Apparatus for RF active compositions used in adhesion, bonding, and coating

A radio frequency (RF) heating system, comprising:

• a radio frequency (RF) amplifier;
• a signal generator that produces a radio frequency (RF) signal, said RF signal being amplified by said RF amplifier;
• an impedance matching circuit coupled to an output of said RF amplifier;
• a first elongated electrode connected to a first node within said impedance matching circuit;
• and
• a second elongated electrode connected to a second node within said impedance matching circuit, wherein
• a portion of the first electrode and a portion of the second electrode are adjacent to and substantially parallel with each other,
• an end of the first electrode is curled,
• an end of the second electrode is curled, and
• a stray electromagnetic field is generated in a region above the space between said portion of the first electrode and said portion of the second electrode when said RF amplifier outputs an RF signal, whereby the generated stray field can be used to heat a material that is placed in said region.

A radio frequency (RF) heating system, comprising:

• a radio frequency (RF) amplifier;
• a signal generator that produces a radio frequency (RF) signal, said RF signal being amplified by said RF amplifier;
• an impedance matching circuit coupled to an output of said RF amplifier;
• a first elongated electrode connected to a first node within said impedance matching circuit;
• a second elongated electrode connected to a second node within said impedance matching circuit;
• and
• a material having a low dielectric constant, wherein
• a portion of the first electrode and a portion of the second electrode are adjacent to and substantially parallel with each other,
• said material covers a top surface of said portion of the first electrode and said portion of the second electrode, and
• a stray electromagnetic field is generated in a region that is above the material and above the space between said portion of the first electrode and said portion of the second electrode when said RF amplifier outputs an RF signal, whereby the generated stray field can be used to heat a material that is placed in said region.

A radio frequency (RF) heating system, comprising:

• a radio frequency (RF) amplifier;
• a signal generator that produces a radio frequency (RF) signal, said RF signal being amplified by said RF amplifier;
• an impedance matching circuit coupled to an output of said RF amplifier;
• a first elongated electrode connected to a first node within said impedance matching circuit;
• and
• a second elongated electrode connected to a second node within said impedance matching circuit, wherein
• a portion of the first electrode and a portion of the second electrode are adjacent to and substantially parallel with each other,
• the first electrode and the second electrode are housed in a block made substantially from a dielectric material, and
• a stray electromagnetic field is generated in a region adjacent to the block and above the space between said portion of the first electrode and said portion of the second electrode when said RF amplifier outputs an RF signal, whereby the generated stray field can be used to heat a material that is placed in said region.

A radio frequency (RF) heating system for heating a material, comprising:

• a circuit, wherein the circuit has a resonant frequency that changes while the material is being heated;
• a signal generator that generates an RF signal;
• an amplifier coupled between the circuit and the signal generator that amplifies the RF signal, wherein the amplified RF signal is provided to the circuit;
• a reflected power sensor that senses the power that is reflected from the circuit;
• and
• a processor coupled to the reflected power sensor and the signal generator, wherein the processor receives from the reflected power sensor a signal that corresponds to the power reflected from the circuit, and the processor uses said signal in controlling the signal generator so that the frequency of the signal generated by the signal generator tracks the resonant frequency of the circuit while the material is being heated, wherein
• the circuit comprises:
• an impedance matching circuit;
• a first elongated electrode connected to a first node within said impedance matching circuit;
• and
• a second elongated electrode connected to a second node within said impedance matching circuit, wherein
• a portion of the first electrode and a portion of the second electrode are adjacent to and substantially parallel with each other, and
• a stray electromagnetic field is generated in a region above the space between said portion of the first electrode and said portion of the second electrode when the amplified RF signal is provided to the circuit, whereby the generated stray field can be used to heat the material when the material is placed in said region.