Abstract: An apparatus and method for heating a pipe prior to performing a welding operation, an interpass welding operation, a hydrogen bake-out operation of a weld joint or for post heat-treating of a weld joint is provided. The heating apparatus can include at least one heating collar placed around a pipe or weld joint, and a controller unit for controlling the thermal heat energy transferred from the heating collar to the pipe or weld joint.

Abstract: A method of operating a heating plate for a substrate support assembly used to support a semiconductor substrate in a semiconductor processing apparatus, wherein the heating plate comprises power supply lines and power return lines and respective heater zone connected between every pair of power supply line and power return line. The method reduces maximum currents carried by the power supply lines and power return lines by temporally spreading current pulses for powering the heater zones.

Abstract: An apparatus for warming a container, the apparatus including a holder having an inner wall, an outer wall, and an insulation layer between the inner and outer walls, wherein the inner wall defines a first volume having a size and shape for receiving at least a portion of the container, and wherein the holder defines a second volume. The apparatus can also include a solution and an activation disk positioned within the second volume and in contact with the solution, wherein the solution and activation disk are made from materials such that a force applied to the activation disk causes the solution to undergo a chemical reaction that generates heat for warming the container in the first volume. Furthermore, the apparatus can include a disk actuator for applying the force to the activation disk, and elastic bands to increase thermal contact between the container and the solution.

Abstract: Described herein is a method of detecting fault conditions in a multiplexed multi-heater-zone heating plate for a substrate support assembly used to support a semiconductor substrate in a semiconductor processing apparatus.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for heating of one or more substrates with a plurality of independently controllable heating zones. Pressurized air is provided to each of a plurality of independently controlled heater blocks each including a heating element. The pressurized air is heated in the heater blocks and discharged towards one or more regions of the one or more substrates. The amount of power provided to the heating element in one of the heating blocks may be adjusted relative to the amount of power provided to the heating element in another of the heating blocks. The temperature of one heating zone may thereby be adjusted relative to other heating zones so that the temperature of different heating zones for the one or more substrates may be independently controlled. Heated air may be recovered from the heating zones and recycled. The pressurized air may be preheated by passing through a lift plate.

Abstract: A heating system includes a structure to be heated, and a heating apparatus disposed to heat the structure. The heating apparatus includes a housing member, a plurality of resonant frequency power sources, and a plurality of associated controls. The plurality of resonant frequency power sources are attached to the housing member. The plurality of associated controllers is configured to separately operate the plurality of resonant frequency power sources at resonant frequencies matching heating requirements of the structure.

Abstract: A power control device includes a priority setting section capable of setting a use priority of a home appliance connected wirelessly or via cable or an adapter connected to the home appliance. The home appliance or the adaptor connected to the home appliance operates within the usable power of a result of the inquiry to the power control device. When there is no excess in usable power over the required power in the inquiry, the power control device reduces the power of a device having a lower priority than the device which has transmitted the inquiry in order to use the device with the higher priority.

Abstract: Systems and methods for low voltage detection for a heat pump water heater are disclosed. A current sensor can be used to monitor current supplied to a inductive load, such as a compressor or evaporator fan, of the heat pump water heater. The current sensor can be coupled to a controller which receives and processes information from the current sensor to determine whether a low voltage condition of the heat pump water heater has occurred. An alert can be provided to an installer/user of the heat pump water heater that a low voltage condition has occurred. The controller can also disconnect the heat pump water heater from the power source to prevent damage to the heat pump water heater.

Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus is provided which includes heating means for enabling a rapid temperature rise to a temperature of 1600 through 1900° C., and a thermometer capable of accurately measuring temperatures even when rapid temperature rises and drops are repeated, the heat treatment apparatus being capable of performing heat treatment of an SiC substrate with good mass productivity after ion implantation. The heat treatment apparatus enables the heat treatment of a semiconductor substrate at 1600 to 1900° C. by temperature control using a resistance heating element and thermocouple thermometers. The heat treatment apparatus is configured such that the resistance heating element and the thermocouple thermometers include a common constituent metal as a main component.

Abstract: Method for heating an SCR system using at least two resistive heating elements, according to which each of these resistive elements is powered by a PWM signal, the two PWM signals being at least partly in phase opposition.

Abstract: A portable grilling apparatus includes a power adapter having first and second receiving areas each configured to respectively receive a battery, the power adapter having circuitry for receiving electricity at the first and second receiving areas and producing a single electrical output. The apparatus includes a grill portion having a lower grill housing, a support element having a cooking surface for receiving food thereon, and an electrical heating element in the lower grill housing. The electrical heating element is positioned below the cooking surface and the electrical heating element is in electrical communication with the single electrical output circuitry. The apparatus includes a positioning portion operatively coupling the power adapter to the grill portion, the positioning portion having an attachment member for securement to an object.

Abstract: A temperature controlled/limiting heating element for an electrically powered cooking appliance, having: a plate with an upper contact heating surface; a pair of heating element terminals adapted for removably engaging electrical power supply terminals of the electrically powered cooking appliance; a plurality of resistive heating wires, in thermal engagement with a lower surface of the top plate, comprising: a non-cycling resistive heating wire connected in series to the heating element terminals; and a cycling resistive heating wire connected in series to the heating element terminals via a thermostat switch in thermal engagement with a lower surface of the top plate, wherein the thermostat switch is normally closed when exposed to a sensed temperature below a set temperature and the thermostat switch opens when the sensed temperature is equal to or exceeds the set temperature.

Abstract: A handpiece assembly for laser treating a target surface and a laser system are disclosed. A handpiece assembly for laser treating a target surface includes a cable connector that is detachably coupled to a power supply and control module. The cable connector is configured to receive power and control signals from the power supply and control module. The handpiece assembly includes a laser module configured to receive the power and control signals from the cable connector and to generate electromagnetic energy based on the received power and control signals. The laser module is a replaceable module that is detachably coupled to the cable connector and a handpiece. The replaceable module allows a particular laser module to be removed from the handpiece assembly and replaced with another laser module. The handpiece assembly further includes the handpiece configured to receive the electromagnetic energy from the laser module and to direct the electromagnetic energy to the target surface.

Abstract: A method of controlling a cooking appliance is disclosed which includes receiving an input corresponding to a staged cooking function, retrieving a preselected parameter set from a data library, the preselected parameter set defining the staged cooking function and including a first heating element behavior parameter and a first temperature parameter, selecting a first heating element behavior from a control library based upon the first heating element behavior parameter, and operating one or more heating elements according to the first heating element behavior and the first temperature parameter. An oven and a tangible, machine-readable medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: A beverage apparatus is provided for heating a liquid and is operable either by foreign or domestic voltages. The apparatus may have a heating element that couples directly to the voltage source, regardless of whether the voltage source is foreign or domestic. The apparatus also may have a power supply that couples directly to the voltage source, regardless of whether the voltage source is foreign or domestic. The power supply outputs a DC voltage that may be coupled to various other components of the apparatus either directly or after subsequent processing.

Abstract: Flash lamps connected to short-pulse circuits and flash lamps connected to long-pulse circuits are alternately arranged in a line. The duration of light emission from the flash lamps connected to the long-pulse circuits is longer than the duration of light emission from the flash lamps connected to the short-pulse circuits. A superimposing of a flash of light with a high peak intensity from the flash lamps that emit light for a short time and a flash of light with a gentle peak from the flash lamps that emit light for a long time can increase the temperature of even a deep portion of a substrate to an activation temperature or more without heating a shallow portion near the substrate surface more than necessary. This achieves the activation of deep junctions without causing substrate warpage or cracking.

Abstract: A composite structure includes a matrix material and a carbon nanotube (CNT)-infused fiber material that includes a plurality of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) infused to a fiber material. The CNT-infused fiber material is disposed throughout a portion of the matrix material. The composite structure is adapted for application of a current through the CNT-infused fiber material to provide heating of the composite structure. A heating element includes a CNT-infused fiber material includes a plurality of CNTs infused to a fiber material. The CNT-infused fiber material is of sufficient proportions to provide heating to a structure in need thereof.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated thick film heating element on a substrate made from high temperature melt-flowable thermoplastic polymer/powder additive formulations which form an electrically insulating thermoplastic dielectric coating on the substrate, and electrically resistive lead free films and electrically conductive film formulations that are deposited and fired to form an integrated thick film heating element on a substrate at a processing temperature well below 600° C. This thick film heating element is formed on a substrate material coated first with the electrically insulating, filled melt flowable high temperature thermoplastic polymer/powder composite layer on which is deposited the electrically resistive lead free thick film that is capable of operating over a wide range of power densities for consumer and industrial heating element applications, with suitable electrical insulation properties under temperature cycling to for example 250° C.

Abstract: A variable resistive heater element enables current to flow through a first resistive heater element and a second resistive heater element based on the temperature of the variable resistive heater element. Current flows through the first resistive heater element, and is restricted through the second resistive heater element, when the variable resistive heater element is less than a predetermined temperature. Current flows through the first and second resistive heater elements when the variable resistive heater element is at or greater than a predetermined temperature.

Abstract: A heating plate for a substrate support assembly in a semiconductor plasma processing apparatus, comprises multiple independently controllable planar heater zones arranged in a scalable multiplexing layout, and electronics to independently control and power the planar heater zones. Each planar heater zone uses at least one diode as a heater element. A substrate support assembly in which the heating plate is incorporated includes an electrostatic clamping electrode and a temperature controlled base plate. Methods for manufacturing the heating plate include bonding together ceramic or polymer sheets having planar heater zones, power supply lines, power return lines and vias.

Abstract: A free standing air blower for providing directed ventilation includes an air duct, a blower, a heating element, a deflector and a base unit. The deflector is disposed on an end of the air duct and has an angle of deflection configured to deflect air from the air duct to an area laterally adjacent to the drier.

Abstract: A system, comprises a thermal electric cooler (“TEC”) and a computer input device coupled to the TEC. The TEC is adapted to regulate a temperature of the computer input device via conduction.

Abstract: A control system for an electrical appliance, such as a cooking range, that includes a safety switch and one or more auxiliary switches arranged in proximity to the safety switch. The control system is configured to interrupt power to the electrical appliance when only the safety switch is activated and to permit the supply of power to the electrical appliance when the safety switch and an auxiliary switch are simultaneously activated.

Abstract: An electrically conductive coating composition is provided for use on aircraft and other substrate surfaces to prevent the formation of ice or to melt ice. The conductive coating composition may include a nanomaterial such as carbon nanotubes dispersed in a solvent which may be applied to a substrate surface to form a thin film which is resistively heatable. The conductive coating may also comprise a nanomaterial formed from carbon nanotubes or fullerenes grafted to a polymer containing an active functional group which renders a substrate surface icephobic and is also resistively heatable.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a polymer thick film encapsulant composition comprising thermoplastic fluoropolymer resin and acrylic resin dissolved in organic solvents. The deposited encapsulant composition is processed at a time and energy sufficient to remove all solvent and form an encapsulant. The invention is further directed to using the encapsulant composition to form an encapsulant in PTC heater circuitry and, in particular, in PTC heater circuitry in mirror heater and seat heater applications.

Abstract: An arc welder including an integrated monitor is disclosed. The monitor is capable of monitoring variables during a welding process and weighting the variables accordingly, quantifying overall quality of a weld, obtaining and using data indicative of a good weld, improving production and quality control for an automated welding process, teaching proper welding techniques, identifying cost savings for a welding process, and deriving optimal welding settings to be used as pre-sets for different welding processes or applications.

Abstract: An electric heater with automatic heating control includes a control apparatus box connected and integrated with an upper cover, a carbon tube, a control apparatus, a support, and a protection screen, with power switch on the top of the control apparatus box. A sensor-mounting hole is provided on the radial outside surface of the control apparatus box, and an infrared sensor is installed within the sensor-mounting hole. When used for heating, the power switch is On, and the carbon tube is powered on and starts heating while persons are within a certain range around the electric heater; the carbon tube is powered off and stops heating while persons leave from the electric heater and is out the detecting range of the infrared sensor, thereby the potential hazard to safety due to ignored power-off by person is eliminated, that is very convenient to user.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a device for remotely detonating explosives. According to the present disclosure, the device includes: a heat source in the form of an electric generator for generating a thermal infrared signal, capable of producing two heating zones and mounted in a casing; and a mobile supporting structure bearing the casing at the front and connected to a vehicle at the rear.

Abstract: A multiple heater control system includes cables, connectors, and junction boxes for user-friendly daisy chain connections of heater controllers and heaters in various configurations or combinations of individually controlled heater series and/or master and slave heater series. The heater controllers include process control of AC power to the heaters and upper-limit safety shutoff that is substantially independent from the process control. The heater controllers also have variable levels of control, adjustment, display, and communications functionality in a base module that is expandable to various levels with expansion modules that are attachable to and detachable from the base module. Connector, cable, and junction configurations, adapters, and latch features enhance user friendliness.

Abstract: A rapid thermal anneal system and method for processing a semiconductor substrate. The system includes a chamber configured for holding a semiconductor substrate, a heating lamp array, and a process controller operably connected to the lamp array for controlling a heating cycle of the substrate. The lamp array includes a plurality of lamps positioned to heat the substrate. The controller is operable to energize or de-energize each lamp on an individual basis, and further to simultaneously energize one or more localized groups or clusters of lamps each having at least two adjacent lamps arranged for heating geographically localized regions of the substrate having special heating needs. The system is further operable to energize all lamps in the array simultaneously. The system and method provides the capability to perform customized substrate annealing.

Abstract: A hob includes at least one heating zone, a temperature sensor for detecting the temperature of a cookware element placed on the heating zone, and a control unit for operating the heating zone. The control unit is constructed to heat up the cookware element in a heat-up phase and to control the temperature of the cookware element to a target temperature in a holding phase in at least one operating mode. In order to enable an energy-saving simmer operation, the control unit detects a boiling point of the liquid contained in the cookware element during the heat-up phase and determines the target temperature as a function of the boiling point.

Abstract: When a partial pressure exceeding a Zener voltage of a Zener diode is applied to a first limiting circuit by a positive voltage applied to input terminals by an AC power supply, the first limiting circuit allows a current such that a photo transistor of the first detection circuit is turned on. When a partial pressure exceeding a total value of Zener voltages of Zener diodes is applied to a second limiting circuit by a negative voltage applied to the input terminals, the second limiting circuit allows a current such that a photo transistor of a second detection circuit is turned on. Therefore, it is possible to detect a voltage input from the AC power supply by turning on and off the photo transistors and to detect a voltage input from the AC power supply using a simpler circuit configuration.

Abstract: Systems and methods of heating a conductive ribbon for sample collection and/or sample processing comprises coupling conducting pads to the conductive ribbon, applying a signal across the conducting pads to cause the conductive ribbon to heat up, taking a measurement of at least one electrical property associated with the conductive ribbon in response to the applied signal, computing a correction for the applied signal to achieve a desired temperature suitable for fixing a sample to the heated conductive ribbon, and adjusting the applied signal to regulate the heat of the conductive ribbon to the desired temperature for a predetermined time.

Abstract: A heater control structure for an ice protection system is disclosed that includes a first multi-role logic block having a first scheduler to schedule the operation of an array of heaters and a first controller to control a first group of heaters within the array of heaters, wherein the first scheduler communicates with a first private data bus and the first controller communicates with a second private data bus, and wherein the first scheduler and the first controller communicate with one another over a first pair of inter-channel data busses.

Abstract: A heater unit includes a power source, a plurality of heaters, and a power supply position-switching device. The power source includes a first power source terminal and a second power source terminal. The plurality of heaters are each connected to one another in series and include a first heater and a second heater. The power supply position-switching device is configured to switch between a first state and a second state. In the first state, the first power source terminal is connected with a first heater terminal of the first heater, and the second power source terminal is connected with a third heater terminal of the second heater. In the second state, the first power source terminal is connected with a second heater terminal of the first heater, and the second power source terminal is connected with a fourth heater terminal of the second heater.

Abstract: A microfluidic device for droplet manipulation includes a substrate, a plurality of electrically addressable thin-film electrodes disposed on the substrate, at least one of the plurality of electrodes comprising a heating element in the form of a patterned electrode. A hydrophilic region is disposed in or above a portion of the heating element. The hydrophilic region may be permanent or electronically actuable. The thin-film electrodes have multi-function capabilities including, for instance, heating, temperature sensing, and/or sample actuation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a furnace for a dental prosthesis, or a partial dental prosthesis, comprising a furnace chamber, a plurality of heating elements for heating the furnace chamber, and a power connector for connecting the heating elements to a power grid, wherein means for limiting the power consumption of the furnace are provided in order to increase the application possibilities and improve the furnace performance.

Abstract: An output-history storing unit stores past and present measurement data input to a measurement-data input unit while distinguishing the measurement data for each of output sources. An output-fluctuation monitoring unit monitors, based on the measurement data stored in the output-history storing unit, output fluctuation in each of the output sources. An output control unit separately controls, based on the output fluctuation monitored by the output-fluctuation monitoring unit, outputs from the output sources.

Abstract: A capacitor, a coil, a flash lamp, and a switching element such as an IGBT are connected in series. A controller outputs a pulse signal to the gate of the switching element. A waveform setter sets the waveform of the pulse signal, based on the contents of input from an input unit. With electrical charge accumulated in the capacitor, a pulse signal is output to the gate of the switching element so that the flash lamp emits light intermittently. A change in the waveform of the pulse signal applied to the switching element will change the waveform of current flowing through the flash lamp and, accordingly, the form of light emission, thereby resulting in a change in the temperature profile for a semiconductor wafer.

Abstract: A system and method is provided. In one aspect, the system and method may calculate a time period for each mode of a plurality of modes. The system and method may index through each mode for the corresponding time period to provide power to the plurality of thermal elements according to the mode. In another aspect the system and method may index sequentially through each mode of a plurality of modes and apply power to an indexed mode while measuring an electrical characteristic of the thermal elements for the indexed mode.

Abstract: A system and method is provided. The system and method having at least three power nodes, wherein a thermal element is connected between each pair of power nodes.

Abstract: A method of controlling a cooking appliance is disclosed which includes receiving an input corresponding to a staged cooking function, retrieving a preselected parameter set from a data library, the preselected parameter set defining the staged cooking function and including a first heating element behavior parameter and a first temperature parameter, selecting a first heating element behavior from a control library based upon the first heating element behavior parameter, and operating one or more heating elements according to the first heating element behavior and the first temperature parameter. An oven and a tangible, machine-readable medium are also disclosed.

Abstract: An aquarium heater includes a top cover, a ceramic heater plate arranged at the bottom side of the top cover, a temperature control knob arranged at the top side of the top cover, a circuit controller arranged at the bottom side of the top cover for controlling the ceramic heater plate to generate one of a series of watts of heat energy subject to setting of the temperature control knob, a metal heat sink surrounding the ceramic heater plate, and an insulative housing tightly attached to the bottom side of the top cover around the metal heat sink.

Abstract: A temperature control system includes a temperature sensing module, a temperature control module, a pulse width modulation control module, a heating module, a heat dissipating module, and a switch module. The temperature sensing module is configured to obtain a current ambient temperature in a test box. The temperature control module is configured to output a control signal according to a difference between the current ambient temperature and a reference temperature. The pulse width modulation control module is configured to output a pulse width modulation signal according to the control signal. The switch module is configured to instruct the heating module or the heat dissipating module according to the pulse width modulation signal to keep the current ambient temperature generally equal to the reference temperature in the test box.

Abstract: A powertrain/driveline warm-up system includes a vehicle controller, an electrical power source interfacing with the vehicle controller, at least one heater interfacing with the vehicle controller and at least a portion of a vehicle powertrain provided in thermal contact with the at least one heater.

Abstract: A lubricant warming apparatus may warm a container of lubricant to a desired temperature. The apparatus may include an outer shell, a heating shell, and a receptacle. The heating shell maybe nested within the outer shell. The receptacle may be nested within the heating shell. The heating shell may include a lip with tapering contour sides that slope downward from a collar to a front end of the heating shell. The tapering contour sides may expose a front face of the receptacle. A basket may be suspended into the receptacle holding the container of lubricant in a water bath.

Abstract: Apparatuses and methods for applying EM energy to a load. The apparatuses and methods may include at least one processor configured to receive information indicative of energy dissipated by the load for each of a plurality of modulation space elements. The processor may also be configured to associate each of the plurality of modulation space elements with a corresponding time duration of power application, based on the received information. The processor may be further configured to regulate energy applied to the load such that for each of the plurality of modulation space elements, power is applied to the load at the corresponding time duration of power application.

Abstract: An image acquisition apparatus includes an imaging optical system configured to form an image of a subject, an imaging unit including an image sensor configured to capture the image of the subject formed by the imaging optical system, a cooler thermally connected to the image sensor, and a heat-transfer reduction unit with an opaque portion located between the imaging optical system and the imaging unit, wherein the opaque portion includes an aperture through which incident light to the image sensor passes.

Abstract: A vehicle radiant heating control system is provided that comprises a radiant heating element, a power source and a controller. The power source is operatively connected to the radiant heating element. The controller operatively controls the radiant heating element and the power source. The controller operates the radiant heating element by intermittently supplying power generated by the power source to the radiant heating element.

Abstract: A heater system and related methods of heating a surface are provided by the present disclosure that includes, in one form, a substrate defining a heating surface and a layered heater formed on the heating surface. A plurality of nodes are disposed along the heating surface and are in electrical contact with a resistive heating layer of the layered heater, along with a plurality of lead wires connected to the plurality of nodes. In one form, a multiplexer is in communication with the plurality of nodes through the plurality of lead wires, and a controller is in communication with the multiplexer, wherein the multiplexer sequences and transmits resistances from the plurality of nodes to the controller, and the controller controls an amount of power provided to each of the plurality of nodes based on the differences in resistances between the nodes.