Abstract: A vapor cell includes an interrogation cell in a substrate, the interrogation cell having an entrance window and an exit window, and a first transparent thin-film heater in thermal communication with the entrance window. The transparent thin-film heater has a first layer in communication with a first pole contact at a proximal end of the heater and a layer coupler contact at a distal end, a second layer in communication with a second pole contact at the proximal end, and the second layer electrically coupled to the layer coupler contact at the distal end. An insulating layer is sandwiched between the first and second layers. The insulating layer has an opening at the distal end to admit the layer coupler contact and to insulate the remainder of the second layer from the first layer.

Abstract: A cooking appliance has a cooktop including a plurality of separately controlled cooking areas. A first heating element and a second heating element are positioned below one of the separately controlled cooking areas. A control switch is electrically coupled to the first heating element and the second heating element and is operable to selectively energize the first heating element with single-phase AC power and selectively energize the second heating element with two-phase AC power.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for altering or maintaining the temperature of an object.

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 control apparatus for a dryer is provided. The control apparatus provides a connection for a detecting circuit adapted to determine a clogging degree of the dryer. The control apparatus includes a power supply circuit including a heating coil arranged in a heater case, a temperature control member mounted to the heater case, the temperature control member being configured to receive power and supply the received power to the heating coil, a microcomputer that controls an operation of the dryer, and a connecting line that connects the power supply circuit to the microcomputer. The microcomputer can detect a state of the power supply circuit through the connecting line.

Abstract: A universal food holding cabinet has multiple compartments, the temperatures of which are under software control by microprocessors or microcontrollers located on power supply circuit boards for corresponding compartments. Each compartment can have different temperature control requirements with different requirements being met by different programs in different processors, or different operating parameters for the same program. The cabinet is configured to prevent the power supply boards from being installed incorrectly, to provide an address to a power supply circuit board when it is installed and by which a power supply circuit can be addressed by a master controller to receive downloads of executable instructions and/or data.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of rapidly heating a mold. The method of rapidly heating a mold according to the present invention includes a heater unit coupling step S210 of inserting a heater unit into a channel of a mold and coupling the heater unit to the mold; a heat transfer medium filling step S220 of introducing a heat transfer medium into the channel through an inlet port connected to the inside of the channel and closing an outlet port connected to the outside of the channel and the inlet port connected to the inside of the channel when the channel is filled with the heat transfer medium; and a heater unit heating step S230 of heating the heater unit in the channel so that the temperature of the heat transfer medium is increased to a high temperature, thereby increasing the temperature of the mold to a high temperature by the heat transfer medium. According to the method of the present invention, it is possible to heat a mold rapidly and efficiently.

Abstract: A door opening mechanism for a domestic appliance (for example, a microwave oven), the domestic appliance including a housing, a front door, and a resilient member (e.g. spring bias), for urging the door open, wherein the door opening mechanism is adapted to be located within the housing; the door opening mechanism comprising: a retention mechanism, engageable with the door and movable between a first configuration, in which the door is retained in a closed position, and a second configuration, in which the door is non-engaged; a cam, the cam having a plurality of cam surfaces, each being adapted to move the retention mechanism out of said first configuration through camming action; and a rotary motor, for driving the cam in response to control signals. The cam suitable comprises a plurality of equally angularly spaced projections, the outer surfaces of the cam between successive projections comprising a cam surface.

Abstract: A water heating system includes a tank for holding water and a resistive heating element associated with the tank for heating water in the tank. A control is connected for monitoring at least one resistance parameter of the resistive heating element as power is applied to the resistive heating element, the control configured to output a fault signal if the monitored resistance parameter exceeds a set threshold. The monitored parameter may be one or more of (i) a rate of resistance change during heater start-up, (ii) a rate of resistance change during steady state heater operation or (iii) a heater resistance corresponding to a set point in time following heater start-up.

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 power supply device having function of heating includes a body, a circuit board, and a heating plate. An accommodation space is defined in the body. The circuit board is disposed in the accommodation space. An input connector and an output connector are disposed on the circuit board. The circuit board receives an external power via the input connector, selectively transforms the external power into a first output power or a second output power, and outputs the first output power via the output connector. The heating plate is disposed on a bottom side of the body and electrically connected to the circuit board to receive the second output power to generate heat for increasing the temperature thereof. The thermal insulator is disposed between the circuit board and the heating plate for isolating heat transferred from the heating plate to the circuit board.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a massage stone warming apparatus for warming massage stones comprising: a top member; a bottom member, where the top member and bottom member engage each other at several points; a plurality of pockets, said plurality of pockets are adapted to receive massage stones, and said plurality of pockets include integrated carbon fiber wires, said wires transfer heat to the massage stones; a plurality of slots, where said plurality of slots lie between the top member and the bottom member, said each slot is adapted to receive one of the plurality of pockets; a power supply that supplies power to the carbon fiber wires; and a regulating mechanism for regulating temperature within the plurality of pockets. The massage stone warming apparatus may include removable pouches to hold the massage stones.

Abstract: Methods to control power to a cooking appliance are provided. The methods include monitoring a power signal to the portion of the cooking appliance, including monitoring a current and/or voltage of the power signal. The methods also include selectively interrupting power to the portion of the cooking appliance in response to: determining that the current fails to exceed a current threshold within a time threshold, determining that the voltage fails to exceed a voltage threshold within a time threshold, deter mining that the current exceeds a current threshold for a first time threshold but fails to exceed the current threshold for a second time threshold, and determining that the voltage exceeds a voltage threshold for a first time threshold but fails to exceed the voltage threshold for a second time threshold. The methods also include temperature sensing and controlling the power signal based thereupon.

Abstract: A heat trace assembly is provided that includes a heat trace section, an insulation jacket surrounding the heat trace section, and a plurality of standoffs disposed between the heat trace section and the insulation jacket. A corresponding plurality of passageways are formed between the heat trace section and the insulation jacket and between the plurality of standoffs. The standoffs can be a part of the insulation jacket and/or the heat trace section, and the standoffs can furthermore be integrally formed with or separately attached to the insulation jacket and/or the heat trace section.

Abstract: A thermal plate of a PEB unit is divided into a plurality of thermal plate regions, and a temperature is settable for each of the thermal plate regions. A temperature correction value for adjusting the temperature within the thermal plate is settable for each of the thermal plate regions of the thermal plate. The line widths within the substrate for which a photolithography process has been finished are measured. The in-plane tendency of the measured line widths is decomposed into a plurality of in-plane tendency components using a Zernike polynomial. Then, in-plane tendency components improvable by setting the temperature correction values are extracted from the calculated plurality of in-plane tendency components and added to calculate an improvable in-plane tendency in the measured line widths. Then, the improvable in-plane tendency is subtracted from the in-plane tendency Z of the current processing states to calculate an after-improvement in-plane tendency.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for operating a heating element in a motor vehicle by pulse width modulation, wherein fluctuations in the supply voltage are compensated for by adapting the duty cycle so as to achieve a desired heating output. According to the invention, during a voltage pulse the voltage that is present at the heating element and/or the current flowing through the heating element are measured at specified intervals, and the measured values or values determined therefrom are added to calculate a sum value, which rises with the energy that is fed into the heating element by the voltage pulse, and the voltage pulse is ended at the latest when the sum value has reached a target value. The invention furthermore relates to a glow plug controller for carrying out the method according to the invention.

Abstract: In the present invention, a thermal plate of a heating unit is divided into a plurality of thermal plate regions, and a temperature can be set for each of the thermal plate regions. A temperature correction value for adjusting a temperature within the thermal plate can be set for each of the thermal plate regions of the thermal plate. The line widths within the substrate which has been subjected to a photolithography process are measured, and, from an in-plane tendency of the measured line widths, an in-plane tendency improvable by temperature correction and an unimprovable in-plane tendency are calculated using a Zernike polynomial. An average remaining tendency of the improvable in-plane tendency after improvement obtained in advance is added to the unimprovable in-plane tendency to estimate an in-plane tendency of the line widths within the substrate after change of temperature setting.

Abstract: In the present invention, a thermal plate of a PEB unit is divided into a plurality of thermal plate regions, and a temperature is settable for each of the thermal plate regions. A temperature correction value for adjusting the temperature within the thermal plate is settable for each of the thermal plate regions of the thermal plate. The line widths within the substrate which has been subjected to the photolithography process are measured, and an improvement in-plane tendency Za improved by change of the temperature settings is subtracted from an in-plane tendency Z of the measured line widths within the substrate to calculate an in-plane tendency Zb of the line widths within the substrate after change of temperature settings. The improvement in-plane tendency Za is calculated using the following expression. Za=?1×?×MT (?: a resist heat sensitivity, M: a calculation model, and T: temperature correction values for thermal plate regions).

Abstract: A dialysis system includes a first fluid heater, a second fluid heater, and a logic implementer configured to synchronize the duty cycles of the first and second heaters so that (i) power is not supplied to the first heater when power is supplied to the second heater and (ii) power is not supplied to the second heater when power is supplied to the first heater.

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 invention relates to a portable electrical device for melting snow and ice that has accumulated on the surface of a vehicle. During inclement weather, snow, sleet, rain or hail accumulate on all exposed surfaces of the automobile, in particular on the flat surfaces, such as on the roof, the hood, the trunk, or a truck bed of a vehicle. These areas of snow coverage are relatively large and significantly high off the ground, presenting a challenge to clean in terms of time and effort. Frequently, the owners of the vehicles need to use their automobiles early in the morning, when snow or ice that has accumulated over night is at its hardest. Since it is unsafe, and sometimes unlawful, to operate a vehicle that has not been properly snow dusted and deiced, cleaning must be effectuated before a vehicle can be driven on the roads.

Abstract: A control device for converting a control movement along a control path into a control signal has the control path corresponding to different control stages or control types. The control device has two measuring tracks with a linearly changing resistance associated with each track. In one embodiment, these measuring tracks are positioned concentric to each other in a semicircle. A voltage U, which is tapped via two opposite interconnected sliders, is applied to both measuring tracks at a junction point while the other junction point is connected to ground. If the detected values of the tapped voltages deviate from a corresponding stored value or pairs of values, there must be a fault, due to, for example a broken slider. This makes it possible to perform a test for determining the fault or a malfunctioning control device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods, systems, and apparatuses related to maintaining a temperature of a target element. Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide an apparatus comprising a heating element configured to heat a target element, a temperature sensing device configured to provide an output proportional to a temperature of the heating element or the target element, and a controller configured to modulate an amplitude, duration and frequency of individual current pulses of a series of current pulses applied to the heating element, based at least in part on the output of the temperature sensing device. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.

Abstract: Embodiments may include a method and an apparatus for inducing degradation through temperature cycling of a solder joint or a component on a surface mount printed wiring board (SMPWB) coupon. The coupon may include alternating layers of dielectric material and conductive material stacked one upon another and a heating trace mounted on a surface of the SMPWB or between layers of dielectric material. A first value indicative of a temperature of the heating trace may be determined based on a measured electrical resistance of the heating trace. A difference between the first value and a second value indicative of a desired temperature of the heating trace may be determined. A particular current and a particular voltage may be applied to the heating trace based on the determined difference between the first value and the second value.

Abstract: A carbon fiber heating source includes a bundle of carbon fibers combined with glass fibers. The bundle is surrounded with a silicone coating layer and has high tensile strength responsive to bending and tension while emitting heat at high temperature. The carbon fiber heat emitting source includes heat emitting fibers formed by combining carbon fibers with glass fibers. Connection terminals are formed at both ends of the heat emitting fibers so that electricity can be applied thereto. A coating member coats the surfaces of the heat emitting fibers and the connection terminals. The coating member may be a silicone coating layer formed on the heat emitting fibers and the connection terminals. The coating member may be a quartz pipe that is filled with LPG and hydrogen and receives and seals the heat emitting fibers such that only a portion of the connection terminals is exposed from the both ends.

Abstract: A method of using Joule heating to regenerate nanowire based biosensors. The nanowire based biosensor contains various detection molecules, such as nucleic acids, bound to the surface of the nanowire. Binding of analyte nucleic acids to the detection molecules alters the electrical properties of the nanowire, producing a detectable signal. By passing a Joule heating effective amount of electrical current through the nanowire, the nanowire may be heated to a temperature sufficient to dissociate the bound analyte from the detection molecule, without damaging the detection molecules or the bond between the detection molecules and the nanowire surface. The Joule heated nanowires may thus be regenerated to an analyte-free “fresh” state and used for further sensing. In alternate embodiments, the specificity of the nanowire for a particular analyte may be modulated by using Joule heating to heat the nanowire to an intermediate temperature where some analytes bind and some do not.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes a heat source; an input unit configured to input a plurality of operational modes of the heat source for cleaning a cavity; and a control unit configured to operate the heat source in accordance with a mode input through the input unit, wherein the input unit comprises a selection unit configured to select a specific mode of the plurality of operational modes.

Abstract: A smoker device having a low profile fits beneath the lower most rack of an oven thereby allowing full use of all possible shelves of the oven. The smoker device comprises a uniquely shaped bi-level heater element that allows the smoker device pan to be cradled just above the bottom wall of the oven chamber. A method and system allow a processor control of the smoker device manually or automatically as a part of a programmed recipe.

Abstract: In order that an object can be warmed through the use of thermoacoustic effect, the acoustic heating apparatus includes a first stack 3a sandwiched between a high-temperature-side heat exchanger 4 and a low-temperature input-side heat exchanger 5 in a first tube portion 2a and a second stack 3b sandwiched between a low-temperature-side heat exchanger 6 and a high-temperature output-side heat exchanger 7 in a second tube portion 2b. A standing wave and a traveling wave are generated through self excitation in the first tube portion 2a by cooling the low-temperature input-side heat exchanger 5 to minus 20° C. to 60° C. A temperature gradient is generated in the second stack 3b by propagating the resulting standing wave and the traveling wave to the second tube portion 2b, and high-temperature heat is output due to this temperature gradient from the high-temperature output-side heat exchanger 7 disposed on the second stack 3b side.

Abstract: A resistive heating element for a resistance heater includes a first heating section and a second heating section. The first and second heating sections are configured to jointly generate a power output that is equal to that generated by a single reference resistive element under a same applied voltage. The single reference resistive element has a reference length, a reference mass, and a reference surface area. The first and second heating sections are configured to transfer an amount of heat at least equal to that transferred by the single reference resistive element. A total mass of the first heating section and the second heating section is less than a reference mass of the single reference resistive wire.

Abstract: This heating cartridge (1) includes a thermally conductive tube (2) to be immersed in a thermo-expandable substance of the thermostatic element, electric heating means (3), arranged inside the tube and provided with wires for conducting an electric current supplied by an external current source, and connection means between the wires and ports (7) powered by the external current source, these connection means comprising a support base (4) integral with the tube. In order to facilitate the electric connection between the wires and the ports and make it more reliable, the connection means comprise coupling pieces (6), supported by the support base and designed to pinch each port against the corresponding wire.

Abstract: A fluid heating system configured to regulate a temperature of a fluid within a fluid receptacle having a fluid reservoir includes a processing unit, at least one fluid temperature sensor in electrical communication with the processing unit, and a heating element in electrical communication with the processing unit. The at least one fluid temperature sensor is configured to detect a temperature of one or both of the fluid receptacle and/or fluid retained within the fluid receptacle. The processing unit selectively activates and deactivates the heating element to regulate the temperature of the fluid within the fluid receptacle.

Abstract: A heated mouse includes a shell having a heat-conductive part, a heating device installed in the shell, and an insulating layer. The heating device comprises a heat source. The insulating layer forms a closed space together with the heat-conductive part for accommodating the heat source therein. The heat-conductive part absorbs heat from the heat source. The heat-preserving mouse can not only heat the mouse, but also avoid reducing the lifespan of the mouse caused by overheat.

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: The thermal analyzer comprises temperature deviation approximation formula holder which holds an approximate formula of a temperature deviation between sample and furnace and an elevating or lowering rate of the temperature of furnace during measuring the temperature deviation, programmed temperature corrector which corrects a programmed temperature in proportion to the elevating or lowering rate of the temperature. So that, since the temperature deviation is corrected in proportion to the elevating or lowering rate of the temperature program, the temperature deviation between sample and furnace is controlled to diminish when heating or cooling the sample using the temperature program which elevates or lowers the temperature of the sample or the furnace.

Abstract: There is disclosed a control system for operating automotive vehicle components. The control system typically includes at least a control module programmed with instructions for controlling a heater, a ventilator or both.

Abstract: A fuel cell is provided to furnish electrical power to an HVAC&R system, and the waste heat from the fuel cell is transferred to a secondary fluid directed to flow to the climate-controlled space of a building during periods of time in which heating is required. The heat rejected by the fuel cell may be a supplemental or primary source of heat as well used for precise temperature control within the climate-controlled space of the building. A channeling assembly is used to selectively direct the fuel cell heat either to and/or away from the climate-controlled space served by the HVAC&R system. Higher energy efficiencies of the HVAC&R equipment are achieved, and the “cold blow” phenomenon is reduced or eliminated.

Abstract: Disclosed is the electric heater including a base, and a heating unit having a plurality of unit heating elements disposed on a plate surface of the base and at least one of heating connection portions configured to heat and conductively connecting the unit heating elements to each other and non-heating connection portions configured not to heat and conductively connecting the unit heating elements to each other, thereby preventing a thermal stress concentration, thus to prevent damage to the heating unit and to enhance its output.

Abstract: There is provided a cooking device including a plurality of switches that is easy to use for users requiring only part of the functions of the cooking device.

Abstract: The present invention includes the use of conducting polymers as sensors in distributed sensing systems, as sensors and operating elements in multifunctional devices, and for conducting-polymer based multifunctional sensing fabrics suitable for monitoring humidity, breath, heart rate, blood (location of wounds), blood pressure, skin temperature, weight and movement, in a wearable, electronic embedded sensor system, as examples. A fabric comprising conducting polyaniline fibers that can be used to distribute energy for resistive heating as well as for sensing the fabric temperature is described as an example of a multifunctional sensing fabric.

Abstract: The number of wirings and the number of switching elements are decreased in a heater, a sensor, and the like. First to ninth heaters that heat a hot plate are connected into a matrix form between first power lines in a row direction and second power lines in a column direction. The first power lines are connected to one end of a power supply through three switching elements, respectively. The second power lines are connected to the other end of the power supply through three switching elements, respectively. On-off control is performed to the switching elements to select the heater to be driven. Therefore, the number of power lines and the number of switching elements are decreased compared with a conventional technique in which the heaters are separately wired.

Abstract: Apparatus for and methods of rethermalizing a package of refrigerated or frozen food are disclosed. In general, heating mechanisms are brought into conductive heat transfer contact with the package of food and operated for a duration of rethermalization time to rethermalize the package of food by heating the food to a rethermalized temperature, and then, if desired, to hold the rethermalized package of food at a desired holding temperature for a duration of holding time. The rethermalization time can be relatively short (e.g., thirty minutes or less), and the holding time can range from a very short period of time to a very long period of time (e.g., four, six, eight or more hours) without significant loss of food quality. Other features of the apparatus and methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A system is disclosed that advantageously monitors a status of a relief valve coupled to a water heater or other pressure vessel. By monitoring the relief valve, the system can limit the energy and water wasted resulting from the relief valve's failure. The system can have first and second sensors that monitor a temperature and pressure within the relief valve, and a water flow from the relief valve, respectively. If the temperature or pressure within the relief valve exceeds predetermined thresholds, or a water flow from the relief valve continues for greater than a predetermined interval, the system can restrict a flow of gas, electric current, or water to the water heater.

Abstract: A device includes an electrically heatable honeycomb body, particularly for treating an exhaust gas flow of a mobile internal combustion machine. The device includes sheet metal foils forming channels and being in electrical contact with a housing. The housing has a terminal for connection to a voltage source, a plurality of contact points disposed remotely from the terminal for contacting the sheet metal foils and a respective contact conductor between the terminal and each contact point. The contact conductors have the same electrical resistance. A motor vehicle having at least one such device is also provided.

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: In a heat generation unit of the present invention, a holder having an elastic force tube used for holding a film-sheet-shaped heat generation element that generates heat upon application of a voltage thereto is disposed in a container together with the heat generation element. The heat generation element is held in a predetermined position in the container by the elastic force of the holder, with electric power being supplied from power supply members thereto through the holder, so that the heat generation element can be reliably held in the container, with a partial heat generation in the holder of the heat generation element being suppressed.

Abstract: A power supply apparatus for an electric discharge machine configured to perform melt-removal on a workpiece by supplying pulse-like power to a machining gap between an electrode (1) and a workpiece (2).

Abstract: There is provided a cooking device that prevents an electricity conduction setting to a heating source from fluctuating when a user is not intending to operate a touch key. The cooking device includes a heating source (10) for heating an object to be heated; a top plate (1) provided on an upper surface of the device; a touch key (13) that is provided on the top plate and is operable to input a control command by being touched with a finger; a cancel electrode (5) provided at a periphery of the touch key; and a control unit (8) for controlling an electricity conduction to the heating source based on the control command.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for optimizing reaction for curable material is disclosed. In operating rooms that are relatively colder, heating curable material can increase the reaction time. A heater may be placed in thermal contact with the curable material to heat the curable material.

Abstract: Modular tankless water heater apparatus designed for use in a system including a water supply conduit and a hot water conduit. The apparatus includes a heating tube assembly with a plurality of tubes positioned in parallel juxtaposition and connected adjacent the ends into a series connected configuration to form a continuous fluid passage. A heating element is enclosed in each tube and extends between the ends with each heating element including an electrical connector and an electrical control. A programmable electrical power controller is connected to the electrical controls of the heating elements and to flow sensor and heat sensor apparatus positioned in the continuous fluid passage. The controller is programmed to activate the electrical controls one at a time in response to a demand signal from the flow sensor and heat sensor apparatus.