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:
Jun. 24, 2003
Filed:
Dec. 22, 2000
John Erik Hershey, Ballston Lake, NY (US);
Richard Yung Chiao, Menomonee Falls, WI (US);
Ralph Thomas Hoctor, Saratoga Springs, NY (US);
General Electric Company, Niskayuna, NY (US);
Abstract
An apparatus for determining at least one property of a cooktop is provided. The cooktop includes a cooktop surface and a vessel selectively positioned on the cooktop surface. The apparatus comprises an ultrasound transducer contacting the cooktop surface. The ultrasound transducer includes an ultrasound transmitter that contacts the cooktop surface and provides an ultrasound waveform to the cooktop surface creating an excitation in the cooktop surface. The ultrasonic transducer also includes an ultrasound receiver contacting the cooktop surface. The ultrasound receiver receives a resultant ultrasound waveform in response to the excitation and produces a receiver output signal in response to the resultant ultrasound waveform. A processor is connected to the ultrasound transducer. The processor receives the receiver output signal and produces a processor output signal corresponding to the at least one property of the cooktop.