Abstract: A laser ablation system, and method, facilitates the execution of user-defined scans (i.e., in which a laser beam is scanned across a sample along a beam trajectory to ablate or dissociate a portion of the sample) and enables the user define additional scans while a scan is being executed.

Abstract: To improve the safety and efficiency of conventional zesters, the present inventor devised, among other things, a child-friendly bidirectional twist-action zester. One exemplary zester includes a housing and at least two grating elements. The housing defines an interior volume configured to receive at least a portion of a whole citrus fruit, and the first and second grating elements are mounted to the housing such that with their grating teeth face the interior and contact the whole citrus fruit, thereby preventing bloody fingers and knuckles during zesting. Moreover, each grating element includes at least some teeth that are opposite to some teeth in the other grating elements, enabling the zester to produce zest with each back and forth movement of the zester relative the fruit. Some other embodiments add a reamer to the housing, enabling the zester to serve as both as zester and a juicer.

Abstract: A method welds together two components of an internal combustion engine exhaust system, by resistance welding, to provide greater positioning freedom of two components welded together. A first component is provided with a welding area including an insertion opening edge surrounding an insertion opening. A second component is provided with a welding area including an insertion area to be inserted into the insertion opening. The insertion area is inserted into the insertion opening such that the insertion area is in contact with the first the entire insertion opening edge. An electrical voltage is applied to resistance weld the first component to the second component. The surface (28) of the insertion area is curved about two axes that are not parallel or is curved about an axis that is parallel to the surface of the insertion area, or/and an insertion surface of the insertion opening edge is located in one plane.

Abstract: A defrosting system includes an RF signal source, one or more electrodes proximate to a cavity within which a load to be defrosted is positioned, a transmission path between the RF signal source and the electrode(s), and an impedance matching network electrically coupled along the transmission path between the output of the RF signal source and the electrode(s). The system also includes measurement circuitry coupled to the transmission path and configured to measure one or more parameters that include voltage, current, forward signal power, reflected signal power, and S11 along the transmission path. A system controller is configured to monitor the measurements, and to modify operation of the system when a rate of change of any of the monitored parameter(s) exceeds a predetermined threshold. The impedance matching network may be a single-ended network or a double-ended network.

Abstract: Devices and methods for extraction of a beverage from a beverage bottle, such as a wine bottle, using an extraction device. An aeration nozzle may be used to generate one or more jets of beverage arranged to expose the beverage to ambient air or other surrounding gas.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure are directed to processing a component. A first coating is removed from a substrate of the component, the substrate including a first hole. Subsequent to removing the first coating from the substrate, a second coating is applied to the substrate, where a portion of the second coating at least partially blocks the first hole. Subsequent to applying the second coating to the substrate, the portion of the second coating is removed to generate a second hole through the second coating. The removal of the portion of the second coating creates a bore in the second coating that provides a clearance from an edge of the first hole on a surface of the substrate that interfaces to the second coating.

Abstract: A system includes a radio frequency (RF) signal source configured to supply an RF signal. An electrode is coupled to the RF signal source and a transmission path is between the RF signal source and the electrode. The transmission path is configured to convey the RF signal from the RF signal source to the electrode to cause the electrode to radiate RF electromagnetic energy into a cavity. Power detection circuitry is coupled to the transmission path and configured to repeatedly measure RF power values including at least one of forward RF power values and reflected RF power values along the transmission path. A controller is configured to determine that a load in the cavity is a low-loss load based on a rate of change of the RF power values, and cause the RF signal source to supply the RF signal with the one or more desired signal parameters.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods associated with operating a plasma torch are disclosed. According to some implementations, the apparatus and methods involve the delivery of a process gas to a shuttle valve at first and second pressures for the purpose of altering an axial position of a valve element located inside the shuttle valve. The shuttle valve is configured such that at different axial positions of the valve element the flow of process gas into the plasma torch is altered.

Abstract: An induction heating cooking apparatus and a method of displaying cooking information of the induction heating cooking apparatus are provided, and more particularly, an induction heating cooking apparatus and a method of displaying cooking information of the induction heating cooking apparatus that provide cooking information to a user through a reflector positioned inside the induction heating cooking apparatus are disclosed. Some of the disclosed embodiments provide the induction heating cooking apparatus and the method of displaying cooking information of the induction heating cooking apparatus that provide the cooking information to the user using a projector and the reflector positioned inside the induction heating cooking apparatus.

Abstract: A laser beam irradiation unit of a laser processing apparatus includes: a laser oscillator in which a repetition frequency is set so as to oscillate a pulsed laser having a pulse width shorter than a time of electronic excitation caused by irradiating the workpiece with a laser beam and oscillate at least two pulsed lasers within the electronic excitation time; a condenser that irradiates the workpiece held on the chuck table with the pulsed laser beams oscillated by the laser oscillator; and a thinning-out unit that is disposed between the laser oscillator and the condenser and guides the pulsed laser beams necessary for processing to the condenser by thinning out and discarding pulsed laser beams in a predetermined cycle.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a capsule (1) for food or beverage preparation having a capsule body defining a compartment for containing a precursor ingredient, the capsule body being a volume with one symmetry plane or one symmetry axis so as to define at least two symmetrical volume segments, the capsule (1) being suitable for coupling any of its body segments to a food or beverage preparation machine (14) for injection of a mixing ingredient from the machine within the capsule, characterized in that the capsule (1) comprises at least two codes (15) each located in one body segment, each code (15) carrying two different alternative values of a same beverage preparation setting.

Abstract: A substrate includes a multilayer substrate body in which a plurality of circuit bodies are laminated in a laminating direction through insulating layers and are interlayer connected via a connected conductor formed on each of the insulating layers, and a magnetic body that is arranged in the laminating direction while at least a part of or all of the magnetic body sandwiches the circuit bodies. Each of the circuit bodies includes at least a first circuit body and a second circuit body. The first circuit body is formed of a first extending portion and a first folding portion. The second circuit body is formed of a second extending portion and a second folding portion.

Abstract: Proposed is a resistance spot welding method to join parts to be welded which are a plurality of overlapping metal sheets, including: dividing a current pattern into two or more steps for welding; before actual welding, performing test welding; and subsequently, as actual welding, performing adaptive control welding, in which the two or more steps for welding include a step of securing a current path between the sheets directly below the electrodes and a subsequent step of forming a nugget having a predetermined diameter, and a welding interval time is provided between these steps. This method thus yields a good nugget without causing splashing even under special welding conditions.

Abstract: A system and method for defrosting a load are presented. Radio frequency (RF) signals are supplied to a transmission path that is electrically coupled to one or more electrodes that are positioned proximate to a cavity to cause the one or more electrodes to radiate RF electromagnetic energy. An RF power value of the RF signal along the transmission path is periodically measured resulting in RF power values and a rate of change of the RF power values is determined. A low-loss indicator value is determined using the RF power values, wherein the low-loss indicator value is at least partially determined by a dielectric loss of a load in the cavity. A controller determines, using the rate of change of the RF power values and the low-loss indicator value, that the load is in a defrosted state and stops supplying the RF signals.

Abstract: A fuming enclosure including a heating element and a moveable support or barrier. The heating element may heat a receptacle containing a volatile component. The moveable support or barrier is moveable between a first position, in which the volatile component is not heated by the heating element, and a second position, in which the volatile component is heated by the heating element. The moveable support or barrier may be moveable while maintaining the enclosure sealed. The moveable support or barrier may be automatically moveable. A fuming enclosure with a one-way seal configured to prevent fumes from escaping the enclosure and allow volatile component to flow through the seal into the enclosure while the enclosure is sealed.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for wire processing. In certain examples, a wire processing system is disclosed. The wire processing system includes an electrical wire and solder sleeve joining system. The electrical wire and solder sleeve joining system includes an end effector configured to hold a solder sleeve and a split funnel configured to guide insertion of wire into the solder sleeve, allow movement of the solder sleeve through the split funnel in a second position, and prevent movement of the solder sleeve through the split funnel in a first position. The end effector can additionally be configured to remove a slug from the wire.

Abstract: A method for drilling a hole in a component is provided. The method includes directing a confined laser beam of a confined laser drill towards a near wall of the component and sensing a first characteristic of light from the hole in the near wall of the component with a first sensor positioned outside the component. The method also includes sensing a second characteristic of light from the hole in the near wall the component with a second sensor. The second characteristic of light is different from the first characteristic of light. Additionally, the method includes determining a hole progress based on the sensed first characteristic of light and the sensed second characteristic of light.

Abstract: Provided is an apparatus for forming a tab from a moving original sheet with a laser beam. This apparatus is a tab forming apparatus in a tabbed electrode sheet producing apparatus (100) for moving, in one direction, an original sheet (1) including an electrode portion (1a) obtained by applying an active material layer to a long metal foil (4) and an ear portion (1b).

Abstract: An electric heating device includes a control portion adapted to control electric energy supplied to a heater, based on a before-heating temperature, which is a temperature of at least one of an object, the heater and a heat dissipation portion before the heater generates heat, the control portion is adapted to calculate the temperature of the object, based on the before-heating temperature and the electric energy supplied to the heater.

Abstract: In various embodiments, additive manufacturing is utilized to fabricate three-dimensional metallic parts using metallic alloy wire as a feedstock material.