Black Decker Inc.

Bristol Babcock, Inc.

General Electric Company

International Marine Industries

Thomas M O'Loughlin

Anthony J Molusis

Robert J Wojnarowski

Charles W Eichelberger

William D Ryckman

Harry Albinger, Jr

Douglas W Low

Neil C Titcomb

Charles A Balchunas

A navigation aid is provided comprising a radar antenna, a position sensor, a compass, map/chart data, a display, and a controller. The controller determines whether the display depicts a chart, a radar sweep or both. Preferably, the visual navigation aid includes a point of interest feature, wherein at least one point of interest is visually selected on the chart or radar sweep by a cursor or the like. The controller also computes the location of the selected point of interest for display on the chart or radar sweep. In another aspect, the invention comprises methods for inputting and displaying a point of interest on a chart or radar sweep.

Visual navigation aid with point of interest feature

Automatic switching apparatus for a hand held electrically operated appliance such as a pressing iron. A motion sensor and an electronic timer cooperate to automatically shut off the iron if the iron remains stationary for a predetermined period of time. A simplified mechanism is manually operable in the event the user desires to reactivate the iron. A circuit board mounting simplified electronic circuitry is located within the handle of the iron. An appropriate indicator informs the user whether the iron is in the active mode or in the inactive mode.

Automatic switching apparatus for an electric appliance

An iron includes a heater, a thermostat, a temperature select knob, a READY indicator, a WAIT indicator, an audible transducer, a relay, a motion detector, and a microrprocessor-based electronic control circuit. Whenever the temperature select knob is moved, an interrupting signal is supplied to the microprocessor which causes the WAIT indicator to be illuminated and the READY indicator to be extinguished. Following this operation, the READY indicator is illuminated, the WAIT indicator extinguished and a single beep produced by the audible transducer whenever the thermostat deenergizes the heater. If the READY indicator is illuminated a total of ten minutes without the motion detector sensing movement of the iron, a ten-beep signal is produced by the transducer. If the READY indicator is illuminated for a total of twelve minutes without the iron being moved, the electronic control circuit deenergizes the relay to produce an automatic shut-off of the iron.

Indicating and control apparatus for a portable heating appliance

A microprocessor-based keyboard/display is described in which the function of the keys can be varied automatically depending on the instrument to which the keyboard/display is connected. The keyboard/display comprises a microprocessor, a read only memory in which is stored an operating program for the microprocessor, a keyboard having a plurality of keys, a display, and means for connecting said microprocessor to another instrument. In accordance with the invention, the program stored in said read only memory is responsive to a signal from the instrument to which said keyboard/display is connected whereby upon receipt of a signal from one type of instrument at said keyboard/display at least some of said keys of said keyboard are given first functions and upon receipt of a signal from a second type of instrument said keys are given different functions. Further in accordance with the invention, the keyboard/display comprises a random access memory in which may be stored data derived from one instrument to which said keyboard/display is connected and from which may be read data from said keyboard/display. Advantageously, the keyboard/display can be used with a recorder to provide for print out of the data stored in the random access memory of the keyboard/display.

Microprocessor-based keyboard/display unit for configuring control

A self-standing cooking apparatus is disclosed which consists of a pressurizable vessel having a door which can be latched and sealed, an integral steam-pressure source and integral upper and lower heating rod elements which serve as broil elements and bake elements, respectively, and a water-filled tray which can be disposed above the upper heating rod. An electrical control circuit enables selective energization of the bake and broil heat elements by continuous or controlled duration pulses of current which control the proportion of infrared energy that will be produced by the heating rods. The oven can be operated under pressure with the heating rods applying infrared radiation to the foodstuff being cooked in order to obtain browning or crisping of the foodstuff which is cooked at elevated pressure. The oven can also be operated in a conventional bake mode, a conventional broil mode, a steam cooking mode, a sealed cooking and warming mode and a toasting mode. Reinforcing fins lying in parallel planes are secured to and encircle the exterior of the container to provide necessary additional strength for the pressurizable vessel walls to withstand a maximum design pressure.

Cooking apparatus having internal pressurizing source and _integral heat

A microprocessor based single loop control instrument is described which can operate as any one of several different types of controllers, each of which can provide two or more different modes of operation. The control instrument comprises a microprocessor, a read only memory in which is stored the operating program for the control instrument, means for causing the control instrument to operate as one of the types of controllers provided for by a program stored in the read only memory and means for selecting the mode of operation of the controller. Further, in accordance with the invention, the control instrument is supplied with a control panel controlled by a second microprocessor and connected to the first microprocessor by a communication bus. The second microprocessor controls a bar graph display for displaying at least one signal related to the operation of the control instrument as well as means for selecting the signal that is displayed. Advantageously, the control panel also mounts switch means for selecting the mode of operation of the controller. Also in accordance with the invention, the control instrument can be configured by a keyboard/display which permits the selection of numerous processing options in the execution of the control algorithm.

Growing community of inventors

Milford, CT, United States of America

Thomas M O'Loughlin