The invention comprises an infrared source and method of use thereof comprising the steps of: (1) providing a solid state source comprising: an electrically conductive zinc oxide film having a thickness of less than five micrometers and a film of metal oxide particles, the metal oxide particles comprising a mean diameter of less than ten micrometers; (2) passing an alternating, pulsed current through the zinc oxide film, the pulsed current heating the zinc oxide film to greater than 700 C. in less than twenty milliseconds using less than one Watt, which results in a first infrared emission from the zinc oxide film; and (3) heating the film of metal oxide particles, using thermal conduction from the zinc oxide film, to at least 700 C., resultant in a second infrared emission from the film of oxide particles, where the first and second infrared emissions exit the source through an emission side.

Several embodiments include a cooking instrument. The cooking instrument can include a heating system. The heating system can include one or more heating elements capable of emitting wireless energy into the cooking chamber. The cooking instrument can also include a control system. The control system can select a quantifiable cooking result and drive the heating system to achieve such cooking result. In at least one mode of operation, the control system can increase power density despite a power draw limit of an external power source.

The invention comprises an infrared source and method of use thereof comprising the steps of: (1) providing a solid state source comprising: an electrically conductive zinc oxide film having a thickness of less than five micrometers and a film of metal oxide particles, the metal oxide particles comprising a mean diameter of less than ten micrometers; (2) passing an alternating, pulsed current through the zinc oxide film, the pulsed current heating the zinc oxide film to greater than 700 C. in less than twenty milliseconds using less than one Watt, which results in a first infrared emission from the zinc oxide film; and (3) heating the film of metal oxide particles, using thermal conduction from the zinc oxide film, to at least 700 C., resultant in a second infrared emission from the film of oxide particles, where the first and second infrared emissions exit the source through an emission side.

The invention comprises a solid state infrared source apparatus and method of use thereof, comprising: (1) an electrically conductive film comprising: an emission side and a back side opposite the emission side and a surface area to height ratio of at least five hundred to one; (2) a first dielectric film contacting the back side of the electrically conductive film; and (3) a reflective layer, the reflective layer embedded in the solid state source between the first dielectric film and a support layer, wherein the electrically conductive film emits infrared light upon warming with an electrical current during use, the infrared light sequentially reflecting off of the reflective layer, transmitting through the electrically conductive film, and emitting from the solid state source. Preferably the electrically conductive film comprises zinc oxide and the reflective layer is deposited into a basin in a second dielectric film.

An example heating apparatus comprises a light emitting diode (LED) array comprising at least one LED to heat a target object. The heating apparatus further comprises a heatsink thermally coupled to the LED array to dissipate heat from the LED array. The heatsink comprises a refrigerant path including an input to and an output from the refrigerant path to pass cooled refrigerant therethrough.

The invention relates to an electric machine (fixed, mobile or portable) suitable to the physical, dynamic, continuous conditioning of materials having the ability to absorb electromagnetic radiation, which have the need to be treated through the irradiation of UV or IR, even without entering into contact with the machine and this also through the vacuum. The invention mainly uses the Lambert and Stefan-Boltzmann postulates, or rather the physical assumptions of the transmission of energy by radiation and in particular the concentration and the emission proximity of energy between transmitter and receiver (which varies with the square of the distance) and the emission intensity (which varies with the fourth power of the temperature). The extremely small distances between transmitter and receiver of electromagnetic energy and the cylindrical shape and concentric electromagnetic emission source (reflected from the outside towards the centre) are the main essence and novelty of the invention. The electric machine, the section of which is represented in the attached drawing of which are hereby provided in the description the letters as a reference, is composed of a suitable current generator that feeds an emitter of electromagnetic waves (EMW) represented by a coiled heating wire (heater function) or by a strip of LEDs (germicidal function) (E), which envelops a fused quartz tube (or a substitute material) of suitable thickness (D), which in turn can contain an internal (or more) further tube (C) of the same or similar transparent material of the first, adapted to the passage of materials to be treated (A); the tube (D) wrapped with the spiral emitter (E) is in turn encased by a tube (F) in suitably appropriate material to shield electromagnetic emissions towards the outside. Such screening tube will (eventually) in turn be inserted in a relatively thick insulating cup (G), coated in turn with reflecting material (H), to further isolate and insulate the system as much as possible from the external environment.

An electrically powered infrared based thermal weed control system. A housing has a downwardly facing chamber. At least one electrically powered infrared heating element is mounted within the chamber. A source of electrical power is electrically coupled to the electrically powered infrared heating element. A control assembly varies the electrical power to the electrically powered infrared heating elements and the heat generated for controlling undesired vegetation there adjacent using targeted infrared radiation emitted by the electrically powered infrared heating element.

The present disclosure relates to aerosol delivery devices that may include components configured to convert electrical energy to heat and atomize an aerosol precursor composition. An outer body may at least partially enclose the components. An illumination source may be configured to output electromagnetic radiation. A wave guide may be configured to receive the electromagnetic radiation from the illumination source and illuminate the aerosol delivery device. The wave guide may define an increasing width from a first longitudinal end at which the electromagnetic radiation is received to an opposing second longitudinal end. Thereby, the wave guide may directly transmit the electromagnetic radiation across the entirety of the second longitudinal end to provide substantially even illumination at the second longitudinal end while employing less material and reducing the volume of space occupied by the wave guide as compared to cylindrical embodiments of wave guides. Related methods are also provided.

A radio frequency (RF) screen for a microwave powered ultraviolet (UV) lamp system is disclosed. In one example, a disclosed RF screen includes: a sheet comprising a conductive material; and a frame around edges of the sheet. The conductive material defines a predetermined mesh pattern of individual openings across substantially an operative area of the screen. Each of the individual openings has a triangular shape.

A radiator module is provided including: a first infrared radiator including a first radiator tube arranged in a radiator plane; and a second infrared radiator including a second radiator tube arranged in the radiator plane. A cladding tube is arranged between the first radiator tube and the second radiator tube. Each of the first radiator tube, the second radiator tube, and the cladding tube is provided with a reflective coating.