Abstract: This disclosure relates to motorized hinge-lift system designed for integration and use with physical vapor deposition (PVD) chambers, enabling efficient and precise control of the chamber's lid assembly. PVD technology plays a critical role in thin film deposition processes for various industries, including semiconductor manufacturing, optical coatings, and advanced materials research. The proposed motorized hinge-lift systems contemplated and discussed herein significantly enhances the functionality and performance of PVD chambers by addressing key challenges associated with their operation. Among other related benefits, embodiments of such motorized hinge-lift system may provide for simple retrofitting of existent PVD chambers, and may allow seamless and reliable lid lifting and lid lowering operations, thereby minimizing the risk of operator injury or damage to sensitive substrates within the chamber or to the PVD chamber itself.

Abstract: The present invention overcomes several disadvantages in conventional tile installation by providing tile regulators and a method of using them that provide both the proper grout spacing between tiles and vertical and horizontal plumb levels of the tiles, which regulators enhance the ease of installing the tiles and the final appearance of the newly laid tile. The present tile regulators are designed to compensate for the existing limiting conditions associated with conventional regulating products.