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:
Aug. 18, 1992
Filed:
Oct. 21, 1988
Alan J Janicek, Morrison, IL (US);
General Electric Company, Fort Wayne, IN (US);
Abstract
A control system for regulating electrical power input to an article cleaning apparatus employing electrically actuated loads means to provide multiple processing modes of operation, including clothes washing, dishwashing and clothes drying type apparatus, uses multiple piezoceramic relay means enabling connection of the power source to each load. The electrical power is applied to the individual load with an individual piezoceramic bender member responsive to control signals and with the control circuitry being directly and ohmically connected to the power source. In one embodiment, the piezoceramic bender members are actuated with control circuitry employing user selection circuits and function control circuits which are operatively associated with power switching circuits to enable automatic operation of the particular apparatus. The piezoelectric relay comprises one or more piezoelectric bender members each connected to a spring which serves as a power conductor to the movable contact. Circuitry causes each bender member to aid each spring in pulling the movable contact away from a stationary contact upon relay opening for reliability. A method of operating the controlled apparatus in such manner and an apparatus having such controls are also disclosed.