Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermally treating a substrate is provided. A thermal treatment chamber has a substrate support and a magnetically permeable rotor housed in a rotor well. An annular cover shields the rotor from the processing environment. The annular cover has a thermal stress relief joint formed therein that provides one or more mechanical degrees of freedom to allow portions of the cover to shift with thermal stresses. In one embodiment, a gap is formed in the annular cover at the point of maximum thermal stress.

Abstract: Particular embodiments generally relate to a heating cable that includes a plurality of bus wires positioned on the outside of a heating element. In one embodiment, a spacer is provided. A heating element is included on a surface of the spacer. The heating element also includes one or more resistance wires. A plurality of bus wires are positioned on the edges of the spacer that has the heating element wrapped around it. For example, a first bus wire is positioned on a first side of the spacer and a second bus wire is positioned on a second side of the spacer. A plurality of node areas (e.g., on the bus wires or on an insulated heating element) allow a resistance wire of the heating element to be electrically coupled to the bus wires at the plurality of node areas on alternating bus wires.

Abstract: Cooking apparatus having first and second platens with product recognition. A positioning mechanism moves the second platen toward the first. A detector senses the second platen making contact with a food product disposed on the first platen and provides a signal. A controller uses the signal to measure the travel distance of the second platen. The product thickness is a function of the travel distance, which is used to select a cooking procedure for the food product. The controller then executes the selected cooking procedure to cook the food product. The detector can include a micro switch, proximity sensor, touch sensor, strain sensor, thermal sensor, optical sensor, sonar sensor or positioning load change sensor.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing a stretchable electronic device is disclosed. In one aspect, the device comprises at least one electrically conductive channel connecting at least two components of the device. The method comprises forming the channel by laser-cutting a flexible substrate into a predetermined geometric shape.

Abstract: Provided is a mounting table structure having a replaceable heating plate by removably arranging the heating plate in a heating plate accommodating chamber. A mounting table structure is provided with a mounting table, which is arranged inside a processing chamber and mounts thereon a target object, for performing specified heat treatment to the target object, and a hollow supporting column which supports the mounting table by making the mounting table stand on a bottom portion of the processing chamber. The mounting table is provided with a heating plate having a heater composed of an electric heat source embedded in a heat-resistant material, and a heating plate accommodating chamber composed of a heat-resistant and corrosion-resistant material for removably receiving the heating plate. The heating plate accommodating container includes a container body having an opening, and a cover portion attached to the container body. Thus, the heating plate is permitted to be replaced.

Abstract: A susceptor [1] is manufactured by providing a protruding part [8] on the joining surface of a retainer plate [4], and additionally providing a groove part [9] composed of a dovetail groove on the joining surface of a heat transfer plate [3] in a position facing the protruding part [8]. By fitting the protruding part [8] into the groove part [9] and caulking, the heat transfer plate [3] and the retainer plate [4] are conjoined.

Abstract: A welding machine has a welding unit for generating a welding voltage/current, and at least one welding tool connectable to the welding unit by a cable. The welding unit has a closed protective casing, and a cooling unit for cooling the welding tool and/or cable on command. A modular unit containing the cooling unit is insertable and easily removable from inside the casing and is closed for protection of the welding unit.

Abstract: A heat-generating element includes at least one PTC heating element, strip conductors lying flat on it on both sides, and a frame which forms at least one frame opening for holding the at least one PTC heating element. The frame, as a part of a housing, forms a structural unit with a wedge element having a first wedge surface that extends parallel to the strip conductor and a second wedge surface that lies exposed on the exterior side of the housing and that is aligned diagonally to the first wedge surface. For fixing the heat-generating element precisely in place in a slot in the housing, the heat-generating element has spacing surfaces positioned upstream or downstream of the at least one PTC heating element in the direction of the length of the slot. Also provided is a method of manufacturing an electric heating device.

Abstract: A device for resistance welding includes a welding clamp housing, a welding transformer, a welding clamp, a welding clamp drive for operating the welding clamp and a power supply using alternating supply voltage. The device may be built as small as possible and may be simple to expand. The power supply is implemented by a main converter and by drive and welding converters. The output of the main converter is connected to the inputs of the drive and welding converters. The inputs of the drive and welding converters are connected to one another. These connections are implemented by an a.c. voltage intermediate circuit.

Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus and associated method are provided for heating a substrate. The apparatus includes a processing chamber containing a process space, first and second substrate supports, and first and second heating sources. The first substrate support is configured to support the substrate in a spaced relationship with the first heating source to define a heat exchange gap and to transfer heat energy through the heat exchange gap to elevate a temperature of the substrate to an offset temperature below a process target temperature. The second substrate support is configured to support the substrate in a spaced relationship with a second heating source to define a heat exchange gap between the second heating source and the substrate and to transfer heat energy through the heat exchange gap to elevate the temperature of the substrate from the offset temperature to the process target temperature in controlled increments.

Abstract: In a method of forming a hole on a work piece, a laser beam is directed from a laser head to a predetermined portion of the work piece to form a pilot hole having a first surface condition, and then the predetermined portion of the work piece is punched using a die and a punch having a cross-section greater than a cross-section of the pilot hole. Thus, a finished hole having a cross-section greater than the cross-section of the pilot hole is formed over the pilot hole. The finished hole has a second surface condition, and the second surface condition is formed by transforming the first surface condition by the punch to have a precise dimension.

Abstract: A controller for a heating cable. The heating cable includes first and second conductors and a separation layer interposed between the conductors. The conductors and the separation layer extend along the length of the cable and electrical resistance provided by the separation layer between adjacent portions of the conductors has a negative temperature coefficient. The controller includes a first switch, arranged for connecting the first and second conductors in series at one end of the cable such that if the first and second conductors are connected at the other end of the cable to respective poles of a power supply currents flow in opposite directions through adjacent portions of the conductors. The controller further includes a second switch and voltage measurement functionality. The controller is arranged to control power to the cable as a function of measured voltage across the first resistor when both switches are open.

Abstract: An apparatus for cutting a substrate includes a laser oscillator generating a femtosecond laser beam, a first beam splitter splitting the femtosecond laser beam into first and second femtosecond laser beams, a first condenser lens receiving the first femtosecond laser beam and condensing the first femtosecond laser beam to have a first focal depth, a second condenser lens receiving the second femtosecond laser beam, and condensing the second femtosecond laser beam to have a second focal depth different from the first focal depth, and a second beam splitter receiving and splitting the first femtosecond laser beam condensed through the first condenser lens and the second femtosecond laser beam condensed through the second condenser lens, and irradiating the split first and second femtosecond laser beams at different positions on a substrate to be cut.

Abstract: Various embodiments of the invention include methods and systems for trimming electronic circuits using short laser pulses of near-infrared wavelength at a high repetition rate. The laser pulses ablate material from a spot on a circuit with minimal thermal and photoelectric disturbances to circuit performance. Minimal disturbance to circuit performance allows for repeated trimming and testing without pausing for circuit reinitialization. To optimize trimming, the laser pulses can also be adjusted responsive to the composition of the material ablated. In some embodiments, the system is configured to trim a plurality of circuits in parallel.

Abstract: A high-power plastic aquarium heater includes a narrow, elongated, flat nickel-chrome steel strip wound on a mica tube and electrically connected with a circuit board inside a tubular plastic casing, and vacuum mounts fastened to the tubular plastic casing with pipe clamps for securing the tubular plastic casing to the inside wall of an aquarium. The use of the narrow, elongated, flat nickel-chrome steel strip facilitates positioning of the mica tube in the longitudinal center axis of the tubular plastic casing for even distribution of heat energy. Further, the nickel-chrome steel strip has a broad heat generating surface area in one particular direction to that the high-power plastic heater has a high performance while saving much the consumption of electric power.

Abstract: A first heating element and a second heating element, which are capable of individually controlling temperatures thereof, are embedded in a ceramic base. Each of the first heating element and the second heating element is formed into a spiral shape so as not to contact the other from a central portion of the base to an outer circumferential portion thereof in substantially the same plane parallel to a heating surface of the base. One of the first and second heating elements includes a high heating density portion on the central portion side of the base, and a low heating density portion on the peripheral portion side of the base, and the other of the first and second heating elements includes a low heating density portion on the central portion side of the base, and a high heating density portion on the peripheral portion side of the base.

Abstract: An apparatus, arrangement and method for supporting a helical wire coil heating element is provided. The apparatus includes a generally circular support frame having an open center portion and a plurality of supporting arms extending radially inward into the open center portion. Insulating standoffs are supported on the supporting arms such that the standoffs extend into the open center portion of the frame. A helical wire coil heating element is attached to each end of the standoff. An arrangement for supporting a helical wire coil heating element includes a substantially closed elongated tubular wrapper having an open interior. One or more generally circular support frames are arranged in the open interior of the wrapper and support insulating standoffs. A method for assembling an arrangement for a supporting a helical wire coil heating element is further provided.

Abstract: A cooktop has a plurality of reflection-sensitive infrared sensors. A plurality of IR receiving elements is arranged along an operating line having a density such that an operator's finger placed on the operating line necessarily covers at least one of the IR receiving elements. A smaller number of IR transmitter diodes is arranged in correspondingly lower density next to the operating line. In the setting process, two effects are used on the operating line, specifically both the radiation of the optical transmitter reflected by the finger and also the radiation of the ambient light that is thrown into shadow by the finger. The resultant signal distribution on the optical receivers can be used for reliable evaluation of the finger's position in nearly all environmental conditions.

Abstract: To provide a plane heater, including a carbon wire heating element CW, in which surface arrangement density of the heating element CW in an outer area is denser than that in an inner area. A power supply terminal unit having connection wires for supplying electricity to the heating element CW is arranged in the center on the back side of a silica glass plate-like member 2. Connection wires 4a and 4b connected with the heating element CW in the inner area are connected with the heating element in the inner area in the center of the silica glass plate-like member. Connection wires 3a and 3b connected with the heating element in the outer area are extended from the center of the silica glass plate-like member toward the outer area and connected with the heating element CW in the outer area, without intersecting the heating element CW in the inner area.

Abstract: A ceramic hob for a cooking appliance provided with a control device for controlling and/or adjusting a real temperature value on at least one part of a cooking plate arranged in a container for cooking by means of an associated heating device. The inventive ceramic hob comprises at least one temperature sensor for determining the real temperature value of a heatable part and at least one control element used for setting said temperature to a desired value, wherein a desired temperature value of the heatable part is assigned thereto. According to said invention several desired values can be assigned to one control element.