Abstract: An electron beam exposure apparatus for exposing a pattern to a wafer by a plurality of electron beams, comprising an electron beam generating section for generating a plurality of electron beams, a deflecting section having a plurality of deflectors for deflecting the plurality of electron beams, and a screening section having a first screen electrode disposed between the plurality of deflectors and extending from a position close to the electron beam generating section from one end of the deflector to a position close to the wafer from one end of the deflector along the direction of radiation of electron beams.

Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus for making a heat treatment while estimating temperatures of objects-to-be-processed that can estimate correct temperatures of the objects-to-be-processed. A reaction tube includes heaters and temperature sensors, and receives a wafer boat. A controller estimates temperatures of wafers and temperatures of the temperature sensors in zones in the reaction tube corresponding to the heaters by using the temperature sensors and electric powers of the heaters. Based on relationships between estimated temperatures of the temperature sensors and really metered temperatures, functions expressing the relationships between the estimated temperatures and the really metered temperatures are given for the respective zones. The functions are substituted by the estimated wafer temperatures to correct the estimated wafer temperatures.

Abstract: A scrap charging apparatus for an electric arc furnace includes a scrap holding bunker having diverging side walls extending between end walls separated by a scrap discharge opening supplying scrap from a fall space in the bunker to a scrap discharge chute. The end wall remote to the scrap discharged opening of the chute slopes at an acute angle to organized scrap entering the discharged opening. A throat opening for scrap passing into the scrap discharge chute is controlled by a pivotal scrap jam relief gate moveable between a scrap metering position, a relief position and a scrap compacting position.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are provided through which a radio-frequency dielectric heater has a cylindrical form factor, a variable thermal energy deposition through variations in geometry and composition of a dielectric, and/or has a thermally isolated power input.

Abstract: Molten metal, or other electrically conductive material, in a vessel can be inductively heated, and simultaneously inductively stirred. A single-phase ac supply provides induction heating power to at least one set of three induction coil sections surrounding the vessel. A three-phase ac supply provides induction stirring power to at least one set of three induction coil sections surrounding the vessel. The single-phase ac supply is capacitively connected to the coil sections to form a heat resonance circuit, and the three-phase ac supply is inductively connected to the coil sections to form a stir resonance circuit. The heat circuit capacitive elements provide a sufficient impedance to the output of the three-phase ac supply to block power transfer from its output to the input of the single-phase supply. The stir circuit inductive elements provide a sufficient impedance to the output of the single-phase supply to block power transfer from its output to the input of the three-phase supply.

Abstract: A method for solidification-controllable induction melting of alloy with cold copper crucible employs the vacuum induction furnace with cold crucible to melt metals, particularly active metals, to obtain alloy ingots having directionally solidified structure at the same time. By using the cold crucible also as a solidification mold in the melting of metal materials, controlling working parameters of the induction furnace, and changing the copper crucible design, it is possible to control the solidified structure of the melted alloy and obtain high quality ingots having impurity-free and directionally arranged or fine-crystalline structure. The problem of low metal melting efficiency in the conventional vacuum induction furnace with cold crucible due to loss of a large amount of heat carried away by cooling water for cooling the crucible can therefore be overcome.

Abstract: A plasma torch used for heating a molten steel has an outer cylinder is provided. The torch includes a double tube, the bottom of which is blocked annularly. The torch also includes a bottomed cylindrical anode electrode that is installed within the outer cylinder with a gap existing between the anode electrode and the inside of the double tube. The plasma torch is provided such that pure copper is not used as a material for the anode electrode, the material has a softening point exceeding 150° C., and the ratio of an electric conductivity D of the anode electrode 28 to an electric conductivity N of the outer cylinder satisfies the formula: 0.2≦D/N<1.0. The plasma torch prevents the melting loss and wear of the anode electrode caused by the splashes and the heat produced in the anode electrode, suppresses generation of a side arc, shows an extended life, and stabilizes the casting operation and improves the quality of the slab.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for manufacturing a carbonaceous material are provided. The carbonaceous material manufacturing apparatus includes a reaction tube and a gas supply portion. An anode and a cathode defining an arc discharge portion is placed in the reaction tube, and a capturer is located provided as well to capture carbonaceous materials generated. At the location of the capturer, an RF heater is disposed around the reaction tube. In a carbonaceous material manufacturing method, carbonaceous materials generated in the arc discharge portion are transported from a gas supply portion into the reaction tube by the gas supplied into the reaction tube, then heated by a RF heater in the capturer where the carbonaceous materials are not exposed to the atmospheric air, to thereby promote removal of impurities and growth of single-walled carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: Provided is a method for reducing or removing a foam present in a glass melting furnace, including providing an ultrasonic energy emitted from at least one ultrasonic energy source to a foam present above the surface of a molten material in a glass melting furnace. The ultrasonic energy is effective to reduce or remove at least a part of the foam. Also provided is a system for reducing or removing a foam present in a glass melting furnace.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed for penetrating convenience store food markets with a customer-engaging food merchandising module. The customer-engaging food merchandising module comprises three units: a food storage and display unit attached to a food preparation and display unit, and a shell unit attached to at least one of the other two units. One embodiment of the apparatus comprises: a glass-door freezer for storing and displaying at least one type of frozen food, a microwave oven attached to the freezer, and a shell attached to the freezer. The shell is used to support advertising and instructional graphics and also to give the apparatus a unitary appearance. The microwave oven has pre-programmed buttons corresponding to each of the types of food displayed in the freezer, each button activating the microwave oven to correctly heat a corresponding type of frozen food. The shell may extend above the freezer/microwave combination.

Abstract: A temperature control device comprising a heater element and a power source. The heater element having a conductive ink affixed to a substrate. The power source connected to the conductive ink to supply power to said conductive ink, thereby heating the heater element.

Abstract: An upper ring for an induction furnace. The upper ring is cast as one piece in a holder off of the furnace. The precast upper ring may be used as a replacement for the cast in place upper rings present on previously installed furnaces or may be used in the construction of new furnaces. The electromagnetic induction coil of the furnace may be modified to include cooling turns at its upper end when the holder with the one piece cast upper ring is installed on the furnace.

Abstract: A temperature controlled system according to the present invention includes a housing with a compartment defined therein that includes a heating assembly with a generally ‘U’-shaped heating plate and corresponding heater. The heating plate is configured to evenly distribute heat to a medical item (e.g., a medical solution container, etc.) placed thereon, while a limit switch facilitates control of heater actuation in response to placement of a medical item on the heating plate. A controller facilitates entry of desired temperatures and controls the heating assembly based on a comparison of the desired temperature with a temperature of the medical item measured by a temperature sensor. The system housing may further include a storage compartment for receiving and retaining medical items prior to being heated within the heating compartment.

Abstract: A warming blanket having a temperature sensing element for sensing the temperature of the warming blanket. The temperature sensor may be a positive temperature coefficient (PTC) element that is threaded throughout the blanket. In one embodiment, the temperature sensing element runs perpendicular or transverse to the heating wires in the warming blanket, permitting the temperature sensing element to measure an average blanket temperature. In another embodiment, the heating element is supplied as a pair of buss wires extending along opposite sides of the warming blanket and having a number of heating wires extending therebetween. In this embodiment, the temperature sensing elements may run either parallel to or transverse to the heating elements. Temperature changes/signals in the temperature sensing element are sent to a microprocessor, which in turn changes the wattage of the heating elements to prevent overheating of the warming blanket.

Abstract: A magnetron for supplying a microwave and an ion burner are provided in an incinerator main body, and the microwave from the magnetron and ion flame from the ion burner are caused to resonate to create a high temperature state in the incinerator main body, whereby waste in the incinerator main body is decomposed and melted by positive (+) and negative (−) activated ions. A tokamak is also provided on the outer side of the incinerator main body so that charged particles (radiation) and electromagnetic wave in the incinerator main body may be reflected and gathered at the center of the incinerator main body to increase an ion concentration to thereby increase a plasma concentration, thereby achieving an improvement in terms of decomposition efficiency. Both or one of quartz and an acceptor level additive is mixed with a furnace wall of the incinerator main body.

Abstract: The heating effect of a microwave susceptor can be improved by providing a pattern of microwave transparent areas in the susceptor. The transparent areas are preferably circles having a diameter of about 0.5 inch. The distance between adjacent circles is preferably about 0.5 inch. The susceptor may be used to brown and crispen the crust of frozen pizza heated in a microwave oven. The crust of the pizza is browner, especially at its central area, than the crust of pizza heated using a conventional susceptor.

Abstract: An electric arc furnace and method for forming tubular carbon nanostructures comprising a first electrode (cathode) and an a second electrode (anode) opposite the first electrode, sources of voltage (V) and current (A) to create charged particles (Ie) and produce an arch between the electrodes, a source of a gas to surround the arc, and a source of carbon precursor positioned adjacent the anode and within the arc, wherein the arc is maintained at a pressure and high temperature for a time sufficient to heat the carbon precursor to form carbon nonotubes upon the anode.

Abstract: A system for determining the status of a food item using time-temperature data. The system includes a method comprising, sensing a number of temperatures associated with a food item, comparing data related to the sensed temperatures with predetermined temperature data, determining the status of the food item based on the comparison, and causing a predetermined action based on the status of the food item. The method may further involve inputting user information corresponding to the food item, which may include type of food, or the desired level of doneness. The system also includes an apparatus for determining the status of a food item. This apparatus may include a sensor for sensing a plurality of temperatures, a means for determining the status of the food item based on the plurality of temperatures, and an indicator for indicating the status of the food item. The determining means may include a microprocessor. The apparatus may further, include a control sensor.

Abstract: A vacuum chamber, such as a semiconductor wafer plasma processing chamber, is heated by use of a ceramic igniter array consisting of a plurality of ceramic igniters positioned in a substrate.

Abstract: A device for the melting or purifying of inorganic substances, in particular of glass, which comprises a number of metal tubes which may be attached to a cooling medium and which are arranged next to each other, in such a way that together they form a container, a high frequency coil for the injection of energy into the container contents and a plastic coating for the metal tubes, the decomposition temperature of which lies below the temperature of the melt. The cooling system is configured and arranged such that the temperature of the boundary layer of the melt, immediately surrounding the component, lies below that of the decomposition temperature of the coating material.