Abstract: A method controls discharge temperature of a compressor of a vapor compression system. Using a mapping among discharge temperature, speed of the compressor, and outdoor air temperature, the method determines a desired discharge temperature for a new value of the speed of the compressor. The compressor is abruptly controlled to change the current speed of the compressor to the new value. A valve of the vapor compression system is smoothly controlled, such that the discharge temperature is transitioned to the desired discharge temperature according to a function of time representing a low pass filter with a time constant proportional to the thermal time constant of the compressor.

Abstract: A distributed bleed system temperature management scheme utilizes a distributed, closed loop temperature protection function. By allowing consumer systems to limit the consumer flow to meet a specified bleed system outlet temperature (which may be different for each consumer or group of consumers), each system can be penalized according to their level of importance. The closed loop approach allows optimization of the performance reduction instead of relying on conservative assumptions as is done with conventional systems. In some embodiments, each consumer system may have a different temperature limit at which the consumed flow is limited to maintain a given bleed system exit temperature. The temperature setpoints may be separated by a minimum temperature, based on sensor and controls tolerances, to ensure that the flow limiting functions do not interact with each other.

Abstract: A system for stapling tissue comprises a flexible endoscope and an operative head including a pair of opposed, curved tissue clamping jaws sized to pass through an esophagus, the jaws being moveable with respect to one another between an open tissue receiving configuration and a closed tissue clamping configuration, a first one of the curved jaws including a stapling mechanism and a second one of the jaws including a staple forming anvil surface, the stapling mechanism including staple slots through which staples are fired arranged in a row extending from a proximal end of the first jaw to a distal end thereof in combination with a control handle which, when the operative head is in an operative position within one of a patient's stomach and esophagus, remains outside the patient, the control handle including a first actuator for moving the jaws relative to one another and a second actuator for operating the stapling mechanism.

Abstract: A laser marking system for marking a length of material includes a laser device for emitting a marking beam. A motor moves the length of material relative to the laser device. A sensing system detects a predetermined movement of the length of the material and provides a speed signal and a distance signal, and a controller is provided in operative communication with the sensing system and the laser device for receiving the speed signal and the distance signal and responsively directing the marking beam of the laser system onto the length of material in a predetermined pattern.

Abstract: There is provided a laser machining apparatus for sheet-like workpieces that allows an installation area to be reduced and that may be readily controlled. The laser machining apparatus includes a Y-table movable in X- and Y-plane directions orthogonal to a laser beam irradiated from an f? lens, a supply reel for holding a supply-side roll which contains a sheet-like workpiece, and a take-up reel for holding a take-up side roll containing a finished sheet-like workpiece. Machining is carried out by fixing the sheet-like workpiece in the machining area on the movable table and by irradiating the laser beam while moving the movable table relative to the laser beam. At least one of the supply reel and the take-up reel is disposed on the movable table.

Abstract: A method of forming one or more micro-displays includes forming a first portion of a seal ring overlying a device substrate and surrounding one or more device chips formed on the device substrate, forming a second portion of the seal ring overlying a transparent cover, forming a first layer overlying the transparent cover, plasma bonding the first layer to a second layer formed overlying the device substrate and the one or more device chips, and fusing the first and second portions of the seal ring together using a beam of electromagnetic radiation.

Abstract: Flushing gas lines of a laser processing machine, by supplying a flushing gas to the system in a series of pressure impulses greater than a residual processing gas pressure after completion of a processing sequence, and allowing the supplied flushing gas to expand and mix with any residual gas between successive pressure impulses, to substantially clear the processing gas from the system.

Abstract: A laser welding nozzle used as a working tool, a linear movement mechanism of a pressing device, and a servomotor are fixed to a bracket. A roller support frame is fixed on a moving side of the linear movement mechanism. A roller is pivotally mounted at a distal end of the roller support frame. The roller is located in the vicinity of a weld point of the laser welding nozzle. By driving the servomotor in a controlled manner, a portion in the vicinity of the weld point of a plate portion to be welded is pressed by the roller to restrain a floating of the weld portion, by which a gap between the plate portions is regulated, and thus uniform weld can be obtained. The pressing position, speed, and pressing force of roller can be controlled easily, so that the pressing device can be used for various types of workpieces.

Abstract: An injection apparatus for transferring melted metals is capable of metering and degassing the melted metal in a reservoir to reserve metals in the liquid phase for injection. The injection apparatus includes a heating cylinder having a metering chamber. An injection screw is movably and rotationally installed within the heating cylinder. A tip end of the injection screw forms a plunger insertable into the metering chamber with a clearance for sliding. The reservoir includes an axial portion free of screw flights between the plunger and a feeding portion that has a screw flight around its axis. A projected portion for limiting the feeding of granular metals flowing to the reservoir and for preventing the metals in liquid phase from flowing backward during injection is provided on a boundary between the feeding portion and the reservoir.

Abstract: The bonding position between a bonding wire and an electrode is maintained accurately, an ultrasonic horn is mounted to a bonding machine by the attachment portions of support portions situated at minimum vibration amplitude points equally distant from a capillary in opposite directions in such a manner that it is supported on both sides, and the ultrasonic horn, capillary and bonding work portion are vibrated by ultrasonic waves to bond the end portion of the bonding wire.

Abstract: A method for the direct production, from molten metal, of scale-free thin metal strip. Hot thin metal strip exiting a continuous caster system is directed to a reducing chamber wherein a reducing gas reduces strip surface oxides while the cast metal strip is at an elevated temperature from retained heat from the molten metal. A cooling unit following the reducing chamber is used to cool the strip to a temperature below about 150° C. prior to exposing the strip to an oxidizing atmosphere. In various embodiments of the invention, strip thickness is reduced with use of hot and cold rolling mills and the scale-free surface of the strip is coated with protective coatings.

Abstract: A molding press for simultaneously molding a product and laminating a pattern layer to the surface of the molded product comprising a bottom mold plate, a top mold plate, a mold ring element surrounding the mold plates and moveable independently of the top and bottom mold plates, an upper surface on said mold ring for engaging a peripheral edge of the top mold plate, and a flat groove in said mold ring upper surface which is slightly deeper than the thickness of a pattern layer to be laminated to the top surface of the final molded product.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a foamlike mineral building and structural material based on a substantially uniformly foamed alkali-silicate and/or ammonium-silicate matrix encompassing an open and/or closed porous structure. In addition, the present invention relates to a method of producing a foamlike mineral building and structural material comprising the following steps: adjusting the water content of the alkali-silicate and/or ammonium-silicate starting material to a specific value, and foaming the pretreated alkali-silicate and/or ammonium-silicate material, and to an apparatus for carrying out the method which comprises: a conditioner for adjusting the water content of the alkali-silicate and/or ammonium-silicate starting material and a heating means for the foaming step.

Abstract: A lead-free glaze that can be fired at a low temperature, a spark plug for which it is used, and a spark plug production method are provided. The lead-free glaze is for coating onto ceramic materials. This lead-free glaze contains 16-49 wt % of SiO2, 15-35 wt % of B2O3, 0-10 wt % of Al2O3 and 0-10 wt % of ZnO. A spark plug is provided that comprises coating the lead-free glaze onto the surface of an insulator and firing.

Abstract: In a method of manufacturing articles to be included in cans, a metal strip (1) is fed to an article forming unit (11), in which it is punched and stamped to form the articles. Before the article forming operations, the strip (1) is provided with laser engravings on one of its upper and lower surfaces, or on both these surfaces. The laser engravings form indicative marks on the articles. In addition to the article forming unit (11), an apparatus for manufacturing such articles has a metal strip supply (8), means (13) for feeding the strip (1) and a laser unit (9) for providing the indicative laser engraved marks on the articles.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for continuously casting metal strip are provided, in which molten metal is introduced between a pair of parallel chilled casting rolls via an elongate metal delivery nozzle disposed above and extending along the nip between the casting rolls to form a casting pool supported on the rolls and the rolls are contra-rotated to produce the solidified strip. The molten metal is then delivered into a trough of the nozzle through an entry nozzle having an upper inlet end for receiving molten metal from a tundish, and a lower outlet end extending into the trough of the delivery nozzle, and the outlet end of the entry nozzle has a bottom wall, elongated side walls spaced inwardly from the side walls of the delivery nozzle and outlets for molten metal in the side walls.

Abstract: A soldering method and apparatus in which there is provided a tight contact cover tightly contacting a portion (unused portion) of a re-flow panel other than its portion facing a substrate to be soldered in such a manner as to suppress a hot wind tending to turn around to a part setting surface to diminish the thermal energy loss as well as to prevent the circuit quality from being lowered by the solder.

Abstract: The invention relates to a process for controlling the heat transfer to a workpiece during vapor phase soldering. According to said process, a workpiece placed in a vapor phase is first rapidly heated to a predetermined temperature, and then the temperature is controlled by changing the vapor volume on the workpiece surface. Preferably, a workpiece in the vapor phase is heated to a temperature lower than the melting point of the solder, and then the workpiece is heated at the boundary between the vapor phase and the vapor-free space more slowly to the melting point of the solder. This invention is advantageous in that it provides a process for rapid vapor phase soldering with no undesirable side effects, such as, e.g., formation of solder pearls.

Abstract: Realized is a welding wire containing flux used for a gas shielded arc welding of a direct current/positive polarity mode, with use of which a quantity of sputter generated is small, a good weldability is realized and a weld metal with an excellent toughness is obtained in all the welding positions under application of a welding current in the range of a low current to a medium current, or in a definite manner in the range of 50 to 300 A. The flux contains 0.7 to 3 wt % Al, 0.1 to 1.0 wt % Mg and 1.2 to 5 wt % BaF2, each content being a value in wt % to a total weight of the wire and the sum of a content of Al plus a content of Mg multiplied by 3 being in the range of 1.3 to 5 wt %, a filling ratio of the flux to the total weight of the wire is in the range of 5 to 30 wt %, a total Mn content in a steel sheath and the flux combined is in the range of 0.2 to 1.9 wt % and a total Si content in the steel sheath and the flux combined in the range of 0.001 to 0.9 wt %.

Abstract: A system and method for forming bumps on an integrated circuit including a scanning direct laser imager employed to selectably expose a photosensitive layer deposited on an integrated circuit substrate, thereby to define regions overlying selected portions of the substrate, a developer developing said photosensitive layer to form apertures in the photosensitive layer at the defined regions, and a solder applicator applying a solder composition to the apertures to define solder bumps on the integrated circuit at selected portions thereof.