Abstract: An improved Optical Coherence Domain Reflectometry (OCDR) system is provided. One embodiment of this OCDR system outputs a detector signal carrying image depth information on multiple modulation frequencies, where each modulation frequency corresponds to a different image depth. The image depth information from the detector signal may be resolved by tuning to the desired modulation frequency. Another system for imaging body tissue uses multiple frequency modulators such that the light beam does not travel from an optical fiber to free space.

Abstract: Wafer supports are provided that have a diameter smaller than the diameter of the wafer that they are to support in a wafer boat. The perimeter of the wafer support is preferably continuous, extending completely around in a 360° span, and is sized to fit between the protrusions supporting a particular wafer in a wafer cassette. To load the wafer boat, an end effector removes the wafer support from a wafer boat and moves the wafer support into a wafer cassette, where the end effector moves upward to seat a wafer upon the wafer support. The wafer and wafer support are then transported to the wafer boat and the wafer support and the wafer are lowered onto a wafer slot surface in a wafer slot in the wafer boat, to transfer the wafer support and wafer from the end effector to the wafer boat.

Abstract: An induction heating apparatus wherein an electrostatic shield and the low-potential portion of an inverter circuit are electrically connected securely is provided. The induction heating apparatus in accordance with the present invention comprises a top plate 11 on which a matter 14 to be heated is placed, an induction heating coil 12 for induction heating the matter 14 to be heated, driving means 19 for driving the induction heating coil 12, and a stationary plate 15 and a cover for stationary plate 18 provided between the matter 14 to be heated and the induction heating coil 12, wherein connection portions 17a each integrated with a connection terminal 17 are electrically connected to the electrostatic shield 16 provided on the stationary plate 15 using a conductive adhesive, and the connection parts are held between the stationary plate 15 and the cover for stationary plate 18. With this configuration, the connection parts can be held securely and stably.

Abstract: An electromagnetic susceptor for chemical processing that is made from a matrix material that surrounds a non-matrix material that is made from a material that is different from the matrix material, the matrix material is constructed of material having lower dielectric losses compared to the non-matrix material, the non-matrix material initially absorbs electromagnetic energy applied to the electromagnetic susceptor to a greater extent than the matrix material, the non-matrix material produces subsequent heat in the matrix material, and the greatest length of measurement of the electromagnetic susceptor is between one nanometer and 10 meters.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device (11) and a method of regulating a temperature of a drive element (2) which can be employed in a deep-freezing application in particular, such as a band, belt or similar, in which at least a part-region of the drive element (2) is heated at least during a relative displacement between the drive element (2) and a machine part. The drive element (2) is adjusted to a pre-definable minimum temperature and a pre-settable minimum temperature is maintained. To this end, the device (11) has at least one module (12), which supplies the drive element (2) with mechanical, electrical or electromagnetic energy, for example.

Abstract: A glow plug having an outer body with an inner cavity having tapered sidewalls. An insulating ring having outer tapered walls is held within the body and has an inner opening also having tapered walls. A central electrode, having a tapered wall section, fits tightly in the inner opening of the insulating ring. The insulating ring and central electrode are forced under pressure in the cavity of the glow plug to provide a glow plug capable of withstanding high temperature and pressure applications without leaking.

Abstract: A complex home appliance and a method of controlling and installing the same. The complex home appliance includes a single power supply unit shared by two or more component home appliances of the complex home appliance. The two or more component home appliances are controlled by a single control unit of the complex home appliance. The complex home appliance can be operated in a simultaneous operation mode in which the two or more component home appliances are simultaneously operable, and an individual operation mode in which only one of the two or more component home appliances is operable. The complex home appliance includes a mode-setting unit to set the simultaneous or individual operation mode. The complex home appliance includes a power cut-off unit which supplies power to the single power supply unit and cuts off the supply of the power in response to being electrically opened at the time of an electrical overload.

Abstract: An induction heating apparatus with high safety is provided in which leakage current is prevented from flowing to the human body and there is no possibility of an electric shock even when an electrostatic shielding member does not sufficiently perform its function. The driving apparatus of the present invention is an induction heating apparatus in which the electrostatic shielding member is provided between an object to be heated and an induction heating coil where sensing portion for sensing the conduction condition of the electrostatic shielding member is provided, and driving portion for driving the induction heating coil is controlled through sensing by the sensing portion.

Abstract: A microwave susceptible insulated packaging material includes a thermal insulating layer, which may be a fiberfill batt. The insulating layer is laminated to at least one layer of a co-extruded film which has been coated on one surface with a microwave susceptible material, such as aluminum or aluminum coated with a food-safe contacting polymer sealant. The packaging material can be used to form a container, such as a pouch, or as a label or as a lining for a container. The packaging material may be coated also with a printable coating material.

Abstract: The invention provides molding compounds that are particularly suitable to be molded into an article such as a heating element that will conduct heat and not burn when an electric current is passed through the article. These compounds are generally liquid thermosetting molding resins which comprise a thermoset resin matrix such as a terephthalate polyester which can include blends of polyester and/or vinyl ester with a significant loading of conductive inorganic filler, typically graphite. The compositions also include flame and sound retardant additives, and glass fibers. They are further formulated to meet the desired molding characteristics; to withstand the operating temperatures to which they will be exposed; and to have a predetermined strength and a desirable user interface including appearance, and odor. Typically, the compounds will have a glass transition temperature from about 160° C. (320° F.) to about 195° C. (383° F.).

Abstract: A method for the production of a heating element that is composed essentially of molybdenum silicide and alloys of that basic material, and a heating element formed from such material. A material is produced that contains substantially Mo(Si1-xAlx)2 and Al2O3 by mixing a molybdenum aluminum silicide Mo(Si1-yAly)2 with bentonite clay in a known manner. The bentonite clay contains impure or contaminating substances with which molybdenum silicide cannot be alloyed and with which the symmetry of the crystal lattice of the molybdenum silicide is retained with a combined content of less than 2000 ppm.

Abstract: Non-invasive microwave analysis systems and methods determine scattered phase data for a liquid in a container. A transmitter antenna situated within coupling liquid separated from the container by a flexible membrane transmits microwaves that scatter from the container and the liquid in the container. One or more receiver antennas within the coupling liquid convert the microwaves into microwave electronic signals that are processed to determine the scattered phase data. Non-invasive microwave analysis systems and methods image a portion of a biological subject. A transmitter antenna situated within coupling liquid separated from the subject by a flexible membrane transmits microwaves that scatter from the container and the subject. One or more receiver antennas within the coupling liquid convert the microwaves into microwave electronic signals that are processed to reconstruct a cross-sectional image of the subject.

Abstract: Devices, systems, and methods for processing sample materials. The sample materials may be located in a plurality of process chambers in the device, which is rotated during heating of the sample materials.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat treating manufactured components using microwave energy and microwave susceptor material. Heat treating medium such as eutectic salts may be employed. A fluidized bed introduces process gases which may include carburizing or nitriding gases. The process may be operated in a batch mode or continuous process mode. A microwave heating probe may be used to restart a frozen eutectic salt bath.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for altering characteristics, such as can include structural, magnetic, electrical, optical or acoustical characteristics, of an electrically-conductive workpiece utilizes a magnetic field within which the workpiece is positionable and schemes for thermally treating the workpiece by heating or cooling techniques in conjunction with the generated magnetic field so that the characteristics of the workpiece are effected by both the generated magnetic field and the thermal treatment of the workpiece.

Abstract: A temperature controlled heatable object is provided in which a temperature sensor is connected to a Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tag. The RFID tag is located within the handle of the object, and the temperature sensor is placed in contact with the object. In a first embodiment of the invention, the temperature sensor is partially imbedded within the object via a notch located in the side of the object. In a second embodiment of the invention, a temperature sensor is imbedded within a tunnel drilled within the base of the object. In a third embodiment, a temperature sensor is imbedded between the bottom of the object and a slab attached to the bottom of the object. The sensor can be located in a slot formed in either the slab or the bottom or the object. Handles and receivers for mounting the handles to the temperature controllable objects are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention provides an induction heating apparatus including a fixing belt that heats an unfixed image on recording paper, an excitation coil that induction-heats the fixing belt, an inverter circuit that supplies power to the excitation coil, a harness that electrically connects the excitation coil and the inverter circuit. The harness is constructed of a litz wire having a resistance of the harness section of 0.016 ? or below formed by stranding several tens of wires which are conductive wires coated with an insulator into a predetermined thickness.

Abstract: A nuclear camera (10) includes a plurality of detector heads (12) which have collimators (14) for fixing the trajectory along which radiation is receivable. A rotating gantry (22) rotates the detector heads around the subject collecting less than 360° of data, e.g., 204° of data. A zero-filling processor (50) generates zero-filled projection views such that the actually collected projection views and the zero-filled projection views span 360°. A smoothing processor (56) smooths an interface between the zero-filled and actually collected projection views. The zero-filled and smoothed views are Fourier transformed (60) into frequency space, filtered with a stationary deconvolution function (62), and Fourier transformed (64) back into real space. The resolution recovered projection data sets in real space are reconstructed by a reconstruction processor (68) into a three-dimensional image representation for storage in an image memory (70).

Abstract: A clip on welder includes two pairs of opposed grippers defined by pivotally attached upper and lower frames for latching the welder to heat weldable material, such as a length of tubing, upon actuation of a start button by an operator; thereafter, the welder operates unattended. At least a jaw of a pair of jaws disposed intermediate the two pairs of grippers heats the material compressed and lodged therebetween to form a weld in or across the material. A source of gas, such as air, under pressure selectively connected to a bellows provides the power to pivot the upper and lower frames into gripping engagement with the material. A source of electrical signals provides the power to heat the material intermediate the pair of jaws. One or more thermocouples senses the heat of the jaws and generates signals used to control the application of power and to control cooling. After completion of the weld, cooling air is directed to the jaws until the thermocouple(s) signal(s) indicates a sufficiently low temperature.

Abstract: A method of microwave synthesis of phosphors includes a microwave furnace having a microwave chamber; providing starting material in the microwave chamber; and subjecting the starting material to microwaves, whereby the starting material is synthesized into phosphors. An insulation package for use in microwave synthesis is disclosed that includes an insulator having an opening therein, wherein the opening is substantially symmetrically disposed in relation to a central axis of the insulator, and wherein the opening is adapted to receive starting material. A susceptor configuration may be positioned within the cavity, wherein the insulator, the cavity, and the susceptor configuration are substantially symmetrically disposed in relation to an axis of rotation of the insulation package. A microwave furnace for continuous microwave synthesis of phosphors is also disclosed.