Abstract: A meter socket assembly comprising a meter jaw assembly and an extended bus bar for contact with a meter blade of a watt hour meter. The meter jaw assembly further comprises a meter jaw and a jaw spring guide that are mounted together by a fastening device to the extended bus bar. The extended bus bar comprises a chamfered terminal end and cutout portion to easily accept the meter blade. The jaw spring guide overlies the meter jaw and applies a bias force inward to urge the contact face of the meter jaw toward the extended bus bar closing any insertion space and guaranteeing tight contact with the meter blade. A meter socket guide snaps on to the bus bar to maintain the alignment of meter jaw with watt-hour meter blade.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for full-chip thermal analysis of semiconductor chip designs is provided. One embodiment of a novel method for performing thermal analysis of a semiconductor chip design comprises receiving at least one input relating to a semiconductor chip design to be analyzed. The input is then processed to produce a three-dimensional thermal model of the semiconductor chip design. In another embodiment, thermal analysis of the semiconductor chip design is performed by calculating power dissipated by transistors and interconnects included in the semiconductor chip design and distributing power dissipated by the interconnects.

Abstract: A semiconductor wafer comprises a wafer formed of a semiconductor material having a peripheral edge portion and a repeating mark on the edge portion of the wafer to allow identification of the wafer. Also described is a method of identifying and tracking these semiconductor wafers.

Abstract: A method for determining a node based penalty for use in a path finding algorithm for an automated material handling system (AMHS) is described. The AMHS includes a track interconnecting a plurality of nodes, and on which a plurality of material transport vehicles (MTVs) move. In particular, each of the nodes and MTVs provide queue-blocking data that is stored in a queue-blocking database along with a time tag indicating the time the data was collected. The AMHS retrieves data from the queue-blocking database that has a time tag within a predetermined time window and determines a queue blocking metric for each node in the material transport system. The queue blocking time is converted from to a node based penalty that is the additional distance that an MTV would travel while blocked. Thus, the node based penalty distance is added to the physical distance between a pair of nodes to provide a distance metric indicative of the current traffic conditions.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for thermal testing of semiconductor chip designs is provided. One embodiment of a novel method for performing thermal testing of a semiconductor chip design includes calculating full-chip temperatures over the semiconductor chip design (e.g., to identify steep thermal gradients) and positioning temperature sensors within a corresponding semiconductor chip in accordance with the calculated full-chip temperatures (e.g., in the regions of steep thermal gradients). Thus, temperature sensors are strategically placed in the regions where they are most likely to be needed, according to calculated temperatures, rather than randomly positioned throughout a test chip.

Abstract: An automation device includes a modular assembly with a primary group configured for use with a hardware element. The primary group includes a controller providing signals. A feeder unit provides power to automated units. A primary first link connects the input/output modules, the primary first link carrying the signals and carrying power to the input/output modules. A primary second link connects the input/output modules and carries power to the automated units. A terminating module connects to the primary first and second links. A secondary module group is associated with a secondary zone of the hardware element. The secondary group includes a lead module connected to a secondary first link and a secondary second link, the secondary first link connected to the primary first link. A cable connects the terminating module with the lead module.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is described which allows efficient optimization of integrated circuit designs. By performing a global analysis of the circuit and identifying bottleneck nodes, optimization focuses on the nodes most likely to generate the highest return on investment and those that have the highest room for improvement. The identification of bottleneck nodes is seamlessly integrated into the timing analysis of the circuit design. Nodes are given a bottleneck number, which represents how important they are in meeting the objective function. By optimizing in order of highest bottleneck number, the optimization process converges quickly and will not get side-tracked by paths that cannot be improved.

Abstract: A device for measuring flow in a pipe includes a first metal plate mounted to the pipe, the first metal plate including a first contact portion contacting a wall of the pipe and a first away portion spaced apart from the wall of the pipe, a second metal plate mounted to the pipe, the second metal plate including a second contact portion contacting the wall of the pipe and a second away portion spaced apart from the wall of the pipe, a first transducer mounted to the first away portion, and a second transducer mounted to the second away portion.

Abstract: Methods of creating a power distribution arrangement with tapered metal wires for a physical design are provided and described. In one embodiment, a method of creating a power distribution arrangement for a physical design of an integrated circuit includes arranging a plurality of metal wires for power distribution in a desired arrangement. Each metal wire has a width. Furthermore, the metal wires are tapered such that the width is thicker in a core edge area of the physical design than in a core center area of the physical design. In other embodiments, a method of creating a power distribution arrangement for a physical design of a current integrated circuit includes arranging a plurality of metal wires for power distribution in a desired arrangement. The metal wires are tapered using a routing congestion profile and/or a voltage drop profile of a prior physical design of a prior integrated circuit.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments can comprise obtaining and analyzing data from at least one discrete machine, automatically determining relationships related to the data, taking corrective action to improve machine operation and/or maintenance, automatically and heuristically predicting a failure associated with the machine and/or recommending preventative maintenance in advance of the failure, and/or automating and analyzing mining shovels, etc.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for a notification system for an automation network. The notification system comprises a sensor for monitoring a network device operably connected to the automation network. An intelligent automation device having an object is responsive to the sensor, wherein the intelligent automation device transmits the object to a receiving device for displaying the object to an operator for requesting human intervention with the automation network.

Abstract: A substrate handling robot includes an arm drive mechanism. A first arm is connected to the arm drive mechanism. A multiple substrate batch loader is connected to the first arm. A second arm is also connected to the arm drive mechanism. A single plane end effector is connected to the second arm. The multiple substrate batch loader produces a vacuum signal indicative of how many substrates are held by the multiple substrate batch loader. A vacuum signal interpreter alters the movement of the first arm in response to the substrate load number. An object sensor is connected to the second arm. The object sensor assesses the number of substrates in a cassette adjacent to the multiple substrate batch loader. A substrate loading sequence controller controls the first arm and the second arm in response to the number of substrates in the cassette, such that the second arm removes substrates from the cassette in such a manner as to facilitate complete loading of the multiple substrate batch loader.

Abstract: A multi-switch linkage for coupling two switch apparatuses together in an enclosure. Each switch apparatus is coupled to the switch mechanism having a switch mechanism lever arm. When the lever arm is moved it translates a force to the actuator plate which closes both switch mechanisms or opens both switch mechanisms.

Abstract: Systems, including method and apparatus, for processing workpieces driven automatically along a linear path to a plurality of positions disposed substantially along the linear path. In some embodiments, a workpiece may be processed at one or more of the positions using two or more processing stations, such as a first processing station that cuts the workpiece into segments and a second processing station that performs another processing operation on the workpiece.

Abstract: A material handling system for a table saw that controls the orientation and speed of material as it moves through the system. The material handling system includes an idler device having upper and lower support surfaces configured to maintain a piece of processed material in the processing path until it substantially passes the upper support surface. The material handling system includes a ramp configured to deliver a piece of processed material from the processing path to a return conveyor.

Abstract: Certain exemplary embodiments provide a method for producing pulsed outputs, comprising: automatically changing a first user-specified pulse frequency to a second pulse frequency; and automatically outputting a plurality of pulses from the programmable logic controller at frequencies varying between the first user-specified pulse frequency and the second pulse frequency according to a user-specified linear-time-rate variation.

Abstract: Electronics assembly equipment 12 includes a controller 13 including computer readable medium having stored thereon, executable instructions defining at least one web service 10. The web service includes information relating to the equipment. The equipment also includes a web service interface 16 associated with the controller 13 so that the web service 10 is accessible via Internet Protocol by a subscriber.

Abstract: An Automated Material Handling System (AMHS) that allows an overhead hoist transport vehicle to load/ unload parts directly to/from storage units included in the system. The AMHS includes an overhead hoist transport subsystem and a vertical carousel stocker having a plurality of storage bins. The subsystem includes an overhead hoist transport vehicle traveling along a suspended track defining a predetermined route. The route passes over the stocker, which allows the vehicle to access parts directly from one of the storage bins. The selected bin is positioned at the top of the stocker underneath the track. Next, the vehicle is moved along the track to a position above the selected bin. The hoist is then lowered parallel to the longitudinal axis of the stocker toward the selected bin. Finally, the hoist is operated to pick parts directly from the bin, or to place parts in the bin.

Abstract: A communication system is provided for communication within a control system. The communication system has a plurality of simple devices connected to an intra-level communications network, each simple device being adapted to directly exchange data with the other simple devices. The communications system also has at least one intelligent device connected to the intra-level communications network, each intelligent device being adapted to directly exchange data with each simple device on the intra-level communications networks. The communication system can have a plurality of intra-level communications networks. The intra-level communications networks can be directly be connected by an intra-level core connector or by an inter-level core connector through an inter-level network of the intelligent devices.

Abstract: A method for handling trays for use with an article sorter includes providing a conveying surface along a plurality of sorter units and conveying empty trays along the conveying surface. The empty trays that are being conveyed along the conveying surface are stopped with a tray stopping device that is positioned at least partially below the conveying surface and operable to project a portion of the tray stopping device above the conveying surface to engage and stop an empty tray. The stopped empty trays are moved from the conveying surface to the tray support areas in a direction generally transverse to the conveying surface. The empty trays are at least partially filled at the tray support areas, and the partially filled trays are moved from the tray support area onto the conveying surface.