Abstract: An object is to provide a method of activating impurity elements added to a semiconductor film, and a method of gettering, in a process of manufacturing a semiconductor device using a substrate having a low resistance to heat, such as glass, without changing the shape of the substrate, by using a short time heat treatment process. Another object is to provide a heat treatment apparatus that makes this type of heat treatment process possible. A unit for supplying a gas from the upstream side of a reaction chamber, a unit for heating the gas in the upstream side of the reaction chamber, a unit for holding a substrate to be processed in the downstream side of the reaction chamber, and a unit for circulating the gas from the downstream side of the reaction chamber to the upstream side are prepared. The amount of electric power used in heating the gas can be economized by circulating the gas used to heat the substrate to be processed.

Abstract: An improved method and system to return a mail processing control computer back into operation after a hard drive failure. A first phase is a back-up process for the primary drive of the mail processing computer. A second phase is the recovery process when a primary hard drive failure occurs. The back-up process includes copying the primary drive to be protected to a spare backup drive. The data copied to the backup drive reflects data of the primary drive at a particular point in time. Once the backup drive is installed, the machine returns to normal operation. In the course of normal operation, incremental changes to the primary hard drive are recorded to a backup computer. When there is a failure of the primary drive, a new primary drive is installed in its place. An image of the backup drive is then copied to the new primary drive, thereby causing the new primary drive to reflect the original primary drive at the particular point in time.

Abstract: A system for delivering medical examination, diagnosis, and treatment services from a health care practitioner to a patient over a network includes a plurality of health care practitioner terminals and a plurality of patient terminals in audiovisual communication over the network with any of the plurality of health care practitioner terminals. Each of the plurality of health care practitioner terminals includes a display device. The system also includes a call center in communication with the patient terminals and the health care practitioner terminals. The call center routs a call from a patient at one of the patient terminals to an available health care practitioner at one of the health care practitioner terminals so that the available health care practitioner may carry on a two-way conversation with the patient and visually observe the patient. The available health care practitioner may make an assessment of the patient and treat the patient.

Abstract: A chemical heating assembly includes a face plate, a chemical packet, a housing, a pair of electrical prongs carried by the housing, and a light assembly. The housing includes a first sliding arrangement and a first snap-fit arrangement, is connected to the face plate, and at least partially defines a pocket for the chemical packet. The light assembly includes a lamp, a second sliding arrangement engaged with the first sliding arrangement, and a second snap-fit arrangement coupled with the first snap-fit arrangement. The light assembly is mechanically connected to the housing and electrically connected with the pair of electrical prongs using the first and second sliding arrangements and the first and second snap-fit arrangements.

Abstract: A smooth-bore plastic tubing with helical support bead is resistant to collapse and incorporates plural electrical conductors outside of the tubing bore and insulated from ambient, and from one another. The conductors may have a desired relatively high thermal conductivity to tidal air flow within the tubing, while also having a comparatively high thermal resistance to ambient. A method for making the tubing includes extruding a molten thermoplastic ribbon with an elevated plateau portion defining plural conductor-receiving grooves. The plastic ribbon is wrapped to form a tube and plural conductors are embedded in the grooves of the plateau portion. A molten thermoplastic bead is then applied atop the plateau portion providing a smooth-bore unitary flexible tubing structure with both inside and outside surfaces which are substantially free of crevices or recesses which could retain soil or bacteria.

Abstract: The invention provides a pump, in particular for water-bearing domestic appliances such as dishwashers, washing machines or the like, comprising a pump housing and a heater device which is in thermal contact with the liquid-bearing interior of the pump housing. The pump according to the invention is simple and cost-effective to produce. For this reason, the pump housing (2) is produced at least partially from plastic, with the heater device (11, 12) being at least partially connected to the plastic in an interlocking manner.

Abstract: Quasi-isotropic chopped prepreg is used to make parts found in aerospace vehicles. Exemplary aerospace parts that are made using quasi-isotropic chopped prepreg include aircraft window frames, wing fairing supports, flange supports, frame gussets, rudder actuator brackets, shear ties, seat pedestals, cargo floor flange supports, storage bin fittings, antenna supports, torque tube pans, handle boxes, side guide fittings, wing box covers and intercostals.

Abstract: An apparatus for heat treating semiconductor wafers is disclosed. The apparatus includes a heating device which contains an assembly linear lamps for emitting light energy onto a wafer. The linear lamps can be placed in various configurations. In accordance with the present invention, tuning devices which are used to adjust the overall irradiance distribution of the light energy sources are included in the heating device. The tuning devices can be, for instance, are lamps or lasers.

Abstract: A substrate cleaning chamber comprises various components, such as for example, a consumable ceramic liner, substrate heating pedestal, and process kit. The consumable ceramic liner is provided for connecting a gas outlet channel of a remote gas energizer to a gas inlet channel of a substrate cleaning chamber. The substrate heating pedestal comprises an annular plate having a substrate receiving surface with a plurality of ceramic balls positioned in an array of recesses. A process kit comprises a top plate, top liner, gas distributor plate, bottom liner, and focus ring.

Abstract: A tankless hot water heater includes a pipe, at least one heating element, sensors, an input means and a microprocessor. The pipe has an inlet and an outlet. The at least one heating element is configured to heat water flowing through the pipe. At least one sensor is configured to measure a temperature of water flowing through the pipe prior to heating by the at least one heating element. At least one sensor is configured to measure a flow rate of water flowing through the pipe. The input means is configured for entering a set point for a temperature of water heated by the at least one heating element. The microprocessor is configured to receive as input the temperature of water flowing through the pipe prior to heating, the flow rate of water flowing through the pipe, and the set point for a temperature of heated water, and the microprocessor is configured to provide as output a power setting to the one or more heating elements.

Abstract: Provided herein are assemblies that, when coupled to an object, are capable of keeping the object at a uniform elevated temperature while removing large amounts of heat from an external source. Applications include various integrated circuit fabrication processes that use such external sources to expose wafers to radiation. In certain embodiments, the assemblies include a pedestal for supporting the wafer or other object. In certain embodiments, the assemblies include a calibrated heat resistance that allows heat be conducted away from the pedestal and wafer to maintain the desired set-point temperature. In certain embodiments, the pedestal may have one or more protrusions used to dissipate or transfer heat from the pedestal to a heat sink. Also, in certain embodiments, the pedestal surface is configured to have a spectral reflectivity of desired values in such way as to reflect the wavelengths that are emitted by an external radiant heat source.

Abstract: An instrument and associated method are disclosed for preparing samples for column chromatography.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for heating a pipe prior to performing a welding operation, an interpass welding operation, or a hydrogen bake-out operation is provided. The heating apparatus comprises at least one heating collar placed on one side of a pipe weld joint and a control mechanism for controlling the thermal energy transferred from the heating apparatus to the pipe.

Abstract: A sealed cookware and servingware object, such as a pressure cooker, is provided. The object is temperature and pressure regulated using control technology such as Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) technology and temperature sensors associated with the objects. In a first embodiment, the temperature sensor is at least partially embedded in the base of the object. In a second embodiment, the temperature sensor extends through a tunnel in a wall of the object and includes a sealing cap to cover the tunnel and prevent air and/or liquid from escaping the interior of the object.

Abstract: The protrusion 16 is formed on one end face of the ceramic member 11, and the positive electrode lead-out section 13a which is electrically connected to the heat generating member 12 is drawn out and exposed on the side face of the protrusion 16 at several positions, while the terminal 14 of the positive electrode lead-out fixture can be connected to each of the exposed portions.

Abstract: A metal sheathed heater includes a solid state control device that allows the metal sheathed heater to be more efficiently operated. The control device supplies or terminates power to the heater according to certain conditions. Further, the control device uses predetermined time periods to control power to the heater. Thus, the heater is not kept on unnecessarily.

Abstract: High sparking initiator compositions with a controlled amount of power are disclosed. The initiator compositions comprise a metal containing oxidizing agent, at least one metal reducing agent, and a non-explosive binder. Low voltage igniters that provide bidirectional plumes upon ignition are also disclosed. These igniters have a electrically resistive element positioned across a hole in a support which directs the plume. These igniters and compositions are useful in the actuation of solid fuel heating unit, in particular, sealed heating units.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improving the conventional high-speed cooking oven based on a combination of hot air impingement and microwave heating by providing a time-dependent spatial variation in the net air impingement and/or net microwave energy applied to the food product in the oven. This is aimed at optimizing heat transfer and microwave efficiencies in a high-speed cooking oven, thereby enabling the oven to deliver an optimal cooking efficiency in comparison to the conventional high-speed cooking oven. In addition, under the present invention, the cooking efficiency may be further optimized by dimensioning the nozzles for hot air impingement to tighten impingement plumes, subject to the space constraint of the oven's cooking chamber, and dimensioning the cooking chamber of the oven in integer multiples of the wavelength of the microwave energy to match the microwave load.

Abstract: A cartridge containing one or more beverage ingredients and being formed from substantially air- and water-impermeable materials. The cartridge comprises an inlet for the introduction of an aqueous medium into the cartridge, and an outlet for a beverage produced from the one or more beverage ingredients. The cartridge comprises means for producing a jet of the beverage having an aperture in a beverage flow path linking the inlet to the outlet, and one or more microscopic projections at or in the vicinity of the aperture for contacting the beverage flow path.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to improving the conventional high-speed cooking oven based on a combination of hot air impingement and microwave heating by providing a time-dependent spatial variation in the net air impingement and/or net microwave energy applied to the food product in the oven. This is aimed at optimizing heat transfer and microwave efficiencies in a high-speed cooking oven, thereby enabling the oven to deliver an optimal cooking efficiency in comparison to the conventional high-speed cooking oven. In addition, under the present invention, the cooking efficiency may be further optimized by dimensioning the nozzles for hot air impingement to tighten impingement plumes, subject to the space constraint of the oven's cooking chamber, and dimensioning the cooking chamber of the oven in integer multiples of the wavelength of the microwave energy to match the microwave load.