Comprising Material To Be Heated Patents (Class 219/547)
  • Patent number: 11951810
    Abstract: Provided is a windshield including a glass body with a rectangular shape including a peripheral edge that includes a first side and a second side and a third side that meet the first side; and a heating element disposed at or near the peripheral edge of the glass body, the heating element heating the glass body for deicing. The glass body includes a first region extending along the first side, a second region located along the first side adjacent to the first region, and a third region located along the first side adjacent to the second region on an opposite side to the first region. The heating element is disposed at least in the first region and the second region, heats the first region to higher temperatures than the second region, and heats the second region to higher temperatures than the third region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2024
    Assignee: NIPPON SHEET GLASS COMPANY, LIMITED
    Inventor: Hiromichi Yamashita
  • Patent number: 11845691
    Abstract: A material including a transparent substrate coated with a stack of thin layers including at least one silver-based functional metallic layer and at least one zinc-based metallic layer. The zinc-based metallic layer is located above or below a silver-based functional metallic layer and separated from this silver-based functional metallic layer by at least one intermediate oxide layer based on one or more elements chosen from zinc, titanium, zirconium, tin, niobium, magnesium, hafnium and nickel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 15, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 19, 2023
    Assignee: SAINT-GOBAIN GLASS FRANCE
    Inventors: Denis Guimard, Johann Skolski, Joël Bellemin
  • Patent number: 11813821
    Abstract: Vehicle glazing, which once served just to provide for vision and protect from the elements, has been taking on new functions as the complexity and functionality of modern automobiles has evolved. Performance films and interlayers are often used to add to and enhance the functionality of laminates. These functions include solar control, sound dampening, head up display and variable light transmittance. Recent advances have made it possible to produce electronic circuits on thin transparent substrates that are essentially invisible under normal lighting conditions. While these circuits can be inserted into the laminate and successfully laminated, the edges of the circuit insert are prone to objectionable aesthetics due to mismatch between the substrate and the interlayer index of refraction, thickness and color.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 14, 2023
    Assignee: AGP America S.A.
    Inventors: Mario Arturo Mannheim Astete, Juan Pablo Suarez, Andres Fernando Sarmiento Santos, Gonzalo Rafael Vizcarra Mendoza
  • Patent number: 11692754
    Abstract: An ice maker includes an ice mold having an inner surface and an outer surface. The inner surface of the ice mold is configured to retain water for forming ice cubes in the ice mold. The ice mold includes a plurality of ice lobes each shaped to form a respective ice cube in the ice mold. A heater assembly is positioned on the outer surface of the ice mold. In some embodiments, each of a plurality of heating elements of the heater assembly is aligned with a corresponding lobe of the plurality of lobes for supplying heat to ice cubes formed in the lobes for releasing the ice cubes from the ice mold. In some embodiments, the heater assembly includes a heater having a ceramic substrate and one or more electrically resistive traces and electrically conductive traces thick film printed on the ceramic substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Jerry Wayne Smith, Russell Edward Lucas, Calvin Dale Murphy, Peter Alden Bayerle
  • Patent number: 11665788
    Abstract: A transparent display system includes a transparent display, a touch-sensitive layer, and a heater layer. The touch-sensitive layer is connected to the transparent display and is configured to detect a touch-based input to the transparent display. The heater layer is connected to the transparent display and includes a trace array and one or more electrodes operable to activate the trace array to generate heat to heat at least a portion of the transparent display based on the touch-based input.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2022
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Ercan Mehmet Dede, Sean P. Rodrigues
  • Patent number: 11506623
    Abstract: A system such as a vehicle may have windows with one or more conductive layers. The conductive layers may form part of an infrared-light-blocking layer or other layer. The infrared-light-blocking layer or other layer may be formed as a coating on a transparent structural window layer such as an outer or inner glass layer in a laminated window or may be embedded in a polymer layer between the outer and inner layers. Segmented terminals and elongated terminals that may extend past two or more segmented terminals may be coupled to the edges of the conductive layers. Using these terminals, control circuitry can apply localized ohmic heating currents and can make resistance measurements on the conductive layers to detect cracks.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2022
    Assignee: Apple Inc.
    Inventors: Martin Melcher, Christopher D. Jones, James R. Wilson
  • Patent number: 11480266
    Abstract: A heated water valve provides electrical resistance heaters placed within flange connections of the valve to provide for an integrated heater valve assembly with good heat conduction and spreading capabilities that can prevent water valve freezing at low temperatures.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2022
    Assignee: WISYS TECHNOLOGY FOUNDATION, INC.
    Inventor: Colin Feuster
  • Patent number: 11297692
    Abstract: A panel includes a substrate and an electro-thermal layer disposed on the substrate. A thermally conductive and electrically insulating top layer is disposed on the electro-thermal layer. The top layer, electro-thermal layer, and substrate can all be printed layers. The electro-thermal layer can be a first electro-thermal layer and the top layer can be a first top layer, wherein at least one additional electro-thermal layer and at least one additional top layer are disposed on the first top layer, wherein the additional electro-thermal and top layers are disposed in an alternating order.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 1, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 5, 2022
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventors: Sameh Dardona, Richard J. Paholsky, Paul Sheedy, Marcin Piech, Wayde R. Schmidt
  • Patent number: 10951307
    Abstract: An optical communication system includes a free space optical transceiver within a housing to transmit and receive optical communication signals along an optical pathway through a window in the housing. Heating elements applied to the interior surface of the window substantially uniformly heat the window such that the window is kept free from condensation and ice without introducing significant distortions in the wavefront. Accordingly, the heating elements are designed and placed on the window such that the obscuration caused by the presence of the heating elements within the optical pathway and the wavefront distortion caused by temperature gradients within the cross-section of the window in the optical pathway cause less than 1 decibel (dB) in transmission loss as compared to the same system without the heating elements on the window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 16, 2021
    Assignee: EOS Defense Systems USA, Inc.
    Inventors: Paolo Zambon, Siegfried Fleischer
  • Patent number: 10812016
    Abstract: Disclosed is a roofing underlayment providing mechanical and electrical connection for solar shingles that includes a water-impervious membrane adapted to be attached to a roof. The underlayment also includes a mechanical attachment member configured to mechanically attach a solar shingle to the roof, as well as an electrical conductor having an electrical first portion of which is embedded within the membrane, having an electrical second portion which is configured to electrically connect to a solar shingle, and having an electrical third portion which is configured to electrically connect to an electrical circuit. An air gap is provided that allows for air flow below the solar shingles. The air gap comprises a space between a bottom surface of the solar shingles and a bottom surface of the membrane.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2020
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Seth Myer
  • Patent number: 10214908
    Abstract: A roofing product can include a substrate and a heater. The roofing product may be placed along portions of a roof where heat can help to reduce the likelihood of water freezing into ice while along a roof. In an embodiment, a hinge can be used in a roofing product to aid in folding of the roofing product or to retain a non-planar shape of the roofing product. The roofing product may or may not include a self-adhesive backing. A roofing product can include plurality of heaters that can provide sufficient heating should a particular heater fail. Method of fabricating the roofing product can be adapted for a fabrication line that can operate continuously.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 26, 2019
    Assignee: CERTAINTEED CORPORATION
    Inventors: Robert L. Jenkins, Stephen A. Koch, Gregory F. Jacobs
  • Patent number: 9511649
    Abstract: There are provided view adjustment areas respectively at an upper edge part, a lower edge part, and right-and-left side edge parts of a windshield glass, wherein the view adjustment areas are configured to be respectively switchable between in a transparent state in which forward visibility is ensured and in a translucent or non-transparent state in which the forward visibility is limited (for example, adhesion of a liquid-crystal film). Thereby, the size or the shape of the window-frame structure of the windshield glass which is physically unchangeable can be visually changed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: MAZDA MOTOR CORPORATION
    Inventors: Yoshihisa Okamoto, Takahide Nouzawa, Kazuo Nishikawa, Atsuhide Kishi, Takayoshi Nakamoto, Naoki Yamada, Hironobu Yonezawa, Toshihiro Yoshida, Hiroko Kajikawa, Masaki Chiba
  • Patent number: 9166400
    Abstract: An electrical system responsive to overheating and/or electric arcing of an electrically conductive member, e.g. a heating member of an aircraft windshield, includes a first switch in a first current path, and a second switch in a second current path. The first current path is from an electrical power supply through the first switch, through an arc sensor to the heating member to the power supply. The second current path is from a temperature sensor monitoring the temperature of the heating member through the second switch to a temperature controller. When the temperature of the heating member is at or above a predetermined value, the temperature controller causes the first switch to open. When there is arcing, the second switch is moved to the open position. The temperature controller senses that the second switch is open and causes the first switch to open.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 16, 2015
    Date of Patent: October 20, 2015
    Assignee: PPG Industries Ohio, Inc.
    Inventors: Yu Jiao, Hars Gyorgy, Ali N. Rashid, Joseph Medzius
  • Patent number: 9134559
    Abstract: The invention is related to a method of preparing a conducting film on an ultra-thin glass substrate. The preparing method uses magnetron sputtering, setting an initial magnetron sputtering power and/or an initial flow rate of argon to deposit the conducting film, detecting film layer stress of the conducting film by a pressure sensor on provided on the ultra-thin glass substrate, and adjusting a magnetron sputtering power and/or a flow rate of argon gas in real time according to the detected film layer stress, such that an absolute value of the film layer stress is kept below a predetermined value; the ultra-thin glass substrate has a thickness less than 0.1 mm.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 15, 2015
    Assignee: BOE TECHNOLOGY GROUP CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Weifeng Zhou, Jianshe Xue
  • Patent number: 9095007
    Abstract: A heating system for use with roofing shingles, the heating system including a flexible grounding layer having a transverse dimension that is no greater than substantially equal to a transverse dimension of the roofing shingles, a flexible heater laminated to the flexible grounding layer, wherein the flexible heater includes a substrate, a conductive resistive ink pattern disposed on the substrate, wherein the ink pattern generates heat when electricity passes through the ink pattern, wherein the heating system includes a nailing portion that extends longitudinally along one side of the heating system, the nailing portion of the heating system having a transverse dimension that is at least substantially equal to a transverse dimension of a nailing portion of the roofing shingles, wherein the flexible heater is disposed on the flexible grounding layer such that the ink pattern is disposed outside of the nailing portion of the heating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 6, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: Augusta Glen Partners LLC.
    Inventor: Eugene B. McGillycuddy
  • Patent number: 9012811
    Abstract: Aspects of the present invention are directed to providing a printed circuit board including a top conductive layer; a bottom conductive layer; a plurality of electronic components arranged on at least one of the top conductive layer or the bottom conductive layer; a heater layer interposed between the top conductive layer and the bottom conductive layer and configured to generate and transfer heat to at least one of the electronic components.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 29, 2012
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Viasystems Technologies Corp. L.L.C.
    Inventor: Gil White
  • Patent number: 9004407
    Abstract: An anti-icing system includes a component surface having a composite structure including a composite layer, and at least one heating element formed within the composite layer, wherein the heating element is configured to provide a transfer of heat to the component surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 24, 2008
    Date of Patent: April 14, 2015
    Assignee: Middle River Aircraft Systems
    Inventors: David P. Calder, Graham Howarth
  • Publication number: 20150054591
    Abstract: A heater substrate for heating an alkali metal cell including an alkali metal includes a first heater wiring formed in a region surrounding an alkali metal encapsulating part in which the alkali metal is encapsulated; a second heater wiring formed in the region surrounding the alkali metal encapsulating part and inside the first heater wiring; and a third heater wiring formed outside the first heater wiring. A first electric current flowing in the first heater wiring is divided into a second electric current flowing in the second heater wiring and a third electric current flowing in the third heater wiring. A direction of the first electric current is opposite to a direction of the second electric current and a direction of the third electric current.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 6, 2014
    Publication date: February 26, 2015
    Applicant: RICOH COMPANY, LTD.
    Inventors: Kazuhiko Adachi, Kazuhiro Harasaka, Shunichi Sato
  • Patent number: 8952302
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a ceramic-coated heater in which the outer surface of a heater rod is coated with ceramic to improve the physical properties thereof including durability, corrosion resistance, and the like, thereby enabling the heater to be used in water or air. The outer surface of the heater rod is coated with a ceramic composition to which an acrylic corrosion resistant wax is added, thereby strengthening the bonding force of the coating layer film, and thus improving the physical properties thereof including durability, corrosion resistance, and the like to enable the heater to be used in water. Therefore, the ceramic-coated heater of the present invention enables high thermal conductivity using less current and reduces energy consumption so that it can be utilized in a wide variety of industrial fields.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Thermolon Korea Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Chung Kwon Park
  • Patent number: 8946601
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating structure or areas adjacent such structure, such as a roof on a building for example, exposed to varying weather conditions and methods of making and use of the apparatus. The heating apparatus can include a heating element and heat supplying components. In one embodiment, the heating apparatus also includes a heatable cover panel and fasteners or other fastening components or materials for securing the heating element and cover panel to the structure. The heat supplying components may include one or more heater cable or heater cable sections penetrating one or more heater cable channels in the heating element. The apparatus may also utilize various insulating and other materials, including paint on exposed surfaces of the apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Brian Casey
  • Patent number: 8633426
    Abstract: The invention relates to an electrically heatable sheet of glass (10), including at least one electrically conductive coating applied on at least one side of the sheet of glass and also to at least one contacting applied at least in regions on the coating, the contacting being configured as a spray coating.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Inventors: David Macher, Gerhard Kremer, Urs Maron
  • Patent number: 8608885
    Abstract: A substrate heat treatment apparatus includes a heat-treating plate having a flat upper surface, support devices formed of a heat-resistant resin for contacting and supporting a substrate, a seal device disposed annularly for rendering gastight a space formed between the substrate and heat-treating plate, and exhaust bores for exhausting gas from the space. The support devices are formed of resin, and the upper surface of the heat-treating plate is made flat, whereby a reduced difference in the rate of heat transfer occurs between contact parts and non-contact parts on the surface of the substrate. Consequently, the substrate is heat-treated effectively while suppressing variations in heat history over the surface of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Dainippon Screen Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Shigehiro Goto, Keiji Matsuchika, Akihiko Morita
  • Patent number: 8563864
    Abstract: A smooth-bore plastic tubing with an outer helical support bead is resistant to collapse and incorporates plural conductors disposed outside of the tubing bore and insulated both from ambient and from one another. The conductors may have a desired relatively high thermal conductivity to tidal air flow within the tubing, while also having a comparatively high thermal resistance to ambient. The conductors may be electrical conductors, or may include fiber optic conductors as well in the same tubing structure. A method for making the tubing includes extruding a molten thermoplastic ribbon. The plastic ribbon is wrapped to form a tubular body, and a grooved plateau portion is wrapped upon the tubular body. At least one conductor is embedded in the groove of the plateau portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventor: Eric Carlson
  • Publication number: 20130140296
    Abstract: A heating cartridge includes a tube that is thermally and electrically conductive, a first end portion thereof is to be embedded within a heat-expandable material of a thermostatic element; a rod which is electrically conductive and extends at least partially inside the tube in a substantially coaxial manner; and a heating resistor comprising a tubular body which comprises an electrically resistant material and radially positioned between a first end portion of the rod and the first end portion of the tube, by forming a cylindrical interface for electrical contact between the rod and the inner surface of the tubular body as well as a cylindrical interface for electrical contact between the tube and the outer surface of the tubular body, the tube and the rod including respectively, opposite their first end portion, second end portions which are respectively adapted to be connected to the poles of an external current source.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 26, 2011
    Publication date: June 6, 2013
    Applicant: VERNET
    Inventors: René Mas, Loïc Madoux
  • Patent number: 8426776
    Abstract: A defrost window includes a transparent substrate, a carbon nanotube film, a first electrode, a second electrode and a protective layer. The transparent substrate has a top surface. The carbon nanotube film is disposed on the top surface of the transparent substrate. The first electrode and the second electrode electrically connect to the carbon nanotube film and space from each other. The protective layer covers the carbon nanotube film.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: Beijing FUNATE Innovation Technology Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yu-Quan Wang, Liang Liu
  • Patent number: 8344295
    Abstract: Techniques for providing heat to a small area and apparatus capable of providing heat to a small area are provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 1, 2013
    Assignee: Korea University Research and Business Foundation
    Inventors: Kwangyeol Lee, Donghoon Choi
  • Patent number: 8304701
    Abstract: A resistive heating element 30 has a higher molybdenum carbide content in a central portion 35 than in a peripheral portion 34. Since molybdenum carbides have a low temperature coefficient of resistance compared to molybdenum, the amount of heat generated in the central portion 35 of the resistive heating element 30 does not increase as much as in the peripheral portion 34 even when the temperature is increased, and the increase in difference in temperature between the peripheral portion 34 and the central portion 35 can be suppressed. In other words, generation of hot spots near the center can be suppressed and a good uniform heating property in a wide range of operation temperatures can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: November 6, 2012
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yuji Akatsuka, Yoshinobu Goto
  • Patent number: 8247747
    Abstract: A plasticating barrel is provided with a primary heating system having at least one laminated ceramic heater, where the ceramic heater has an electrical insulating layer interposed between the ceramic heater layer and an outer wall of the barrel, and the longitudinal length of the ceramic heater is arranged over a portion of the barrel length. A secondary heating system may also be provided and overlaps, at least in part, the primary heating system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 21, 2012
    Assignee: Xaloy, Inc.
    Inventors: Bruce F. Taylor, Richard D. Palmer, Bruce E. Hyllberg, Timothy W. Womer
  • Patent number: 8212190
    Abstract: A protective handle sheath including a body adapted to wrap about the existing appliance handle, a heat-activated anti-bacterial agent impregnated within the body, and first and second hook and loop strips attached to oppositely situated first and second longitudinal edges of the body respectively. The first and second hook and loop strips generate heat when engaged with each other such that the heat is transferred through the body and thereby transforms the anti-bacterial agent from an inactive state to an active state. In this manner, the anti-bacterial agent is released out from an interior of the body and thereby adapted to directly contact an outer surface of the existing appliance handle. Conversely, the anti-bacterial agent automatically returns to an inactive state when the first hook and loop strip is separated from the second hook and loop strip. Thus, the inactive anti-bacterial agent is absorbed into the interior of the body.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2012
    Inventors: Priscilla Gibbs, Evangeline Jenkins
  • Patent number: 8058592
    Abstract: A gas sensor is equipped with a built-in ceramic heater. The gas sensor detects the concentration of a predetermined gas component contained in the exhaust gas. The ceramic heater has a heater base member made of ceramic, a heating element formed in the inside of the heater base material, and a pair of external electrode pads that is electrically connected to the output terminals for the outer leads. The external electrode pads, the heating element, and the heater leads are made of base metal. The outer surface of each external electrode pad is covered only with a dense protective film made of noble metal such as gold (Au), silver (Ag), platinum (Pt), rhodium (Rh), and palladium (Pd).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Date of Patent: November 15, 2011
    Assignee: Denso Corporation
    Inventors: Takehito Kimata, Kiyomi Kobayashi
  • Patent number: 7812289
    Abstract: A ceramic heater according to the present invention includes a heating portion made of ceramics, and a cooling plate portion. In the heating portion, a belt like printed electrode is formed continuously in a spiral shape along a circumferential direction, and in the printed electrode, slits extended in a width direction of the printed electrode are provided. In such a way, a ceramic heater in which uniform heating performance in the heating surface is high can be obtained.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2007
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventor: Takeru Torigoe
  • Patent number: 7800026
    Abstract: A heating body is provided. The heating body includes a plurality of heating members having different thermal expansion coefficients and a tube in which the heating members are disposed. At least one of the plurality of heating members supports other heating member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: LG Electronics Inc.
    Inventors: Young Jun Lee, Yang Kyeong Kim
  • Patent number: 7737385
    Abstract: A customizable chamber spectral response is described which can be used at least to tailor chamber performance for wafer heating, wafer cooling, temperature measurement, and stray light. In one aspect, a system is described for processing a treatment object having a given emission spectrum at a treatment object temperature which causes the treatment object to produce a treatment object radiated energy. The chamber responds in a first way to the heating arrangement radiated energy and in a second way to the treatment object radiated energy that is incident thereon. The chamber may respond in the first way by reflecting the majority of the heat source radiated energy and in the second way by absorbing the majority of the treatment object radiated energy. Different portions of the chamber may be treated with selectively reflectivity based on design considerations to achieve objectives with respect to a particular chamber performance parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 15, 2010
    Assignee: Mattson Technology, Inc.
    Inventors: Paul J. Timans, Daniel J. Devine, Young Jai Lee, Yao Zhi Hu, Peter C. Bordiga
  • Patent number: 7663075
    Abstract: Disclosed is a layer for use in a domestic appliance, based on a sol-gel precursor. This layer can be obtained by screen-printing and comprises an organosilane compound. The layer is obtained from a concentrated pre-polymerized sol-gel precursor. The layer can be used as an insulating layer or as a conductive layer in a heating element. Furthermore, the layer can be used for decorative purposes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 16, 2010
    Assignee: Koninklijke Philips Electronics N.V.
    Inventors: Poh Loo Lee, Gerard Cnossen, Marcel Rene Boehmer, Sandor Nemeth, Pieter Johannes Werkman
  • Patent number: 7618588
    Abstract: An integrate device includes a heater thermally coupled to a plurality of flow-through tubes to perform thermally-driven chemical reactions. A wire mesh heater is wrapped around each of multiple flow-through tubes, thereby creating a thermal interface between the mesh and the tubes. Each end of the wire mesh is coupled to an electrical contact. The electrical contacts are preferable positioned at an exterior portion of the integrated device to be easily placed in electrical contact with a voltage source. As current passes through the mesh, heat is produced. The heat passes from the mesh to each of the flow-through tubes via the thermal interface. The flow-through tubes can be fluidically coupled to a sample preparation module. The sample preparation module, the flow-through tubes, and the heater can be integrated within a single integrated device that provides automated sample preparation and thermally-driven chemical reactions for a variety of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: November 17, 2009
    Assignee: Microfluidic Systems, Inc.
    Inventors: Chun-Wah (Phil) Lin, Bob Yuan
  • Patent number: 7173220
    Abstract: A heating device comprises a substrate having a heating surface, a heating element buried in the substrate, a cylindrical member joined to the substrate, and lead wires for supplying current to the heating element. In addition, the thermal conductivity of the substrate is about 1.0 to about 2.0 times the thermal conductivity of the cylindrical member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: February 6, 2007
    Assignee: NGK Insulators, Ltd.
    Inventors: Yutaka Unno, Yoshinobu Goto
  • Patent number: 7161117
    Abstract: A window glass for vehicles equipped with a conductor, which comprises a glass plate, a patterned conductor layer formed on the glass plate, and a covering layer formed to cover the conductor layer, wherein the covering layer comprises a fired product obtained by firing a composition containing a crystalline glass powder and a reducing agent capable of reducing silver ions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 9, 2007
    Assignee: Asahi Glass Company, Limited
    Inventors: Toshio Minowa, Hiroyuki Hayakawa, Shuji Taguchi
  • Patent number: 7123825
    Abstract: An apparatus for heating fluid and a method for providing the same is provided. Generally, the system contains a metallic core; a dielectric layer thermally sprayed on the core; a resistive heater layer thermally sprayed on the dielectric layer; a metallic layer portion located at ends of the resistive heater layer; and a source of power providing said power via said metallic layer portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2006
    Assignee: ThermoCeramix, Inc.
    Inventor: Richard C. Abbott
  • Patent number: 7053313
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method of manufacturing electrically conducting tracks on a transparent substrate, by screen printing with an electrically conducting paste, and to the transparent substrate provided with said tracks. According to the invention, conducting tracks are formed with a width less than or equal to 0.3 mm by applying, by screen printing, a thixotropic electrically conducting paste having a ratio of the viscosity without shear stress to the viscosity under shear stress under screen-printing conditions of at least 50 and having a silver content greater than 35% and of which at least 98% of the particles which form it have a size less than 25 ?m, by means of a screen having at least 90 threads per cm, the coating of said screen being provided with slots, the narrowest width of which is equal to 0.25 mm±0.05 mm, and by subjecting said tracks to baking.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 17, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: Saint-Gobain Glass France
    Inventors: Dieter Hahn, Josef Switalla, Rainer Kummutat, Andre Beyrle, Yannick Lebail
  • Patent number: 7009150
    Abstract: The cooking unit has a glass-ceramic panel (1) providing a cooking surface, which is made of transparent colorless glass-ceramic bulk material or a glass panel made of pre-stressed transparent colorless glass material. Radiant heating elements (3) are provided under the glass or glass-ceramic panel, which heat respective cooking zones. The glass or glass-ceramic panel has a full surface decorative coating (7) on its upper side, which makes dirt and usage marks less conspicuous, and an IR permeable coating (6) having a solid or plain color, preferably bisque-like, on its underside. The IR permeable coating having the solid or plain color prevents an observer from viewing the internal components of the cooking unit that are under the cooking panel from above it.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2006
    Assignee: Schott AG
    Inventors: Dietmar Wennemann, Susanne Rapp, Monica Cotlear De Witzmann, Peter Nass, Evelin Weiss, Dieter Schoenig
  • Patent number: 7005611
    Abstract: A large area heater used, for example, in a laser printer belt fuser or as cooking surface, has an alumina substrate in which two bowed parts of alumina ceramic having opposed concave regions are formed together as a laminate. Electrical resistors are deposited on the laminate. The alumina laminate provides excellent resistance to uneven heating or other thermal stress. Alumina ceramic is readily shaped during manufacture and manufacturing costs and yield are good. A wide variety of large area heaters can usefully employ the laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2006
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Jerry Wayne Smith, Larry Earl Stahlman, Kiyoshi Mizushima, Hisakazu Hujimoto, Makoto Aoki
  • Patent number: 6960741
    Abstract: A large area heater used, for example, in a laser printer belt fuser or as cooking surface, has an alumina substrate in which two bowed parts of alumina ceramic having opposed concave regions are formed together as a laminate. Electrical resistors are deposited on the laminate. The alumina laminate provides excellent resistance to uneven heating or other thermal stress. Alumina ceramic is readily shaped during manufacture and manufacturing costs and yield are good. A wide variety of large area heaters can usefully employ the laminate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2002
    Date of Patent: November 1, 2005
    Assignee: Lexmark International, Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas Campbell Hamilton, Jerry Wayne Smith, Larry Earl Stahlman, Kiyoshi Mizushima, Hisakazu Hujimoto, Makoto Aoki
  • Patent number: 6921885
    Abstract: A method of increasing the useful life of heating elements that consist essentially of molybdenum silicide and alloys thereof, wherein the heating elements operate at high temperatures in heat treatment processes and generally rest against the floor and/or the ceiling of a furnace. The heating elements contain aluminum to an extent sufficient to maintain a stable, slowly growing layer of aluminum oxide on the surfaces of the heating elements, and the heating elements are placed in direct abutment with an aluminum oxide brick material.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 26, 2005
    Assignee: Sandvik AB
    Inventor: Mats Sundberg
  • Patent number: 6630044
    Abstract: A method of applying a tread (3) to a tire casing (1) wherein a prevulcanized tread (3) is applied to the tire casing (1) via an intermediate layer of non-vulcanized rubber binder (2), and wherein the layer of rubber binder (2) is heated by supplying current to the layer through an electrically conductive wire (4). The wire used in accordance with the invention comprises a multiple of wires or strands (4a). The invention also relates specifically to such a multiwire element.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 7, 2003
    Inventors: Goran Boling, Ninneh Gripenholt
  • Patent number: 6607679
    Abstract: In an organic PTC thermistor comprising a matrix of at least two high-molecular weight compounds, a low-molecular weight organic compound, and conductive particles having spiky protuberances, a thermoplastic elastomer is contained in the matrix whereby the thermistor is improved in reliability and performance stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 12, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2003
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuhiko Handa, Yukie Yoshinari
  • Patent number: 6558579
    Abstract: The invention aims to provide an organic PTC thermistor having a lower operating temperature than prior art organic PTC thermistors and exhibiting improved characteristics. The object is attained by an organic PTC thermistor comprising a polymer synthesized in the presence of a metallocene catalyst and conductive particles having spiky protuberances.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 5, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 6, 2003
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuhiko Handa, Yukie Yoshinari
  • Patent number: 6455809
    Abstract: A resin window 1 with a conductor in which a conductor print 3 is interposed between a resin panel 2 and a resin film 4 joined to one side of the resin panel, includes a metal film 6 provided on one side of the resin film 4 that is joined to the resin panel 2. The metal film 6 is connected to a conductor print 3 at a portion thereof and is exposed through an opening 5 formed in the resin film 4. The resin panel 2 has integrally formed fixing pins 7 that protrude to the outer surface side of the resin film 4 through the metal film 6. A terminal 8 is secured to a resin window 1 by heat treating the fixing pins 7 with a mounting base 8a of the terminal 8 made of electrically conductive material being overlaid on the metal film 6.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 12, 2000
    Date of Patent: September 24, 2002
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toyoda Jidoshokki Seisakusho
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kuno, Akiteru Nishio, Kotaro Oami, Yasushi Iimori
  • Patent number: 6299801
    Abstract: The invention provides an organic positive temperature coefficient thermistor comprising at least two polymer matrices, a low-molecular organic compound and a conductive particle having spiky protuberances. For the polymer matrices, at least two thermoplastic polymer matrices having varying melting points or at least one thermoplastic polymer matrix and at least one thermosetting polymer matrix are used. It is thus possible to provide an organic positive temperature coefficient thermistor which has sufficiently low room-temperature resistance and a large rate of resistance change between an operating state and a non-operating state, and can operate with a reduced temperature vs. resistance curve hysteresis, ease of control of operating temperature, and high performance stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 28, 1999
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2001
    Assignee: TDK Corporation
    Inventors: Tokuhiko Handa, Yukie Yoshinari
  • Patent number: 6149756
    Abstract: A method for joining a first tubular member to a second tubular member. The method provides a stretchable and compressible welding ring having a flexible inner ring, a resistance coil wound around the inner ring and at least one layer of plastic coating the resistance coil. The method includes the step of arranging the first and second tubular members in overlapping relation with an end of the first tubular member inserted into an end of the second tubular member and with the welding ring encircling the first tubular member and compressed between the first and second tubular members. The method also includes the step of applying electric energy to the resistance coil to melt the at least one layer of plastic so that, upon cooling, the respective ends of the first and second tubular members are welded to the welding ring.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 24, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2000
    Assignee: Uponor Innovation AB
    Inventor: Jyri Jarvenkyla
  • Patent number: RE41715
    Abstract: A glazing provided with an electric circuit includes an electrically conducting substrate and a terminal for making electrical connection thereto. The terminal is attached to the glazing by an adhesive, rather than solely by solder, and the electrical connection between the terminal and the substrate is provided by means other than, or additional to, physical contact between the terminal and the substrate. For instance, the adhesive may be electrically conducting, or a soldered joint may additionally be provided if the adhesive is electrically insulating, or of insufficient conductivity for the type of circuit in question. The adhesive may be pre-applied to the terminal, and may be a tack-free adhesive activated or cured by heat. The terminal may be in two parts, with the base part of a standardized design. The glazing is suitable for use in buildings, appliances or vehicles, especially automotive vehicles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 25, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Pilkington Italia S.p.A.
    Inventors: Luigi Capriotti, Ciro Paudice