Abstract: A sensor for sensing a gap between the sensor and an object of interest within a semiconductor processing chamber is provided. The sensor includes a housing, a power source inside the housing, wireless communication circuitry, a controller, measurement circuitry and a plurality of capacitive plate pairs. The controller and wireless communication circuitry are coupled to each other, and to the power source. The plurality of capacitive plate pairs are configured to form capacitors having a capacitance that varies with the gap. Measurement circuitry is coupled to the controller and to the plurality of capacitive plate pairs. The measurement circuitry is configured to measure the capacitance of the capacitive plate pairs and provide indications thereof to the controller. The controller is configured to provide an indication relative to the gap based, at least in part, upon the measured capacitances.

Abstract: A large-scale MEMS device includes a MEMS die supported by at least one compliant die mount. The compliant die mount couples the MEMS die to a support structure. The support structure is positioned within a package. In accordance with an aspect of the invention, the package is substantially symmetrical about the MEMS die. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, the support structure and/or the package is designed to have a neutral bend axis along the MEMS die.

Abstract: A method of forming a three-dimensional object using an extrusion-based layered deposition system, the method comprising generating a build path for building a layer of the three-dimensional object, where the build path defines a void region. The method further comprising generating at least one intermediate path in the void region, and generating a remnant path based at least in part on the at least one intermediate path.

Abstract: A disc head slider is provided and includes a slider body having a disc-facing surface which includes a bearing surface that is generally disposed within a bearing surface plane. An angled inside rail, an angled outside rail and a cavity dam are formed on the disc-facing surface. At least one of the angled inside rail, the angled outside rail and the cavity dam includes a surface portion that defines at least a portion of the bearing surface. A sub-ambient pressure cavity is formed between the angled inside and outside rails, and includes a cavity floor that is displaced from the bearing surface plane. At least one recessed surface is formed on the disc-facing surface and is generally positioned outside of the angled inside rail, the angled outside rail and the sub-ambient pressure cavity. The recessed surface(s) is further displaced from the bearing surface plane than the cavity floor.

Abstract: If an error range is specified with regard to the cost beforehand, a route satisfying all of a plurality of QoS conditions at a low cost and having a cost in the error range is selected as an optimum route. Such a route selection method is provided. At step S1, a plurality of QoS conditions to be satisfied are set. At step S2, an approximation error &egr; is input. At step S3, a range of a cost for searching for an optimum route is tentatively set. At step S4, an optimum solution cost approximation procedure is executed. At step S5, it is determined whether the cost searching range has been sufficiently narrowed. If the narrowed cost searching range is still too wide, then the processing returns to the step S4 and the optimum solution cost approximation procedure is repeated. If the cost searching range has already been narrowed, an optimum solution deriving procedure is executed at step S6.

Abstract: A dual blade garden hoe includes a head and a handle. The head has a longitudinal base to which two blades are mounted, the blades have cutting edges and being mounted so that the cutting edges are distal from the base. The base orients the blades so that when the cutting edges of the blades are in contact with a working surface, each blade extends upwardly from the working surface at an acute angle. The handle is mounted to the base and oriented at an acute angle to the working surface when the cutting edges are in contact with the working surface.

Abstract: A latching comparator includes first and second current integration nodes having first and second integration capacitances, respectively. A current source applies a first tail current to a current steering circuit which steers the tail current onto the first and second current integration nodes as a function of first and second data signals. An offset adjustment circuit is coupled to the first current integration node for adjusting the first integration capacitance relative to the second integration capacitance. A latch circuit is coupled to the first and second current integration nodes and has a data output.

Abstract: A single ended bit line sensor includes a single ended bit line input, a sensor output, an inverting amplifier, a non-inverting amplifier and a differential amplifier. The inverting amplifier is coupled to the single ended bit line input and has a first voltage output. The noninverting amplifier is coupled to the single ended bit line input and has a second voltage output. The differential amplifier has first and second amplifier inputs coupled to the first and second voltage outputs, respectively, and has an amplifier output coupled to the sensor output.

Abstract: A head gimbal assembly includes a gimbal having a first strut and a second strut and a crossmember connected generally between the first and second struts. A gimbal bond tongue has a first end connected to the crossmember and a second end extending from the crossmember. The first and second struts are generally parallel to one another and define a suspension axis. The first end of the gimbal bond tongue is offset from the suspension axis along the crossmember. A slider is coupled to the gimbal bond tongue and a transducer is coupled to the slider.

Abstract: Disclosed is a cooking apparatus (10) having a housing (12)containing a cooking chamber (14) into which cooking medium is sprayable by spray means (16) to cook food items in the cooking chamber (14). The apparatus (10) stores cooking medium in a buffer tank (18) from which it is circulated by circulation means (20,42) to the spray means (16). Heating of the cooking medium occurs by operating at least one flow heater (22) located in the circulation means (20,42) between the buffer tank (18) and the spray means (16). If desired, a plurality of flow heaters (22) can be used and an additional preheater (48) may also be operated to assist in heating the cooking medium at start-up.