Abstract: A method for machining a transparent material by the non-linear absorption of pulsed laser radiation, in the region of a laser focus, includes the following steps: a laser wavelength of between 300 and 1000 ?m is selected; and laser impulses having a temporally flat beam profile are applied. The method is characterized in that the irradiation intensity is selected from an interval pre-determined for the material to be machined, in which plasma is formed without plasma luminescence. An apparatus for laser treating a transparent material includes structure to set an irradiance and inspect the treatment as being within a defined interval.

Abstract: A method of optoperforation of the membrane of a cell by application of laser pulses characterized by focusing the pulsed laser beam onto the cell membrane to be perforated, applying a series of laser pulses of predetermined pulse energy, measuring the oscillation time of the bubbles formed in the laser focus from the change in laser intensity of a test laser beam transmitted through the laser focus and caused by the bubbles in the laser focus, and increasing the pulse energy to a level at which the oscillation time of the bubbles attains a predetermined value.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer includes a first ion trap arranged upstream of an analytical second ion trap. The charge capacity of the first ion trap is set at a value such that if all the ions stored within the first ion trap up to the charge capacity limit of the first ion trap are then transferred to the second ion trap, then the analytical performance of the second ion trap is not substantially degraded due to space charge effects.

Abstract: A load sensor assembly for measuring an amount of torque transmitted through a torque establishing element includes a core mounted on a transmission housing and a load sensor mounted on the core. The load sensor is positioned against a portion of the torque establishing element whereby a portion of the amount of torque transmitted through the torque establishing element travels through the load sensor and is measured. A cable is connected to the load sensor for transmitting a signal representative of the amount of torque to a transmission controller.

Abstract: A launcher system includes a launcher having a barrel adapted to receive a projectile with a charge of propellant and a magazine adapted to hold additional projectiles, with each projectile including a piston shiftably mounted for movement relative to a main body. When propellant in the projectile is ignited, either mechanically or electrically, the propellant forces the piston from a retracted position during a period of initial thrust and then the propellant exits through at least one vent hole to provide an additional thrust for the projectile upon the piston moving to a fully extended position and safely discharge pressure from within the projectile. The projectile may be fired at lethal or non-lethal velocities.

Abstract: Ship rudder control, so-called autopilot, includes a multiplicity of components connected with a bus interface to a CAN bus and via this also to each other. A further bus interface on each component of the control system is coupled to a separate, second bus, with the components being provided with unambiguous addresses and further information being assigned that mark the components as monitorable or non-monitorable. A device for emitting telegrams of component addresses and monitorability. A first comparator on all monitorable components start or switch off their own property as a monitoring component using the addresses of other components in received telegrams by comparison, and a second comparator on all monitorable components that use the number of received telegrams by comparison with the number of telegrams received on the other channel causing a change of the channel to that with the higher number of received telegrams under certain circumstances.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an oven cavity accessed through first and second French-style doors that are connected to the appliance through a door linkage system. The door linkage system establishes a particular timing of door openings and closings to minimize potential wear of a door gasket. That is, each of the doors has an associated gasket for use in sealing the oven cavity when the doors are closed. One of the doors is provided with an annular gasket, while the other door essentially incorporates a less that fully annular, preferably 3-sided or a three-quarter gasket. With this arrangement, each of the gaskets has three sides adapted to seal against a cabinet shell portion of the appliance, while the fourth side of the first gasket is adapted to seal against an extension provided on the other door.

Abstract: A dishwasher includes a main sump that holds the main wash fluid supply, and a separate sump formed in the bottom wall of the tub away from the main sump. The separate sump holds a concentrated wash fluid supply. The separate sump supplies wash fluid for washing periods in which a highly concentrated chemistry mixture is desired.

Abstract: A microwave heating device comprises a cavity arranged to receive a load to be heated and a feeding structure for feeding microwaves in the cavity. The feeding structure comprises a transmission line for transmitting microwave energy generated by a microwave source and a resonator arranged at the junction between the transmission line and the cavity for operating as a feeding port of the cavity. The dielectric constant of the material constituting the interior of the resonator and the dimensions of the resonator are selected such that a resonance condition is established in the resonator for the microwaves generated by the source and impedance matching is established between the transmission line, the resonator and the cavity. In addition, the present invention provides a microwave heating device comprising a plurality of feeding ports with reduced crosstalk.

Abstract: An apparatus for single-sided bilayer formation includes a first fluid chamber including a sidewall and a second fluid chamber extending through the sidewall. A barrier wall, having at least a portion defining a hydrophobicity or hydrophilicity surface property, separates the first and second fluid chambers and includes a nanopore therein across which a planar lipid bilayer (PLB) is formed. In use, an electrolyte is added to the first and second fluid chambers and a lipid/organic solvent mixture is added to the first fluid chamber to form a lipid/organic solvent layer. The electrolyte level within the first fluid chamber is adjusted such that the lipid layer is raised above the barrier wall and a PLB is formed through single-sided spontaneous formation from the first fluid chamber across the nanopore.

Abstract: A mass spectrometer is disclosed comprising a first chamber and a second chamber. The second chamber is located downstream of the first chamber and an inter-chamber aperture is provided between the two chambers. An ion guide is located in the first chamber and an ion mobility spectrometer is located in the second chamber. Helium gas is provided to the first chamber. As ions are accelerated towards the ion mobility spectrometer from a relatively low pressure region they pass initially into the first chamber. The helium gas provided in the first chamber minimizes ion fragmentation and ion discrimination effects as ions are accelerated into a relatively high pressure region. The ions are then transmitted by the ion guide and are subsequently transmitted to the ion mobility spectrometer located in the second chamber.

Abstract: A cooking appliance having first and second oven doors that combine to extend across and close off a frontal opening of a cooking chamber includes a latching mechanism for locking the first and second oven doors in a closed position. The latching mechanism includes a fixed support plate and a motor having an output shaft to which is rotatably mounted an eccentric drive member. Preferably, the motor is fixedly mounted to the support plate. The latching mechanism further includes first and second latch members each having a first end portion pivotally attached to the eccentric drive member extending to a second end portion defining a hook element. When the motor is activated, a guide mechanism directs the second end portions of the first and second latch members to a locking position leading the hook members into engagement with the first and second doors.

Abstract: A dispensing system includes a digital image capture device focused on a dispenser well for capturing images of containers in the dispenser well and a digital image analyzer operatively coupled to the digital image capture device. The digital image analyzer evaluates digital images of containers captured by the digital image capture device to determine physical parameters of each container placed in the dispensing well. An actual dispensing operation is automatically regulated based on characteristics of the container.

Abstract: A system and method is employed to regulate a minimum transmission input speed based on automatic fluid temperature. The system includes a temperature sensor for sensing a temperature of the automatic transmission fluid and a controller for setting a minimum engine speed of the engine based on the temperature of the automatic transmission fluid. The size of a transmission pump may be reduced while the pump is still able to supply enough automatic transmission fluid to friction elements and gear ratios to provide lubrication and enable friction element actuators to engage and disengage the friction elements in a timely and effective manner. In a preferred form of the invention, when the temperature of the automatic transmission fluid is below 210° F., the minimum engine speed is set to no greater than 900 rpm; and when the temperature of the automatic transmission fluid is above 210° F., the minimum engine speed is set to no less than 1000 rpm.

Abstract: A dishwasher includes a door assembly that has an outer door panel with a vent. At the end of a wash cycle, the outer door panel tips outwardly to expose the vent. Steam is evacuated from the dishwasher through the vent via a duct extending through the door assembly.

Abstract: In asynchronous optical packet switches, scheduling packets from a buffer randomly will cause less efficient utilization of the buffer. Additionally, reordering of packets may cause problems for service quality demanding applications. According to the present invention a new electronic buffer scheduling algorithm is proposed and a switch utilizing this algorithm is disclosed. The algorithm is designed for utilizing the buffer resources efficiently, still avoiding serious packet reordering.

Abstract: A capacitive touch switch having a printed circuit board and a capacitive electrode connected to the circuit board is disclosed. The printed circuit board is transparent and is interposed between a planar light guide provided with a light source and a non-conductive transparent cover, the electrode being icon-shaped and supported by the printed circuit board.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for the MRT representation of a blood vessel (A) and/or of the territory supplied by the blood vessel (A) by labeling the blood, which is guided by this blood vessel (A), by means of continuous arterial spin labeling (CASL), in a specified labeling plane (E). The position of the labeling plan (E) is varied with the provision that a specified location of the blood vessel (A) remains in the labeling plane (E). This enables, for example, a selective labeling of a blood vessel of interest to be saturated by varying the position of the labeling plane.

Abstract: A dishwasher includes a tub having a door that provides access to the tub. The door has a handle which extends a top surface of the door beyond a front surface of the door. A touchscreen panel is mounted to the top surface of a door to provide a user interface. The user interface includes a carrousel of icons via which a user may select a wash cycle. The user interface further includes a programmed delay interface via which a user may specify a desired start time and/or stop time for the wash cycle. The user interface may further provide the user with usage guidance to aid the user in the usage of the dishwasher.

Abstract: A cooking appliance includes an oven provided with bake, broil and multiple convection heating elements, as well as plural, multi-speed fans, for cooking a wide range of food. The various heating elements are sequentially operated on a predetermined priority basis in order to, along with the fans, establish numerous effective cooking sequences, such as a bake mode, a convection bake mode with no preheat, a convection bake mode with rapid preheat, a convection bake mode with standard preheat, and a convection roast mode.