Abstract: A latch module for controlling an opening and a closing of a door of an appliance includes a latch, a spring that applies an elastic force to the latch, a motor; and a cam that contacts a contact surface of the latch and is coupled to the motor to drive the cam to pivot the latch. The cam includes a first radius, a second radius, and a third radius in a circumferential direction at an outer circumference of the cam. The latch is positioned at a first basic position when the first radius of the cam contacts the contact surface of the latch, positioned at a second basic position when the second radius of the cam contacts the contact surface of the latch, and positioned at a third basic position when the third radius of the cam contacts the contact surface of the latch.

Abstract: A modular cooking apparatus includes a first interchangeable cooking module containing an impingement oven, a second interchangeable cooking module containing a hot air oven with built-in magnetron, and a single power connection for receiving three-phase electrical power. Each oven has a base load and a boost load. A first multiplexor is configured to direct electrical power from a first phase pair of the three-phase electrical power to either the base load or the boost load of the first oven. A second multiplexor is configured to direct electrical power from the first phase pair to the boost load of the first oven or to the boost load of the second oven. The modular cooking apparatus is configured such that either the first multiplexor or the second multiplexor can direct electrical power from the first phase pair to the boost load of the first oven.

Abstract: An oven may include a cooking chamber, a user interface, a first energy source, a second energy source and a cooking controller. The cooking chamber may be configured to receive a food product. The user interface may be configured to display information associated with processes employed for cooking the food product. The first energy source may provide primary heating of the food product placed in the cooking chamber. The second energy source may provide browning for the food product. The cooking controller may be operably coupled to the first and second energy sources. The cooking controller may include processing circuitry configured to enable an operator to make a browning control selection via the user interface by providing operator instructions to a selected control console rendered at the user interface. The selected control console may be selected based on a cooking mode of the oven.

Abstract: A method of making a component includes: depositing a metallic powder on a workplane; directing a beam from a directed energy source to fuse the powder in a pattern corresponding to a cross-sectional layer of the component; repeating in a cycle the steps of depositing and fusing to build up the component in a layer-by layer fashion; and during the cycle of depositing and melting, using an external heat control apparatus separate from the directed energy source to maintain a predetermined temperature profile of the component, such that the resulting component has a directionally-solidified or single-crystal microstructure.

Abstract: A heating cooker to manage surface and inside temperatures of food. A heating portion heats inside of a heating space where the food material is placed. At least one processor controls the heating portion to perform driving for high-temperature heating after performing driving for low-temperature heating. During the driving for low-temperature heating, the heating portion may heat the inside of the heating space such that an average increase velocity of a reference temperature of the food material is lower than an average increase velocity of the reference temperature of the food material during the driving for high-temperature heating. During the driving for high-temperature heating, the heating portion may heat the inside of the heating space such that an average increase velocity of the reference temperature of the food material is higher than the average increase velocity of the reference temperature of the food material during the driving for low-temperature heating.

Abstract: Provided is a substrate processing method including: referring to a memory unit in which an estimated model of sensor data generated from sensor data input to or output from each of the processing chamber when processing first test substrates are processed in the processing chambers under a same processing condition; adjusting an apparatus parameter of each of the processing chambers such that a deviation of the sensor data from an ideal sensor value is within an allowable range; loading product substrates continuously into the processing chambers without specifying a loading destination processing chamber; and, when the product substrate is loaded into a processing chamber of the processing chambers, adjusting the sensor data input to or output from the processing chamber into which the product substrate has been loaded based on the apparatus parameter of the processing chamber that has been adjusted in the adjusting; and processing the product substrate.

Abstract: A sensor (10) is provided that has at least one sensor functional group (12), a heating device (14, 22), and a heating control (14, 20) to control a heating power (Pheating) of the heating device (14, 22). In this respect, the heating control (20) is configured to adapt the heating power (Pheating) to a power consumption (Psensor) of the sensor functional group (12).

Abstract: Provided is an illumination system of a cooking appliance that includes at least one burner and an associated knob. The system comprises an electric circuit associated with the knob, with a display device in a second electrical branch that lights up when an electric current with a minimum value circulates through the second electrical branch. Activation means in a first electrical branch is operated by means of turning the knob. Both the first and second electrical branches are connected in parallel. Acting on the knob causes a change in voltage drop in the first and second electrical branches, and the illumination system is configured to control the electric current circulating through the display device depending on said voltage drop.

Abstract: The invention relates to a firing furnace or press furnace for dental restoration parts, having a control device for the control of the furnace on the basis of at least one firing/press program; a display device, at least for displaying operating instructions based on symbolic representations; an input device, at least for selecting a firing/press program; wherein the control device is configured to be able to switch the furnace after selection of a control program to a security mode in which it displays one or several operating instructions and in which the input of firing or press parameters of the control program and/or the selection of a firing or press program is disabled.

Abstract: An oven including a heater arranged in a cooking compartment, a temperature sensor to sense a temperature of the cooking compartment for a plurality of preset periods of time, and a controller to reset on/offtimes of the heater for at least one of the plurality of preset periods based on a preset target temperature and a current temperature and a previous temperature of the cooking compartment, sensed by the temperature sensor, and to control a driving of the heater according to the reset on/off times. By controlling the on/off times of the heater, a ripple phenomenon which occurs because the target temperature does not remain the same may be decreased. Thus, temperature differences may be reduced during cooking of food and, accordingly, cooking ability may be enhanced.

Abstract: According to an embodiment, a combustion system is provided, which includes a nozzle configured to emit a diverging fuel flow, a flame holder positioned in the path of the fuel flow and that includes a plurality of apertures extending therethrough, and a preheat mechanism configured to heat the flame to a temperature exceeding a startup temperature threshold.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method of decoding a custom cooking program includes using a tag reader to read heating instruction data encoded in an electronic tag, determining heating phases based on the read heating instruction data, and automatically controlling a heating apparatus to execute the determined heating phases.

Abstract: A conveyance apparatus for electronic components capable of suppressing the adhesion of electronic components to a storing member by static electricity. The conveyance apparatus for electronic components includes: a storing member which includes cavities for storing electronic components respectively; an electronic component supply mechanism which supplies the electronic components in a state where the electronic components are brought into contact with the storing member; and a moving unit which moves the storing member in a predetermined moving direction in a relative relationship with the electronic component, wherein a recessed portion for reducing a contact area of the storing member with the electronic components is formed in a region where the cavities are not formed on a main surface of the storing member on a side where the electronic components are supplied.

Abstract: An oven range appliance is provided with features for locking out one or more cooktop elements of the oven range to boost preheat performance and thereby decrease the time required to preheat the cooking chamber of the oven range. A method for operating an oven range appliance also is provided. The method includes features for locking out one or more cooktop elements of the oven range to boost preheat performance and thereby decrease the time required to preheat the cooking chamber of the oven range.

Abstract: Oven appliances and methods for operating oven appliances are provided. A method includes determining if a cooktop burner is active during operation of a cooking chamber self-clean cycle. The method further includes deactivating the self-clean cycle if the cooktop burner is active, and continuing the self-clean cycle if the cooktop burner is not active.

Abstract: A latching assembly uses a flat sheet metal chassis with a first and a second electrical switches, an electrical motor driving an eccentric cam, a push rod, a hook, a spring, and a first and a second actuator rods. When the push rod is moved axially by an outside force it opens a circuit connection held closed by the spring on the push rod. This allows current flow to a motor which drives the eccentric cam and pushes an actuator rod to move axially against a hook causing it to move from a first, non-latching position to a second, latching position. The assembly is useful for latching an oven when at high temperature.

Abstract: A handler for conveying a plurality of devices under test to a socket for a test that can reduce a test time includes: a test section provided with the socket; a heat applying section into which a tray having a plurality of devices under test placed on its surface is conveyed and that controls the temperature of the devices under test to a predetermined test temperature and conveys the tray into the test section; a device image capturing section that in the heat applying section, captures images of the respective devices under test by moving with respect to the surface of the tray in two non-parallel directions of a first direction and a second direction; and a position adjusting section that adjusts the positions of the devices under test with respect to the socket based on the images of the devices under test captured by the device image capturing section.

Abstract: Provided is a handler apparatus which can connect devices under test to sockets of a test apparatus quickly and with low power consumption. The handler apparatus for conveying and connecting a plurality of devices under test to a plurality of sockets provided on a test head of a test apparatus, includes a position adjusting section that moves each of the plurality of devices under test on the test tray and adjusts the position thereof to a corresponding one of the plurality of sockets; and a device mounting section that mounts the plurality of devices under test whose positions have been adjusted by the position adjusting section, to the plurality of sockets.

Abstract: A range infinite switch including a ground fault circuit interrupter (GFCI) subsystem is provided. The GFCI subsystem operates a solenoid and plunger arrangement that activates a mechanical interlock within the switch permitting axial movement of a cam customarily used to bias temperature controlling contacts within the switch. Upon detection of a ground fault the latching mechanism is released and the cam moves to a position where the temperature controlling contacts are opened so as to disconnect power to a range heating element. In an appliance having more than one heating element, each heating element would be separately protected from ground fault conditions by use of the disclosed switch.

Abstract: A mobile cart for dispensing medications has an automated locking mechanism for selectively opening the drawers of such cart. The locking/unlocking both unlocks and moves a respective drawer on command from a signal panel that is connected to a computerized controller. The caregiver enters an authorizing codes and patient identifiers so that one drawer unlocks and opens slightly. As such, the unlocked drawer is identified by lock mechanism, which slightly opens the drawer, thereby identifying the unlocked drawer in comparison to other closed, locked drawers.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooking control method performed by a cooking apparatus for a food item. The method comprises obtaining a unique identifier and cooking data for the food item, and checking for a record of the unique identifier in a memory of the cooking apparatus. If a record of the unique identifier is located in the memory, then the cooking apparatus will not cook the food item. Otherwise a cooking process based on the cooking data to cook the food item is performed. Accordingly, cooking data for a given instance of a food item can only be used once in order to activate a cooking process performed by the cooking apparatus. The present invention also features product recall as well as the ability to track food item sales via a cooking data communications system.

Abstract: The toaster oven of the present invention includes a housing having an internal heating compartment, an upper heating element and a lower heating element. The upper heating element and the lower heating element are independently controllable between zero power and full power in dependence upon a user-selected operating mode.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a system for monitoring a heating apparatus that includes a motion detector configured to determine whether a person is proximate the heating apparatus. The motion detector is default deactivated. Further disclosed is a heat sensor configured to determine whether the heating apparatus has a temperature that is above a threshold. The heat sensor is default deactivated. A processor is in operable communication with each of the motion detector and the heat sensor configured to cyclically repeat a first countdown. The heat sensor is temporarily activated once during each of the repeated first countdowns. The processor is configured to perform a second countdown when the activated heat sensor determines that the heating apparatus has the temperature that is above the threshold. The second countdown is reset each time the motion detector determines that a person is proximate the heating apparatus.

Abstract: An oven includes an oven liner defined by front, top, bottom, back and side panels, a heating element thermally coupled to the oven liner, a temperature sensor configured to detect a temperature of a panel of the oven cavity, and a controller operatively coupled to the temperature sensor and the heating element. The controller is configured to energize the heating element as a function of the detected temperature.

Abstract: A home appliance having an oven with a broil element, the home appliance including an appliance body; an oven cavity defined within the appliance body; a broil element mounted within the oven cavity; a broil element reflector mounted to a wall of the oven cavity; and a mounting arrangement formed integrally with the broil element reflector for mounting the broil element within the oven cavity.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a cooking control method performed by a cooking apparatus for a food item. The method comprises obtaining a unique identifier and cooking data for the food item, and checking for a record of the unique identifier in a memory of the cooking apparatus. If a record of the unique identifier is located in the memory, then the cooking apparatus will not cook the food item. Otherwise a cooking process based on the cooking data to cook the food item is performed. Accordingly, cooking data for a given instance of a food item can only be used once in order to activate a cooking process performed by the cooking apparatus. The present invention also features product recall as well as the ability to track food item sales via a cooking data communications system.

Abstract: A method for operating a cooking appliance having a cooking appliance control system and a door. The method includes automatically opening the door using the cooking appliance control system when a cooking process is complete, and automatically closing the door when a physical quantity falls below a predetermined threshold value stored in a memory of the cooking appliance control system. In addition, a cooking appliance includes a cooking chamber, a door, a cooking appliance control system having a memory, a sensor disposed in the cooking chamber, a guide device, and a door opening device including a positioning motor and a rod. The cooking appliance control system is configured to actuate the positioning motor as a function of the output signal so as to automatically open the door when a cooking process is complete and automatically close the door when a physical quantity falls below a predetermined threshold value.

Abstract: A countertop multi-function oven has a baking and a toasting mode. The oven has, in vertical arrangement, a first rotating time selection dial and second rotating temperature selection dial and graphic display area. The graphic area has a function selection indictor as well as first and second alphanumeric portions. In a toasting mode, one of the input dials is used to select a toasting load and the other input dial is used to select a toasting darkness.

Abstract: The ceramic heater 20 includes the ceramic substrate 22 and a hollow shaft 40. The ceramic substrate 22 is disk-shaped, and a resistance heating element 24 is embedded in the ceramic substrate 22. The hollow shaft 40 is attached to the center of a lower surface of the ceramic substrate 22. The ceramic substrate 22 has a rail groove 26 to which a slide lid 28 is attached and a guide groove 30 that serves as a thermocouple conduit. Moreover, a tube 32 is disposed outside the shaft 40. The tube 32 extends in the up-down direction and is connected to the guide groove 30.

Abstract: A heat control for an oven permits selective overriding of a holding cycle heating recipe with a boost heating recipe to deliver a boost of heat to food held in a heating compartment. Various types of boost heating recipes may be used. A heat control for an oven graphically displays stages of completion of a preheat cycle on an operator interface. Associated ovens and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: A toasting appliance includes a toasting chamber, a heating element for heating a foodstuff located within the toasting chamber, an optical system having a first light source for illuminating the foodstuff with light having a first wavelength and an optical receiver for detecting light reflected from the foodstuff. A second light source is provided for illuminating at least the optical receiver with light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength. A controller varies the intensity of the light emitted from the second light source during a toasting operation.

Abstract: Flash lamps connected to short-pulse circuits and flash lamps connected to long-pulse circuits are alternately arranged in a line. The duration of light emission from the flash lamps connected to the long-pulse circuits is longer than the duration of light emission from the flash lamps connected to the short-pulse circuits. A superimposing of a flash of light with a high peak intensity from the flash lamps that emit light for a short time and a flash of light with a gentle peak from the flash lamps that emit light for a long time can increase the temperature of even a deep portion of a substrate to an activation temperature or more without heating a shallow portion near the substrate surface more than necessary. This achieves the activation of deep junctions without causing substrate warpage or cracking.

Abstract: A voltage calibration routine for an oven, particularly a microwave oven, enables a field technician to enter a voltage calibration mode to display on the oven a pre-established default voltage to which the oven is calibrated. The technician then measures the actual line voltage applied to the oven and, if different than the default voltage displayed, inputs the actual line voltage into the microwave oven control, such as via a keypad. Thereafter, an offset value is calculated to correct the voltage measurement, allowing for a correct tap selection when the microwave oven is running. An additional function is available to check the oven voltage reading upon accessing a voltage reading mode wherein the oven measures and displays the line voltage which is compared to a volt meter reading such that a simple comparison can be made, while avoiding certain steps associated with the voltage calibration mode.

Abstract: A cooking appliance control system for use during the Jewish Holidays or Sabbath. A timer is in communication with the oven heater element programmed to provide for scheduled activations and deactivations of the element during the Holidays. Prior to the Holiday the timer is programmed, the oven is activated to the predetermined temperature, and the timer program is then activated to provide for activation of the heater element to the predetermined temperature and deactivation in accordance with the schedule during the Holiday. Additionally, a switch selectively activates and deactivates the ignition circuits of the burners. This permits, one of the gas burner heater elements to be lighted by the appliance before the Holiday when the ignition circuits are activated to provide a flame to light the other burners when the ignition circuits are deactivated during the Holiday.

Abstract: The present invention provides an operation device which has a stable operation feeling with a simple configuration and has a high reliability and an excellent operability. An electrode terminal portion which is arranged just below an operation region on a top plate made of a material having an electric insulating property, and serves as an electrostatic capacity type touch switch has a detection portion which comes into close contact with a back surface of the operation region, a spring portion which has an elastic force pressing the detection portion to the back surface of the top plate, and a slide portion which is movably retained in the guide holder.

Abstract: A cooking appliance and a method of controlling a cooking appliance are provided. The cooking appliance has a cooking utensil support structure configured as a sensor for determining a cooking utensil characteristic, such as the size and/or presence of a cooking utensil. The cooking utensil support structure can include a gap and an electrical characteristic can be detected at the gap. The detected electrical characteristic can be used to determine a cooking utensil characteristic. Control of the cooking appliance can be based on the detected electrical characteristic or the determined cooking utensil characteristic. The cooking appliance can be controlled to improve cooking performance, such as regulate the amount of heat supplied by a heat source based on the size and/or presence of a cooking utensil, and/or to initiate an alert condition.

Abstract: A thermal process chamber having a lamp driver circuit that includes two transistors and two diodes is described. The thermal process chamber includes a plurality of halogen lamps, the lamp driver, a temperature sensor that measures wafer temperature, a temperature controller connected to the temperature sensor and to the lamp driver, the temperature controller providing control signals to the lamp driver that are functions of the wafer temperature and a desired temperature. The lamp driver includes two transistors that are controlled by the control signals so that the power factor of the power supplied to the plurality of halogen lamps is in the range of 0.9 to 1.

Abstract: A device for monitoring a heating apparatus that includes a default deactivated motion detector for determining whether a person is proximate the heating apparatus. The device includes a default deactivated heat sensor for determining whether the heating apparatus has a temperature that is above a threshold. The device includes an internal timer for cyclically repeating a first countdown. The heat sensor is temporarily activated once during each of the repeated first countdowns. The internal timer performs a second countdown when the activated heat sensor determines that the heating apparatus has the temperature that is above the threshold. The second countdown is reset each time the motion detector determines that a person is proximate the heating apparatus. The device includes an alarm configured to notify a user when the internal timer reaches the end of the second countdown.

Abstract: A heating element is provided that has at least one flat electrical heating device to heat at least one spatial region found on one side of the heating device. The heating device has a contact configured to connect to a power supply and control device of a baking and roasting oven. The contact is configured to alternately connect to an electronic mechanism external to the baking and roasting oven. In addition, an arrangement of the heating element with an electronic mechanism external to the baking and roasting oven is provided.

Abstract: A system and method for controlling the power delivered to cookware by a power control system that comprises a heating control user interface that is set by the user to a particular heating control user interface set point within an operating range. A controller derives from the heating control user interface set point a desired cookware temperature set point, and, over at least a first portion of the operating range that encompasses the boiling range, also derives from the heating control user interface set point a maximum limit of power that can be delivered to the cookware to maintain the cookware at the desired cookware temperature set point. The maximum power limit varies monotonically over the first portion of the operating range.

Abstract: Flash lamps connected to short-pulse circuits and flash lamps connected to long-pulse circuits are alternately arranged in a line. The duration of light emission from the flash lamps connected to the long-pulse circuits is longer than the duration of light emission from the flash lamps connected to the short-pulse circuits. A superimposing of a flash of light with a high peak intensity from the flash lamps that emit light for a short time and a flash of light with a gentle peak from the flash lamps that emit light for a long time can increase the temperature of even a deep portion of a substrate to an activation temperature or more without heating a shallow portion near the substrate surface more than necessary. This achieves the activation of deep junctions without causing substrate warpage or cracking.

Abstract: Temperature control in an RTP system can be improved by consideration of one or more witness structures different from the wafer (or other semiconductor object) being processed. For example, power coupling between the RTP heating system and witness structure can be used to adjust one or more control parameters, such as model definitions, that are used by the RTP system to control wafer heating. As another example, a stored trajectory of a desired witness structure temperature or other property can be used as a basis for control during a processing cycle. Thus, the witness structure may be controlled “closed-loop” while the wafer is heated “open-loop.” As a further example, a heat flux between the RTP heating system and witness structure can be used to determine radiant energy from the heating system that is incident on the witness structure. One or more control actions can be taken based on this incident energy.

Abstract: A hot water heater and method that includes power consumption reporting to enable consumers to better understand and control the energy usage and/or efficiency of the hot water heater. Monitoring energy consumption of an electric hot water heater having at least one electrical load that is selectively activated by a controller of the hot water heater includes sensing the amount of time the at least one electrical load is activated multiplying the amount of time by a known value corresponding to a power rating of the electrical load to determine energy consumed, and displaying on a display device an indicator corresponding to the energy consumed.

Abstract: Flash lamps connected to short-pulse circuits and flash lamps connected to long-pulse circuits are alternately arranged in a line. The duration of light emission from the flash lamps connected to the long-pulse circuits is longer than the duration of light emission from the flash lamps connected to the short-pulse circuits. A superimposing of a flash of light with a high peak intensity from the flash lamps that emit light for a short time and a flash of light with a gentle peak from the flash lamps that emit light for a long time can increase the temperature of even a deep portion of a substrate to an activation temperature or more without heating a shallow portion near the substrate surface more than necessary. This achieves the activation of deep junctions without causing substrate warpage or cracking.

Abstract: A cooking equipment includes an oven cavity (2); at least one energy source (3), operable to provide energy to food placed inside the oven cavity (2); a plurality of sensors (5), configured to provide respective measurement signals (STC, STWR, STWI, STE, STF1, . . . , STFN, SH), indicative of respective quantities relating to a cooking process for cooking food in the oven cavity (2); and a control device (8), having at least one cooking program stored therein and configured to drive the at least one energy source (3) in accordance with the cooking program, based on the measurement signals (STC, STWR, STWI, STE, STF1, . . . , STFN, SH) from the sensors (5).

Abstract: An electric oven is configured to broil foodstuffs with either its oven door opened or closed. The operating parameters of the oven's broiling elements are altered based on the position of the door.

Abstract: A system is provided for supplementing the power usage of an appliance with an internal power source, such as e.g., a battery, in order to limit the overall power consumption of the appliance while in standby mode. The system can allow for replenishing the internal power source when the appliance is not in standby mode or even when in standby mode if such will not exceed the external power source consumption limit. In the event the internal power source is not available or is reaching depletion, the system can provide for disabling electronic features of the appliance in order to maintain the external power source consumption below the desired limit.

Abstract: Apparatus for housing electronic components comprising a heated enclosure comprising a bottom, a top, three sides, a substantially open front and a heating element for transmitting heat to enclosure surfaces. Perforations are located in the heated enclosure to facilitate the passage of air from one side of the heated enclosure to the other. A plenum is connected to the perforations, the plenum being configured to transmit air between the outside and inside of the heated enclosure. Completing the apparatus as control electronics comprising a power source and temperature monitoring and feedback circuitry, and insulation covering a heated portion of the heated enclosure.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for rapid thermal processing of a planar substrate including axially aligning the substrate with a substrate support or with an empirically determined position are described. The methods and apparatus include a sensor system that determines the relative orientations of the substrate and the substrate support.

Abstract: A household range includes a first oven having a first electric cooking element, and a second oven includes a second electric cooking element. A power management system is used to distribute power such that when the second electric cooking element is energized the first electric cooking element is de-energized.