Abstract: A packaging system and method for receiving articles from a first location, such as a product delivery system, transporting the articles to a second location for unloading the articles such that they are placed in a desired orientation and number of columns, rows, and stacks.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus of using customizable templates in process control systems are disclosed. An example method includes initializing a first process control device associated with a first protocol based on a template file and a first parameter definition file. The template file includes global variables and associated values. The first parameter definition file defines a relationship between the global variables and first local variables of at least one of the first process control device or the first protocol. The example method also includes initializing a second process control device associated with a second protocol based on the template file and a second parameter definition file. The second parameter definition file defines a relationship between the global variables and second local variables of at least one of the second process control device or the second protocol. The first protocol is different from the second protocol.

Abstract: A substrate processing system including a processing section arranged to hold a processing atmosphere therein, a carrier having a shell forming an internal volume for holding at least one substrate for transport to the processing section, the shell being configured to allow the internal volume to be pumped down to a predetermined vacuum pressure that is different than an exterior atmosphere outside the substrate processing system, and a load port communicably connected to the processing section to isolate the processing atmosphere from the exterior atmosphere, the load port being configured to couple with the carrier to pump down the internal volume of the carrier and to communicably connect the carrier to the processing section, for loading the substrate into the processing section through the load port.

Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) hub includes a state-detection circuit coupled to at least one pin in a high-definition multimedia-interface input connector, which can electrically couple to an entertainment device. When electrically coupled to the entertainment device, the state-detection circuit establishes a ground loop between the electronic device and the entertainment device. A control circuit in the A/V hub detects whether there is electrical coupling with the entertainment device using the state-detection circuit. When the electrical coupling is detected, the control circuit provides a set of first control commands associated with different types of entertainment devices until, in response, content activity is detected via the input connector.

Abstract: A system and method is provided to control a purge valve during an unsafe condition associated with a cryopump. An electronic controller may be used to control the opening and closing of one or more purge valves during the unsafe condition. The purge valve can be a cryo-purge valve or exhaust purge valve. The purge valve can be a normally open valve. The electronic controller can release the normally open valve in response to the unsafe condition. The electronic controller can delay its response to the unsafe condition for a safe period of time. Attempts from other systems to control these valves during unsafe conditions can be preempted during unsafe conditions. A user can be inhibited from manually controlling the purge valve during unsafe conditions. A power failure recovery routine may be initiated in response to a restoration of power. The power failure recovery routine can respond to an unsafe condition even if the power failure recovery routine has been manually turned off by a user.

Abstract: A spatial model of a printed circuit board assembly is generated based on an input file. The spatial model is used to determine a spatial feature not directly specified in the input file. A manufacturing parameter is determined based at least in part on the determined spatial feature. A proposal to manufacture the printed circuit board assembly is generated programmatically based at least in part on the determined manufacturing parameter.

Abstract: A method of inspecting plants for contamination includes generating a first series of images of a plant using a camera mounted to a frame being moved along a planting bed by a harvester, identifying a region of interest displayed in the first series of images as a region of contamination on the plant based on a color criterion and a morphological criterion applied to the region of interest, and transmitting data including an instruction to increase a vertical distance between the plant and a cutter of the harvester to avoid harvesting the plant in response to identifying the region of interest as the region of contamination. The method further includes generating a second series of images of an additional plant as the frame continues to be moved along the planting bed by the harvester while the vertical distance between the plant and the cutter is being increased.

Abstract: An adaptive ambulatory support includes a shock absorbing and pivoting tip assembly attached to the staff of a walking aid, such as a cane, crutch or walker. The shock absorbing and pivoting tip assembly includes a shock absorber sandwiched between a lower portion and an upper portion. The shock absorber may be a bendable spring or elastic material. The tip assembly enables the shaft of the walking aid to dynamically pivot without the loss of adherence of the lower portion to the floor surface and simultaneous provides the adaptive shock absorbing capability in any angle during ambulation.

Abstract: An audio/video (A/V) hub that determines an environment of a portable electronic device is described. In particular, the A/V hub may identify the environment based on performance information about communication between the portable electronic device and receiver devices (which was received from the receiver devices), and a history of behavior of an individual associated with the portable electronic device and the A/V hub. Alternatively, the A/V hub may identify the environment based on performance information about communication between the portable electronic device and the A/V hub and the portable electronic device and another A/V hub (which was received from the portable electronic device and/or the other A/V hub), and a history of behavior of an individual associated with the portable electronic device and the A/V hub. Based on the determination, the A/V hub provides an instruction to power on an A/V display device in the environment.

Abstract: An improved stocker configuration for storing workpieces in a fabrication facility is disclosed, employing workpiece compartments arranged stationarily around a robot handling assembly. The robot handler can be designed with three degrees of freedom, to improve speed, throughput and minimum particle generation. In addition, the stocker storage area is stationary with the movable components are the robot assembly, thus further contributing to the cleanliness of the storage stocker. The stocker configuration can be open storage area for fast access, space saving and ease of clean air purging. The stocker configuration can provide highly dense workpiece storage, utilizing a circumferential edge gripper robot handling assembly.

Abstract: A transport apparatus including a housing, a drive mounted to the housing, and at least one transport arm connected to the drive where the drive includes at least one rotor having at least one salient pole of magnetic permeable material and disposed in an isolated environment, at least one stator having at least one salient pole with corresponding coil units and disposed outside the isolated environment, where the at least one salient pole of the at least one stator and the at least one salient pole of the rotor form a closed magnetic flux circuit between the at least one rotor and the at least one stator, and at least one seal configured to isolate the isolated environment where the at least one seal is integral to the at least one stator.

Abstract: Saw system, including methods and apparatus, for cutting pieces of stock to be installed end-to-end to form miter joints. In some embodiments, the saw system may include a computer that determines an appropriate saw pivot angle for cutting a proximal end of a second piece of stock, based on a corner angle entered for cutting a distal end of a first piece of stock. In some embodiments, the saw system may compensate for an offset pivot axis of a saw device based on entered lengths of cut first and second pieces generated respectively with the saw device pivoted to the left and to the right.

Abstract: A feed mechanism that advances fabric comprises at least one dog that mechanically advances the fabric toward a sewing head and at least one actuator that is coupled to and actuates the at least one dog in a servo controlled motion so that the sewing head sews the fabric at a desirable position.

Abstract: This invention comprises a system and a method for inspecting the inside of delayed petroleum coking vessels to identify deformations, detect and determine the severity of other defects, and visually observe the inside of the inspected vessel.

Abstract: A leveling pad for stabilizing a device is provided. The leveling pad comprises a metal base having a socket configured to receive a portion of the device and a liner coupled to the metal base and being configured to cold flow into a profile of a floor surface when a weight of the device is applied to the leveling pad. The liner may be of a polymer, such as vinyl. The liner is further configured to plastically deform into the profile of the floor surface. The plastic deformation is designed to increase a magnitude of a shear force or a tensile force required to separate the liner from a portion of the floor surface into which it is configured to plastically deform.

Abstract: A cryopump has a simple-to-manufacture frontal baffle plate with improved gas distribution and has a large-area second-stage array plate to capture Type II gases. The cryopump has a first-stage frontal baffle plate having orifices and flaps bent from and attached to the orifices. The cryopump has a second-stage top plate that is larger in area than cooling baffles of the second stage array.

Abstract: A method of inspecting plants for contamination includes generating a first series of images of a plant, identifying a region of interest displayed in the first series of images, comparing a color parameter of the region of interest to a color criterion associated with a type of contamination, comparing a morphological parameter of the region of interest to a reference parameter associated with the type of contamination, and upon determining that the color parameter meets the color criterion and that the morphological parameter sufficiently matches the reference parameter, identifying the region of interest as a region of contamination on the plant. The method further includes transmitting an instruction to lift a cutter of a harvester up from a planting bed to avoid harvesting the plant in response to identifying the region of interest as the region of contamination, and generating a second series of images of an additional plant.

Abstract: A system and method for reading a machine readable code associated with an object moving relative to an imaging device may include capturing a first image of the machine readable code at a first resolution. A second image of the machine-readable code with a non-integer pixel shift in alignment at the first resolution may be captured. An interleaved image may be formed from the first and second images. An image of the machine-readable code may be generated at a second resolution using the interleaved image, where the second resolution is higher than the first resolution.

Abstract: A portable electronic device with a touch-sensitive display (such as a cellular telephone) provides a wireless remote control for an entertainment device (such as a consumer-electronic device). Based on device-state information that specifies a current state of the entertainment device (which is determined by an audio/video (A/V) hub that communicates with the entertainment device) and one or more related states of the entertainment device, the A/V hub may generate user-interface information that specifies a user interface that includes one or more virtual command icons. Note that the one or more related states are related to the current state in a state diagram by corresponding operations that transition the entertainment device from the current state to the one or more related states. Then, the A/V hub provides the user interface to the portable electronic device. In this way, the A/V hub device dynamically adapts the user interface.