Combined With Container, Enclosure, Or Support For Material To Be Heated Patents (Class 219/385)
  • Publication number: 20120325797
    Abstract: A heater unit according to an embodiment includes: a flat heater including a linear heating element arranged in a planar pattern; a first mesh body formed in a mesh pattern using a material with high heat conductivity and placed at least on one side of the flat heater facing the flat heater; and a second mesh body formed in a mesh pattern using a material with lower heat conductivity than that of the first mesh body and placed to face a surface of the first mesh body opposite to the surface of the first mesh body facing the flat heater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 21, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba, Shibaura Mechatronics Corporation
    Inventors: Masaaki FURUYA, Munenori IWAMI, Takahiko WAKATSUKI, Masanori Kondo, Katsuya YAMADA
  • Publication number: 20120325796
    Abstract: A semiconductor manufacturing apparatus is capable of reducing power consumption. The semiconductor manufacturing apparatus 1 includes a processing chamber 2 that has a top surface 2a and forms a processing space S therein; a mounting table 3 provided in the processing space S; an upper electrode 20 provided above the mounting table 3 to face the mounting table 3; heaters 35 and 36 provided around the upper electrode 20 and below the top surface 2a of the processing chamber 2 and configured to heat the upper electrode 20; and a heat insulating unit 50, mounted on the top surface 2a of the processing chamber 2, having a plate-shaped member 51 and a heat insulating member 52 that is provided on one main surface 51a of the plate-shaped member 51.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 20, 2012
    Publication date: December 27, 2012
    Applicant: TOKYO ELECTRON LIMITED
    Inventors: Atsushi KOBAYASHI, Kazuyuki MIURA, Akira YASUMURO
  • Publication number: 20120312800
    Abstract: Systems and methods are provided to promote uniform thermal environment to feedstock material (e.g., silicon) in a crucible of a crystal growth apparatus are provided herein. More specifically, a heating system may be arranged in the crystal growth apparatus so as to include at least a first and second heating element which are configured to distribute heat axisymmetrically to the feedstock material and the second heating element that is configured to distribute heat symmetrically to the feedstock material to thereby provide uniform heat distribution to the feedstock material in the crucible to allow for increased consistency in crystal ingot quality.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 6, 2012
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicants: GT Solar Incorporated, GTAT Corporation
    Inventors: Carl Chartier, Parthasarathy Santhanaraghavan, Andriy Andrukhiv, Dave Lackey, Bhuvaragasamy G. Ravi
  • Patent number: 8322541
    Abstract: A method of assembling a towel rail having vertically extending, elongate, tubular supports opposed and spaced apart from each other, and spaced apart, horizontally extending, tubular beams, the method including: a) threading an elongate flexible heating element through a respective support; b) looping an appropriate length of the element through each hole of the support to form a plurality of looped sections; c) threading each looped section through a respective beam from the second end; d) inserting the second end of each beam through a respective hole of the respective support to bring an abutment surface of the second end into contact with an inner surface of the support; and e) locking the second end of each beam to the support by passing a fastener at least partially through the support to engage with a recess formed in the second end.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2007
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Andrew Keith Maclaren-Taylor
  • Patent number: 8323026
    Abstract: An interactive cooking preparation device that includes a flexible horizontal display surface is presented. A set of actuators located under the flexible horizontal display surface that, when activated, cause a tactile sensation on the display surface. A user selects a recipe from a list of recipes. A set of preparation steps that correspond to the selected recipe are retrieved from a data store. Each of the preparation steps are displayed to the user on the flexible horizontal surface display. A current preparation step that is being performed by the user is identified. The user is directed to an area of the interactive cooking preparation device using a tactile feedback mechanism. The tactile feedback mechanism causes a physical sensation on the surface of the interactive cooking preparation device. The physical sensation is felt by the user when the user is touching the surface of the interactive cooking preparation device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Lydia Mai Do, Travis M. Grigsby, Pamela Ann Nesbitt, Lisa Anne Seacat
  • Patent number: 8325779
    Abstract: A brick hearth system comprises a rigid containment shell in which a concave bottom is lined with a hearth refractory sub-layer and hearth brick working layer. The outer perimeter of the hearth refractory is ringed with thrust blocks to compress the whole toward the center and to thereby deny gaps from forming between the separate bricks. Many individual thrust rods penetrate the outer bottom of the containment shell, and such are used to transmit compression forces generated outside the shell to be applied against the thrust blocks in unison. Each thrust rod receives an adjustable amount of inward force from a spring, acting either directly or through a beam or rocker arm. These are anchored to and use the hoop strength of the containment shell as leverage. As the hearth brick working layer grows during its service life, the ring of thrust blocks grows in diameter as well inside the margins provided within the containment shell.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 4, 2012
    Inventor: Allan J. MacRae
  • Publication number: 20120298650
    Abstract: A method and apparatus of generating a laser pulse of a desired energy and micro-machining a substrate using the laser pulse. A beam of light is provided from a laser source. The beam is directed via a modulator to produce an output laser pulse with a portion of the laser pulse being used to determine the energy of the laser pulse. The modulator is controlled so as to switch off the output laser pulse when the determined energy of the output laser pulse reaches a threshold value. The output laser pulse is steered to a substrate for micro-machining.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 22, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventors: Krzysztof Michal Nowak, Howard John Baker, Roy McBride, Jozef Jacek Wendland
  • Publication number: 20120292303
    Abstract: The invention relates to a pipeline for carrying a molten salt, with a pipe wall that is stable with respect to the temperatures occurring. A heating conductor (21) is provided inside the pipeline (5) for heating, the heating conductor (21) preferably not lying against the inner wall of the pipeline (5).
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 17, 2012
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Applicant: BASF SE
    Inventors: Jürgen Wortmann, Michael Lutz, Marin Gärtner, Kerstin Schierle-Arndt, Stephan Maurer, Michael Ladenberger, Karolin Geyer, Florian Garlichs
  • Patent number: 8314367
    Abstract: A heating unit comprising an outer shell defining a portion of the heating unit periphery, an inner shell disposed within the outer shell and defining an internal cavity, an intermediate cavity formed by the inner and outer shells, a plurality of openings in the inner shell providing air flow between the intermediate cavity and the internal cavity, a heating source, a distribution device transferring heated air from the heating source to the intermediate cavity, a plurality of ambient air vents, and wherein the heated air traverses the plurality of ambient air vents and the plurality of openings.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 11, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 20, 2012
    Assignee: Heat Surge, LLC
    Inventor: Christopher J. Gallo
  • Publication number: 20120289033
    Abstract: In a method for producing a I-III-VI compound semiconductor layer, a substrate is provided with a coating which has a metallic precursor layer. The coating is kept, for the duration of a process time, at temperatures of at least 350 degrees C. and the metallic precursor layer, in the presence of a chalcogen at an ambient pressure of between 500 mbar and 1500 mbar, is converted into a compound semiconductor layer. The coating is kept at temperatures for the duration of an activation time which attain at least an activation barrier temperature, whereby as the activation barrier temperature a value of at least 600° C. is selected.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 21, 2010
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Applicant: CENTROTHERM PHOTOVOLTAICS AG
    Inventors: Immo Koetschau, Dieter Schmid
  • Publication number: 20120285944
    Abstract: The present invention is a self-inflating heat sanitizer, which uses convective heat transfer to eradicate bed bugs within an item. The heater unit propagates and reheats the air within the present invention as the heated air flows through the present invention. The heat chamber enclosure is a compartment that allows the heated air to circulate around the item and raise the temperature of the item to above 140° F. The structure of the heat chamber enclosure is inflatable walls, which are pressurized when the heated air flows into the heat chamber enclosure. The heated air will then vent out of the inflatable walls into the treatment volume, where the item is located. The insulated ducts lead the heated air from the heater unit into the inflatable walls and lead the heated air from the treatment volume back to the heater unit.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 26, 2011
    Publication date: November 15, 2012
    Inventor: Joseph Anthony BERMUDEZ
  • Publication number: 20120273476
    Abstract: A beverage vending machine having a cabinet closed by a door; a supporting surface housed inside the cabinet; a number of containers for soluble material, located on the supporting surface; and a number of heating devices, each of which is incorporated in a locking member for locking the container to the supporting surface, and has an electric resistor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 11, 2010
    Publication date: November 1, 2012
    Applicant: N&W GLOBAL VENDING S.P.A.
    Inventor: Dan Alexie Sirbu Villa
  • Patent number: 8299671
    Abstract: A rotary floater (30) for supporting an object to be processed (W) is floated by the magnetic attraction of a floating electromagnet assembly (F), and the rotary floater (30) is rotated by the magnetic attraction of a rotary electromagnet assembly (R) while its horizontal position being controlled by the magnetic attraction of a positioning electromagnet assembly (H). The floating electromagnet assembly (F) causes the magnetic attraction to act vertically upwardly, so that the rotary floater (30) is floated and suspended without contact with the inner wall of a processing container (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Masamichi Nomura, Kenjiro Koizumi, Shigeru Kasai
  • Patent number: 8283604
    Abstract: A chip warming device (10, 1000, 2000) is provided with a support structure (15) and a heating device. The support structure (15) has a first door (100) that selectively seals a first opening (60), a second door (110) that selectively seals a second opening (70) and a chip tray (120) that selectively seals a third opening (80). The heating device is positioned in the support structure (15) that supplies heat to the chips. The first and second openings (60, 70) are adjacent to each other. The second door (110) can be at an angle with respect to vertical when in a closed position. The chip tray (120) can be at an angle with respect to vertical when in a closed position. The support structure (15) can have a floor that is at an angle with respect to horizontal. An antimicrobial coating or treatment can be used on at least a portion of the support structure (15) for suppression of microbe growth.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2006
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Carter Hoffmann, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeffrey S. Erber, Kimberly B. Aaron
  • Patent number: 8282017
    Abstract: A heat transfer system comprises a plurality of cells, a plurality of heating elements, and a controller for independently controlling the plurality of heating elements. The heat transfer system is capable of maintaining a fluid temperature within a predetermined range. A second pump pumps fluid through a heat exchanger in operative relationship with the blower upon a call for heat.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 2, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Tube Fabrication Design, Inc.
    Inventors: Samuel David Hawkins, Thomas Robert Hapner
  • Patent number: 8283605
    Abstract: A method for automatically controlling the heating/cooking of a food item in a cooking oven having a door, heaters and an oven temperature acquisition system, comprising the steps of measuring the total electrical power (Pin) absorbed by the oven, measuring the oven temperature, and assessing the actual power (Pload) transferred to the food item by automatically compensating disturbance factors. A cooking oven is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Whirlpool Corporation
    Inventors: Ettore Arione, Alessandro Boer, Paolo Crosta, Francesco Del Bello, Davide Parachini, Gianpiero Santacatterina
  • Patent number: 8278603
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating at least one plastic preform for manufacturing containers may include a reflection body, a source of energy for emitting thermal radiation for heating the plastic preform, and a holding member for holding the plastic preform. The holding member may be moved relative to the reflection body, wherein the reflection body has a first surface allocated to the plastic preform and the source of energy is disposed in such a way that the radiation thereof reaches the reflection body. The reflection body may be constructed of at least two components, wherein a first component has the first surface which is at least partially transparent to the radiation emitted by the source of energy and which has a second structured surface on the side facing away from the first surface. At least a portion of the second component is capable of reflecting the radiation, and this second component abuts against the first component at least in sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 9, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignee: Krones AG
    Inventors: Heinrich Deyerl, Arno Haner
  • Patent number: 8278604
    Abstract: An electric oven includes an oven body defining a chamber. The heater is located in the chamber of the oven body. The heater includes a carbon nanotube structure. The carbon nanotube structure includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes joined end to end by van der Waals attractive force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 2, 2012
    Assignees: Tsinghua University, Hon Hai Precision Industry Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Chen Feng, Kai-Li Jiang, Liang Liu, Shou-Shan Fan
  • Publication number: 20120244722
    Abstract: A selective crystallization method includes placing a first substrate including first crystallization regions on a second substrate including second crystallization regions such that the first crystallization regions and the second crystallization regions are arranged alternately, and crystallizing the alternately-arranged first crystallization regions and the second crystallization regions with a laser beam. A laser crystallization apparatus can be used in the selective crystallization method.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Publication date: September 27, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG MOBILE DISPLAY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Do-Young Kim, June-Woo Lee, Won-Kyu Lee
  • Patent number: 8274016
    Abstract: A cup holder comprises a heating surface that is configured to receive a cardboard cup. The cup holder has an outside surface that is concentric with the heating surface. A heating element is disposed between the heating surface and the outside surface, and the heating element is configured to heat the heating surface. Insulation may be located between the heating surface and the outside surface, and the insulation may be configured to maintain the outside surface at an outside temperature lower than a heating temperature of the heating surface. The cup holder further comprises a pressure-sensitive switch located in a bottom portion of the heating surface. The pressure sensitive switch may allow a current to run through the heating element in response to the cardboard cup exerting pressure on the pressure-sensitive switch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Inventor: Mark Montana
  • Patent number: 8274017
    Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally relate to a semiconductor processing chamber and, more specifically, a heated support pedestal for a semiconductor processing chamber. In one embodiment, a pedestal for a semiconductor processing chamber is provided. The pedestal comprises a substrate support comprising a conductive material and having a support surface for receiving a substrate, a resistive heater encapsulated within the substrate support, a hollow shaft coupled to the substrate support at a first end and a mating interface at an opposing end, the hollow shaft comprising a shaft body having a hollow core, and a cooling channel assembly encircling the hollow core and disposed within the shaft body for removing heat from the pedestal via an internal cooling path, wherein the substrate support has a heat control gap positioned between the heating element and the ring-shaped cooling channel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 18, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: Applied Materials, Inc.
    Inventors: Lipyeow Yap, Tuan Anh Nguyen, Dale R. Du Bois, Sanjeev Baluja, Thomas Nowak, Juan Carlos Rocha-Alvarez, Jianhua Zhou
  • Publication number: 20120238110
    Abstract: The first flash irradiation is performed on a semiconductor wafer preheated to 500° C. to heat a front surface of the semiconductor wafer. Thereafter, the second flash irradiation is performed to reheat the front surface of the semiconductor wafer before the temperature of the front surface of the semiconductor wafer becomes equal to the temperature of a back surface of the semiconductor wafer. Thus, the second flash irradiation is performed before the temperature of the front surface of the semiconductor wafer falls. Even if less energy is consumable by the second flash irradiation, the efficiency of heating of the front surface of the semiconductor wafer resulting from each iteration of the flash irradiation is improved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 6, 2012
    Publication date: September 20, 2012
    Inventor: Kenichi YOKOUCHI
  • Patent number: 8263906
    Abstract: A pellet warming system includes a charging unit capable of warming a plurality of pellets contemporaneously. Each of the plurality of pellets comprise an internal heating element which resistively heats the body of the pellet from a regulated electrical current that is provided from the charging unit. The charging unit also comprises a controller board with means to control the duration of electric current supplied to each of the pellets as well as means for cycling electrical current to each of the pellets in order to maintain the resistively generated heat. Once heated, each pellet may have comestible goods disposed indirectly thereon through a plate, the pellet maintaining the comestible goods at an elevated temperature for an extended period of time. The charging unit further comprises means for a user to connect their PC to the controller board in order to alter its internal programming and view its operational history.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2012
    Assignee: Cambro Manufacturing Company
    Inventors: Charles W. Jarvis, Pietro Brattoli, Jorge Baez, Jeff Nicholson
  • Patent number: 8242415
    Abstract: A product warming apparatus with at least one product holding container having a bottom surface. An enclosure includes at least one opening configured to receive the product holding container. A heat radiating plate is provided in thermal communication with and configured to receive heat from a heating element. The heat radiating plate includes a top surface disposed adjacent the bottom surface of the product holding container with the top surface of the heat radiating plate being spaced apart from the bottom surface of the product holding container to define a gap therebetween. A thermostatic controller is in thermal communication with the heat radiating plate for controlling a flow of heat to the heat radiating plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: Thermodyne Food Service Products, Inc.
    Inventors: Vincent P. Tippmann, Sr., Joseph R. Tippmann
  • Patent number: 8242413
    Abstract: A method of controlling an oven is provided. The oven includes a first heater, a second heater having a lower output than the first heater, at least one third heater, and at least one fan blowing a heat of the third heater to a cavity. The first heater operates for cooking food and then the second heater operates after the first heater stops. Then, the third heater and the fan continuously operate while the first heater and second heater operate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2007
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Moo Yeon Choi, Eui-Seog Jeong
  • Publication number: 20120193344
    Abstract: A human skin mask heating/warming device includes a case and an electrical heating device. The case includes an upper casing and a lower casing. One end of the upper casing is pivotally connected with one end of the lower casing. The upper and lower casings can be opened/closed to enclose a mask (pack) in the case. Alternatively, the case is integrally formed with the upper and lower casings or the upper and lower casings are integrally assembled with each other to form the case. One side of the case is formed with a slot or slit. The mask (pack) can be guided into the case through the slot or slit. The electrical heating device includes an electrical unit and a heating unit. The electrical unit provides a current to the heating unit for generating heat. The heating unit is disposed on the case for providing heat to the mask (pack).
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 22, 2011
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventor: Eric CHEN
  • Publication number: 20120194916
    Abstract: An optical device projecting one or more synthetically magnified images that has been laser marked with one or more static two dimensional (2D) images is provided. The static 2D image(s) laser marked on or within this device and the synthetically magnified image(s) projected by this device help determine the authenticity of a document (e.g., passport data page) or product that employs it. Several embodiments of the inventive device also offer increased resistance to tampering or alteration and wear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 27, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicants: CRANE & CO., INC., CRANE AB, VISUAL PHYSICS, LLC
    Inventors: Samuel M. Cape, Jonathan D. Gosnell, Kaj Markkus Helminen, Gregory R. Jordan, Scott K. Palm, Giles D. Prett, Timothy W. Schneider, Anthony J. Zucchero
  • Patent number: 8232507
    Abstract: An operating device for an electric hob comprises a plurality of touch pads as touch points, in which operation takes place by applying a finger to specific defined touch points. The touch pads may be in themselves structurally movable separately of the electric hob or the operating device. The touch pads comprise individual coding circuits which can be accomplished by way of modulation of an electromagnetic field. The operating device has an electrode surface for attachment next to the electric appliance, on which the touch pads are arranged. Capacitive coupling is formed between the touch pads and the electrode surface. The operating device comprises a drive and evaluation device connected to the electrode surface both for detecting touching of a touch pad in general and for detecting and differentiating between touching of a specific touch pad and touching of another touch pad as indicated by the individual coding circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 31, 2012
    Assignee: E.G.O. Elektro-Geraetebau GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Baier, Lutz Ose
  • Publication number: 20120187104
    Abstract: A thermal treatment system for thermally treating objects includes a housing including a top surface, a basin recessed into the top surface and configured to contain a liquid medium, where the liquid medium thermally treats objects placed within the liquid medium, and a ramp structure disposed on the top surface of the housing. The ramp structure is configured to support at least one object such that a first end portion of the object is disposed within the liquid medium while a second end portion of the object is supported by the ramp structure outside of the liquid medium.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 1, 2011
    Publication date: July 26, 2012
    Applicant: ECOLAB USA INC.
    Inventors: Bruce Heymann, Ray Tsang, Durward I. Faries, JR.
  • Patent number: 8227730
    Abstract: A towel dryer includes an aluminum body having an outer surface that supports a towel to be dried. The surface has a degree of reflectance of not less than 80% for more efficient transfer of heat from the body to the towel. The outer body surface is an oxidized surface to resist corrosion, and a clear coating may be provided over the surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 7, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Swisspal AG
    Inventor: Silvia Bader
  • Patent number: 8217313
    Abstract: A disclosed heating apparatus includes a heating chamber configured to heat a substrate placed in the heating chamber with a heat plate opposing the substrate; a gas stream forming portion that creates a gas stream along a top surface of the substrate in the heating chamber; and a pair of first plate members respectively located between an inner side wall of the heating chamber and a first substrate edge opposing the inner side wall, and between another inner side wall of the heating chamber and a second substrate edge opposing the other inner side wall.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tetsuo Fukuoka, Takahiro Kitano, Kazuo Terada
  • Patent number: 8212183
    Abstract: This invention relates to the use of system thermal energy generated by equipment, such as an ultrasound sensing device, to transfer heat to the peripherals/sensors/probes under user control. This is accomplished by recycling the heat generated by the system and used that to keep the peripheral/sensor/probe warm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Intel Corporation
    Inventors: Wah Yiu Kwong, Hong W. Wong
  • Patent number: 8212188
    Abstract: A cooking apparatus and a method selectably cook food using one or more of a plurality of cooking spaces formed by a divider while using a same heat source and control different temperatures of the cooking spaces formed by the divider. An embodiment of the cooking apparatus includes a cooking chamber, a divider to divide the cooking chamber into cooking spaces, a heated air supply unit including a fan cover having upper and lower ventilation holes, a detection unit including temperature sensors to detect the interior temperatures of the cooking spaces, an airflow adjusting unit to adjust an amount of heated air supplied, and a control unit to control the amount of heated air, based on an interior temperature of the cooking space, to adjust a temperature to a target temperature set by a user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Tae Woo Kim, Seok Weon Hong, Jong Chull Shon, Hyang Ki Kim
  • Patent number: 8212187
    Abstract: A heater with 360° rotation of a heated air stream is provided. The device includes a housing, a motor, an impeller, a heating element, an air stream deflector and a rotational engine. More specifically, the device is directed toward a portable space heater having an outward radial projection of a heated air stream in combination with 360° rotational movement for reducing air temperature stratification and uneven heating problems in a room.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Assignee: Lasko Holdings, Inc.
    Inventor: William E. Lasko
  • Patent number: 8206656
    Abstract: A liquid dispenser includes an exterior surface and an interior surface. The interior surface encloses a volume that tapers outwardly in a downward direction so that any horizontal cross-section of the volume fits inside each horizontal cross-section below it from a full to an empty level of the dispenser. The interior surface also includes a projection oriented opposite the exterior surface and configured to limit a motion of solids within the dispenser. The structure so provided enables the solid, e.g., a frozen liquid, to slide to the heated, bottom portion of the dispenser as liquid is drawn from the dispenser thus providing faster melting.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventor: Michael Goebelbecker
  • Publication number: 20120153688
    Abstract: A flexible flat structure has a flexible, flat resistance heating element that is connected to electrodes that are spaced apart from one another for supplying electrical current that is pressed on to the resistance heating element by staples or clamps in a force-fit manner and/or a form-fit manner and provides a more flexible connection.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 23, 2012
    Publication date: June 21, 2012
    Applicant: BENECKE-KALIKO AG
    Inventors: ANDREAS GERKEN, JÜRGEN BÜHRING, ROLAND FREUDENMANN, DORTHE WITTJE
  • Publication number: 20120137534
    Abstract: A clothes drying apparatus (1) includes a base (3) adapted for engagement with a lower support surface. A lower housing (7) extends from the base (3). The apparatus also includes a height adjustable extension element (10) having an upper end (11) adapted for engagement with an upper support surface. A selectively releasable locking mechanism (13) is adapted to secure the extension element (10) in adjusted positions such that the apparatus (1) in use extends in a generally vertical orientation between the lower and upper support surfaces. A plurality of support arms (16) extend generally outwardly from the extension element to support clothes (2) for drying. A heater is optionally provided in the lower housing.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 7, 2010
    Publication date: June 7, 2012
    Inventor: Pierce James Barnard
  • Publication number: 20120132638
    Abstract: A new class of work-piece conveyors, comprising zero-mass, shadow-less transport systems, with a drive having a pair of parallel, laterally spaced, movable chains defining a processing path, with fingers projecting transversely toward the process path centerline. The gap between fingers eliminates conveyor tube/rod supports, improving wafer quality and conserving energy. Implementations include wire chain, band and roller chain transports to which fingers are secured. Fingers are angled down so that the intersection of the bottom and side edges of the work-piece make only point contacts with each finger. A pair of finger chains implement a single lane drive; adding center bilateral finger drive chains with oppositely pointing fingers implement a multi-lane system. The inventive method includes individually configurable processing temperature profiles in side-by-side lanes, on a zone-by-zone, upper and lower half basis for broad processing flexibility.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 23, 2011
    Publication date: May 31, 2012
    Applicant: TP Solar, Inc.
    Inventors: Luis Alejandro Rey Garcia, Richard W. Parks, Peter G. Ragay
  • Patent number: 8186077
    Abstract: A disclosed heating apparatus for heating a substrate on which a film is coated includes a process chamber having a gas supply opening for supplying a first gas to the process chamber and a gas evacuation opening for evacuating the first gas from the process chamber; a heating plate that is arranged in the process chamber and includes a heating element for heating the substrate; plural protrusions arranged on the heating plate so as to support the substrate; plural suction holes formed in the heating plate so as to attract by suction the substrate toward the heating plate; and a gas inlet adapted to supply a second gas to a gap between the heating plate and the substrate supported by the plural protrusions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2012
    Assignee: Tokyo Electron Limited
    Inventors: Tatsuya Kawaji, Yuichi Sakai, Masatoshi Kaneda
  • Publication number: 20120114012
    Abstract: A heating cooker including an infrared ray detection device is disclosed. The heating cooker includes a body, an inner case disposed within the body, and provided therein with a cooking chamber to cook food, a detection hole formed at one side wall of the inner case, to allow an infrared ray generated in the cooking chamber to exit outwardly from the cooking chamber, a path change unit disposed in the vicinity of the detection hole, to change a path of the infrared ray passing through the detection hole, and an infrared sensor disposed to be spaced apart from the path change unit, to receive the infrared ray, the path of which has been changed. The path change unit is rotatable to enable the infrared sensor to receive infrared rays having different paths while being generated in different regions in the cooking chamber.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 4, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Jun Hoe CHOI, Yeon A. Hwang, Ki Hing Noh, Jeong Su Han, Ji Hoon Ha, Tae Gyoon Noh
  • Publication number: 20120111848
    Abstract: A heater-integrated canister unit may include a canister, a temperature controller integrally coupled with the canister to indirectly heat a charcoal inside the canister by increasing a temperature of a space in the canister, and an electronic control unit controlling the current supplied to the temperature controller. The temperature controller may be disposed at the opposite side of the evaporation gas intake port in the canister and support the charcoal or may be coupled to the outside of the canister by a seating slot formed in the canister. The temperature controller may include a heater plate transmitting the current by forming a positive electrode and a negative electrode, a connector supplying the current to the heater plate and a heater generating heat on the heater plate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 16, 2011
    Publication date: May 10, 2012
    Applicant: Hyundai Motor Company
    Inventor: Myeonghwan Kim
  • Patent number: 8172950
    Abstract: Disclosed is a substrate processing apparatus, including: a chamber, made of a metal, to form a processing space for processing a substrate; at least one rod-like heating body to heat the substrate; and a tube body, made of a material different from that of the chamber, to accommodate the heating body therein, wherein an outer diameter of the tube body on a processing space side in a penetrating portion where the tube body penetrates a wall of the chamber is set to be smaller than an outer diameter of the tube body on an outer side of the chamber in the penetrating portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 8, 2012
    Assignee: Hitachi Kokusai Electric Inc.
    Inventors: Yoshihiko Yanagisawa, Mitsuro Tanabe
  • Patent number: 8168924
    Abstract: The invention provides an overheat protection control component for a liquid heating vessel which includes a control body (1); a single-integrated dual-actuation thermally sensitive bimetallic actuator (2) is provided on the upper face of the control body (1), wherein the single-integrated dual-actuation thermally sensitive bimetallic actuator (2) is two integrated and relatively independent actuating units which are formed on a piece of bimetallic strip, and the outer kick limb (3) of either said actuating unit will produce an actuating movement downwards when an overheat state occurs; two groups of switch contacts (6) are also provided on the control body (1), wherein either group of switch contacts (6) cooperate with the outer kick limb (3) of a corresponding actuating unit, and the outer kick limb (3), when producing a downward actuating movement, will open a corresponding group of switch contacts (6) and cut off the power supply of the heater for the liquid heating vessel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2012
    Assignee: Zhejiang Jiatai Electrical Appliance Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Qiang Yang, Hesheng Zheng, Yu Yan
  • Publication number: 20120091117
    Abstract: An electric kettle of temperature wireless transmission includes a body and a base. The base is disposed with a first power substrate, a relay, a first wireless IC module and a wireless receiver. The body is disposed with a second power substrate, a second wireless IC module, a wireless transmitter, a pipe heater and a thermistor. The body and the base of the kettle is disposed with wireless transmitter and wireless receiver separately, the wireless transmitter transmits the water temperature sensed from the thermistor in the body to the first power substrate in the base, the temperature is controlled by the first power substrate and the relay, the signal transmission is still taken place after the body is disconnected from the base.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: TSANN KUEN (ZHANGZHOU) ENTERPRISE CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Shengfang Cheng
  • Patent number: 8158910
    Abstract: A medical warming cabinet and a method of installing a controller into a medical warming cabinet is disclosed that allows for easy transfer of operation parameters between controllers. Should a controller fail, the removable memory device can be removed from the failed controller and inserted into the replacement controller. This provides the benefits of a generic controller (e.g., low cost and good availability), but eliminates the tedious and costly necessity of having to reprogram the controller during maintenance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Enthermics Medical Systems, Inc.
    Inventor: William J. Hansen
  • Publication number: 20120085742
    Abstract: An electrical heating device includes a housing, which encloses a circulation chamber through which a medium can flow and into which heating ribs extend essentially parallel to one another. Each of the ribs has a U-shaped recess which opens into a uniform connecting chamber, which is separated from the circulation chamber by a partition wall provided in the region of the open ends of the U-shaped recesses, and which accommodates at least one PTC heating element that abuts oppositely situated inner sides of the U-shaped recess in heat-conducting contact. The heating ribs protrude inwards alternately from the oppositely situated inner sides of the housing. A flow passage of a meander-type flow channel is formed in the housing between the free ends of the heating ribs and the adjacent inner wall of the housing. The flow passage is closed off by a covering element on the side oppositely situated to the partition wall.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 30, 2011
    Publication date: April 12, 2012
    Applicant: Eberspacher catem GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Michael Niederer, Franz Bohlender
  • Patent number: 8153930
    Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for improving the intensity profile of a beam image used to process a semiconductor substrate. At least one photonic beam may be generated and manipulated to form an image having an intensity profile with an extended uniform region useful for thermally processing the surface of the substrate. The image may be scanned across the surface to heat at least a portion of the substrate surface to achieve a desired temperature within a predetermined dwell time. Such processing may achieve a high efficiency due to the large proportion of energy contained in the uniform portion of the beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2009
    Date of Patent: April 10, 2012
    Assignee: Ultratech, Inc.
    Inventors: Andrew M Hawryluk, Boris Grek, David A Markle
  • Publication number: 20120080419
    Abstract: A device is disclosed for the heat processing of cables, wires, fibers, and the like which is small, light, and configured to be disposed temporarily directly on the cable to be heated in situ. Typically the device comprises a heat generation element or elements and supporting shells arranged so as to form an elongated cavity, a housing to provide an insulating enclosure around the cable so as to form a heated chamber, temperature sensing means to monitor the heating for closed-loop control, and means to enable the heater to hold itself onto the cable or wire in situ. Power and control means with electrical processing capability are provided to supply power to the heater, monitor the temperature inside the heater cavity, and govern the time and temperature which the device applies to the cable or wire in order to process it, for instance to apply a heat shrink sleeve.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 18, 2011
    Publication date: April 5, 2012
    Applicant: AURORA OPTICS, INC.
    Inventors: Simon Peter Bush, Nellie Luna Cabato, Laurence Nathaniel Wesson
  • Patent number: 8148668
    Abstract: A continuous oil fryer used to fry food slices, such as potato chips, having an internal oil stripping capability. The fryer accumulates the steam produced by the frying process in a hood and utilizes such steam, after superheating the steam by passing it through a heat exchanger, to strip oil from product immediately upon removal from the hot oil bath by passing the superheated steam through a product bed while on an output conveyor. The superheated steam removes oil from the product on the output conveyor without increasing the moisture level of the product. The fryer therefore accomplishes the same function as a low-oil stripper without increasing the footprint of the frying unit and with less energy.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Frito-Lay North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Wilfred Marcellien Bourg, Jr., Donald Vaughn Neel, Jennifer Bell Raymond
  • Publication number: 20120074121
    Abstract: An electronically controlled warmer drawer for food or non-food items having a housing including a heating element based on several heat-producing technologies, temperature and/or humidity sensor(s), and a fan to effectively warm items placed therein. The system is controlled by way of the user interface that interacts with an electronic control system to operate the heating element and fan. The user interface provides user programmable controls and automatic overrides, can be placed in a variety of locations, and can be concealed by a variety of elements. The interface can also utilize a variety of touch sensitive technologies. As well, the device may have a receptacle for adding fragrance or flavor to the objects within.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 23, 2011
    Publication date: March 29, 2012
    Inventors: John M. Gagas, Richard C. Hochschild, JR., Scott A. Jonovic