Abstract: A liquid dispensing device. The liquid dispensing device has a tray for holding a liquid at a relatively constant level. A syringe is used for drawing fluid from the tray. A liquid container containing a liquid is positioned upside-down in the tray. Atmospheric pressure on the liquid in the tray and a vacuum inside the liquid container prevents liquid from draining from the container except when the liquid level in the tray drops to a level sufficient to allow air into the liquid container and to allow fluid to flow from the liquid container into the tray. The fluid flows from the liquid container into the tray until the level of liquid in the tray returns to the relatively constant level. The positioning of the syringe for drawing fluid is simplified in that the level of fluid in the tray is maintained at an approximately constant level despite withdrawal of quantities of fluid from the tray.

Abstract: A system and method for calibrating a set-point for climate control includes a sensor network having a plurality of sensors configured to report a climate condition. A database is configured to receive reports from the sensors and generate one or more profiles reflecting at least one of historic climate control information and occupant preferences. A controller is configured to receive information from the profiles to generate a set-point based upon an optimization program. The optimization program is implemented to balance competing goals to generate the set-point for controlling climate control equipment in accordance with the set-point.

Abstract: A substrate processing apparatus is provided. The apparatus has a casing, a low port interface and a carrier holding station. The casing has processing devices within for processing substrates. The load port interface is connected to the casing for loading substrates into the processing device. The carrier holding station is connected to the casing. The carrier holding station is adapted for holding at least one substrate transport carrier at the load port interface. The carrier holding station is arranged to provide a fast swap section for replacement of the substrate transport carrier from the carrier holding station.

Abstract: A visibly-coded medication label and an associated method, apparatus and computer program product for providing a visibly-coded medication label are provided. A label having an attachment portion and an informational portion may be provided. The informational portion includes a plurality of regions having different visible indicia, such as different colors. Information may be imprinted upon the informational portion that is related to the medication with which the label is to be associated. At least one region that has visible indicia representative of the associated medication may be identified. At least one of the regions other than the region that has been identified to have visible indicia representative of the associated medication may then be overprinted and at least partially obscured. However, the region that has been identified to have visible indicia representative of the associated medication remains visible following the overprinting.

Abstract: A method and system are provided for determining an orientation of a unit dose package, such as by determining whether the cavity that houses the medication is facing upwards or downwards. As a result of the determination of the orientation of the unit dose package, a method and system may also be provided for selectively picking a unit dose package, thereby enabling automated restocking of singulated unit dose packages by taking into account the orientation of the unit dose packages.

Abstract: The invention described herein provides a system and method for fault isolation and auto-recovery in chained loop or ring networking systems (103). According to aspects of the method and the associated path-selection algorithms described, fault isolation and auto-recovery operations can be handled locally on each node on a loop and the overall fault recovery time under a link failure condition can be minimized. In addition, the method allows for auto-recovery operations that are transparent to the rest of network and to remote hosts.

Abstract: A semiconductor workpiece processing system having at least one processing apparatus for processing workpieces, a primary transport system, a secondary transport system and one or more interfaces between first transport system and second transport system. The primary and secondary transport systems each have one or more sections of substantially constant velocity and in queue sections communicating with the constant velocity sections.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for preventing access to calibration controls includes a primary cover including a connection device, an access opening and a first through hole. The primary cover is configured to exclude access to an underlying area. The access opening is located on the primary cover to permit access to the underlying area when securing the primary cover. A shield is configured to fit over the primary cover and prevent access to the access opening. The shield includes a latch portion configured to latch on a first end portion of the primary cover and a second through hole located at a second end portion and corresponding to the first through hole of the primary cover. A security mechanism is configured to be received in the first and second through holes such that the security mechanism shows signs of tampering when unauthorized access to the underlying area is attempted.

Abstract: A medication storage and dispensing unit is provided which includes a support platform and a vial dispenser supported by the support platform. The vial dispenser may include a chute configured to store a plurality of vials of medication and a gate configured to be alternately positioned in a closed position in which the vials remain within the chute and an open position in which a vial is dispensed from the chute. The medication storage and dispensing unit may be computer controlled so as to include a computing device configured to receive user input regarding dispensation of a vial. The computing device may be further configured to actuate the gate to thereby permit the gate to move to the open position such that the vial is dispensed from the chute.

Abstract: A material processing system includes an apparatus having a processing path. A saw station is located along the processing path. A positioner is configured to push a trailing end of a work piece along the processing path toward the saw station. A computer is connected to the apparatus, and programmed to provide a digital interface allowing an operator to control operation of the apparatus through the interface.

Abstract: A helium management control system for controlling the helium refrigerant supply from a common manifold supplies a plurality of cryogenic refrigerators with an appropriate helium supply. The system employs a plurality of sensors to monitor and regulate the overall refrigerant supply to deliver an appropriate refrigerant supply to each of the cryogenic refrigerators depending on the computed aggregate cooling demand of all of the cryogenic refrigerators. An appropriate supply of helium is distributed to each cryopump by sensing excess and sparse helium refrigerant and redistributing refrigerant accordingly. If the total refrigeration supply exceeds the total refrigerant demand, or consumption, excess refrigerant is directed to cryogenic refrigerators which can utilize the excess helium to complete a current cooling function more quickly.

Abstract: A system for circuit timing analysis includes a database for holding results of execution of portions of a timing analysis computation. Multiple computation modules are configured for concurrent execution of the portions of a timing analysis computation, for example, a static circuit timing analysis computation. A control subsystem is coupled to the database and to the computation modules, and is configured to receive results of the portions of the computation from the computation modules and to update the database using the received results. Based on the received results, the control module selects further portions of the computations for computation and assign each selected portion to one of the computation modules. The system makes use of parallel processing that is arranged in a way that avoids bottlenecks, such as at least some memory access bottlenecks resulting from data structure locking.

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

Abstract: A quick disconnect tooling apparatus for releasably latching an end effector tool to a manipulator. The present invention provides a base module connectable to a manipulator, and a tool module connectable to the end effector tool. A power source coupling has a first portion coupled to the base module, and a second portion coupled to the tool module, wherein the first and second portions of the power source coupling may cooperatively engage one another to allow for the passing of power between the manipulator and the end effector tool.

Abstract: Methods for optimizing design parameters of a circuit are disclosed. In one aspect, an optimization problem includes one or more performance specifications that represent an exponent of a design parameter to be optimized. Various parameters of passive and active circuit devices may be efficiently and accurately optimized as a result. In another aspect, linear performance specifications are included for accurately calculating voltages. In yet other aspects of the invention, three special types of convex optimization problems are disclosed for enabling the above use of exponents of design parameters which provide efficient and accurate calculations of a virtually unlimited array of circuit parameters and performance characteristics.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for forming a control node in a programmable architecture, is disclosed. The node includes a plurality of user-programmable, microprocessor-based modules connected together. The modules are connected to create a parallel-processing environment with a selected functionality. Hot-swapping of the modules can be determined in the node. Power is distributed throughout the modules in the node. The modules may be automatically programmed to accommodate a target independent device.

Abstract: A robotic tool changer removably attaches a robotic tool to a robotic arm. The changer includes a tool module connected to the robotic tool, and a master module connected to the robotic arm. To attach and detach the robotic tool, the changer couples and uncouples the tool module and the master module. A master electrical signal module (ESM) affixes to the master module and a tool ESM affixes to the tool module. In accordance with design requirements, the changer applies the same power supply to both the master ESM and the tool ESM. The changer, however, selectively suppresses application of the power supply to the tool ESM, while maintaining application of the power supply to the master ESM, during the coupling or uncoupling of the master module and the tool module. In doing so, the changer enables such coupling and uncoupling, while also preventing the formation of transient electric arcs.

Abstract: A carousel used in a restocking system is comprised of a drive track. A plurality of bins are arranged into rows, with the rows being driven by said drive track. A drive mechanism, e.g. an electric motor, drives the drive track. A sensor is provided to sense the position of the rows of bins. A processor is responsive to the sensor and data representative of a plurality of picks for more than one order for controlling the drive mechanism. By combining picks from different orders into a batch, the time spent driving the rows and time between picks is minimized. The carousel may be divided into a plurality of columns, each with its own drive track, drive mechanism, and sensor, to enable several rows to be brought into a pick position simultaneously. Various methods and forms of restocking packages are also disclosed.

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: An ionization gauge that eliminates a hot cathode or filament, but maintains a level of precision of gas density measurements approaching that of a hot cathode ionization gauge. The ionization gauge includes a collector electrode disposed in an ionization volume, an electron source without a heated cathode, and an electrostatic shutter that regulates the flow of electrons between the electron source and the ionization volume. The electrostatic shutter controls the flow of electrons based on feedback from an anode defining the ionization volume. The electron source can be a Penning or glow discharge ionization gauge.