Abstract: A thermo-sensitive heater and heater driving circuit are disclosed. The thermo-sensitive heater comprises a cord-shaped nylon thermistor that surrounds a heating element, such that the thermistor detects the temperature of the heating element and controls the driving current for a heating coil. Also, the present invention includes electromagnetic shielding material, which is formed by winding an electric conductor around the outer surface of the nylon thermistor, or formed as a wire mesh. This shielding material is advantageous for discharging the electric field radiated from inside of the heater to an external electric field, thus safely eliminating harmful electric fields. Also, the present invention further provides a driving circuit for safely driving the heater, which includes a temperature controller or an overheating prevention circuit.

Abstract: A device that heats food quickly by using more than one power level during a heating cycle, and a method of toasting including the step of heating a food item at more than one power level during a toasting cycle.

Abstract: A multi-axis machine method and apparatus for the control of the motion of a material processing device is disclosed. The device has supply element and the apparatus has a supply co-ordination element. The motion of the processing device can be co-ordinated with the motion of the apparatus such that the loading or twisting forces on the supply element is substantially reduced. The supply co-ordination element includes an angle drive mechanism and rotator housing assembly. An angle drive mechanism for setting the angle of a processing device, the mechanism includes a linear actuator connected to a rod and the rod is pivotally connected at a first end to the actuator and connected at a second end to a device support, the actuator being connected to the rod such that movement of the actuator causes the rod to move the processing device relative to the device support, in the device support.

Abstract: An operational remote controller integrates a joystick for bending a bending portion of an inserted portion in an endoscope. A bending lever stands on the joystick. For every automatically returning of the bending lever to a neutral position, a CPU of the operational remote controller detects the neutral position and sets an insensitive band within a predetermined range of the neutral position. Thus, the insensitive band can be set within a relatively narrow range irrespective of variation of neutral positions. The CPU supplies positional information of the bending lever to a control circuit for controlling a motor drive circuit. The control circuit controls a motor drive circuit based on the supplied positional information, and the motor drive circuit drives a motor to bend the bending portion of the inserted portion.

Abstract: An optoacoustic apparatus is disclosed which includes a radiation source of pulsed optical radiation and a probe having a front face to be placed in contact with a tissue site of an animal body. The probe further includes an optical fiber terminating at the surface of the front face of the probe and connected to a pulsed laser. The front face of the probe also has mounted therein or thereon a piezoelectric transducer for detecting an acoustic response to the radiation pulses connected to a processing unit which converts the transducer signal into a measure of hemoglobin concentration and/or hematocrit of blood.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for heat treating a structural member, for example, to relieve stresses therein, are provided. The structural member is restrained in a die cavity by one or more inflatable bladders so that a desired dimensional accuracy is achieved. The structural member can be heated by an electromagnetic field generator, such as an induction coil, that heats one or more susceptors to a characteristic Curie temperature. The apparatus can be used to process structural members of various sizes and shapes, and the heating and cooling cycle can be performed relatively quickly.

Abstract: A fume extraction system includes a combustion zone coupled with an exhaust outlet of a furnace to receive an exhaust gas stream emerging from the furnace outlet during system operation, where the exhaust gas stream includes explosive gases that undergo combustion reactions within the combustion zone. A duct section is aligned downstream from the combustion zone to deliver the exhaust gas stream toward a venting outlet. A suction unit establishes a negative pressure within the system so as to draw the exhaust gas stream from the furnace outlet and through the fume extraction system during system operation. An exhaust damper is further provided within the system between the combustion zone inlet and the suction unit. A control system selectively controls the negative pressure applied to the furnace, combustion zone and duct section based upon a measured concentration of at least one gas constituent within the exhaust gas stream.

Abstract: A method for determining the appropriate dosage of a medication to treat Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) in an individual who has ADHD comprising: sampling the peripheral skin temperature of a human subject during a predetermined time interval when the subject is in an inactive state to provide sampled peripheral skin temperature data; analyzing the sampled peripheral skin temperature data for a pre-selected parameter to determine whether the pre-selected parameter has a value indicative of ADHD; and determining the proper dosage of a medication to treat ADHD based upon the determined value of the pre-selected parameter. At a time subsequent to administering the dosage, it is determined if a previously administered dosage of a medication is effective at removing the effects of ADHD as measured by this pre-selected parameter.

Abstract: A heat processing apparatus comprises a hot plate for putting the substrate on or near its surface, a ceiling with a first and second concentric regions with a first and second heat pipes, respectively, opposite to the hot plate surface, a member surrounding a space between the hot plate and the ceiling, a gas flow generator supplying gas to the a region from a circumference of the hot plate to a center of the ceiling, and a temperature control mechanism for controlling a regional temperature of the first region in such a manner that a heat emission is greater from a center of the substrate than from a circumference of the substrate, thus heating a substrate to a uniform temperature all over its surface.

Abstract: A method is disclosed for carrying out microwave assisted chemical reactions. The method includes the steps of placing reactants in a microwave-transparent vessel, placing the vessel and its contents into a microwave cavity, applying microwave radiation within the cavity and to the vessel and its contents while concurrently externally cooling the vessel conductively.

Abstract: An apparatus and method are disclosed whereby if the arc in a DC or long-pulse AC vacuum arc plasma process (eg in vacuum deposition) starts to extinguish, this is automatically detected and a re-ignition process is activated. Detection of a tendency for the arc to extinguish is detected by monitoring the main power supply voltage, which will increase if the arc is extinguished.

Abstract: An induction furnace that has a plurality of high temperature electrically conductive ceramic electrodes having no connecting electrical lead (leadless electrode). The leadless electrodes are exterior to and proximate a working furnace space. At least one metallic electrical conductor surrounds but is not connected to the ceramic electrodes and a power supply is connected to the at least one electrical conductor so that activation of the power supply creates an alternating current through the electrical conductor of sufficient energy to create an electromagnetic flux of sufficient flux density to heat the at least one ceramic electrode to a temperature in excess of about 1700° C. to heat the space.

Abstract: Disclosed is a microwave oven having a coffee maker installed in an electronic device chamber. A cavity door is provided in front of a cavity. The electronic device chamber in which electrical elements are installed is provided adjacent to the cavity. A casing of the coffee maker is provided in front of the electronic device chamber. A water tank is provided within the casing. A funnel is provided so that the funnel can enter and go out of the interior of the casing. A container is comprised of a jug or cup. A heater is provided in a lower portion of the casing. A water supply tube has one end connected with the water tank, body portion passing through the lower portion of the casing so as to contact with the heater, and the other end arranged at the upper portion of the funnel.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an endoscopic visioning system and related method for both forward and backward viewing of a body lumen. According to an embodiment, the system includes an endoscope, a vision head including a light source and a vision chip on both a proximal and a distal side of the vision head, and an extension arm for moving the vision head away from and back toward the endoscope. Alternatively, the light source and vision chip may be contained in a distal end of the endoscope. In such an alternative embodiment, the vision head is a parabolic mirror mounted on the extension arm for reflecting images, for example, from behind the distal end of the endoscope to the vision chip in the distal end of the endoscope to permit, for example, a retrograde view of the surgical site entrance.

Abstract: A method of bonding together first and second components and a joint are provided. The method includes the steps of applying a film coating of electrically conductive material to an adjoining interface of a first component surface of the first component and a second component surface of the second component. The film coating has a thickness of less than 200 nanometers. The method also includes the step of positioning the first and second components such that the film coating is disposed between the first and second component surfaces. The method further includes the step of irradiating microwave energy to the film coating to generate thermal energy on the film coating to bond together the first and second components.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for the production of a glass melt from a batch; with a melt tank (1) that has peripheral walls (1.1-1.4) and a bottom (1.5); with a discharge channel (2) which is located under the bottom (1.5) of the melt tank (1) and which is in conducting connection with the melt bath (3) over an entry opening (2.3) and has an outlet opening (2.4) for the finished melt in the zone of a peripheral wall (1.1) of the melt tank (1); with at least one heating arrangement for the heating of the melt bath (3); the entry opening (2.3) of the discharge channel (2) is arranged in a central zone of the bottom (1.5) of the melt tank (1); the discharge channel (2) has a covering (2.2) which is located at least approximately at the level of the bottom (1.5) of the melt tank (1).

Abstract: One or more current sensors are mounted externally of a heating member so as to simplify construction of the heating member. The sensors are particularly useful in safety control circuits for heating members using PTC wire as resistance heating elements.

Abstract: A microwave oven is provide, which is capable of steaming food and cooking food by direct-irradiation of microwaves at a same time, and is capable of keeping a cooking cavity clean. A water container is arranged at an upper portion of the cooking cavity to generate steam from water contained in the water container when the water is heated by the microwaves. A water supplying guide and a steaming container are arranged at an upper portion of the housing. The steaming container comprises a body and a lid. A food supporting tray with a plurality of steam holes formed therethrough is placed in the body of the steaming container such that the food to be cooked is placed on the food supporting tray. Steam holes formed on a bottom surface of the body are bored in lugs upwardly projected from the bottom surface, and are arranged so as to be eccentric from the plurality of steam holes of the food supporting tray.

Abstract: An over-temperature safety device is provided. A slug of material fusible at a selected critical temperature is positioned on a heat conductive surface. A bolt is positioned through a hole in the slug. The bolt has a head which is smaller than the bolt hole. A plate overlays the heat conductive surface with the slug therebetween. The plate has a hole through which the bolt head may pass. The plate hole, bolt and slug hole are coaxial. A compression spring urges the plate and the conductive surface together with less pressure than required to cause the slug to flow at temperatures below the critical temperature. The bolt is connected to a switch by an extension spring urging the bolt to pass through the holes in the plate and slug. When the slug melts, the bolt passes through the holes in the plate and the slug and opens the switch.

Abstract: A power control method and an apparatus for an instant heating roller (IHR) include the following steps and functions: (a) determining whether an external source voltage has a first level or a higher second level; (b) when the source voltage has the first level, supplying the source voltage to the heating resistor at intervals of a predetermined time period until the temperature of the heating resistor reaches a target fusing temperature; and (c) when it is determined that the source voltage has the second level, supplying the source voltage to the heating resistor for every half period of the source voltage until the temperature of the heating resistor reaches the target fusing temperature. As the temperature of the heating resistor approaches the target fusing temperature, the predetermined time period is increased in step (b) and the time period of step (c) is decreased.