Abstract: Disclosed is a slit valve gate. The slit valve gate includes a base portion configured to couple to a slit valve actuator. The slit valve gate further includes a seal portion coupled to the base portion. The seal portion is configured to create an airtight seal between the slit valve gate and a sealing surface of a slit valve opening. The slit valve gate further includes a clamp portion coupled to the base portion. The clamp portion retains the seal portion at least partially between the clamp portion and the base portion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a slit valve gate. The slit valve gate includes a base portion configured to couple to a slit valve actuator. The slit valve gate further includes a seal portion coupled to the base portion. The seal portion is configured to create an airtight seal between the slit valve gate and a sealing surface of a slit valve opening. The slit valve gate further includes a clamp portion coupled to the base portion. The clamp portion retains the seal portion at least partially between the clamp portion and the base portion.

Abstract: Disclosed are a slit valve apparatus and a method for controlling a slit valve. The slit valve apparatus includes a slit valve assembly and a servo-control system in communication with the slit valve assembly. The slit valve assembly includes at least one gate able to transition between an open position and a closed position, at least one pneumatic actuator, at least one proportional pneumatic valve including a plurality of controllers, and a continuous position sensor. The servo-control system includes a centralized controller that generates a control signal and adjusts the movement of the at least one gate based on the position trajectory for the gate, a linear position measurement of the gate from the continuous position sensor, and fluid pressure/flow measurements from the plurality of controllers.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wafer processing system, a dual gate system, and methods for operating these systems. The dual gate system may have a first gate, a second gate, a gate connector coupled to the first gate and to the second gate, and actuator coupled to the gate connector. The actuator is configured to seal the first gate against a first slot or open the first slot via vertical motion. The actuator is also configured to seal the second gate against a second slot or open the second slot via a combination of vertical motion and horizontal motion.

Abstract: Disclosed is a wafer processing system, a dual gate system, and methods for operating these systems. The dual gate system may have a first gate, a second gate, a gate connector coupled to the first gate and to the second gate, and actuator coupled to the gate connector. The actuator is configured to seal the first gate against a first slot or open the first slot via vertical motion. The actuator is also configured to seal the second gate against a second slot or open the second slot via a combination of vertical motion and horizontal motion.

Abstract: Disclosed are a slit valve apparatus and a method for controlling a slit valve. The slit valve apparatus includes a slit valve assembly and a servo-control system in communication with the slit valve assembly. The slit valve assembly includes at least one gate able to transition between an open position and a closed position, at least one pneumatic actuator, at least one proportional pneumatic valve including a plurality of controllers, and a continuous position sensor. The servo-control system includes a centralized controller that generates a control signal and adjusts the movement of the at least one gate based on the position trajectory for the gate, a linear position measurement of the gate from the continuous position sensor, and fluid pressure/flow measurements from the plurality of controllers.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides methods, devices and systems for assessing/evaluating the verbal fluency of a user by obtaining a speech (audial/acoustic signal) from a user, detecting disrupted/stuttered and fluent speech time-intervals in the speech, calculating a Disrupted-time value and Fluent-time value based on the disrupted/stuttered and fluent speech time-intervals respectively, and deriving a speech efficiency score for the user/speech based on the Disrupted-time value and Fluent-time value.

Abstract: Slit valve gates and methods for cleaning are provided. Slit valves include: a slit valve gate configured to seal an opening of a process chamber, the slit valve gate comprising a surface that faces an processing volume of the process chamber; and a non-porous anodized coating on the surface of the slit valve gate. Methods of cleaning include: immersing the slit valve gate in a tank comprising deionized water; sonicating the slit valve gate at a first power density of about 6 W/cm2 to about 15 W/cm2 and a frequency of about 25 kHz to about 40 kHz for a first period of time; sonicating the slit valve gate at a second power density of about 30 W/cm2 to about 45 W/cm2 and a frequency of about 25 kHz to about 40 kHz for a second period of time; and removing the slit valve gate from the tank.

Abstract: Slit valve doors including a door body made entirely of an Al2O3 ceramic material, and a seal coupled to the door body. Slit valve door assemblies and slit valve assemblies including the slit valve door are disclosed, as are numerous other aspects.

Abstract: The present invention is based in part on the discovery of a panel of miRs whose levels are increased or decreased in the circulation of chronic systolic HF patients. Accordingly, an extensive panel of miRs was screened in the sera of stable chronic systolic HF patients and the results were compared to an age, gender and ethnically matched control group.

Abstract: The present invention is based in part on the discovery of a panel of miRs whose levels are increased or decreased in the circulation of chronic systolic HF patients. Accordingly, an extensive panel of miRs was screened in the sera of stable chronic systolic HF patients and the results were compared to an age, gender and ethnically matched control group.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide a lamination module and procedure for cooling the edges of a partially formed thin film solar module to substantially the same temperature as the central region of the module just prior to compressing and bonding the layers of the heated module. The lamination module may include a cooling module having a plurality of nozzles configured to apply a curtain of cooling fluid to leading and trailing edges of the partially formed solar module after heating the module and just prior to compressing the module. The nozzles may further be configured to apply a curtain of cooling fluid to side edges of the partially formed solar cell module as it passes through the cooling module. As a result, the chance of bubble formation within the bonding material in the edge regions of the completed solar cell module is significantly lowered with respect to conventional lamination processes.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide an apparatus and methods for processing solar cell devices. In one embodiment, a method removing particles from edge regions of the solar cell device by a cleaning module with a constant loading applied onto a back surface of the solar cell device, wherein the cleaning modules has two or more roller-type brushes disposed at opposed sides of a rotation table located before and/or after a quality assurance stage configured to measure and correct defects in the solar cell device, and transferring the solar cell device into an edge deletion station in which an electromagnetic radiation energy is used to remove materials from a top surface of the solar cell device. The roller-type brushes include non-abrasive bristles configured to remove unwanted material from the periphery region of the solar cell device prior to transferring into the edge delete station.