A MEMS-based Wavelength Selectable Switch (WSS), used classically for demultiplexing fiber optic communications, is re-purposed to act as a filter. A light emitter provides a light beam with its wavelength detected by a wavelength detector. A light condenser directs reflected light from the light emitter to an input of the WSS. The WSS is controllable to provide a selected wavelength band to a selected output of the WSS, where it is detected by a photodetector. Other wavelengths are discarded by the WSS at other outputs. A controller is configured to control the WSS to select the selected wavelength band based on a detected wavelength from the wavelength detector.

A method of controlling aerosol production in an aerosol-generating device is provided, the device including: a heater including a heating element to heat an aerosol-forming substrate, and a power source to provide power to the element, the method including: providing power to the element; and controlling the power provided such that in a first phase, the power is provided to the element such that a temperature of the element increases from an initial temperature to a first target temperature, in a second phase, the power is provided such that the temperature reduces to a second target temperature lower than the first temperature, and in a third phase, the power is provided such that the temperature increases to a third temperature, the first phase being ended in response to the element reaching the first target temperature or at a predetermined time following the element reaching the first target temperature.

A cooking appliance includes a housing that defines a cavity therein, a door connected to the housing and configured to open and close the cavity, a microwave (MW) heating module configured to emit microwaves into the cavity, and an induction heating (IH) module configured to emit a magnetic field towards the cavity. The IH module includes a working coil that is configured to generate the magnetic field and a thin film that is disposed between the cavity and the working coil.

Protective blankets comprise a flexible blanket body and a voltage supply. The flexible blanket body comprises a plurality of sheets of material operatively coupled together to define the flexible blanket body. The plurality of sheets comprises one or more sheets composed at least in part of a carbon nanotube material and at least one sheet composed of a different material. The voltage supply is electrically coupled at least to a first sheet of the one or more sheets composed at least in part of the carbon nanotube material, such that the first sheet defines a resistive heater.

A battery-powered scope warmer includes a heated cavity to receive the distal end of a surgical viewing instrument such as an endoscope or laparoscope. The distal end of the surgical viewing instrument is inserted into the cavity in the housing through one or more flexible flaps in the upper portion of the housing. A heating pad forms a curved tray that receives the distal end of the instrument. The flaps enable the distal end of the surgical viewing instrument to be inserted into, or removed from, the cavity in the housing through one or more slits. A de-fogging sponge in the cavity may be moistened with a de-fogging fluid, and one or more absorbent pads may be disposed on the upper portion of the housing for removing excess fluid from the tip of the surgical viewing instrument. The entire warmer, including the batteries, may be disposable.

Disclosed is an article for use with apparatus for heating smokable material to volatilize at least one component of the smokable material. The article includes a mass of smokable material. An exterior of the article has a length (L), a width (W) perpendicular to the length (L), and a depth (D) perpendicular to each of the length (L) and the width (W). The length (L) is greater than or equal to the width (W), and the width (W) is greater than the depth (D).

Various components and methods related to a leading edge assembly are disclosed. The leading edge assembly can include an outer strike shell and a foam core. The foam core can be located inside the outer strike shell. The leading edge assembly can include a heating element with a plurality of sensors and wires. A method of manufacturing a leading edge assembly can include forming a composite layer, applying a metallic layer to the composite layer, installing an electronic device, and inserting a foam core into a cavity bounded by the composite layer and/or the electronic device.

A heater section includes a plate-like ceramic body (a first substrate layer 1, a second substrate layer 2, and a third substrate layer 3) having a longitudinal direction (front-rear direction) and a short-length direction (left-right direction), and a heater 72 disposed within the plate-like ceramic body and including a lead section 79 and a heating section 76 connected to the lead section 79. The heating section 76 includes a straight portion 78 extending along the longitudinal direction, and a lead side curved portion 77b connected to one of the ends of the straight portion 78 closer to the lead section 79. The lead side curved portion 77b has a lower resistance per unit length than the straight portion 78 at one or more temperatures in the range of 700° C. to 900° C.

A wax heater comprising a housing, a wax guiding tube and a liner located within the housing. A closed interlayer is formed between the housing and the liner, the top of the liner is provided with an opening, and the liner is configured to contain solid wax; the closed interlayer is provided with a heating tube, the closed interlayer contains an insulating liquid, the heating tube is configured to heat the insulating liquid in the closed interlayer to boiling point, the boiling point of the insulating liquid is higher than the melting point of the solid wax; one end of the wax guide tube is connected to the liner, the other end of the wax guide tube passes through the closed interlayer and the housing and extends outside the housing; after the solid wax is melted, it flows out of the wax heater through the wax guide tube.

A customizable device may include a first inhalation device and a second inhalation device, each including a mouth end portion and an upstream end portion. In a storage configuration, the mouth end portion of at least one of the first inhalation device or the second inhalation device is removably coupled to the other inhalation device. In an active configuration, the upstream end portion of at least one of the first inhalation device or the second inhalation device is removably coupled to the other inhalation device. A connector hub may couple the inhalation devices.