The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 09, 1982
Filed:
Dec. 28, 1979
Howard R Bowles, Louisville, KY (US);
General Electric Company, Louisville, KY (US);
Abstract
A sensor arrangement for an induction heating apparatus which monitors the position of a cooking utensil on a work surface and disables an inverter circuit powering a work coil if the utensil is located at an off-center position with respect to the coil, or if no utensil is present upon the cooking surface. The sensor arrangement comprises a plurality of sets of sensors at successively larger distances from the center of the work surface. Each set comprises a plurality of sensors arranged on an imaginary circle substantially equidistant from each other. Each sensor operates to provide an indication of the presence or absence of a utensil directly above the sensor. The sensors are monitored by a logic arrangement which indicates whether a utensil is properly centered, based on the fullness or degree of activation of the various sets. If the utensil is not properly positioned, the inverter is disabled and a signal advises the user of this condition. Additionally, the logic circuit determines the size of a properly positioned utensil and generates a signal which may be utilized to alter the output of the work coil in accordance therewith.