Abstract: A neural stimulation system allows the magnitude of electrical stimuli generated by the system to be programmed to a desired level greater than or equal to a minimum perceived threshold and less than or equal to a maximum tolerable perceived threshold. The electrical stimuli are applied through selected groupings of individual electrode contacts of a multi-electrode-contact electrode array attached to pulse generation circuitry as either cathodes or anodes. The electrode array is implanted so that the individual electrode contacts are in contact with the body tissue to be stimulated. Stimulating electrical current pulses, defined by a prescribed set of stimulus parameters are generated and applied to the selected electrode contacts so as to flow from the anode electrodes to the cathode electrodes. The perceived magnitude of the applied stimuli is equalized in order to enable quick, automated, and/or interactive programming of the values of the stimulation parameters.

Abstract: A deposited film forming method and apparatus includes a belt-like member continuously conveyed through a film-forming chamber, one side of which is formed of the belt-like member. A reactive gas is introduced into the film-forming chamber, the interior of the film-forming chamber is evacuated, a high-frequency power induces a plasma therein, and a deposited film is formed on the belt-like member A discharge confining means is provided opposite to a deposited film forming side of the belt-like member to maintain constant contact with the belt-like member while it changes shape.

Abstract: An electrical heater control system reduces flicker. The system includes an electrical heating system; an AC (alternating current) power source for supplying AC current to the electrical heating system; an AC power control device connected between the electrical heating system and the AC power source for controlling the supply of AC current to the electrical heating system; and a controller unit coupled to the AC power control device for activating the device at zero crossings of the AC power to minimize flicker in AC current supplied to the electrical heating system from the AC power source.

Abstract: The aim of the invention is to improve the cooling of the bottom electrodes (1) of metallurgical melting vessels. To this end, a cooling plate (5) is situated beneath the support plate (2) on which the contact elements (3) are supported. The cooling plate is set apart from the support plate. This forms a cooling chamber (4) through which a cooling medium flows, the cooling effect of said medium being reinforced by cooling ribs (6). Said cooling ribs are situated in the cooling chamber (4) and are welded to the support plate (2) and preferably, also to the cooling plate (5).

Abstract: A system for supporting and cooling a furnace roof comprised of refractory bricks comprises a plurality of roof support members extending across the furnace and being supported from above the furnace roof. The support members are provided with internal channels for circulation of a cooling fluid, and are provided with side surfaces adapted to support rows or refractory bricks between adjacent roof support members. The system eliminates the need to suspend individual bricks from above the roof, and provides simultaneous support and cooling of the roof structure.

Abstract: A PTC heater mainly comprises PTC ceramic sheets and cooling fins, and it comprises an inner support in which the PTC sheets are disposed, two electrode plates being disposed on both sides of the support and the PTC sheets to abut against the PTC sheets tightly, the cooling fins being disposed at the exterior of the electrode plates, insulating plates being mounted between the cooling fins and the electrode plate, in the interior of upper and lower ends of the two cooling fins, corresponding clamping grooves being formed through which the two cooling fins are clamped together, and elastic rods being inserted in the clamping grooves.

Abstract: An induction furnace capable of operation at temperatures of over 3100° C. has a cooling assembly (60), which is selectively mounted to an upper end of the furnace wall (76). The cooling assembly includes a dome and a lifting mechanism (80), mounted to the dome, which raises a cap (16) of the furnace slightly, allowing hot gases from the hot zone to mix with cooler gas in the dome.

Abstract: A wall-mounted type microwave oven includes a cabinet and a hood having a guide duct. The guide duct is movably arranged in the hood, and automatically slides in and out the hood by an actuating unit of the microwave oven. A movable filter is set in the guide duct so as to be spaced apart from an inner surface of the guide duct by a predetermined interval. Where the guide duct is moved forward, exhaust gases generated therebelow pass through the movable filter, and the filtered gases are guided into the cabinet by the guide duct. The actuating unit includes a rotary member and a drive motor mounted on the hood. The rotary member is rotated by the drive motor to move the guide duct forward. The actuating unit further includes an elastic member which is connected, at an end thereof, to the hood and, at the other end thereof, to an inside end of the guide duct. The elastic member provides an elastic force to move the guide duct rearward.

Abstract: An apparatus for heating a flowable material comprises a core having a passageway formed therein for the communication of the flowable material, and an electric element coiled in multiple turns against the core in a helical pattern. The electric element, in use, heats the core both resistively and inductively. The electric element has no auxiliary cooling capacity. The electric element may be installed against the outside of the core, with an optional ferromagnetic yoke installed over it, or it may be installed against the inside of the core, embedded in a wear-resistant liner. The yoke and liner may be metallic material deposited such as by hot-spray technology and finished smooth.

Abstract: A soft and flexible heater utilizes electrically conductive threads or fibers as heating media. The conductive fibers are encapsulated by negative temperature coefficient (NTC) material, forming temperature sensing heating cables. One or more heating cables can be formed into heaters of various configurations including tapes, sleeves or sheets providing simultaneous heat radiation and local overheat protection. Such heaters may be connected in different combinations, in parallel or in series. The heater may contain continuous positive temperature coefficient (PTC) temperature sensors to precisely control the temperature in the heater. Such temperature sensors can be made of electrically conductive fibers, metal wires or fiber optical filaments. When required by the heater design, the electrically conductive threads/fibers may have a polymer base, which acts as a Thermal-Cut-Off (TCO) at predetermined temperatures. Electrically conductive fibers comprised of such polymer base can melt between 110° C.

Abstract: An apparatus for controlling a temperature of a thermal load comprises: a dynamic compensator for calculating a heater command as a function of a user input signal without using a temperature measurement; and a heater for controlling temperature of the thermal load by applying heat in response to the said heater command.

Abstract: In a vehicle air-conditioning system, a supply of electric power to a first electric heater and a supply of electric power to a second electric heater are duty controlled at the same duty ratio in such a manner that the supply of the electric power to the second electric heater is phase shifted by one half of a period from the supply of the electric power to the first electric heater.

Abstract: A timing system includes a control member being operationally coupled to a heat-emitting device of the oven and a heat-emitting device of each of the burners for turning the heat-emitting devices on or off. A temperature selection member is operationally coupled to the control. A plurality of heat level selection members is operationally coupled to the control member for selectively choosing a desired relative heat level for each of the burners. A plurality of timing members is operationally coupled to the control member for selectively turning the heat-emitting devices off after a pre-selected amount of elapsed time. Each of the timing members is associated with one of the heat-emitting devices. The selected heating emitting device may be turned on for a selected amount of time by the timing member and are turned off by the timing member when the selected amount of time is expired.

Abstract: An apparatus and system for using magnetic fields to heat magnetically susceptible materials within and/or adjacent to adhesives, resins, or composites so as to reversibly or irreversibly bond, bind, or fasten opaque or non-opaque solid materials to one another. The system makes use of the effect that alternating magnetic fields induce eddy currents and generate heat within susceptors, and the effect that alternating magnetic fields additionally induce magnetic hysteresis that occurs in magnetic materials and thereby generate heat. An induction heating tool is used to emit the magnetic field at its work coil, and an electronic controller measures the energy being used by a power converter that generates the alternating current driving the work coil which creates the magnetic field. The distance between the susceptor and work coil is repeatedly analyzed based upon the power converter's input energy, and the work coil is driven at a repeatedly corrected power level during the heating cycle.

Abstract: A power supply system for electrically heated pipelines is provided. A variable frequency drive supplies power to the pipeline from an external source of electrical power. An isolation transformer and a contactor or isolating switch may be used between the variable frequency drive and the pipeline. A controller may be used in the system to control special sequences of power level and other needs for heating a pipeline.

Abstract: A dielectric barrier discharge apparatus and module for perfluorocompound (PFC) abatement. The apparatus includes a housing, first dielectric tube disposed in the housing, a second dielectric tube disposed in the first dielectric tube, and at least one electrode disposed in the housing. By this arrangement, a first cooling gas passage is formed between the housing and the first dielectric tube, a PFC passage is formed between the first and second dielectric tubes, and a second cooling gas passage is formed in the second dielectric tube. When the applied voltage for the electrodes is greater than a breakdown voltage, high energetic electrons generated in the PFC passage can ionize or dissociate the PFC to be removed. Meanwhile, cooling gas is introduced to the cooling gas passage for cooling the electrodes. A dielectric barrier discharge module composed of a plurality of dielectric barrier discharge apparatuses is provided to promote the capacity of the treatment of PFC gases.

Abstract: The furnace comprises a tubular inner chamber for the treatment of the raw material, mounted inside the enveloping body of the furnace which is insulated from the exterior and is provided with internal resistor systems for heating the chamber of the furnace by radiation, comprising means for feeding raw material at one end and means for controlling the output of completed product at the other end of the treatment chamber of the furnace, inside which a worm screw, driven in rotation from the exterior, is mounted rotatably, respective percussion devices being incorporated in the ends of the screw to prevent compaction of the mass on the screw.

Abstract: Plasma is generated in a vacuum processing apparatus and a high-frequency voltage is applied to a lower electrode on which a wafer is placed. The high-frequency voltage applied to the lower electrode is subjected to periodical on-off modulation, the on-off duty ratio of which is determined for each wafer or each plurality of wafers, to carry out plasma processing on the wafer. As a result, in the plasma processing carried out on the wafer, the wafer is fabricated with a high degree of reproducibility by suppressing variations in fabricated-line dimension from wafer to wafer without decreasing the throughput.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for determining a volume of tumor mass destroyed. The present invention includes a temperature probe and a laser probe having a temperature sensor. The laser probe and temperature probe are inserted to measure a temperature of the tumor mass and a temperature of tissue mass surrounding the tumor mass. By determining the volume of tumor mass destroyed, a graphical representation of the volume of tumor mass destroyed is provided whereby real-time visual monitoring of the destruction of the tumor mass is achieved.

Abstract: An inductively coupled plasma apparatus which is capable of performing etching processing steps in a stable manner and consecutively. Shield plates are provided in a reaction tube in the vicinity of an inner surface thereof. The shield plates prevent a conductive material generated by etching a wafer from sticking to the overall inner surface of the reaction tube. A portion of the inner wall covered by the shield plate, that is, a region where no conductive material is deposited serves as a high-frequency window, through which high-frequency electric power is efficiently fed from a coil antenna into the reaction tube. The conductive materials thus stuck separately from each other exhibit the Faraday shield effect, thereby stabilizing plasma potential.