A methodology and product or system configurations are provided which allow food to be directly irradiated for cooking applications which involve the impingement of direct radiant energy on food or comestible items. Cooking vessels or cook-packs are used that are optically transmissive in visible or infrared narrow wavelength bands emitted in suitable narrowband cooking or heating systems.

An infrared radiation heater includes: a combustion chamber having a combustion space that is open on one side; a combustion device provided in the combustion chamber to combust air-fuel mixture made by mixing fuel with air; and a radiator configured to be heated by heat generated from the combustion device and including a radiation plane configured to emit infrared radiation. The combustion device includes: a nozzle provided in a flow path of the air to inject the fuel; a tubular body including a side surface that faces a direction with a predetermined angle with respect to the radiation plane, and a plurality of voids being formed on the side surface; and an ignition device provided outside of the tubular body and configured to ignite the air-fuel mixture. The air-fuel mixture flows into the tubular body, and the tubular body releases the air-fuel mixture from the voids into the combustion chamber.

An infrared radiation heater includes: a combustion chamber having a combustion space that is open on one side; a combustion device provided in the combustion chamber to combust air-fuel mixture made by mixing fuel with air; and a radiator configured to be heated by heat generated from the combustion device and including a radiation plane configured to emit infrared radiation. The combustion device includes: a nozzle provided in a flow path of the air to inject the fuel; a tubular body including a side surface that faces a direction with a predetermined angle with respect to the radiation plane, and a plurality of voids being formed on the side surface; and an ignition device provided outside of the tubular body and configured to ignite the air-fuel mixture. The air-fuel mixture flows into the tubular body, and the tubular body releases the air-fuel mixture from the voids into the combustion chamber.

Provided is a heater that is excellent in heat equalizing property even when being narrow in a sweep direction. Also provided are a fixing device, an image-forming device, and a heating device each including such a heater. A heater is configured to heat an object to be heated in such a manner that at least one of the object to be heated and the heater is swept with the heater disposed opposite the object to be heated. The heater includes a base having a rectangular shape and a plurality of heating cells each independently receiving power supply, the heating cells being disposed on the base and arranged in a longitudinal direction of the base. Each of the heating cells includes a plurality of lateral wires extending in substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of the base and a plurality of oblique wires tilted relative to the lateral wires.

Provided is a heater that is excellent in heat equalizing property even when being narrow in a sweep direction. Also provided are a fixing device, an image-forming device, and a heating device each including such a heater. A heater is configured to heat an object to be heated in such a manner that at least one of the object to be heated and the heater is swept with the heater disposed opposite the object to be heated. The heater includes a base having a rectangular shape and a plurality of heating cells each independently receiving power supply, the heating cells being disposed on the base and arranged in a longitudinal direction of the base. Each of the heating cells includes a plurality of lateral wires extending in substantially parallel with the longitudinal direction of the base and a plurality of oblique wires tilted relative to the lateral wires.

A sheet-shaped heat-generating element includes a quasi-sheet structure including a plurality of metal wires arranged at an interval, the metal wires each including a core containing a first metal as a main component and a metal coating film provided on an exterior side of the core, the metal coating film containing a second metal different from the first metal as a main component. A volume resistivity of the first metal is in a range from 3.0×10.sup.−6 [Ω.Math.cm] to 5.0×10.sup.−4 [Ω.Math.cm] and a reference electrode potential of the second metal is +0.34 V or more.

A sheet-shaped heat-generating element includes a quasi-sheet structure including a plurality of metal wires arranged at an interval, the metal wires each including a core containing a first metal as a main component and a metal coating film provided on an exterior side of the core, the metal coating film containing a second metal different from the first metal as a main component. A volume resistivity of the first metal is in a range from 3.0×10.sup.−6 [Ω.Math.cm] to 5.0×10.sup.−4 [Ω.Math.cm] and a reference electrode potential of the second metal is +0.34 V or more.

A modular LED heater and an LED array are disclosed. The modular LED heater comprises a base having one or more internal conduits through which a coolant fluid may flow. The base also includes a plumbing port on one side wall of the base and a recessed port on an opposite side of the base. These ports are configured such that the plumbing port of one modular LED heater can be inserted into the recessed port of the adjacent modular LED heater to form a fluid-tight seal. A printed circuit board having a plurality of LEDs is disposed on the front surface of the base. Further, in some embodiments, the base includes one or more wedge clamps on its side walls used to lock the modular LED heater to an adjacent modular LED heater. An LED array may be created by assembling a plurality of these modular LED heaters.

A modular LED heater and an LED array are disclosed. The modular LED heater comprises a base having one or more internal conduits through which a coolant fluid may flow. The base also includes a plumbing port on one side wall of the base and a recessed port on an opposite side of the base. These ports are configured such that the plumbing port of one modular LED heater can be inserted into the recessed port of the adjacent modular LED heater to form a fluid-tight seal. A printed circuit board having a plurality of LEDs is disposed on the front surface of the base. Further, in some embodiments, the base includes one or more wedge clamps on its side walls used to lock the modular LED heater to an adjacent modular LED heater. An LED array may be created by assembling a plurality of these modular LED heaters.

An electronic cigarette includes a liquid supply including liquid material, a heater operable to heat the liquid material to a temperature sufficient to vaporize the liquid material and form an aerosol, a wick in communication with the liquid material and in communication with the heater such that the wick delivers the liquid material to the heater, at least one air inlet operable to deliver air to a central air passage upstream of the heater, and a mouth end insert having at least two diverging outlets. The electronic cigarette can also include an air flow diverter which directs incoming air away from a heating zone of the heater.