water.

Steam iron having a solenoid driven pump and heated evaporation chamber

A switching means detects a malfunction due to an open circuited or broken state of a temperature sensing element. The switching means overrides a normal control by the temperature sensing element of a heater, so the heater is de-energized by the switching means and possible uncontrolled, dangerous activation of the heater is prevented.

Electrical circuit for controlling a temperature of a heating element

Growing community of inventors

Kobe, Japan

Shinichi Ito