US3818604A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Termination logic and output suppression for integrated circuit dryer control
Assignee: Whirlpool Corp
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Filing: 1973-09-25
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Granted: 1974-06-25
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Expires: 1993-09-25
Abstract
Abstract In an integrated circuit controlled clothes dryer a termination logic and output suppression circuit is provided as a safety device to control and lock the outputs of a memory counter which are effective to control the motor, heater and master power circuits of the dryer, so that dryer operation is positively terminated at the end of a drying cycle and the dryer is thus prevented from reentering an operational state at some point in a drying cycle in response to instability of the memory counter when power is removed. The dryer also includes a device for detecting improper connection to the electrical supply, such as an ungrounded state, and this device signals the termination logic in response to such a condition to turn off the dryer. The output suppression circuit prevents operation of the dryer motor and heater until power has been applied for a predetermined interval upon starting and restarting of the dryer.
Inventors
- 👤 C Offutt
- 👤 D Janke
- 👤 R Marcade
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-25 15:08
CPC Classifications
F; F26; F26B; F26B25/00; F26B25/009; D; D06; D06F; D06F34/00; D06F34/08; D06F2103/00; D06F2103/38; D06F2103/44; D06F2105/00; D06F2105/28; D06F2105/50; D06F2105/62; D06F58/00; D06F58/32; D06F58/34; D06F58/50
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 15
Claim 1
Independent Claim
115 words
A dryer including a control for connection to an electrical supply, said control comprising an integrated circuit including a memory storing a drying program, an internal pulse generating means for generating a pulse to initialize the memory, and a termination circuit for said control, said termination circuit comprising: detecting means for detecting improper connection to the electrical supply and operable to produce a corresponding signal; a logic circuit connected between said detecting means and said memory and responsive to said signal to set said memory to a predetermined state wherein its outputs terminate dryer operation; and a feedback circuit connected between said memory and said logic circuit for latching said memory in said predetermined state.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
115 words
A dryer including a control for connection to an electrical supply, said control comprising an integrated circuit including a memory storing a drying program, an internal pulse generating means for generating a pulse to initialize the memory, and a termination circuit for said control, said termination circuit comprising: detecting means for detecting improper connection to the electrical supply and operable to produce a corresponding signal; a logic circuit connected between said detecting means and said memory and responsive to said signal to set said memory to a predetermined state wherein its outputs terminate dryer operation; and a feedback circuit connected between said memory and said logic circuit for latching said memory in said predetermined state.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
70 words
A dryer control as claimed in claim 1, wherein said internal pulse generating means is connected to said logic circuit and is operable to produce an initializing pulse a predetermined time after application of power to said integrated circuit, and said logic circuit includes gating means connected to certain outputs of said memory and to said internal pulse generating means for suppressing those outputs until generation of an initializing pulse.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
135 words
A dryer control for connection to an electrical supply, comprising an integrated circuit including a memory storing a drying program, an internal pulse generating means for generating a pulse to initialize the memory in response to application of power to the control, and control logic reading said memory and having a memory indexing circuit to advance the memory through the drying program to a programmed termination indicated by a memory output, and a termination circuit, said termination circuit comprising: a logic circuit having a first input connected to the memory output, a second input connected to said internal pulse generating means, and an output connected to said memory, and responsive to terminate operation of the dryer in response to programmed termination and to clear said memory in response to loss of power to the control.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
135 words
A dryer control for connection to an electrical supply, comprising an integrated circuit including a memory storing a drying program, an internal pulse generating means for generating a pulse to initialize the memory in response to application of power to the control, and control logic reading said memory and having a memory indexing circuit to advance the memory through the drying program to a programmed termination indicated by a memory output, and a termination circuit, said termination circuit comprising: a logic circuit having a first input connected to the memory output, a second input connected to said internal pulse generating means, and an output connected to said memory, and responsive to terminate operation of the dryer in response to programmed termination and to clear said memory in response to loss of power to the control.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
66 words
A dryer control as claimed in claim 3, wherein said memory has an index input connected to said indexing circuit, a clear input, a set input, and a plurality of program signal outputs, said logic circuit first input is connected to one of said program signal outputs, and said logic circuit second input and said memory clear input are connected to said internal pulse generating means.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
67 words
A dryer control as claimed in claim 4, wherein said internal pulse generating means is operable to generate an initializing pulse a predetermined time after the application of power to the control, and said logic circuit comprises an output suppression circuit including gates connected to certain of said program signal outputs and to said internal pulse generating means for suppressing said certain outputs for the predetermined time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
148 words
A dryer control as claimed in claim 5, including detecting means associated with the dryer for sensing the status of the dryer''s connection to the electrical supply and providing a signal indicative of when the connection is improper, and wherein said internal pulse generating means is operable to produce an initializing pulse a predetermined time after the application of power to the control, said memory includes a set input, a clear input, an indexing input connected to said indexing circuit, and a plurality of outputs associated with respective dryer operational components, said logic circuit connected between said detecting means and said set input and responsive to an improper condition signal to condition said memory to a predetermined state and effect termination of dryer operation, and a feedback circuit connected between one of said plurality of outputs and said logic circuit for latching said memory in said predetermined state.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
109 words
A dryer control as claimed in claim 6, wherein said logic circuit comprises an AND gate having first and second inputs, and an output, said feedback circuit connecting said first input of said AND gate to said one output of said memory, said second input of said AND gate connected to said internal pulse generating means, an OR gate having first and second inputs, and an output, said first input of said OR gate connected to said output of said AND gate, said second input of said OR gate connected to said detecting means, and said output of said OR gate connected to said set input of said memory.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A dryer control as claimed in claim 7, wherein said feedback circuit includes an inverter.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
64 words
A dryer control as claimed in claim 7, wherein said logic circuit comprises a memory output suppression circuit comprising a resepctive AND gate for each other of said memory outputs and having a first input connected to the respective memory output, and a second input connected to said internal pulse generating means whereby the respective outputs are suppressed until application of an initializing pulse.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
187 words
A dryer control for connection to an electrical supply comprising: a heater for connection to the electrical supply; a motor for connection to the electrical supply; a master power control circuit including contacts for controlling the application of power from the electrical supply to the dryer control; a heater control cirrcuit including contacts for connecting said heater to the electrical supply; a motor control circuit including contacts for connecting said motor to the electrical supply; detecting means for providing a signal indicative of improper connection of the control to the electrical supply; and an integrated circuit comprising a memory storing a drying program and advanced through a drying program and having outputs connected to the respective heater, motor and master power control circuits, an internal pulse generator for generating signals in response to the application and loss of power to the control, and a termination logic circuit connected to said memory and to said pulse generator and to said detection means and operable to set and latch said memory in a predetermined state in response to receipt of said improper connection and loss of power signals, respectively.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
187 words
A dryer control for connection to an electrical supply comprising: a heater for connection to the electrical supply; a motor for connection to the electrical supply; a master power control circuit including contacts for controlling the application of power from the electrical supply to the dryer control; a heater control cirrcuit including contacts for connecting said heater to the electrical supply; a motor control circuit including contacts for connecting said motor to the electrical supply; detecting means for providing a signal indicative of improper connection of the control to the electrical supply; and an integrated circuit comprising a memory storing a drying program and advanced through a drying program and having outputs connected to the respective heater, motor and master power control circuits, an internal pulse generator for generating signals in response to the application and loss of power to the control, and a termination logic circuit connected to said memory and to said pulse generator and to said detection means and operable to set and latch said memory in a predetermined state in response to receipt of said improper connection and loss of power signals, respectively.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
31 words
A dryer control as claimed in claim 10, wherein said termination logic circuit includes a feedback circuit from said memory responsive to normal programmed drying cycle termination to set said memory.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
58 words
A dryer control according to claim 10, wherein said integrated circuit comprises a memory output suppression circuit connected to said heater and motor control circuits and to said internal pulse generator and effective to interrupt the respective circuits between said memory outputs and said heater and motor control circuits until the generation of an application of power signal.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-06-24 | 1977-12-24 | 1978-06-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-06-24 | 1981-12-24 | 1982-06-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-06-24 | 1985-12-24 | 1986-06-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |