Abstract: A substrate support for a substrate processing system includes a plurality of heating zones, a baseplate, at least one of a heating layer and a ceramic layer arranged on the baseplate, and a plurality of heating elements provided within the at least one of the heating layer and the ceramic layer. The plurality of heating elements includes a first material having a first electrical resistance. Wiring is provided through the baseplate in a first zone of the plurality of heating zones. An electrical connection is routed from the wiring in the first zone to a first heating element of the plurality of heating elements. The first heating element is arranged in a second zone of the plurality of heating zones and the electrical connection includes a second material having a second electrical resistance that is less than the first electrical resistance.

Abstract: A method includes applying a first amount of heat to a vapor region of a precursor canister, measuring an indication of saturated vapor pressure within the vapor region during the applying the first amount of heat, and applying a second amount of heat to the vapor region of the precursor canister, the second amount of heat being adjusted from the first amount of heat based on the indication of saturated vapor pressure.

Abstract: A monitoring and controlling system for product holding arrangements, food bars and the like includes functional stations holding products at different locations and a station serving unit with a server and in communication by a local network with the functional product stations that have digital displays. The station serving unit communicates with a portable unit with a display and a scanner for scanning product label codes with product information via a wireless local network, and holds information about all products held in the stations and their current locations. Information is updated through scanned product label code information and/or instructions from the portable unit and through information from the functional product holding stations. The portable unit contains at least part of the information in the station serving unit, and has an interactive user interface enabling handling, controlling, and monitoring at least the products via the portable unit.

Abstract: A laundry additive composition is provided that includes at least one zeta potential modifier, a fluoropolymer, a hydrophobic agent with a melting point or glass transition temperature below 100° C., and an antimicrobial active for imparting fabric protection benefits to a fabric, such as improved stain and soil resistance, oil repellency, water repellency, softness, wrinkle and damage resistance, and better hand feel, as well as imparting microbiocidal or microbiostatic properties to the fabric and/or washing machine surfaces. Laundry additive compositions can be used as a pretreatment prior to washing, through soaking a fabric or garment. Alternately, they can be added to a washing treatment liquor that comprises either the wash or rinse cycle of an automatic washing machine, to first provide and then maintain and refresh fabric protection benefits imparted to the fabric.

Abstract: A substrate having a surface on which a resist film is formed and that has undergone pattern exposure processing and development processing is conveyed into a chamber and held by a holding plate. The surface of the substrate W held by the holding plate is irradiated with flash light emitted from flash lamps. The spectral distribution of the flash light has a peak in a wavelength range of 200 nm to 300 nm. The spectral distribution of the flash light also shows that the relative intensity at a wavelength of 300 nm is 20% or more higher than that at a wavelength of 500 nm. Since the resist film absorbs ultraviolet rays, the resist film can be selectively heated by irradiating the resist film with flash light that includes a large number of wavelength components in the ultraviolet region.

Abstract: The inventive concepts relate to an apparatus for treating a substrate. The apparatus includes a container having a treatment space of which a top end is opened, a rotatable support unit supporting a substrate disposed within the treatment space, a heating unit heating the substrate supported by the support unit, and a fluid supply unit supplying a fluid to the substrate disposed on the support unit. The heating unit includes a plurality of heaters installed in a plurality of zones of the support unit, respectively, and a controller controlling the plurality of heaters. The controller controls the plurality of heaters by a first mode until the plurality of zones reach a target temperature, and the controller controls the plurality of heaters by a second mode different from the first mode after the plurality of zones reach the target temperature.

Abstract: An electrical water heater adapted for energy management and a method of controlling the consumption of electrical power from the power supply grid of a utility is described. The bottom resistive heating element of the water heater is a dual element resistive heating element which has a high power rated resistive heating element to heat water and a further low power rated resistive heating element. The power rating of the low power resistive heating element is calculated to be lower than the supply grid diversified mean load. A controller has a communication link with a utility which manages the power supply grid. The utility can control the resistive heating elements of the dual element in such a way, and depending on conditions of the grid, to conserve energy and regulate its frequency thereby resulting in a cost saving to the consumer and the utility. The low power rated resistive heating element is also connectable to an alternative power source.

Abstract: This electronic cigarette comprises: —a heating element able to vaporize a substrate during a smoking period; —means for measuring an approximation of a characteristic of the voltage across the terminals of the heating element during this smoking period, said approximation being measured across the terminals of a circuit no component of which exhibits intrinsic characteristics not disturbed by the inhalations; —means of estimating an approximation of said characteristic of the voltage across the terminals of the heating element in the absence of inhalation during said smoking period; means of calculating an intensity representative of the intensity of the inhalations during said smoking period on the basis of an integration of the difference between said approximations during said smoking period; and —means of estimating the said quantity of substrate vaporized by the heating element at least on the basis of said intensity.

Abstract: The present invention introduces a method for controlling the power of an electric vaporizer, i.e. an electronic cigarette. In the method, the resistance of the heating unit of the vaporizer is measured. The system includes a controller and a memory, and the latter comprises a table where values of resistances and their corresponding default voltage or power values are stored. Additionally, minimum and maximum limit values of the voltages or powers may be stored. Based on the measured resistance, a suitable power or voltage value is determined. The power source is set to feed the heating element according to the selection. The user may however set the voltage or power input smaller or larger through the input means, comprising button(s) and a screen; despite the resistance value, but set limit values are not allowed to be exceeded.

Abstract: A battery operated hair dryer includes a battery management and control module to control how to efficiently dry a user's hair while maintaining the health and charge of the battery.

Abstract: In an electric water heater having adjustable set point and differential temperatures, upper and lower heating elements, and associated temperature sensors respectively operative to sense upper and lower tank water temperatures, a specially designed control system is provided for controlling the heating elements. The control system is operative to automatically set a selected setpoint temperature to a second setpoint temperature less than or equal to a predetermined magnitude, and to reduced the second setpoint temperature and/or the differential temperature, as a predetermined function of the magnitudes of detected time intervals between successive heat demands of the water heater, to reduce the energy cost associated with the water heater.

Abstract: A cooktop appliance apparatus for use in cooking. The appliance including a controller for controlling operation of the fan system based on an average power level supplied to a heating system, and based on a temperature measure associated with the one or more subsystems. The appliance including a hardware-implemented safety module comprising two or more temperature actuated safety circuits. The appliance including a user interface adapted to receive a user input with respect to operating parameters of the heating system, the user input including a heating control mode and a set temperature. The appliance including a controller adapted to identify a cooking vessel on an induction cooktop.

Abstract: Disclosed embodiments include thermoelectric-based thermal management systems and methods configured to heat and/or cool an electrical device. Thermal management systems can include at least one electrical conductor in electrical and thermal communication with a temperature-sensitive region of the electrical device and at least one thermoelectric device in thermal communication with the at least one electrical conductor. Electric power can be directed to the thermoelectric device by the same electrical conductor or an external power supply, causing the thermoelectric device to provide controlled heating and/or cooling to the electrical device via the at least one electrical conductor.

Abstract: A nozzle for attachment to a hair dryer includes a body and an airflow guiding member. The body has an internal surface which defines an airflow duct which extends from an air inlet end for receiving an airflow to a slot-shaped air outlet end of the body. The internal surface has opposing first surface sections which taper inwardly towards the air outlet end, and opposing second surface sections which taper outwardly towards the air outlet end. The airflow guiding member guides a first portion of a received airflow towards one of the second surface sections, and a second portion of the received airflow towards the other of the second surface sections.

Abstract: A circuit comprises a mechanical relay and a solid-state relay. The mechanical relay is configured to switch a first supply current of the first heating element on a first supply line. The solid-state relay is configured to switch a second supply current of a second heating element on a second supply line.

Abstract: A method for controlling temperatures in an epitaxial reactor for use in a wafer-production process is provided. The method is implemented by a computing device coupled to a memory. The method includes transmitting, to a heating device in a first zone of the epitaxial reactor, an output power instruction representing a base output power. The method additionally includes determining an actual time period for a temperature in the first zone of the epitaxial reactor to reach a target temperature, determining a difference between the actual time period and a reference time period, determining an output power offset based on the difference, and storing the output power offset in the memory in association with the heating device.

Abstract: A hairdryer including a heater, a fluid flow path and a thermal fuse wherein the fluid flow path extends from a fluid inlet to a fluid outlet, the heater extends within the fluid flow path from an upstream end of the heater to a downstream end of the heater and the thermal fuse extends across the downstream end of the heater. The heater may be generally cylindrical in shape and the thermal fuse may extend at least partially radially across the downstream end of the heater. The heater may be annular in cross-section and the thermal fuse may extend at least partially radially across the annular downstream end of the heater. The heater may comprise an element, a scaffold around which the element is wound and an outer wall wherein the outer wall extends about the element and the scaffold.

Abstract: A water heater (10) is suitable for point-of-use applications. The water heater includes a first temperature sensor, a second temperature sensor, and a controller connected to the first and second temperature sensors. The controller is configured to receive the signals generated by the first temperature sensor and the second temperature sensor and to detect a flow condition of water within the heat without using mechanical flow detection means and without supplying stand-by heating by adding an absolute value of the sensed change in temperature of water at the first temperature sensor to the absolute value of the sensed change in temperature of water at the second temperature sensor to yield a sum and then comparing the sum to a reference temperature.

Abstract: A method for detecting malfunction of an electric boiler, the method including: a) detecting over scale accumulation by the steps of: metering the boiler's heating cycle, being a time from activating the boiler by a thermostat thereof until deactivating the boiler by the thermostat; if the heating cycle is longer than a threshold, then indicating over accumulation of scale in the boiler; b) detecting a malfunction of insulation of the boiler, by the steps of: metering the boiler's cooling cycle, being a time from deactivating the boiler by a thermostat thereof until reactivating the boiler by the thermostat; if the cooling cycle is shorter than the threshold, then indicating malfunction of insulation of the boiler; thereby allowing indicating malfunction of said boiler only by metering the heating and cooling cycles of said boiler.

Abstract: During a transient operating condition in an electric machine, a diagnostic routine associated with the electric machine may erroneously indicate a fault. According to the disclosure, a flag is set when a transient condition is detected. The flag is communicated to the diagnostic routine. The output of the diagnostic routine may be altered when the flag is set, i.e., when a transient is detected.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a control system for operating a heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system. A controller operates compressors in tandem. In response to detection of a high pressure condition in refrigerant flowing through a high pressure side of the HVAC system, the controller operates the HVAC system with a first compressor on and a second compressor off.

Abstract: The present invention provides a hot water supply device. When a hot water supply operation is started in response to an instruction for checking a heat exchange state, a heat exchange state determiner 12 measures a post-boiling temperature Tup, which indicates the rise width of a temperature detected by a heat exchange outlet temperature sensor 26 from the point when the hot water supply operation stopped, and outputs a heat exchange success report if the post-boiling temperature Tup is lower than a first threshold temperature. Further, when the hot water supply operation is started independently of the instruction for checking a heat exchange state, the heat exchange state determiner 12 outputs a report of clogging of a heat exchanger if the post-boiling temperature Tup is higher than a second threshold temperature Bth, which is higher than the first threshold temperature Ath.

Abstract: An air freshening device includes a liquid supply operable to supply liquid fragrance material, a wick in contact with the liquid supply, a conductive mesh material operable to retain the liquid material in interstices thereof, and a power supply operable to apply voltage across the mesh material so as to heat the mesh material and the liquid fragrance material contained in interstices of the mesh material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid. The air freshening device is operable to substantially prevent deposition of the vaporized liquid material.

Abstract: Nutritional substance systems and methods are disclosed enabling the tracking and communication of changes in nutritional, organoleptic, and aesthetic values of nutritional substances, and further enabling the adaptive storage and adaptive conditioning of nutritional substances.

Abstract: A dynamic environment (e.g., an automated industrial process) has multiple conditions in response to which corresponding actions are required, and comprises various equipment, control device(s) to control the equipment, and one or more sensors to generate input signal(s) representing a monitored condition of the environment. A control system for the environment comprises a master processor and one or more co-processors, wherein the master processor configures a given co-processor to evaluate only a first subset of conditions expected to occur in the environment within a specified time period (e.g., less than a response time of the master processor), and to provide first control information representing an action to be taken if a particular condition of the first subset is satisfied.

Abstract: A system for regulating current flow in a wet shave razor includes one or more conductive materials, such as metals, in electric circuit connection, wherein each conductive material has unique resistance properties and is used to regulate the amount of current (i.e. heat) flowing to at least one electrically powered component on the blade cartridge, and particularly one or more electrically powered devices/elements on the blade cartridge such as, but not limited to, one or more blades, one or more heating elements, a vibration device, illuminating device (e.g. LED or bulb), gauges, or indicators. The length and thickness of the conductive materials used in the electric circuit further affects the total circuit resistance and, accordingly, the amount of current flowing to the blade cartridge for heating the blades. In other embodiments, the dissimilar material conductors may be used to regulate current flow to alternative electrically conductive components.

Abstract: Nutritional substance systems and methods are disclosed enabling the tracking and communication of changes in nutritional, organoleptic, and aesthetic values of nutritional substances, and further enabling the adaptive storage and adaptive conditioning of nutritional substances.

Abstract: An electrical load balanced heating system and method. The load balanced heating system and method is configured to facilitate smooth electrical operation as well as energy savings. The system is configured to group the heating elements based on load characteristics of the heating elements and turn the groups on and off sequentially in a matter that promote efficient and smooth operations.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of operating an electric heater having a resistive heating element selectively coupled to an AC power supply by a first pair of contacts of a first relay having opened and closed state conditions and by a second pair of contacts of a second relay having opened and closed state conditions and a switch coupled in parallel to the second pair of contacts. The method includes changing a state condition of one of the first and second relays while maintaining the state condition of the other of the first and second relays; upon the changing of the state condition, shunting the output of the second relay contacts coupled with the resistive heating element to the switch; and changing the state condition of the other of the first and second relays after completion of debounce for the one of the first and second relays.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal organic chemical vapor deposition device and a temperature control method therefor. The device comprises: a chamber; a susceptor which is installed inside the chamber to allow rotation therein, wherein at least one substrate is settled thereon; a plurality of heaters which heat the susceptor, wherein the temperature is independently controlled; a gas sprayer which is positioned in the upper part of the susceptor, and sprays gases of group III and V toward the susceptor; a plurality of temperature detection sensors which are positioned in the upper part of the susceptor, and measure the temperature of heating regions heated by each heater; and a controller which retains temperature setting values necessary for the heating regions, and controls the temperature of the heating regions by comparing sensing temperature values detected by each temperature detection sensor with the setting values necessary for the heating regions.

Abstract: An apparatus is capable of switching between a mode in which a first resistance heating element and a second resistance heating element are connected in series and a mode in which they are connected in parallel. When a temperature increase rate detected by a temperature detection unit is smaller than a threshold rate although a current detected by a current detection unit is greater than a threshold current, a notification of a failure is issued.

Abstract: A control system for a water heater generally includes a water heater controller configured to receive upper and lower sensor temperatures associated with water in the respective upper and lower portions of the tank. The water heater controller is configured to determine a value indicative of a portion of water in the tank at a desired set-point temperature as a function of the upper sensor temperature, the lower sensor temperature, and the desired set-point temperature. The water heater controller is configured to wirelessly transmit at least one signal indicative of said value indicative of the portion of water in the tank at the desired set-point temperature. A user interface includes a plurality of selectively illuminated segmented portions. The user interface is configured to receive said value from the water heater controller and to selectively illuminate a number of segmented portions representative of said value.

Abstract: A control device includes a storage device storing reference power, basic device point information showing a control priority representing a degree for determining a control order of a plurality of devices, and room information showing a priority of each room in which the plurality of devices are disposed; an acquisition unit acquiring power usage of the plurality of devices; a changing unit changing the basic device point information based on the room information; a determination unit determining whether or not the acquired power usage has exceeded the reference power; and a transmitting unit transmitting, to a device of the plurality of devices that is relatively high in control priority after change, an instruction to reduce the power usage of this device, based on determination that the acquired power usage has exceeded the reference power.

Abstract: Disclosed is an apparatus for applying RF energy to an object in an energy application zone via one or more radiating elements at a plurality of modulation space elements (MSEs). The apparatus may include at least one processor configured to cause supply of RF energy to one or more of the radiating elements in a first subset of the plurality of MSEs, at a first power level common to the MSEs in the first subset and for varying time durations, and cause supply of RF energy to one or more of the radiating elements in a second subset of the plurality of MSEs, at power levels lower than the first power level and for a time duration common to the MSEs of the second subset.

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: An electric heater for an automobile vehicle, with an electronic controller and a heat transmitting net, whereby the heat transmitting net contains a multitude of PTC-heating elements, a multitude of contact sheets and heat dissipating fins, whereby the PTC-heating elements are respectively arranged between two adjacent contact sheets and form a heating element with the contact sheets whereby some of the contact sheets are connected to connectors, which are arranged at the electronic controller and are connected to either a positive pole of a power supply or a negative pole of a power supply and are arranged in an alternating order, whereby the quantity of connectors that are connected to a positive pole of a power supply and the quantity of connectors that are connected to a negative pole of a power supply differs by one.

Abstract: An electric heater for an automobile vehicle, with an electronic controller and a heat transmitting net, whereby the heat transmitting net contains a multitude of PTC-heating elements, a multitude of contact sheets, a multitude of heat dissipating fins and a multitude of distance elements. At least one PTC-heating element and at least one distance element is arranged between two adjacent contact sheets, whereby the PTC-heating elements and the distance elements between the adjacent contact sheets and the adjacent contact sheets themselves form a heating element, whereby the heating elements are connected to the electronic controller through connectors, which are arranged at the electronic controller and are connected to a power supply, whereby the heat transmitting net is divided in a first area, which contains only distance elements, and a second area, which contains PTC-heating elements and/or distance elements.

Abstract: A control system for an electric water heater having an upper heating element and a lower heating element is disclosed. The control system includes a control module that controls operation of the electric water heater by selectively toggling the upper and lower heating elements between an ON state and an OFF state and a consumer interface module that allows a consumer to input a set point temperature and select an energy savings mode for the electric water heater. The control module regularly monitors hot water usage and adjusts the set point temperature by a predetermined setback amount until a capacity of the water heater matches consumer usage.

Abstract: A control device for an electrical heating device for a cooking field with a cooking field plate comprises an electro-mechanical switching device for adjusting a power of said heating device with different power levels and comprises two different heating element. The switching device is configured so that starting from a zero-position and rotating in a first rotation direction, a power level for a first heating element is adjusted in a cooking-mode. Rotation in the other direction activates a second heating element in a warm-keeping mode with significantly lower power. A relay is closed by a thermomechanical temperature sensing device below a defined switching temperature of 60° C. to 100° C. and opened above the switching temperature. When closed, the relay connects the two heating elements to an operating voltage for common operation. When opened, the first heating element is switched off for exclusive operation of the second heating element.

Abstract: A high efficiency oven is disclosed. An exemplary high efficiency oven includes two or more infrared heating elements selected to generate different wavelengths in an oven cavity, a temperature sensor, and a system controller.

Abstract: A heating control system which allows a plurality of heaters to heat an object without depending on a variation in characteristics among a plurality of heater power sources includes: a thermocouple which detects a temperature of an object to be heated; temperature control means that receives a target temperature and a current temperature, and carries out electric power control so that these temperatures match; electric current and voltage detecting means for detecting an electric power value and a current electric power; and target electric power calculating means that receives the electric power value, and calculates the target electric power by multiplying the electric power value by a given ratio. The temperature control means receives the target electric power and the current electric power, and carries out electric power control so that the current electric power matches the target electric power.

Abstract: A method is provided for interconnecting a single electrical heating element of a hot water heater to first and second AC electrical power sources. Typically, these first and second AC electrical power sources include a utility provided electrical power source and a renewable power source that generates AC power from DC power. The method includes operating a controller that selectively connects and disconnects the first and second power sources. If sufficient electrical power is available from the renewable power source, the utility provided electrical power source may be disconnected to preferentially utilize renewable energy.

Abstract: This method for deicing a direct current power supply line for railway vehicles is provided for a line extending between at least a first and a second reversible substations able to supply an electrical current circulating on the electrical power supply line, the first substation being controlled in a current supply mode, to supply an electrical current to the electrical power supply line and the second substation being controlled in a current recovery mode, to recover the electrical current from the electrical power supply line and send it back on an electrical power supply network. The method comprises establishing a voltage difference between the output terminals of the first and second substations such that a current circulates on the electrical power supply line between the two substations and that the heat produced by the circulation of the current causes the deicing of the power supply line between the two substations.

Abstract: A method for heating a fluid line system with at least two electric heating elements (R1, R2, R3), which are operated electrically in parallel and each heating element (R1/R2/R3) is separately supplied with a controlled operating current (I1/I2/I3) for adjusting its heating power. Furthermore, the invention relates to a heating system for such a fluid line system (1), in particular for the application of the method according to the present invention. The heating system has heating elements (R1-R3) which are electrically connected in parallel and are each connected to a separate control element (T1, T2, T3). Each heating element (R1/R2/R3) can be controlled via its associated control element (T1, T2, T3) for the individual adjustment of its heating power.

Abstract: A countertop multi-function oven. The oven, comprising: an internal compartment; a door for the compartment; at least five heating elements; the fifth heating element being located between two top heating elements; a controller coupled to the heating elements for providing a variable wattage; a user interface coupled to the controller, wherein upon user operation of the interface an oven mode is selected from one or more predetermined oven modes.

Abstract: The image heating apparatus includes first and heat generation member, a connection state switching section switching the first and second heat generation members between a serial connection state and a parallel connection state, the connection state switching section having a first make-or-break-contact relay and a second transfer-contact relay, a drive element provided used for controlling power supplied to the first and second heat generation members, and a capacitor between a power supply path closer to the side of the first and second heat generation members rather than the first relay and a power supply path closer to the commercial power supply side rather than the drive element. The image heating apparatus can suppress an increase in noise level of a noise terminal voltage by performing power control on the heater.

Abstract: A control unit can select a large-number control zone model in which the number of control zones, which are independently controlled, is large, and a small-number control zone model in which the number of control zones, which are independently controlled, is small. When a temperature is increased or decreased, the control unit can select the small-number control zone model so as to control, based on signals from temperature sensors of the respective control zones C1 . . . C5 whose number is small, heaters located on the respective control zones C1 . . . C5. When a temperature is stabilized, the control unit can select the large-number control zone model so as to control, based on signals signals from the temperature sensors of the respective control zones C1 . . . C10 whose number is large, the heaters located on the respective control zones C1 . . . C10.

Abstract: A flow heater is provided including a heating element, a channel heated by said heating element for heating liquid flowing therethrough, and temperature sensing means in thermal communication with both the heating element and the channel so as to be sensitive to the temperature of the liquid in the channel and the temperature of the heating element.

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 image formation comprises a fixing unit, first to fourth switching units, a DC power supply unit, an accumulating unit, a charging unit, and a switching control unit. The first switching unit switches the state of connection between the fixing unit and a commercial power source. The DC power supply unit supplies another electric load of the apparatus than the fixing unit with DC power. The second switching unit switches the state of connection between the DC power supply unit and the commercial power source. The third switching unit switches the state of connection between the charging unit and the commercial power source. The fourth switching unit switches the state of connection between the accumulating unit and the electric load. Based on the state of conduction of the first switching unit, the switching control unit switches the states of conduction of the other three switching units.