Abstract: An induction heating system comprises inductive rings, which in one example are concentrically wound about a center axis to form a coil array. The inductive rings are situated in the coil array to permit activation of the inductive rings independent of the other inductive rings in the coil array. In one embodiment, the induction heating system includes a control structure with a power supply and switches coupled to each of the inductive rings, wherein activation of the switches permits current from the power supply to flow to the corresponding inductive ring. The induction heating system is amenable to appliances such as ovens and ranges, as well as to cooktops such as free-standing cooktops for countertops.

Abstract: A dual-wire hybrid welding system includes a hybrid welding apparatus having laser, electric arc welder and second wire feeding device. Electric arc welder includes first wire feeding device for feeding first wire. Second wire feeding device is arranged and disposed to feed a second wire to electric arc welder. Laser and electric arc welder are arranged and disposed to direct energy toward at least two adjacent components along a joint and first wire is a consumable electrode fed into joint to establish molten pool generated by both laser and arc welder with first wire. Second wire is fed to molten pool to form a common molten pool. Common molten pool is operable to provide a full penetration weld with less total heat input to join the at least two adjacent components without cracking the components at a high constant weld speed.

Abstract: A temperature control pin, and the device and the method for supporting a substrate in the ultraviolet (UV) solidifying alignment process are disclosed. The temperature control pins includes a supporting pin for supporting a substrate, a heater being arranged within the supporting pin and is close to a top of the supporting pin, and a cooling system. The heater is controlled by the temperature control system to heat up the supporting pin. The cooling system is controlled by the temperature control system to cool down the supporting pin, and cooperatively operates with the heater to dynamically adjust the temperature of the supporting pins. When being heated, the temperature of the temperature control pins is adjusted by the temperature control system, and the substrate is heated uniformly such that the “Pin Mura” phenomenon is reduced or decreased.

Abstract: A seat climate control system includes a seat body having a first body surface and a second body surface opposite and spaced apart from the first body surface. The seat body defines an interior volume. The seat climate control system further includes at least one thermoelectric module at least partially disposed within the interior volume of the seat body. The thermoelectric module is configured to facilitate heat transfer upon receipt of electrical energy. The seat climate control system further includes at least one thermally conductive member disposed along the first body surface. The thermally conductive member is thermally coupled to the thermoelectric module. The thermally conductive member is configured to transfer heat between the thermoelectric module and a surface in contact with the thermally conductive member.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for use with beverages and beverage making and dispensing equipment. The apparatus, system, and method of use monitors characteristics of the beverage, reports characteristics, or both and selectively affects the beverage and beverage making and dispensing equipment, a server containing the beverage, or both. The apparatus, system, and method of use employs an information vehicle device associated with each beverage server or dispenser and a reader which reads the information device. The reader communicates the information from the information device to a controller for use to individually or collectively display information, collect information, and/or selectively affect the condition of the beverage in response to the information.

Abstract: A refrigerator or liquid dispensing appliance adapted for receiving, storing, managing, processing and dispensing a liquid enhancement component for preparation of a finished beverage is disclosed. Delivery, processing and management of the liquid enhancement component includes loading a solid liquid enhancement component at a product interface, and managing the transfer of the liquid enhancement component through various systems of the invention including processing to provide a processed liquid enhancement component for discharging for preparing a finished beverage.

Abstract: The capsule according to the invention consists of a capsule body having a side wall and having a base which is integral with the side wall. The capsule comprises a lid that covers the capsule body in order to form a closed chamber, wherein said chamber contains a substance for preparing a beverage. The base can be penetrated by a device arranged outside of the capsule in order to conduct a liquid through the chamber. The capsule body is made of plastic, wherein the base has a penetration area and a reinforcement area. A central area of the base is designed at the penetration area and the reinforcement area is arranged around the penetration area. The reinforcement area is designed as at least one recessed section in the base, said section(s) running substantially in the circumferential direction.

Abstract: A fabric material includes a conductive wire material that generates heat when supplied with current. Part of the conductive wire material in a longitudinal direction of the conductive wire material is externally exposed from the fabric material. A first planar element and a second planar element, of which at least one has electrical conductivity, are electrically connected to an externally exposed portion of the conductive wire material in such a manner that the first and second planar elements sandwich the exposed portion and are bonded so as to be in planar contact with each other.

Abstract: A cooking appliance (1) of the grill or barbecue type, comprises a frame (10) supporting a cooking surface (2) on which foodstuffs to be cooked can be arranged, and a heating surface (3) arranged opposite said cooking surface (2). The frame (10) defines a housing (4) parallel to a horizontal plane (P) and designed to accommodate the cooking surface (2) between a storage position in which it lies on the bottom of the housing (4) and a use position in which it is inclined at an angle ? to said horizontal plane (P). The heating surface (3) is connected to the frame (10) by a hinge (5) allowing the displacement of the heating surface (3) between a passive position in which it closes the housing (4) and an active position in which it is inclined at an angle ? to the horizontal plane (P), the housing (4) is open and the cooking surface (2) can be deployed and positioned opposite the heating surface (3).

Abstract: A sealing machine and the protecting structure that fit a wide range of sealing conditions and plastic bag materials, and prevent the plastic bag from breaking around the sealing line due to excessive fusion and tension are disclosed. The sealing machine comprises a pair of block members, each block member is disposed with an electrical heating wire, each electrical heating wire is covered with a first protecting belt, and each first protecting belt is covered with a second protecting belt. Each first protecting belt or second protecting belt comprises a plurality of apertures.

Abstract: Welding wires and methods for welding metal work pieces using the welding wires are provided. The welding wires are composite materials comprising a metal alloy and high temperature nanoparticles dispersed in the metal alloy.

Abstract: A surface acoustic wave (SAW) device comprising a piezoelectric substrate having a working surface with an active zone capable of propagating an acoustic wave on said working surface; at least one interdigital transducer on the working surface, having interdigital fingers aligned in the active zone for inducing or receiving surface acoustic waves in the active zone; and a heating element on the working surface; wherein the transducer, heating element and preferably a temperature sensor are monolithically formed on the substrate.

Abstract: An adaptive control hybrid welding system including hybrid welding apparatus, control system connected to hybrid welding apparatus, and seam tracker connected to control system is provided. Hybrid welding apparatus includes a laser and an electric arc welder. Laser and electric arc welder each have adjustable welding parameters. Control system modifies welding parameters of laser and electric arc welder, and spacing between laser beam and arc of welder. Seam tracker is operable to measure seam property of adjacent workpieces prior to welding. Seam tracker is operable to send signals to control system in response to the measured seam property. Control system modifies welding parameters based on signal from seam tracker and adaptive control hybrid welding apparatus joins adjacent workpieces having variable gap sizes of up to 2.5 mm with full penetration welds. Also provided is a method of controlling the adaptive control hybrid welding system.

Abstract: Systems to apply heat to an aircraft surface are disclosed. In some embodiments, heaters are embedded in a composite structure of an aircraft. In one embodiment, a composite aircraft structure comprises a base comprising a plurality of resin impregnated plies, a heating layer adjacent the base, wherein the heating layer comprises at least one heater, an adhesive layer adjacent the heating layer, a lightning protection layer adjacent the heating layer, and an exterior surface layer adjacent the lightning protection layer. Other embodiments may be described.

Abstract: A soldering iron includes a soldering tip which is adapted to be heated by means of a laser beam traveling at least partially along a laser path in the soldering iron. The soldering iron further includes an energy converter provided for absorbing the laser beam and coupled to the soldering tip for heating the same.

Abstract: The installation provided includes at least one structure for receiving and holding guide tubes and structural elements; a carriage movable parallel to the guide tubes; at least one welding tool; and displacement means for moving the welding tool, the displacement means connecting the pincer to the carriage and presenting at least six degrees of freedom.

Abstract: The present invention provides a power shutdown apparatus for preventing overheating of a hot beverage machine, comprising a tubular section protruding upward from a bottom of a water tank of the beverage machine and penetrating in top-down manner, a floating pipe inside the tubular section, a magnet within the floating pipe, a limiter attached to an upper opening of the tubular section without covering the tubular section to allow water to be poured in; a sensor at the bottom portion of the tank and adjacent to a sinking portion of the floating pipe; and wherein the floating pipe inside the tubular section sinks correspondingly with a lower water level of the water in the tank to drive the magnet inside the floating pipe to activate the sensor on one side thereof such that power of the heating device of the tank is shut down to prevent overheating of the machine.

Abstract: A device for generating a plasma, comprises an alternating voltage source, a travelling wave resonator and coupling means that are designed to couple the alternating voltage generated by the alternating voltage source into the travelling wave resonator in such a manner that travelling electromagnetic waves are produced, wherein the travelling wave resonator is designed to increase the electric field strength of the travelling electromagnetic waves in such a manner that a plasma is ignited in a gas. The invention further relates to a method for generating a plasma, comprising the steps of: generating an alternating voltage; generating travelling electromagnetic waves in a travelling wave resonator by coupling said alternating voltage into the travelling wave resonator; and increasing the electric field strength of the travelling electromagnetic waves in the travelling wave resonator in order to ignite a plasma in a gas.

Abstract: The dosing device comprises: a coffee grinder (5) for making coffee powder from coffee beans; a motor (9) for actuating the coffee grinder (5); a dosing chamber (21) wherein the coffee powder produced by said coffee grinder (5) is discharged, said dosing chamber being at least partly delimited by a first wall (33), which may be opened on command for discharging the coffee powder from the dosing chamber, and by a second wall (31), mobile by the effect of a volume variation of the coffee powder in said dosing chamber (21); an actuator (37) for controlling an opening movement of said first wall (33); an electronic control device (59 that based on the position of the second wall, causes the stop of the actuating motor (9) of the coffee grinder and the actuation of said actuator (37) for controlling the opening movement of said first wall and the discharge of the coffee powder from the dosing chamber.

Abstract: The present invention concerns: A heating element comprising a heating unit, a heat transfer unit and a temperature sensor unit, the heating, unit comprising a first composition, the first composition comprising an epoxy-based or glass-based composition or a composition comprising a sol-gel solution in which up to about 90% of said solution is a conductive powder in a uniform stable dispersion and said solution conductive powder is a member selected from the group consisting of metals, ceramics, interceramics and semi-conductors and the temperature sensor comprising a second composition, the second composition comprising an epoxy-based or glass-based composition or a composition comprising a composition comprising a sol-gel solution in which up to about 90% of said solution is a conductive powder in a uniform stable dispersion and said solution conductive powder is a member selected from the group consisting of metals, ceramics, interceramics and semi-conductors, the heating unit and the temperature sensor un