Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus having a transport apparatus, at least one sensor connected to the transport apparatus and a controller. The transport apparatus is adapted for transporting the substrate between processing stations of the processing apparatus. The sensor is capable of sensing the substrate transported by the transporting apparatus. The sensor is arranged for sending at least one signal in response to sensing the substrate. The controller is communicably connected to the sensor and arranged to determine alignment of the substrate in at least two directions, angled relative to each other, relative to a predetermined location. The controller is capable of determining alignment from the at least one signal identifying no more than two points on the substrate and independent of radial variances between substrates.

Abstract: A device for protection against icing for aircraft engines including at least one sensor, sensitive to an amount of accumulated ice, arranged in the air intake of an aircraft engine, a system for measuring the amount and comparing the amount to be predetermined threshold and a triggering system for launching a response to the detection of the crossing of the predetermined threshold, the response may be an alarm, an increase in the engine power delayed by the engine control system or the return of hot air upstream of the engine.

Abstract: In a GPRS system, a method of a mobile station acquiring an IP network address. The method comprises the steps of: the mobile station generating a link identifier and sending it to a gateway over a wireless link in a network address request together with a request to check if the link identifier is unique; the gateway receiving the network address request and checking if the link identifier is unique; the gateway responding with a network address request response including either the sending a unique link identifier confirmed as being unique or a different unique link identifier; the gateway sending a network prefix to the mobile station; the mobile station combining the interface identifier and the network prefix to generate the IP network address.

Abstract: A method of monitoring performance of a communications network supporting a plurality of communications devices comprises providing a number of the plurality of the communications terminals with respective software agents to make respective measurements in relation to an attribute of a communications service supported by the communications network. The number of the plurality of communications terminals is equipped with position determination capabilities so as to provide global position information with respect to a measurement made. The measurement made and the corresponding location is communicated to a performance processing application that supports a database and stored by the performance processing application in the database, thereby recording a representation of a variation of the attribute of the communications service with respect to location.

Abstract: A device for analysing a specimen by fluorescence includes a confocal microscope, illumination means capable of emitting a light beam that converges, by means of an objective, on a focal spot, means for successively positioning the focal spot at various points on the specimen during analysis. The confocal microscope includes an objective mounted on a movable rapid-scan carriage driven in a reciprocating linear movement along a traverse direction by a rotating motor by means of a device of the connecting rod type. The specimen is placed on a movable support driven in a longitudinal movement and is able to move along the axis of the objective of the microscope in order to position the specimen relative to the focal spot.

Abstract: A device for controlling an electromechanical actuator includes an electric motor and an actuator operated by the electric motor. It also includes a digital signal processor (DSP) providing data of reference voltages (Ud—ffw, Uq—ffw) on the basis of an decoupled electrical model of the motor. The processor has at least one Park transformation module receiving measurement data for the currents of at least two supply phases of the motor (i_mot—2, i_mot—3) and a datum for the estimated angle of the motor (?estimated) and transforming them into data regarding the component of current with stator current axis (id) and the component of current in quadrature with the stator current (iq).

Abstract: A sealed wall feedthrough including a cylindrical assembly sleeve fixed and sealed in an opening of the wall, a cylindrical penetration module including joints ensuring the seal arranged on the periphery of its outside face, the module being able to transfer travel into the cylindrical assembly sleeve and includes locking with at least two annular grooves cut into the periphery of the inside face of the assembly sleeve.

Abstract: A control system includes a clustered architecture having a master controller, a central control section including one or more first remote controllers under direct control of the master controller, and a distributed control section including a cluster controller controlled by the master controller. The cluster controller controls the activities of one or more second remote controllers. Each of the first and second remote controllers are utilized to drive one or more axes.

Abstract: A method for positioning a wireless communication device includes storing position data relating to one or a plurality of reference areas to at least one database. It is examined which of said reference areas is located in the vicinity of the wireless communication device, and at least position data about the reference area located in the vicinity of the wireless communication device is retrieved for the wireless communication device. In order to perform the positioning, the method further includes selecting the reference area located in the vicinity of the wireless communication device as the default position of the wireless communication device.

Abstract: A sampling system for measuring the presence and concentration of inorganic ion species, including, metals, metalloids and non-metals, in a liquid solution including a first sampling unit. The first sampling unit includes a potentiometric subsystem configured to gather environmental metrics of the liquid sample, a preparation subsystem, coupled to the potentiometric module, the preparation subsystem being configured to prepare and isolate contaminants of concern in a flow of a liquid sample into metal, metalloid, or non-metal ionic forms; and a voltammetric subsystem selectively coupled to the preparation subsystem, potentiometric subsystem and a sample source, the voltammetric subsystem being configured to identify and determine a concentration of metal, metalloid, or non-metal ionic species through stripping voltammetry. The system is configured to compare a value of a stripping signal of the sample with a predetermined value to determine if dilution of the sample is required.

Abstract: A mobile communication unit having a housing with at least one longitudinal side and a display area, and, a pivotably movable cover assembly longitudinally connected to the longitudinal side of the housing, the cover assembly being pivotably or slidably movable between a closed position and an open position relative to the housing and the display area, wherein pivotal or sliding movement of the cover assembly from the closed position to the open position provides widened access to the display area of the housing.

Abstract: Software for controlling processes in a heterogeneous semiconductor manufacturing environment may include a wafer-centric database, a real-time scheduler using a neural network, and a graphical user interface displaying simulated operation of the system. These features may be employed alone or in combination to offer improved usability and computational efficiency for real time control and monitoring of a semiconductor manufacturing process. More generally, these techniques may be usefully employed in a variety of real time control systems, particularly systems requiring complex scheduling decisions or heterogeneous systems constructed of hardware from numerous independent vendors.

Abstract: A number of wafer center finding methods and systems are disclosed herein that improve upon existing techniques used in semiconductor manufacturing.

Abstract: A substrate aligner providing minimal substrate transporter extend and retract motions to quickly align substrate without back side damage while increasing the throughput of substrate processing. In one embodiment, the aligner having an inverted chuck connected to a frame with a substrate transfer system capable of transferring substrate from chuck to transporter without rotationally repositioning substrate. The inverted chuck eliminates aligner obstruction of substrate fiducials and along with the transfer system, allows transporter to remain within the frame during alignment. In another embodiment, the aligner has a rotatable sensor head connected to a frame and a substrate support with transparent rest pads for supporting the substrate during alignment so transporter can remain within the frame during alignment. Substrate alignment is performed independent of fiducial placement on support pads.

Abstract: A dual arm robot assembly has two arms each having a set of joint/link pairs that, in conjunction with an actuator assembly, define at least three degrees of freedom to provide independent horizontal translation and rotation of a distalmost link. A vertical motion mechanism is also provided.

Abstract: An exercise apparatus including a frame having a front portion and side portions, independently movable foot platforms connected to the frame, the foot platforms being movable in at least fore-aft and lateral directions, each of the foot platforms comprising a carriage and a movable portion, the movable portion being configured for elevational movement with respect to the carriage so as to provide a variety of exercises involving independent leg motion in any one, two or three axes and independently variable generally opposing resistance modules connected between the foot platforms and the frame where the variable resistance modules are configured to independently control elevational travel of the movable portion and fore-aft, abduction and adduction movement of the foot platforms and are conveniently adjustable during or before use.

Abstract: A method of suppressing noise in a signal containing speech and noise to provide a noise suppressed speech signal. An estimate is made of the noise and an estimate is made of speech together with some noise. The level of the noise included in the estimate of the speech together with some noise is variable so as to include a desired amount of noise in the noise-suppressed signal.

Abstract: A programming interface for a hardware system includes an embedded layer for programmatic access to a physical realization of hardware, a simulation system for simulation of the hardware, and a diagnostics engine that analyzes and compares feedback data from the simulation system and the physical realization. The programming interface may be usefully employed, for example, in the design, purchase, and deployment of robotics for semiconductor manufacturing.

Abstract: A text input method is described for an electronic apparatus having a user interface with text input means and a display screen. Word completion functionality is provided for predicting word candidates for partial word inputs made by the user with the text input means. The method involves receiving a partial word input from the user and deriving a set of word completion candidates using the word completion functionality. Each of the word completion candidates in the set has a prefix and a suffix, wherein the prefix corresponds to the partial word input. The method also involves presenting the suffices for at least a sub set of the word completion candidates in a predetermined area on the display screen, wherein each of the presented suffices is made selectable for the user.

Abstract: A multimedia messaging center is arranged to receive multimedia messages addressed to a terminal. In response to the receipt of such messages, the message center transmits a notification to the terminal regarding the received message. A wireless message is transmitted, from the terminal to the message center, requesting notification messages that have not been acknowledged as received by the terminal.