Abstract: An electrical resistor family based on oxides of tungsten and/or molybdenum is prepared by combining a polymeric binder with such oxides in an appropriate amount to realize the desired bulk properties. The resistance of the composite can be varied by varying the metal content of the oxides and/or by appropriate combination of the various oxides. Inert fillers are not required and the bulk properties are more stable.

Abstract: A low-cost thermocouple utilizes a substrate of a first conductor, upon a surface of which is deposited on insulative layer, supporting a screen-printed conductive ink pattern. A second conductor is electrolessly plated upon the conductive ink pattern and onto at least a portion of the first conductor, through an aperture in the insulation layer therebetween. Thermocouple action occurs along the length of the plated conductor contact with the substrate conductor.

Abstract: A self-standing cooking apparatus is disclosed which consists of a pressurizable vessel having a door which can be latched and sealed, an integral steam-pressure source and integral upper and lower heating rod elements which serve as broil elements and bake elements, respectively, and a water-filled tray which can be disposed above the upper heating rod. An electrical control circuit enables selective energization of the bake and broil heat elements by continuous or controlled duration pulses of current which control the proportion of infrared energy that will be produced by the heating rods. The oven can be operated under pressure with the heating rods applying infrared radiation to the foodstuff being cooked in order to obtain browning or crisping of the foodstuff which is cooked at elevated pressure. The oven can also be operated in a conventional bake mode, a conventional broil mode, a steam cooking mode, a sealed cooking and warming mode and a toasting mode.

Abstract: A low-cost electrical conductor is prepared by applying a mixture of a metallic powder and a polymer on a substrate, curing the polymer, effecting an augmentation replacement reaction to replace some of the metallic powder with a more noble metal in such a way that the total volume of deposited metal at the surface exceeds that of the original metal powder replaced, and thereafter applying a dielectric material to selected areas of the conductor thus formed. Imperfections such as pin holes and screen marks can be eliminated by heating the dielectric material to cause a degree of flow. Multiple layer interconnected conductors can be prepared by reapplying the mixture of metallic powder and polymer such that a portion thereof contacts the first prepared conductor, curing the polymer and effecting an augmentation replacement reaction with a metal which is more noble than the powder metal and the replacement metal of the first conductor.

Abstract: A low-cost conductor, e.g. a printed circuit, is prepared by applying a mixture of a metallic powder and polymer on a substrate and curing the polymer, followed by an augmentation replacement reaction being effected to replace some of the metallic powder with a more noble metal in such a way that the total volume of deposited metal on the surface exceeds that of the original metal powder at that surface. This procedure produces contiguous layer of conducting metal on the substrate. The conductors thus formed can easily be soldered without leaching using a conventional tin-lead solders.

Abstract: A microwave oven cabinet is constructed with plastic materials and has a low resistivity coating on the outside surfaces thereof, which coating is achieved by applying a mixture of a metallic powder and polymer on the surfaces and curing the polymer, followed by an augmentation replacement reaction being effected to replace some of the metallic powder with a more noble metal in such a way that the total volume on the surface of deposited metal exceeds that of the original metal powder replaced at the surface.

Abstract: A one-time electrically-activated switch is composed of a cured polymeric binder which contains a powdered conductive material in an amount sufficient to establish particle-to-particle contact throughout the binder and in which the material powder particles have a non-conductive oxide surface sufficient to resist the flow of electricity below a given threshold. When a sufficiently high voltage is applied to the switch, the break-down voltage of the oxide layer is exceeded and avalanche current is permitted to flow. As a result, the oxide layer on the conductive particles breaks down along the break-down path and forms an irreversible low-impedance connection.

Abstract: An electrical resistor family based on oxides of tungsten and/or molybdenum is prepared by combining a polymeric binder with such oxides in an appropriate amount to realize the desired bulk properties. The resistance of the composite can be varied by varying the metal content of the oxides and/or by appropriate combination of the various oxides. Inert fillers are not required and the bulk properties are more stable.

Abstract: An electrical conductor interconnect is disclosed which permits hard-to-contact substrates, such as the glass substrate in liquid crystal display cells, to be connected to electrical apparatus by conventional soldering techniques. The interconnect conductor involves the use of a polymer loaded with both a conducting powder and a non-noble metal powder whose top surface is coated with a contiguous layer of an adherent solderable metal by an augmentation replacement reaction.

Abstract: An abrasion-resistant screen-printed potentiometer includes top and bottom resistive layers screen-printed on a substrate. The resistivity of the top layer is substantially greater than the resistivity of the bottom layer. A slide arm is in pressure contact with the top layer and is slidably movable thereacross.

Abstract: Meat or poultry is cooked automatically in a thermal oven to a desired degree of doneness by a chosen time. The temperature of the meat or poultry is monitored, and linear extrapolations are made therefrom. These extrapolations are compared to the course the cooking should follow, and the oven temperature is automatically varied to correct deviations from the ideal course.

Abstract: A cavity, such as an oven cavity, is heated by at least one monolithic integrated heat source, each fabricated by depositing a layer of resistive material on a substrate of non-conducting, or insulating, material. A pair of spaced-apart conductive elements contact opposite ends of the resistance sheet to enable a flow of current through the sheet thereby producing substantially uniform heating over the entire area covered by the resistive sheet.

Abstract: A power supply for controlling the duty-cycle of a microwave oven magnetron and the like power-energizing load, includes a parallel combination of a non-linear resistance element, such as a varistor and the like, and a gateable semiconductor switching device, such as a triac and the like, in series with a power supply voltage-doubler diode, connected in parallel across the magnetron. The flow of current through the magnetron is substantially reduced or prevented when the semiconductor switching device is gated to an "off" condition and is substantially enabled to a normal current flow value when the semiconductor switching device is gated to an "on" condition, typically by high frequency squarewaves provided at the gate electrode.

Abstract: A capacitive touch entry structure utilizes an array of at least one capacitive touch sensor fabricated upon a double-sided printed circuit board adhesively mounted upon a surface of a transparent insulative substrate. The substrate has sufficient thickness to safely insulate user personnel, contacting the substrate surface furthest from an electrode of the capacitive touch sensor, from electrical potentials present adjacent to the panel surface upon which the capacitive touch sensor is fastened. Touch sensor circuitry and interconnections may be advantageously fabricated directly upon the pair of conductive planes, sandwiching an insulative layer therebetween, to form the printed circuit portion of the structure. A conductive guard may also be disposed adjacent to the substrate to shield at least the lead portions of the touch sensors from capacitive effects.

Abstract: A circuit for controlling power consumption of a load, by controlling the flow of current thereto, utilizes at least one parallel combination of non-linear resistance elements, such as a varistor and the like, and a gateable semiconductor switching device, such as a triac and the like, to substantially reduce or prevent current flow when the semiconductor switching device is gated to an "off" condition and to enable normal current flow to a load when the semiconductor switching device is gated to an "on" condition. Embodiments of the power circuits for control of magnetron power, in a microwave oven, are illustrated.