Abstract: A method of operating a rethermalizing station having an induction coil includes detecting a temperature of a food pan, selecting, based on the temperature of the food pan, a selected mode from a set comprising a low temperature mode, an over temperature mode, and a keep warm mode, and varying, in accordance with the selected mode, an output power of the induction coil by controlling a supply current to the induction coil to vary between a first nonzero current value and a second nonzero current value.

Abstract: An assembly is provided for induction welding. This induction welding assembly includes a fixture. The fixture includes a first support structure and a second support structure. The second support structure includes a frame and a plurality of trunks. Each of the trunks is connected to and repositionable on the frame. The fixture is configured to secure a workpiece vertically between the first support structure and the second support structure using the trunks during induction welding of the workpiece.

Abstract: An induction heating system includes an induction heating head assembly configured to move relative to a workpiece. The induction heating system may also include a temperature sensor assembly configured to detect a temperature of the workpiece and/or a travel sensor assembly configured to detect a position, movement, or direction of movement of the induction heating head assembly relative to the workpiece, and to transmit feedback signals to a controller configured to adjust the power provided to the induction heating head assembly by a power source based at least in part on the feedback signals. In certain embodiments, the induction heating system may also include a connection box configured to receive the feedback signals, to perform certain conversions of the feedback signals, and to provide the feedback signals to the power source.

Abstract: An induction heating system includes an electrically conducting load and an inverter circuit having a switching section and a resonant section. The switching section includes switching devices adapted to generate an AC current from an AC input voltage having a plurality of half-waves. The resonant section includes an induction heating coil adapted to receive the AC current for generating a corresponding time-varying magnetic field in order to generate heat in the electrically conducting load by inductive coupling. The amount of heat generated in the load depends on the frequency of the AC current. A method of managing an induction heating system also is disclosed.

Abstract: Methods for direct writing of single crystal super alloys and metals are provided. The method can include: heating a substrate positioned on a base plate to a predetermined temperature using a first heater; using a laser to form a melt pool on a surface of the substrate; introducing a superalloy powder to the melt pool; measuring the temperature of the melt pool; receiving the temperature measured at a controller; and using an auxiliary heat source in communication with the controller to adjust the temperature of the melt pool. The predetermined temperature is below the substrate's melting point. The laser and the base plate are movable relative to each other, with the laser being used for direct metal deposition. An apparatus is also generally provided for direct writing of single crystal super alloys and metals.

Abstract: An induction heating system is disclosed. The system has an electrically conducting load and an inverter circuit with a switching section and a resonant section, wherein the switching section can generate an AC current from an AC input voltage incorporating a plurality of half-waves. The resonant section has an induction heating coil adapted to receive the AC current for generating a corresponding time-varying magnetic field in order to generate heat in the electrically conducting load by inductive coupling. The amount of heat generated in the load depends on the electric power delivered to the load through the induction heating coil, which depends on the frequency of the AC current. A method for managing an induction heating system also is disclosed.

Abstract: Embodiments relate to heat exchanger contamination monitoring in an air conditioning system. An aspect includes receiving, by a contamination monitoring logic from a primary heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor, a first temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a primary heat exchanger. Another aspect includes receiving, from a secondary heat exchanger outlet temperature sensor, a second temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a secondary heat exchanger. Another aspect includes receiving, from a compressor outlet temperature sensor, a third temperature comprising an air temperature at an outlet of a compressor. Another aspect includes determining, based on the first, second, and third temperature, a heat exchanger contamination value. Another aspect includes comparing the heat exchanger contamination value to a predetermined contamination threshold.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method consisting in: inserting the coating (6) into a shaping and injection-molding mold (14); closing the mold (14) such that the coating (6) is shaped against a shaping surface (22) of the mold (14) as the mold (14) is closed; and, subsequently, overmolding the substrate (4) by injecting a plastic material into the mold (14). According to one aspect of the invention, the shaping surface (22) is induction-heated in order to thermoform the coating (6) as the mold (14) is closed, by generating induced currents that propagate along the shaping surface (22), and the induction heating is stopped in order to set the plastic material.

Abstract: A modular heat-retaining system for keeping food warm. The system contains a plurality of induction heat retaining units, each of which forms a heat-retaining area, and further contains a common power and control unit having a common power controller and a plurality of connection interfaces for individually connecting and individually activating the induction heat-retaining units. In addition, the heat-retaining system contains one or more operating units, wherein the induction heat-retaining units contain at least one induction coil as part of an induction resonant circuit for generating an alternating magnetic field. The power and control unit contains control means for individual activation of the induction heat-retaining units.

Abstract: By performing a method for transmitting to a reading device data of a sensor that is allocated to an inductively heated cooking vessel, a high frequency control voltage is generated from a mains alternating voltage by means of a converter, wherein the high frequency control voltage is applied to an oscillator circuit having an induction heating coil in order to generate a high frequency magnetic alternating field for heating the cooking vessel.

Abstract: An HVAC controller may be programmed to monitor a current delta T of an HVAC system and to determine a performance level of the HVAC system based, at least in part, on one or more delta T limits stored in the memory of the HVAC controller. The HVAC controller may be further programmed to display or provide a user alert if the performance level falls outside of a normal operating range for the HVAC system.

Abstract: The invention may enable provision of a method for facilitating operation of an induction heating device, and a pot detection method for an induction heating device and to an induction heating device. The induction heating device is characterized by determining a low point of a resonant cycle on a linking node of a parallel resonant circuit and a switching element, determining a low point voltage at the low point of the resonant cycle and switching on the switching element at the low point of the resonant cycle for a cycle duration that is determined depending on the low point voltage in such a manner that a low point voltage does not exceed a predetermined maximum value in the following resonant cycles.

Abstract: An indoor or outdoor induction cook top with a heat management system is disclosed. The cook top controls heat generated by various components, including the electronic controller, mechanical controls, and the induction generators. The heat management system provides precise temperature control and an efficient way of removing heat from the cooktop. The cook top construction provides the ability to incorporate a smooth ceramic glass cook top and a number of induction hobs in multiple arrangements. The cook top also features a reduction in the number of components, the efficient removal of generated heat, the reduction of noise, an increase in performance and a barrier airflow director. Consequently, the cook top may be installed in a countertop without the need for venting above the counter.

Abstract: This invention discloses a metal coating method whereby an abrasion resistant and wear resistant coating is first applied to the that portion of a metal object of extended size to be protected, the coating is then fused onto the metal object with the use of a temperature controlled induction heater, which results in a metal object, at least a portion of which is more abrasion resistant and wear resistant than the uncoated metal object.

Abstract: An induction heating cooker in which a size of heating coils can be freely set without being restricted by a size of an opening of a cabinet of a kitchen unit. The induction heating cooker has an outer casing including a flange extending in an outward direction from a top portion of a container receptacle, with a heating coil container space being provided between the flange and a plate, such that one portion of each of the heating coils is disposed in the heating coil container space.

Abstract: In a non-contact power transmission device according to the present invention, a non-contact power receiving device includes a changeover portion for opening and closing the connection between a power receiving coil and a load device which is supplied with electric power from the power receiving coil, the power receiving coil being adapted to output electric power by receiving a high-frequency magnetic field from an induction heating apparatus used as a feeding apparatus, wherein a power-reception-side control portion for controlling opening/closing operations of the changeover portion is adapted to control the opening/closing operations of the changeover portion, in order to adjust the electric power supplied to the load device from the power receiving coil.

Abstract: A boosting circuit includes a switch element, a first coil, a second coil, and a capacitor. The switch element generates a first alternating current voltage having a first frequency from a direct current voltage. The first coil generates a magnetic field around the first coil with a flow of the first alternating current voltage having the first frequency in the first coil. The first coil also induces an eddy current in the object with the magnetic field to inductively heat the object. The second coil is cumulatively connected to the first coil. The capacitor is connected to the first coil and the second coil in a parallel manner.

Abstract: An induction heating device includes the following elements: a resonance circuit; a power factor improvement circuit for boosting rectified output, supplying the output to an inverter, and improving the power factor of a commercial alternating current; and a load material detector for detecting the material of the load. The inverter includes switching elements forming a full-bridge circuit. The drive frequency of the switching elements is switched between a frequency substantially equal to a resonance frequency of the resonance circuit and a frequency substantially 1/n time (n being an integer equal to or larger than two) thereof, according to a detection result of the load material.

Abstract: A fixing apparatus includes an induction heating coil configured to heat a heat generating member including a conductive heating element, a boosting circuit configured to boost a DC voltage obtained by rectifying AC power, a switching element configured to input a DC voltage boosted by the boosting circuit and to supply a high-frequency current to the induction heating coil, a driving circuit configured to drive the switching element, a temperature detection unit configured to detect a temperature of the heat generating member, and a control unit configured to control power supplied to the induction heating coil by controlling a boosting ratio of the boosting circuit and a driving frequency of the switching element by the driving circuit so that the temperature detected by the temperature detection unit reaches a target temperature.

Abstract: An induction cooking heater having at least one inductor and ferrite bars as magnetic field concentrators located beneath the inductor comprises a sensing circuit associated to the ferrite bars and adapted to monitor at least one electric parameter of the sensing circuit in order to prevent the ferrite bars from reaching the Curie point temperature.

Abstract: The present invention provides an induction heating unit for heating up a hair styling appliance. The induction heating unit comprises a container defining a well that is surrounded by an induction coil winding, a controller electrically connected to the induction coil winding to operationally control a heating power; and a sensor plug disposed at the bottom on the well, the sensor plug adapted for coupling with a sensor socket on the hair styling appliance to detect at least temperature of the hair styling appliance through a temperature sensor, wherein the controller operationally controls a heating power based at least on the temperature detected through the temperature sensor. A method of heating up a hair styling appliance is also provided.

Abstract: System and method for reducing power consumption during peak demand period is disclosed. A consumption unit comprises a power limiter. An AC power limiter converts a portion of AC power into heat and generates an output for a temperature sensor. A comparator has one of the inputs as the output of the temperature sensor and another input as a reference generated by a controller. A feedback loop is established by connecting output of the comparator to secondary winding of a power transformer through a switch. A DC power limiter is also disclosed.

Abstract: An induction heat treatment method with which temperature control is enabled, condition setting is easy, and the quality of a treatment object can be stabilized includes: a data acquiring step of heating and quench-hardening a sample of the treatment object to thereby acquire process data; a storing step of storing the process data; a checking step of checking the power supply output transition data and the quenching timing data as to validity based on the temperature transition data stored in the storing step; and a mass production step of performing heat treatment of the treatment object in accordance with the power supply output transition data and the quenching timing data stored in the storing step and checked as to validity in the checking step.

Abstract: In a method for controlling a static power conversion unit to an inductor, particularly for an induction system used in cooking appliances, the value of an electrical parameter of the circuit is monitored at predetermined time intervals and at a predetermined duty cycle of the power transistor switching frequency, and on the basis of the monitored value, the duty cycle is modulated accordingly between the predetermined time intervals in order to keep the delivered power at a predetermined constant value.

Abstract: An ironing system (500) comprises an iron (510) with a soleplate (512) comprising an induction heatable material. The ironing system (500) further comprises a unit (520, 530) that includes at least one induction coil (540) and a device (550). The induction coil (540) charges the iron (510) whereas the device (550) detects the temperature of the soleplate (512) by sensing a change in current flowing through the induction coil (540) or by sensing a change in voltage across the induction coil (540). The current or voltage changes as self inductance of the induction coil (540) changes with magnetic permeability of the soleplate (512) as a function of its temperature. The device (550) switches the induction coil (540) on or off depending on the detected temperature.

Abstract: A device for tempering a test fluid includes an electric heating device for heating the test fluid, a sensor for detecting a measuring value associated with the temperature of the test fluid, and an electronic control device for controlling the heating device in dependence upon the measuring value. The heating device includes an induction generator, connected to a power supply, for the inductive heating of a heating element which is connected, in a heat-conducting manner, to the test fluid and/or to a container for the test fluid, and the sensor is a sensor measuring in a contact-less manner.

Abstract: In an induction heating apparatus, an infrared-ray detection portion includes an infrared-ray reception portion adapted to receive infrared rays radiated from an object to be heated, an amplification portion adapted to amplify a detection signal from the infrared-ray reception portion to form an infrared-ray detection signal, and a temperature detection portion adapted to detect the temperature of the infrared-ray detection portion and to output the temperature to the control portion.

Abstract: An induction heating device has an accurate sensing of the temperature of a to-be-heated object and is user-friendly. The induction heating device includes a sensor for sensing the temperature of the to-be-heated object and can carry out a heating operation only when it is determined that the to-be-heated object exists above the sensor. A display having a circular design and characters, for example, that shows the position of this sensor is provided on a top plate of the induction heating device.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for preparing foodstuffs cooked in a liquid in a cooking vessel is provided. According to various aspects, an induction heating device includes a resonant circuit with an induction heating coil. A parameter value of the resonant circuit may be determined, depending on a temperature of a bottom of the vessel. During a heating-up phase, a high-frequency rectangular voltage may be applied to the resonant circuit to supply heating power to the bottom of the vessel. A heating power setpoint may be periodically varied and may be set to a first value during a first interval of a period, and set to a second, smaller value during a remaining interval. A determination of a change in the parameter value within the period may be made, and an evaluation of the change in order to determine the boiling point of the liquid and end the heating-up phase.

Abstract: An induction heating device includes a top plate, a thermo-sensitive device, a temperature detector, a coil, a controller, and a light-emitting section. The top plate places thereon a cooking utensil containing material to be cooked. The thermo-sensitive device changes its electrical characteristics with the temperature of the cooking utensil. The temperature detector detects the temperature of the cooking utensil based on the electrical characteristics of the thermo-sensitive device. The coil heats the cooking utensil. The controller controls the coil based on the temperature information of the temperature detector, thereby controlling an amount of the electric heating power to be supplied to the cooking utensil. The light-emitting section emits visible light to the area over the thermo-sensitive device. The light from the light-emitting section illuminates the area over the thermo-sensitive device through the top plate.

Abstract: An improved antenna assembly (66) designed to maintain RF communication between an object (22, 64, 148) to be heated, and a heating assembly (20, 60) such as an induction heater having a hob (34) equipped with an induction work coil (36). The antenna assembly (66) provides substantially continuous RF communication about the entirety of the hob (34), so that the object (22, 64, 148) can be rotated through substantially 360° , or displaced radially, without loss of RF communication. The preferred antenna assembly (66) includes an antenna (67) mounted upon a substrate (68) and presenting a plurality of continuous, conductive antenna loops (70, 72) oriented to cooperatively and substantially surround the hob (34).

Abstract: An apparatus, system and method for warming food by controlled heating of heat retention objects such as cookware items or pellets located on a trivet positioned on a countertop, using heating control units, such as induction heating units, remotely located beneath the countertop. The preferred trivet insulates the countertop against damages, and also includes circuitry enabling the indication or display of its proper positioning on the countertop, and also indicating whether the heating unit is heating the heat retention object.

Abstract: An induction heating cooking device includes a heating coil (8) that induction-heats a cooking container, an infrared sensor (10) that detects infrared radiation which is emitted from a bottom surface of the cooking container and that outputs a detection signal based on the quantity of energy of the detected infrared radiation, and a heating control section (9) that controls supply of electric power to the heating coil based on the detection signal. When the temperature of the bottom surface of the cooking container is equal to or higher than a first predetermined temperature which is higher than 230 degrees C., the infrared sensor (10) outputs the detection signal, and when the bottom-surface temperature is lower than the first predetermined temperature, the infrared sensor (10) does not output the detection signal substantially.

Abstract: An article of composite material includes a plurality of plies of material consolidated through the application of pressure and heating, in which each material ply is made by a resin matrix reinforced with fiber material. The article includes heating electrical resistance and temperature sensing devices embedded in the composite material, which are respectively placed in at least one interface zone between the material plies and are suitable to allow a temperature control of the article in service.

Abstract: An infrared sensor includes an infrared detection element which is provided on a lower side of a top plate to detect an amount of infrared light radiated from a heated object and an amplifier to amplify a signal detected by the infrared detection element. The infrared sensor outputs an initial detection value having a substantially constant magnitude with respect to the temperature of the heated object when the temperature of the heated object is lower than a detection lower limit temperature, and outputs a detection signal having a magnitude and a rate of increase which become larger as the temperature of the heated object becomes higher in the vicinity of a control temperature range in which the control unit controls the output of the induction heating coils to perform temperature control of the heated object.

Abstract: A supplying power adjusting apparatus has excellent temperature response and excellent stabilities to power supply change and load change. The apparatus is provided with a semiconductor inverter for high-speed switching power control, which converts a direct current rectified by a rectifying circuit (10) into alternating current power in response to a control signal and supplies a heater (7) with the power; a temperature change detecting circuit (24) for detecting the temperature change of the heater (7); a power supply change detecting circuit (22) for detecting the power change of the rectifying circuit (10); a load change detecting circuit (23) for detecting the change of the alternating current power supplied to the heater (7); and a power control signal generating circuit (15) which calculates a power quantity to be supplied to the heater (7) and controls the frequency or duty ratio of a control signal to be added to the power controlling semiconductor inverter in response to the calculated results.

Abstract: An induction heating type fusing device to reduce the size of an induction coil and an image forming apparatus having the same, and a control method thereof. The image forming apparatus includes a printing device to form an image on a recording medium, and a fusing device to fix the image to the recording medium. The fusing device includes a heating member arranged to transfer heat to the recording medium and having a main heater and a sub heater, and an induction coil having a width equal to or less than a width of the recording medium and arranged in an axial direction of the heating member to generate a magnetic field acting on the main heater. The sub heater is arranged inside the heating member to heat both ends of the main heater.

Abstract: A system and method for inductively heating a work piece. The induction heating system is coupleable to at least one temperature feedback device. The temperature feedback device is disposed within the induction heating system to provide a signal representative of the temperature of an induction heating system component. The induction heating system is operable to control the output of the induction heating system based on the temperature of the induction heating system component to protect the component from heat damage.

Abstract: In a method for controlling a static power conversion unit to an inductor, particularly for an induction system used in cooking appliances, the value of an electrical parameter of the circuit is monitored at predetermined time intervals and at a predetermined duty cycle of the power transistor switching frequency, and on the basis of the monitored value, the duty cycle is modulated accordingly between the predetermined time intervals in order to keep the delivered power at a predetermined constant value.

Abstract: A temperature control and method of operating the temperature control, for an inductively heated heating element. The heating element is heated by an inductor to which electrical power is supplied via a control circuit, which can also be a control circuit for an induction hob or oven. The temperature control is activated at a first point in time subject to at least one electrical value of the control circuit, which depends on the temperature of the heating element. A reference value is determined at the first point in time and a comparison value and a deviation value from the reference value is determined at least one later point in time. Depending upon the deviation value, the inductor is supplied with power so that the heating element is adjusted to a substantially constant value corresponding to the reference value.

Abstract: A dual susceptor composition with a resin matrix formed of at least one polymer or thermoset material and magnetic or electrically conductive particles, and an inductive material structure laminated with or encapsulated by the resin matrix.

Abstract: An induction heat treatment method with which temperature control is enabled, condition setting is easy, and the quality of a treatment object can be stabilized includes: a data acquiring step of heating and quench-hardening a sample of the treatment object to thereby acquire process data; a storing step of storing the process data; a checking step of checking the power supply output transition data and the quenching timing data as to validity based on the temperature transition data stored in the storing step; and a mass production step of performing heat treatment of the treatment object in accordance with the power supply output transition data and the quenching timing data stored in the storing step and checked as to validity in the checking step.

Abstract: A heating apparatus that enables an abnormally high temperature detection section that detects, when a heating element heated by means of electromagnetic induction reaches an abnormally high temperature, this abnormally high temperature, to operate speedily and reliably irrespective of the material and temperature characteristic of the heating element in a low-cost and compact configuration. In this apparatus, thermostat 301 is disposed on the same side as exciting coil 231 with respect to heat generating belt 210 and between winding bundles of a conductor wire of exciting coil 231. This allows coil guide 234 to hold both thermostat 301 and exciting coil 231 and allows these wires and terminals to be concentrated on one location, thus making it possible to reduce the number of parts and assembling man-hours and configure the body of the apparatus in a low-cost and compact configuration.

Abstract: An induction heating cooker has a top plate, a heating coil, an inverter circuit, a pot type discriminator, a non-magnetic-metal buoyancy reducing plate having a high electrical conductivity, an infrared sensor, a temperature calculator, and a controller. The pot type discriminator judges whether a pot is made of a non-magnetic metal material having a high electrical conductivity, or a magnetic metal material or a non-magnetic metal lower in electrical conductivity than aluminum. The temperature calculator calculates the temperature of the pot from an output from the infrared sensor that detects infrared radiation from the pot. The controller controls an output from the inverter circuit according to a calculated temperature by the temperature calculator, and, when the pot is judged to be made of a non-magnetic metal material by the pot type discriminator, nullifies temperature detection made by the temperature calculator.

Abstract: An optical metrological system having a heat-generating light source coaxially mounted near a heat-sensitive lens. The system uses a temperature sensor to monitor the lens temperature and a heating element to heat the lens such that the lens operating temperature is greater than a maximum operating temperature of the light source in order to stabilize the focal length of the lens.

Abstract: An image forming apparatus includes a fixing device which fixes a toner image on a recording medium. The fixing device includes a heating device. The heating device includes a heat-generating member, an exciting member, and a changing device. The heat-generating member is subjected to electromagnetic induction heating. The exciting member is placed to sandwich a front surface and a rear surface of the heat-generating member, without contacting the heat-generating member. The changing device changes an opposing distance of the exciting member to at least one of the front surface and the rear surface of the heat-generating member.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus has a magnetic flux generator; a heat generating element for generating heat by a magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generator, the heat generating element being effective to heat an image on a recording material; an electric power supply for supplying electric power to the magnetic flux generator; electric power changing unit for changing electric power to be supplied to the magnetic flux generator on the basis of a temperature rise property of the heat generating element, in a period from start of electric power supply to the magnetic flux generator to reaching of a temperature of the heat generating element to a predetermined level.

Abstract: A heater unit is provided, the heater unit equipped with an induction heating coil and an electric heater selectively operated based on kind and state of a load of a cooking vessel placed on the heater unit. The kind is determined by an input current inputted when a load-type determination unit causes the induction heating coil to be operated and a resonance current flowing into the induction heating coil. The state is determined by a temperature change of the heater unit when a load-state determination unit allows the electric heater to generate heat, and the induction heating coil and the electric heater are selectively operated based on the determined kind and state of the load. Accordingly, a user needs not to scrupulously determine the kind of the cooking vessel and the electric cooker is not operated under a no-load state to prevent occurrence of safety accidents.

Abstract: An image heating apparatus for heating an image on a recording material has a magnetic flux generator for generating a magnetic flux; a heat generation member for generating heat by the magnetic flux generated by the magnetic flux generator; a magnetic flux adjusting member for adjusting the magnetic flux acting on the heat generation member, wherein the heat generation member includes at least a metal layer having a thickness smaller than a thickness of a surface layer, and the magnetic flux adjusting member is disposed at a position across the magnetic flux generator from the heat generation member.

Abstract: A system and method for providing multiple cooking modes and an ability to automatically heat cooking vessels and other objects using RFID technology, and an ability to read and write heating instructions and to interactively assist in their execution. An induction heating range is provided with two antennas per hob, and includes a user interface display and input mechanism. The vessel includes an RFID tag and a temperature sensor. In a first cooking mode, a recipe is read by the range and the range assists a user in executing the recipe by automatically heating the vessel to specified temperatures and by prompting the user to add ingredients. The recipe is written to the RFID tag so that if the vessel is moved to another hob, into which the recipe has not been read, the new hob can read the recipe from the RFID tag and continue in its execution.