Abstract: An apparatus for performing automated in-situ lift-out of a sample from a specimen includes a computer having a memory with computer-readable instructions, a stage for a specimen and a nano-manipulator. The stage and the nano-manipulator are controlled by motion controllers connected to the computer. The nano-manipulator has a probe tip for attachment to samples excised from the specimen. The computer-readable instructions include instructions to cause the stage motion controllers and the nano-manipulator motion controllers, as well as an ion-beam source, to automatically perform in-situ lift-out of a sample from the specimen.

Abstract: A strain detector for in-situ lift-out, comprises a nano-manipulator probe shaft; a strain gauge mounted on the probe shaft; and a first cut-out on the probe shaft. The first cut-out has a rectangular cross-section. There is a second cut-out on the probe shaft; the second cut-out having a semicircular cross-section. The second cut-out is positioned on the shaft opposite from the first cut-out; the first and second cut-out, thus defining a thinned region in the probe. The strain gauge is mounted on the probe shaft at the location of the thinned region. There is detecting circuitry for detecting, amplifying and conditioning the output of the strain gauge; and, wires electrically connecting the strain gauge to the detection circuitry. The wires are preferably located in a trench in the probe shaft. Other embodiments are disclosed having multiple strain gauges and detectors.

Abstract: We disclose a gripper and associated apparatus and methods for delivering nano-manipulator probe tips inside a vacuum chamber. The gripper includes a tube; a compression cylinder inside of and coaxial with the tube; and at least one elastic ring adjacent to the compression cylinder. There is a vacuum seal coaxial with the compression cylinder for receiving and sealing against a probe tip. An actuator is connected to the compression cylinder for compressing the elastic ring and causing it to grip the probe tip. Thus the probe tip can be gripped, transferred to a different location in the vacuum chamber, and released there. Samples attached to the probe tips will be transferred to a TEM sample holder, shown in several embodiments, that includes a bar having opposed ends; an arm attached to each opposed end of the bar; one or more slots for receiving a probe tip; and, each slot having an inner part and an outer part, where the inner part is smaller than the outer part.

Abstract: An analog-to-digital conversion system has an analog-to-digital converter and a digital-filter system. The digital-filter system is connected to the output of the analog-to-digital converter. A processor is connected to the output of the digital-filter system so that the processor transparently receives filtered sample data in the native format of the analog-to-digital converter. An FIR filter circuit in the digital-filter system is connected to receive data from, and output filtered data to, a sample capture and data-type conversion circuit connected between the analog-to-digital converter and the processor. A configuration and control-register circuit is connected to the circuit for sample collection and data-type conversion, and to the FIR filter circuit, for selectively controlling the operation of the digital filter system according to parameters for data conversion and filter operation passed to the configuration and control-register circuit over a serial interface.

Abstract: A method of preparing a sample for examination in a TEM, where the sample is attached to a probe tip point, uses a TEM sample holder form embodied in a TEM sample holder coupon. The probe-tip points and the TEM sample holder coupon are oriented with each other so that the sample is approximately centered in the TEM sample holder form. The probe-tip points are embedded in the TEM sample holder form by means of a press, simultaneously cutting off that portion of every probe-tip point outside the boundary of the TEM sample holder form and cutting the TEM sample holder free from the TEM sample holder coupon. The operation can be formed inside or outside of a focused ion-beam instrument.

Abstract: A ball sizer for a paint-ball gun includes a bore having an entrance. In the preferred embodiment, the bore has a chamfer, which in turn has a smooth transition from the entrance to the bore of the sizer. The transition may define a section of a parabola, a section of a circle, or a combination of a straight line with a transition to a curve, such as a section of a parabola or circle. Similar transitions may be provided at the exit of the ball sizer, and at the entrance to the barrel attached to the exit of the sizer, or both.

Abstract: A chemical injection system has a pump and an actuator connected to the pump. The actuator further comprises a first sensor for sensing a deactivated state of the pump; a second sensor for sensing an activated state of the pump; a computer connected to the first and second sensors and the actuator; and an interface connected to the computer, to receive commands from, and to transmit data to, a control point. The computer further comprises a stored program. The stored program contains instructions to energize the actuator to cause the pump to dispense a pre-determined quantity of chemical and to verify that the pump has actually operated to dispense the pre-determined quantity of chemical.

Abstract: A fluid power unit has a cylinder in a housing, a piston slidable in the cylinder and dividing the cylinder into a retract side and an extend side, and a two-position control valve. The control valve has a spool and first and second pilots. The position of the spool is responsive to the first and second pilots. There is a retract poppet valve in the retract side of the cylinder, and an extend poppet valve in the extend side. The retract and extend poppet valves are biased to a closed position. The retract poppet valve is in a fluid path between the retract side and the control valve; the extend poppet valve is in a fluid path between the extend side and the control valve. The alternate movement of the piston in the cylinder alternately opens and closes the poppet valves, The circuit connects the poppet valves to the pilots and alternately applies and releases pressure to the pilots, causing the spool of the control valve to shift and apply inlet pressure to the piston on alternate sides.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus comprises a frame having a base and an apex. A least one pivot is connected to the frame for supporting a swinging arm. The opposite end of the arm supports a seat for an exercising athlete, and optional weights. The frame supports a force plate opposed to the seat. The seat and the force plate are connected by elastic members, such as bands, that bias the seat toward the force plate. The athlete develops reversal strength by extending his legs to bound from the force plate, then stopping the resulting forward motion at a predetermined joint position before rebounding again.

Abstract: A system and method for implementing a digital filter, comprising computing on a digital computer a mathematical model of a digital filter; where the mathematical model has a predetermined first set of parameters. The first set of parameters is converted to a second set of parameters, where the second set of parameters includes control parameters for a pre-selected digital-filter integrated circuit (IC). The system then verifies that the execution of the second set of parameters by the digital-filter IC substantially reproduces the behavior of the mathematical model. The verified second set of parameters is then written to permanent storage on the digital-filter IC. The system preferably reads a device-file map characteristic of the particular filter IC intended to be used to implement the filter under design.

Abstract: We disclose an apparatus and method for detecting probe-tip contact with a surface, generally inside a focused ion-beam instrument, where the probe tip is attached to a capsule, and the capsule is movably secured in a probe shaft. There is a fiber-optic cable having a first end and a second end; a beam splitter having first and second output ports; and a light source connected to the beam splitter. The first output port of the beam splitter is connected to the first end of the fiber-optic cable, and the second output port of the beam splitter is connected to a photodiode. The second end of the fiber-optic cable has a mirror for reflecting incident light at approximately a ninety-degree angle to the axis of the optical path in the fiber-optic cable and onto the capsule, so that the intensity of the light reflected back from the capsule through the fiber-optic cable is proportional to the deflection of the capsule as the probe tip makes contact with the surface.

Abstract: A fuel-recovery system for removing fuel from a fuel tank having a filler neck and a rollover valve is disclosed. A fuel-recovery line has one or more holes in its outside wall and a tapered plug in its inlet end. The fuel-recovery line also has a bend in its inlet end to facilitate its passage past the rollover valve. The fuel-recovery line passes through a pressure cap that is sealed to the filler neck of the fuel tank. A source of gas is connected to a gas line that connects to the pressure cap for pressurizing the fuel tank.

Abstract: The preferred embodiment further includes a press for cutting a TEM sample holder from a TEM coupon and joining a probe-tip point with an attached sample to the TEM sample holder. The press includes: an outer die; an inner die situated inside the outer die; a former rod opposing the inner and outer dies; and, a shear punch situated coaxially with the former rod. A hold-down spring biases the former rod toward the inner die. A trigger or other mechanism responsive to the contact of the former rod and the inner die, and an actuator responsive to the trigger, drive the shear punch toward the inner and outer dies. This press can be located either inside or outside the vacuum chamber of the FIB or other analytical instrument.

Abstract: A kit for preparing TEM sample holders includes at least one TEM coupon made of a sheet of material and having one or more paths from its edge to a TEM sample holder form embodied in the TEM coupon. There is at least one hole in the coupon defining the outer boundary of the TEM sample holder form. This hole has a mouth that defines a land of material. This land connects the TEM sample holder form to the edge of the sheet. The kit preferably includes at least one probe tip, where the probe tip has a probe-tip point, and finally, a press. The press has inner and outer dies and a former rod opposing the inner and outer dies. A shear punch is situated coaxially with the former rod. Thus, when an actuator drives the shear punch toward the inner and outer dies, the shear punch severs the land and cuts an opening in the TEM sample holder form, and simultaneously the former rod presses the probe tip point or points into the sheet of material.

Abstract: A TEM sample holder is formed by cutting the TEM sample holder form from a coupon in a press. The cutting at the same time joins the tip point of a nano-manipulator probe tip with the formed TEM sample holder. The tip point of the probe has a sample attached for inspection in a TEM. The cutting process also creates a gap in the sample holder to allow for FIB milling of the specimen.

Abstract: We disclose a CIC digital filter having an arbitrary-integer decimation rate. The filter has a shifter connected to its input. The shifter receives a shift control input, where the shift control input is pre-computed as equal to the integer portion of 2 raised to the base-2 logarithm of the gain of the CIC filter. There is a multiplier connected between the input and the shifter. In other embodiments, the multiplier could be connected between the input and the shifter. Sequentially-connected integrator functions are connected to the shifter (or multiplier); a decimation function receives input from the integrator functions; and sequentially-connected differentiator functions receive input from the decimation function. The decimation function has a selectable rate equal to any integer between 1 and a number equal to the predetermined maximum decimation value.

Abstract: A coupon for preparing a TEM sample holder comprises a sheet of material that includes a TEM sample holder form. There is at least one section of the sheet connecting the TEM sample holder form to other portions of the sheet. A TEM sample holder is formed by cutting the TEM sample holder form from the coupon in a press. The cutting joins the tip point of a nano-manipulator probe tip with the formed TEM sample holder. The tip point of the probe has a sample attached for inspection in a TEM.

Abstract: I disclose an apparatus for driving a submerged pump in a well, of the kind where the pump has a driving rod. A motor is connected to a double-reduction helical gear drive, and the gear drive has a threaded output shaft. The gear drive output shaft is removably connected to the pump driving rod. There is a back plate; the motor and gear drive are connected together to the back plate. The back plate has at least one slotted track for vertically adjusting the position of the motor and gear drive above the pump driving rod. The apparatus has a drive head housing attached to the well head. A pivot connects the drive head housing and the back plate, so that the motor and gear drive may be pivoted clear of the pump driving rod when the gear drive and pump rod are disconnected. A back plate rest connected to the drive head housing supports the back plate (and the motor and gear drive) when the motor and gear drive are pivoted clear of the pump driving rod.