Abstract: A transport system comprising linear motor modules utilized both straight and curved track modules, with movers displaced on the track modules by control of power applied to coils of the modules. Curved track modules have modified spline geometries to provide desired acceleration and jerk characteristics. The modified spline geometries may be defined by more than one generators, such as an equation generator and a spline fit between the equation-generated segment and one or more constrained points or locations. The curved track modules may be divided into 180 degree modules, or may be reduced to 90 degree, 45 degree or other fractional arcs to provide for modular assembly, mirror-image geometries and motion profiles, and the like. The system may be adapted to provide improved motion characteristics based on modification of a conventional spline geometry.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus including a frame defining a chamber with a substrate transport opening and a substrate transfer plane defined therein, a valve mounted to the frame and being configured to seal an atmosphere of the chamber when closed, the valve having a door movably disposed to open and close the substrate transport opening, and at least one substrate sensor element disposed on a side of the door and oriented to sense substrates located on the substrate transfer plane.

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 vacuum belt conveyor sequentially delivers sheet articles to a digital printer. The sheets are held in position by vacuum on the underside of the sheets through apertures in the belts and covered by the sheets. A plurality of independent plenums on the underside of the belt have chambers respectively communicating with rows of apertures extending along the belt. Vacuum is selectively applied from a manifold only to the plenum chambers that supply apertures that are covered by the sheets so that the ink from the printer will not be directed from its intended position on the sheet by vacuum from adjacent uncovered belt apertures. The sheets are fed to the conveyor in synchronism with the conveyor speed by a timed feeder so that the sheets are carried by the conveyor with a predetermined gap between the sheets and no belt apertures in the gap. A sensor counts the apertures in the belt and activates the feeder at predetermined time intervals.

Abstract: Disclosed is a linear barcode scanning system and associated methods for reading a linear barcode borne by an item during transport of the item along a direction of transport by a transport system. A displacement between consecutive scanline samples is determined based on movement imparted to the item from an item-transport system. Image data representing an area of the linear barcode located between positions of the linear barcode corresponding to the consecutive scanline samples is synthesized by quantizing a portion of a first one of the consecutive scanline samples and extending the quantized portion along a direction of the displacement to provide for a depiction of the area of the linear barcode.

Abstract: Computer-implemented methods and systems are disclosed for inhibiting wheelies in diwheel-type autonomous mobile robots. The pitch rate of the robot is detected while the robot is traveling. When the pitch rate exceeds a given threshold, acceleration of the robot is attenuated proportionally to the pitch rate in order to inhibit the robot from performing a wheelie. The process is repeatedly performed at a high frequency.

Abstract: A method and system to estimate failure rates in designs. N Monte Carlo samples are drawn from the random distribution that describes process variation in the design. A subset of these samples is selected, and that subset of Ninit samples are simulated (with a circuit simulator) to measure a performance value for each sample. A model is constructed, using the values of the Ninit process points as training inputs, and the corresponding Ninit performance values as training outputs. The candidate Monte Carlo samples are from the N Monte Carlo samples that have not yet been simulated. Each candidate is simulated on the model to get predicted performance values, and the samples are ordered in ascending (or descending) order of the predicted performance values. Simulation of candidates samples is then begun, in that order. The sampling and simulation will stops once there is sufficient confidence that all failures are found.

Abstract: A semiconductor processing tool is disclosed, the tool having a frame forming at least one chamber with an opening and having a sealing surface around a periphery of the opening, a door configured to interact with the sealing surface for sealing the opening, the door having sides perpendicular to the door sealing surface and perpendicular to a transfer plane of a substrate, and at least one drive located on the frame to a side of at least one of the sides that are substantially perpendicular to the door sealing surface and substantially perpendicular to the transfer plane of the substrate, the drive having actuators located at least partially in front of the sealing surface and the actuators being coupled to one of the sides of the door for moving the door from a sealed position. The at least one drive is located outside of a substrate transfer zone.

Abstract: A method of pruning plants includes generating a first series of images of a plant, identifying a first object displayed in the images as a fruit of the plant, collecting data associated with a state of the fruit, identifying a second object displayed in the images as a suspect plant component of the plant, comparing a parameter of the suspect plant component to a reference parameter associated with plant components to be pruned, in response to determining that the parameter of the suspect plant component sufficiently matches the reference parameter, identifying the suspect plant component as a plant component to be pruned from the plant, advancing an automated pruner toward the plant component, operating the automated pruner to sever the plant component from the plant, and while the automated pruner is operated to sever the plant component, generating a second series of images of one or more additional plants.

Abstract: A method of selectively harvesting fruits includes generating a first series of images of a plant while the plant is moved to expose hidden fruits, identifying an object displayed in the first series of images as a suspect fruit from feature boundary data defined by color regions, comparing a color parameter of the suspect fruit to a criterion associated with a ripeness, advancing an automated picker toward the suspect fruit based on a determined position of the suspect fruit and while monitoring a proximity sensor of the automated picker, detecting a color of the impediment and confirming that the impediment is a fruit, operating the automated picker to pick the fruit from the plant, and while the automated picker is operated to pick the fruit, generating a second series of images of one or more additional plants while the one or more additional plants are moved to expose additional fruits.

Abstract: Tools for ranking of generated properties are described. A plurality of circuit design properties are generated from a signal trace of the circuit design. A static analysis of the circuit design properties is performed against one or more circuit design constraints to determine whether the properties are true. Rankings for the circuit design properties are determined responsive to results of the static analysis. The ranking for a circuit design property represents a value of the circuit design property in validating correct functionality of the circuit design. At least some of the circuit design properties are presented in a user interface responsive to the rankings for the circuit design properties.

Abstract: A method for data propagation analysis. A data propagation diagram for a circuit design is generated. The data propagation diagram includes a plurality of nodes and a plurality of edges connecting the nodes. The nodes represent data locations in the circuit design and the edges represent data propagation paths between the data locations in the circuit design. A signal trace specifying signal values for the circuit design is analyzed to determine whether data at a first data location of the data locations during a first clock cycle is causally related to the data at a second data location of the data locations during a second clock cycle. A visual animation is displayed on the data propagation diagram indicating movement of the data between a first node of the nodes corresponding to the first data location and a second node of the nodes corresponding to the second data location.

Abstract: A formal verification approach verifies data access and data propagation paths in a circuit design by proving the unreachability of path cover properties of the circuit design. A security path verification system receives an original circuit model of a circuit design, along with parameters identifying a first location within the circuit design that is a source of tainted data and a second location within the circuit design that is coupled to the first location. The security path verification system also receives a selection of portions of the circuit design to be excluded from the verification analysis. Using an abstracted version of the exclude portions, the security verification system generates a second circuit model of the circuit design for use in determining whether the tainted data can reach the second location from the first location within the circuit design.

Abstract: A substrate transport apparatus for a processing tool. The apparatus has a drive section, a movable arm, and an end effector. The arm is operably connected to the drive section. The end effector is connected to the movable arm for holding and transporting the substrate in the processing tool. The apparatus has a substrate inertial capture edge grip connected to the end effector and arranged so that the grip effects capture and centering of the substrate onto the end effector from substrate inertia.

Abstract: An dispensing assembly comprising a body portion, and a blow-off mechanism operably attached to the body portion, the blow-off mechanism including a cap member having one or more openings proximate a dispensing nozzle configured to dispense a dispensing fluid, wherein a fluid is forced through the one or more openings to blow-off a dispensed fluid residue located at a tip of the dispensing nozzle, wherein the fluid is forced through the one or more openings while the dispensing fluid is not continuously exiting an outlet of the dispensing nozzle is provided. An associated method is further provided.

Abstract: A system for sensing, orienting, and transporting wafers in an automated wafer handling process that reduces the generation of particles and contamination so that the wafer yield is increased. The system includes a robotic arm for moving a wafer from one station to a destination station, and an end-effector connected to an end of the robotic arm for receiving the wafer. The end-effector includes a mechanism for gripping the wafer, a direct drive motor for rotating the wafer gripping mechanism, and at least one sensor for sensing the location and orientation of the wafer. A control processor calculates the location of the center and the notch of the wafer based on measurements by the sensor(s) and generates an alignment signal for rotating the wafer gripping mechanism so that the wafer is oriented at a predetermined position on the end-effector while the robotic arm is moving to another station.

Abstract: In an embodiment, the present invention discloses a EUV cleaner system and process for cleaning a EUV carrier. The euv cleaner system comprises separate dirty and cleaned environments, separate cleaning chambers for different components of the double container carrier, gripper arms for picking and placing different components using a same robot handler, gripper arms for holding different components at different locations, horizontal spin cleaning and drying for outer container, hot water and hot air (70 C) cleaning process, vertical nozzles and rasterizing megasonic nozzles for cleaning inner container with hot air nozzles for drying, separate vacuum decontamination chambers for outgassing different components, for example, one for inner and one for outer container with high vacuum (e.g., <10?6 Torr) with purge gas, heaters and RGA sensors inside the vacuum chamber, purge gas assembling station, and purge gas loading and unloading station.

Abstract: A substrate processing system including a load port module configured to hold at least one substrate container for storing and transporting substrates, a substrate processing chamber, an isolatable transfer chamber capable of holding an isolated atmosphere therein configured to couple the substrate processing chamber and the load port module, and a substrate transport mounted at least partially within the transfer chamber having a drive section fixed to the transfer chamber and having a SCARA arm configured to support at least one substrate, the SCARA arm being configured to transport the at least one substrate between the at least one substrate container and the processing chamber with but one touch of the at least one substrate, wherein the SCARA arm comprises a first arm link, a second arm link, and at least one end effector serially pivotally coupled to each other, where the first and second arm links have unequal lengths.

Abstract: A wireless load control system is provided including one or more wireless switch components and one or more load controller components optionally in one-to-one, many-to-many, many-to-one, and one-to-many wireless communication with each other. A wireless switch assembly includes a base and a corresponding rocker shell that together define an enclosure for a control circuit and at least one elastically deformable actuator, the actuator being movable between an engaged position and a disengaged position.

Abstract: A fully automated plasma sheet metal cutter that can be integrated into a HVAC coil-line and which increases the precision of cutting, decreases the time it takes to cut a particular component sheet metal part, and offers flexibility in cutting different sized and shaped holes or openings. Further, since the system is fully automated, it eliminates the error or cost attributed to a portion of the cutting process that heretofore has been associated with a manual laborer.