Abstract: Apparatus for rapid heating of a liquid including a heat source, a liquid flowpath defining element defining a liquid heating flowpath therein having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a collection of flexible elongate thermal conductors located within the flowpath, the collection of flexible elongate thermal conductor portions being thermally coupled to the heat source and defining multiple liquid heating passageways through the flowpath whose configurations and cross-sectional dimensions change over time, thereby being resistant to clogging.

Abstract: Apparatus for rapid heating of a liquid including a heat source, a liquid flowpath defining element defining a liquid heating flowpath therein having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a collection of flexible elongate thermal conductors located within the flowpath, the collection of flexible elongate thermal conductor portions being thermally coupled to the heat source and defining multiple liquid heating passageways through the flowpath whose configurations and cross-sectional dimensions change over time, thereby being resistant to clogging.

Abstract: An automated, computer-controlled, cooking system for use with user selectable ones of a plurality of different pre-sealed computerized cooking containers containing dry contents (PSCCCCDC) useful in preparing corresponding different food products, the system including a microwave radiation generator, a PSCCCCDC support for supporting a user-selected one of the plurality of different PSCCCCDCs during cooking, a computer-controlled liquid supply subsystem for supplying liquid to the selected PSCCCCDC, a computer-controlled stirrer subsystem for producing stirring of the dry contents of the PSCCCCDC together with the liquid, a cooking instructions input interface for receiving PSCCCCDC specific cooking instructions and a computer controller operative to control operation of at least the computer-controlled liquid supply subsystem, the computer-controlled stirrer subsystem and the microwave radiation generator in a predetermined sequence corresponding to and specifically adapted for cooking the contents of the s

Abstract: An object bearing a three-dimensional rotatably-readable encoding of data configured for optical rotational machine-reading, the object being a subject of the data, the encoding of data including a multiplicity of three-dimensional shapes formed on a label adhered to a surface of the object, the surface being arranged for rotation in a plane coinciding with the surface, the multiplicity of three-dimensional shapes being formed to reflect light impinging thereupon while the surface is rotated, characteristics of the reflected light representing data encoded within the multiplicity of three-dimensional shapes.

Abstract: An automated, computer-controlled, cooking system for use with user selectable ones of a plurality of different pre-sealed computerized cooking containers containing dry contents (PSCCCCDC) useful in preparing corresponding different food products, the system including a microwave heater, a PSCCCCDC support for supporting a user-selected one of the plurality of different PSCCCCDCs during cooking, a computer-controlled liquid supply subsystem for supplying liquid to the user selected one of the plurality of different PSCCCCDCs, a computer-controlled stirrer subsystem for producing stirring of the dry contents of the PSCCCCDC together with the liquid and a computer controller operative to control operation of at least the computer-controlled liquid supply subsystem, the computer-controlled stirrer subsystem and the microwave heater in a predetermined sequence corresponding to and specifically adapted for cooking the contents of the user-selected one of the plurality of different PSCCCCDCs.

Abstract: An object bearing a three-dimensional rotatably-readable encoding of data configured for optical rotational machine-reading, the object being a subject of the data, the encoding of data including a multiplicity of three-dimensional shapes formed on a label adhered to a surface of the object, the surface being arranged for rotation in a plane coinciding with the surface, the multiplicity of three-dimensional shapes being formed to reflect light impinging thereupon while the surface is rotated, characteristics of the reflected light representing data encoded within the multiplicity of three-dimensional shapes.

Abstract: An object bearing a three-dimensional rotatably-readable encoding of data configured for optical rotational machine-reading, the object being a subject of the data, the encoding of data including a multiplicity of three-dimensional shapes formed on a label adhered to a surface of the object, the surface being arranged for rotation in a plane coinciding with the surface, the multiplicity of three-dimensional shapes being formed to reflect light impinging thereupon while the surface is rotated, characteristics of the reflected light representing data encoded within the multiplicity of three-dimensional shapes.

Abstract: An object bearing a three-dimensional rotatably-readable encoding of data configured for optical rotational machine-reading, the object being a subject of the data, the encoding of data including a multiplicity of three-dimensional shapes formed on a label adhered to a surface of the object, the surface being arranged for rotation in a plane coinciding with the surface, the multiplicity of three-dimensional shapes being formed to reflect light impinging thereupon while the surface is rotated, characteristics of the reflected light representing data encoded within the multiplicity of three-dimensional shapes.

Abstract: An automated, on-demand baking system including a computer controllable injector configured to be operative to programmably inject liquid baking ingredients through a wall of and into a mixing, baking and dispensing container, a computer controllable rotator configured to be operative to programmably rotate the mixing, baking and dispensing container containing baking ingredients, thereby mixing the baking ingredients into a dough, a heating generator operative to cause baking of the dough in the mixing, baking and dispensing container and a controller operative to govern the operation of the computer controllable injector, the computer controllable rotator and the heating generator.

Abstract: Apparatus for rapid heating of a liquid including a heat source, a liquid flowpath defining element defining a liquid heating flowpath therein having a liquid inlet and a liquid outlet, a collection of flexible elongate thermal conductors located within the flowpath, the collection of flexible elongate thermal conductor portions being thermally coupled to the heat source and defining multiple liquid heating passageways through the flowpath whose configurations and cross-sectional dimensions change over time, thereby being resistant to clogging.

Abstract: An automated, on-demand baking system including a computer controllable injector configured to be operative to programmably inject liquid baking ingredients through a wall of and into a mixing, baking and dispensing container, a computer controllable rotator configured to be operative to programmably rotate the mixing, baking and dispensing container containing baking ingredients, thereby mixing the baking ingredients into a dough, a heating generator operative to cause baking of the dough in the mixing, baking and dispensing container and a controller operative to govern the operation of the computer controllable injector, the computer controllable rotator and the heating generator.