Abstract: A manually actuated robotic tool changer includes a first housing having a generally cylindrical piston with a central axis partially extending from the first housing, the piston rotatable about the axis. A plurality of tabs are disposed about the circumference of a portion of the piston extending from the first housing. A second housing has a bore to receive a portion of the piston. A plurality of locking lugs are disposed about the bore. The tool changer is manually actuated from an unlocked position wherein the piston assumes a position with respect to the first housing such that the extending portion of the piston may be moved within the bore with the tabs moving between the locking lugs, to a locked position wherein the piston is rotated with respect to the first housing such that the tabs move beneath the locking lugs to lock the first and second housings together.

Abstract: A gate reader assembly for positioning and identifying articles carried by conveyor systems. The gate reader assembly including a main housing for attachment to said conveyor adjacent a conveyor line of the conveyor; a sprocket rotatably mounted on said housing and having a plurality of gullets formed thereon, each gullet configured for receiving one of said articles. In addition, said sprocket is configured to rotate about an axis normal to said conveyor line via a horizontal force from said articles such that said rotating sprocket is configured to receive and move said articles along said conveyor line. The gate reader assembly additionally includes a detent mechanism disposed on the housing and slidably coupled to the sprocket for releasably restraining said sprocket from rotation thereby inhibiting said article against further movement along said conveyor line.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a load center. More particularly, the invention encompasses a self contained kilowatt-hour meter which is integral to a standard load center. The present invention is also directed to a novel printed circuit board and housing for the self contained kilowatt-hour meter. The self contained kilowatt-hour meter of this invention measures the energy usage of a facility, such as, residential unit, a house, an apartment, a condominium, and then it communicates the energy usage in a timely manner or as desired to a local requester, such as, the owner, occupant or any other entity, as well as, to another requester, such as, a remote requester, for example, an energy provider.

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: The present invention comprises a vacuum end effector having workpiece supports that work in conjunction with distorted workpiece surfaces. In one embodiment, each workpiece support has the ability to gimbal and conform the workpiece surface in contact with an outer edge of the support. Each workpiece support preferably provides a knife-like contact edge to minimize the contact area between the support and the workpiece while still providing an effective vacuum area to hold the wafer securely on the support. In another embodiment, each workpiece support is replaceable without having to remove the end effector from the robot assembly.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide apparatuses, systems, and computer readable media for supporting redundant network management. When the primary device (101, 103) fails, its Ethernet IP address is transferred or controlled by a backup Ethernet device. System information is provided to a network adapter so that programmable logic controllers are in agreement about the mode of operation. A central processing unit (201, 203) determines a calculated mode of operation from the operational statuses of the programmable logic controller and the mated programmable logic controller. The central processing unit provides an address indication (503) based on the calculated mode of operation and a selection indication (501) that is indicative of a selected address criterion. The corresponding network adapter determines the assigned network address from the selection indication and the address indication.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention provide apparatuses, systems, and computer readable media for providing security to an end device (209) by a security device (205). The security device is typically installed in front of the end device. The combination of the end device and the security device appear as a single secure end device from the network having a network address of the original end device. The security device may include a first communications port (405) that receives a message designated for an end device, a second communications port (407) that connects directly to the end device, and a processor (401) that is connected to the first and second communications ports. The processor is configured to determine whether to pass the message to the end device based on at least one security consideration and to provide at least one service that is not originally supported on the end device.

Abstract: A method and interface module for communicating messages with a remote location and to provide access to an at least one intelligent electronic device (IED) operably connected to a communication network. The interface module is comprised of a central processing unit and an operating system operating the central processing unit. A network interface is operably connected with the communication network. A protocol task processes communication on the network according to first and second protocol stacks, wherein messages are assigned to either the first or second protocol stack. Messages assigned to the first protocol stack have a higher priority than messages assigned to the second protocol stack. A set of application tasks communicates with the protocol task for responding to an incoming message from the communication network and initiating an outgoing message to the communication network. An interconnection bus with an interface driver is operably connected with the at least one IED.

Abstract: A rotary position encoder is described that includes a hub configured to mount on an end of a rotatable shaft of a machine tool and rotate concurrently with the rotatable shaft. The hub includes a cup formed in a first end to receive the rotatable shaft, the cup having equally spaced axial grooves formed on an inner surface. A collar clamps the hub to the rotatable shaft by collapsing the cup around the rotatable shaft. The rotary position encoder further includes a sensor configured to detect a rotational position of the hub and a housing, wherein the sensor is mounted to the housing in a position opposite a second end of the hub. The hub is rotatably coupled to the housing via a bearing and a bracket is attached to the housing for mounting the rotary position encoder to the machine tool and preloading the bearing.

Abstract: A circuit breaker includes a pivoting arc barrier that is interposed between the moving contact arm axis of motion and the moving contact, so that arc gasses are deflected away from the contact arm structure. The pivoting arc barrier pivots in a complimentary motion path with that of the moving contact arm so that an arc shield face is interposed between the contact separation arc generated around the moving contact and the remaining arm structure to it which the moving contact is affixed throughout the range of contact arm operational motion. The pivoting arc barrier moves independently of the moving contact arm and advantageously does not increase the contact arm mass or bulk swept volume through its range of motion.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for correcting slow roll in a rotatable shaft is disclosed. A sensing area of a shaft is heated to a predetermined temperature while rotating the shaft in order to change electrical properties of the sensing area of the shaft. Coolant is applied to non-sensing areas of the shaft adjacent to the sensing area while the sensing area is being heated. The sensing area of the shaft is maintained at the predetermined temperature for a predetermined amount of time, and the sensing area of the shaft is quenched with coolant immediately after the predetermined amount of time in order to cool the sensing area of the shaft to room temperature.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for operating a multi-hot-cathode ionization gauge is provided to increase the operational lifetime of the ionization gauge in gaseous process environments. In example embodiments, the life of a spare cathode is extended by heating the spare cathode to a temperature that is insufficient to emit electrons but that is sufficient to decrease the amount of material that deposits on its surface or is optimized to decrease the chemical interaction between a process gas and a material of the at least one spare cathode. The spare cathode may be constantly or periodically heated. In other embodiments, after a process pressure passes a given pressure threshold, plural cathodes may be heated to a non-emitting temperature, plural cathodes may be heated to a lower emitting temperature, or an emitting cathode may be heated to a temperature that decreases the electron emission current.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to a circuit breaker. More particularly, the invention encompasses a modular circuit breaker. The present invention is also directed to a novel a modular circuit breaker with a trip bar. The inventive two pole residential circuit breaker includes an Arc Fault and Ground Fault electronic detection system. The modular breaker design includes an electronic system used for tripping a designated mechanism pole which in turn trips the secondary mechanism pole. Electronic components are included that sense the continuous current flow through each mechanism pole simultaneously to determine when a trip event is needed. The electronic system of this invention includes a self diagnostic system with electronic visual indicators that display the method of which trip condition occurred.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to an Internet based management of software and/or hardware. More particularly, the invention encompasses the development, test, and demonstration of automation solutions using web-based virtual computers and VPN (Virtual Private Network) tunneling. The present invention is also directed to a novel concept of storing various versions of a software and/or demo programs at a virtual data base which is accessible via a VPN (Virtual Private Network) tunnel.

Abstract: A method for designing a transformer using three secondary winding phase shift angles and a minimized core cross-sections. The method includes receiving an indication of an acceptable level of total harmonic distortion (THD) for the transformer, identifying a desired number of secondary windings per output phase of the transformer, simulating performance of various models for the transformer various potential phase shift angles, wherein each of the various models includes a set of phase shift angles for the secondary windings of the transformer. The method further includes identifying, based on the simulation, a transformer model that both has no more than three unique phase shift angles in the set and exhibits a primary side THD that is within the acceptable level, identifying an optimized core cross-sections, and reporting the identified transformer model having the three unique phase shift angle and the optimized core cross-sections.

Abstract: A self-test circuit is provided that includes a signal circuit adapted to periodically output a circuit inhibitor signal to inhibit a breaking signal from a ground fault detector. The signal circuit is also adapted to periodically output a test signal simulating a ground fault. The self-test circuit also includes an alarm circuit adapted to receive an output signal from the ground fault detector in response to detecting the ground fault, and adapted to output an alarm when the ground fault detector is not operative. The signal circuit may be further adapted to periodically output a second test signal simulating a grounded neutral condition. A ground fault circuit interrupter system and a method are also provided.

Abstract: The present invention is a wafer engine for transporting wafers. The wafer engine includes a linear drive for moving the wafer along an x axis, a rotational drive for rotating the wafer about a theta axis, a linear drive for moving the wafer along a z axis, and a linear drive for moving the wafer along a radial axis. The linear drive for moving the wafer along a z axis is offset from the rotational drive. When the rotational drive rotates about the theta axis, both the z axis and radial axis drives are also rotated about the theta axis. Preferably, the linear drive for moving the wafer along a radial axis is a dual or rapid swap slide body mechanism having an upper and lower end effector. The slide body mechanism preferably also has means to align the wafer and perform various inspection and marking procedures.

Abstract: A compliant service transfer module, which transfers services such as electricity, data, pneumatic fluid, etc., between a robotic arm and an attached tool, aligns service transfer points as the two units of the module mate, when the units are misaligned. A floating structure disposed in the first unit is operative to move laterally within a chamber in the housing of the first unit, to align service transfer points with the corresponding service transfer points of a second unit, when the two units are mated together but are not fully aligned. The floating structure protrudes from the first housing, and in the case of misalignment, contacts an angled inner wall of a chamber in the housing of the second unit, which moves the floating structure laterally to align the service transfer points. The floating structure returns to a default, centered position when the two units are not mated together.

Abstract: A diverter panel comprises an elongated rectangular panel made of a substantially flat plate made of clear plastic. The plate has fasteners mounted at its front corners for mounting the panel to a frame of the sorting machine, a rear upright flange extending from the plate along the length thereof, the flange having a bottom edge which can be supported on a horizontal beam of the sorting machine. The panel is rigid enough such that vibration of the sorting machine does not cause significant movement of the panel when secured at its corners and with the rear flange supported by the beam of the sorting machine. An opening in the rear flange and an adjacent portion of the plate allows a drive shaft to pass therethrough, and a contact pad formed by an outwardly projecting portion of the rear flange is configured for engagement with a plunger of a switch.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to handle stops. More particularly, the invention encompasses a positive handle stop for a switch. The positive handle stop for a switch, such as, a safety switch, prevents the handle of a switch from returning to the shipping position once the switch is turned ON. The invention also includes a shipping position for the inventive handle so as to reduce the size of the packaging need to ship the switch apparatus.