Abstract: A multi-probe assembly includes a chuck assembly configured to receive a back or front surface of a semiconductor wafer. A multi-probe holder has a plurality of probes each having an elastically deformable conductive tip movable into contact with a front surface of a dielectric or a front surface of a semiconducting material. A means applies an electrical stimulus to each tip, measures a response to the electrical stimulus, and determines at least one electrical property of the dielectric and/or the semiconducting material. A method for measuring at least one electrical property applies a probe (or plurality of probes) having an elastically deformable conductive tip to a scribe line(s). An electrical stimulus is applied to the probe or one of the probes with the remaining probes grounded. A response to the electrical stimulus is measured and at least one electrical property of the semiconductor wafer is determined from the response.

Abstract: A food steaming device includes a water container, a heater, a liquid collecting unit, and a steaming tray. The water container has a first bottom wall and a surrounding wall that cooperate to define a chamber. The first bottom wall has a heat conductive hollow protrusion. The heater is provided removably below the water container, and has a heating element projecting into and connected thermally to the hollow protrusion. The liquid collecting unit is mounted on the water container, and has a second bottom wall covering the chamber and a blocking ring surrounding a steam supply hole and projecting upwardly from the second bottom wall. The steaming tray is mounted on the liquid collecting unit, and is adapted to receive food. A lid covers the steaming tray.

Abstract: An electron microscope which permits an operator to perform astigmatic correction and beam alignment. A field of view capable of clearly displaying astigmatism or beam misalignment in terms of a Ronchigram is placed on the optical axis. Then, the operator selects a Ronchigram display mode. A first or second TV camera such as a CCD camera is selected and placed on the optical axis while maintaining the electron optics in the STEM imaging mode. Under this condition, a Ronchigram signal is obtained from the TV camera and supplied to a computer via a TV power supply and an interface. As a result, a Ronchigram of appropriate size and brightness is displayed in an image display region on a display device. The operator corrects astigmatism or adjusts the alignment while observing the Ronchigram.

Abstract: A lawn mower for transmitting grass clippings cut by a mower unit (4) to a grass catcher (32) through a grass collecting duct (31). The lawn mower includes a body frame (1), and a bracket unit (39) attached to a rear of the body frame (1). A gate frame (40) is provided for supporting the grass catcher (32) to be displaceable between a collecting posture with an opening of the grass catcher (32) opposed to the grass collecting duct (31), and a discharging posture with the opening directed downward. The gate frame (40) defines first connecting areas (50) for enabling connection to a lift link mechanism (47) for vertically moving the gate frame (40) relative to the body frame (1), and second connecting areas (60) for enabling direct connection to the bracket unit (39). The first connecting areas (50) have connecting pins (51) connectable to distal ends of swing arms (45) of the lift link mechanism (47) used according to circumstances.

Abstract: A towbar head for a towbar-guided industrial truck includes control elements located on the towbar head. The control elements control various functions of the industrial truck such as the propulsion and/or the controls for a lifting device. The control elements are effectively connected to signal generators (4, 5) to generate electrical control signals. The invention teaches that there are at least two signal generators (4, 5) which are preferably in the form of membrane switches located on a common circuit board (3). In one embodiment, at least-one membrane switch has a plurality of contact areas 4b, 5b) located on the common circuit board (3). The common circuit board (3) has at least one contact membrane (13) that can be electrically connected with a contact surface (4a, 4b, 5a, 5b) or a resistance track by a pressure force exerted on the contact membrane (13). Preferably, all the signal generators located on the common circuit board (3) are in the form of membrane switches.

Abstract: An anisotropic conductive compound includes an electrically conducting material suspended in a binder. The electrically conducting material includes nickel coated particles having a coating of silver or gold over the nickel coat and/or gold or silver coated nickel particles. In one embodiment, the binder is formed from the reaction product of a catalyst and a compound comprising an aromatic epoxy resin, a dimer fatty acid diglycidyl ester and oxirane. In another embodiment, the binder is formed from the reaction product of a novalac resin, a catalyst and either a heat polymerized aromatic epoxy resin or a phenoxy modified epoxy novalac resin.

Abstract: An electronically controlled pneumatic (ECP) end of train (EOT) pneumatic emulation system allows fill train operation of standalone ECP unit trains, even with non-ECP equipped locomotives. The emulation system is based on close integration with the EOT system and allows operation of unit trains equipped with “all electric” ECP without pneumatic overlay or emulation capability, using standard, non-ECP equipped locomotives.

Abstract: A device for ironing laundry, which device consists of a heated, semi-cylindrical bed and a roller arranged rotatably therein, the outer periphery of which lies some distance from the bed wall, wherein the roller periphery directed toward the bed is covered with a resiliently yielding layer of textile, wherein between the roller wall and the layer of textile are arranged resilient elements which are each formed by an elongate carrier with a number of parallel strip-like resilient members directed transversely thereof and held by the carrier at an angle relative to the roller wall, which carriers are held fixedly in axial direction on the roller wall, thereby ensuring a better resilience and a better attachment of the covering to the roller.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus and method for diagnosing faults in hot strip finishing rolling, which diagnoses thickness faults in hot strip finishing rolling, using preset data and real-time data on rolling and control conditions, equation models representing control and physical phenomena and a database constructed based on operation experiences. The present invention comprises: a Supervisory Control Computer (SCC); an actually measured data collection unit; an exit side thickness gauge loaded-on determination unit; a part identification unit; an on-gauge ratio calculation unit; a primary fault determination unit; a secondary fault determination unit; and a confidence rate evaluation unit.

Abstract: An annular recuperator for use with an annular combustor. The annular recuperator includes a frame and an enclosure provided about its frame that defines a recuperator chamber. A plurality of involute shaped sealed and open recuperators are received in the recuperator chamber.

Abstract: The present invention relates to isolated and recombinant antimicrobial peptides thrombocidin-1 (TC-1) and thrombocidin-2 (TC-2), or variants thereof, which comprise at least in part the sequence as shown in FIG. 1 indicated by the label TC-1 and TC-2, and have antimicrobial activity against gram-positive and gram-negative bacteria, for example Escherichia coli, Bacillus subtilis, Streptococcus sanguis, Streptococcus pneumoniae, Staphylococcus epidermis, and Staphylococcus aureus, and/or against fungi, for example Candida albicans, C. glabarata, Cryptococcus neoformans, Aspergillus flavus, A. fumigatus, and Pseudoallescheria spec. The invention further relates to the use of said peptides, or variants thereof, for the preparation of a medicament for the treatment of bacterial or fungal infections, such as endocarditis, in humans and animals and the use of said peptides, or variants thereof, in release systems for prevention of bacterial or fungal infections in humans and animals.

Abstract: An engine enclosure for use on a vehicle having a cooling system for a vertical shaft type engine with a cooling air intake fan disposed above the engine. The engine enclosure comprises an upper hood for covering the engine from above, the upper hood having an upper surface and right and left side surfaces extending downward from the upper surface, a lower hood for covering lateral areas of the engine, and a cooling air intake opening formed in a position above a lower end of at least one of the right and left side surfaces of the upper hood for taking in ambient air. A partition wall member is disposed between the cooling air intake opening and the cooling air intake fan for restricting mixing of ambient air drawn by the fan and heat generating from the engine.

Abstract: An analytical method for combining chemical information with crystallographic information to obtain a map of the crystal orientation, the nature of grain boundaries, and distinguishing crystalline phases in a polycrystalline sample, including the steps of providing a sample with a prescribed grid of points thereon, selecting a point, applying a collimated electron beam to the point to obtain an electron backscatter diffraction (EBSD) pattern and the elemental composition of the sample at the point. Recording the information and repeating for each point in the grid and determining the crystalline phases in the sample. An instrument capable of performing the method includes an SEM having means for applying an electron beam to a sample, means for obtaining an EBSD pattern (EBSP), and means for determining the composition of the sample, as well as means for recording EBSD band locations and characteristics and the elemental composition of the sample.

Abstract: A spherical aberration corrector used in an electron microscope. The corrector has a spherical aberration correction optical system that permits the magnification to be varied. Rotational relation between two multipole elements within a plane perpendicular to the optical axis can be corrected without varying the phase angles of the multipole elements. A rotation-correcting lens is positioned within the focal plane of an electron trajectory formed between two axially symmetric lenses in the corrector to rotate electrons within a plane perpendicular to the optical axis.

Abstract: A charge carrier lifetime of a semiconductor wafer is measured by contacting an electrically conductive measurement probe to a surface of a semiconductor wafer to form a capacitor. A DC voltage having an AC voltage superimposed thereon is applied to the capacitor and the DC voltage is swept between a first voltage and a second voltage. At the second voltage, the semiconductor wafer adjacent the contact between the measurement probe and the surface of the semiconductor wafer is exposed to a light pulse. After the light pulse terminates, a change in the capacitance of the capacitor over time is determined. From the thus determined change in capacitance, a charge carrier lifetime of the semiconductor wafer is determined.

Abstract: A method for operating a gas turbine engine upon the occurrence of an offload condition.

Abstract: A method of operating a turboalternator when the turbine engine speed is between synchronous speed and self-sustaining speed.

Abstract: Disclosed is a burner apparatus comprising an inner tube defining a second channel and an outer tube defining a first channel surrounding the inner tube, air supplying means for supplying air to the first channel and the second channel, and gas supplying means for supplying fuel gas to the first channel and the second channel, either the first channel or the second channel being used as a main combustion channel and the other being used as a pilot combustion channel, the main combustion channel and the pilot combustion channel receiving the supply of fuel gas for combusting it. The main combustion channel includes a mixing promoting member against which the fuel gas discharged from the first supply opening into the main combustion channel is collided to be diffused in the main combustion channel.

Abstract: Disclosed is a burner apparatus comprising an inner tube defining a second channel and an outer tube defining a first channel surrounding the inner tube, air supplying means for supplying air to the first channel and the second channel, and gas supplying means for supplying fuel gas to the first channel and the second channel, either the first channel or the second channel being used as a main combustion channel and the other being used as a pilot combustion channel, the main combustion channel and the pilot combustion channel receiving the supply of fuel gas for combusting it. A first supply opening supplies the fuel gas into the main combustion channel. The first supply opening is disposed in the main combustion channel with an orientation for discharging the fuel gas toward a more upstream side of the flow direction of the fuel gas than the direction normal to the flow direction of the fuel gas.