Abstract: A pivot joint for a movable contact arm assembly and a circuit breaker having an operating mechanism coupled to a line terminal, a trip mechanism and a load terminal with the load terminal coupled to a pivot mounting member. The pivot joint comprises a recess in a first sidewall of the contact arm with the recess co-axial with a mounting hole in the contact arm. A second recess is provided in a second sidewall of the contact arm with the second recess co-axial with the second mounting hole in the contact arm. The first and second recesses are co-axial with each other. A shaped washer, configured to fit in each of the first and second recesses is provided and maintained in position by a mounting axle configured to engage each shaped washer, each mounting hole and the pivot mounting member. The contact arm is then free to pivot about the mounting axle. A spring, with the spring configured to engage both ends of the mounting axle urge the contact arm against each shaped washer thereby completing the pivot joint.

Abstract: Methods for calculating Log P values for organic compounds are disclosed. The methods allow identification of compounds in a library with a desired Log P value. The method can be used to minimize the number of compounds in a given combinatorial or lead generation library which need to be further characterized and/or assayed. The Log P value is preferably obtained while the purity of the compounds is being determined. Preferably, the Log P value is correlated to the retention time on an HPLC column, such that the retention time equals the Log P value.

Abstract: One method and apparatus for analyzing clotting characteristics of a blood sample includes the use of a non-linear equation having coefficients capable of being related to the underlying clotting processes. The non-linear equation is curve fit to a waveform of a clotting sample to provide values for the coefficients of the non-linear function. Once the coefficients are obtained, an inference engine may be used to evaluate the non-linear relationship between the coefficients and factor concentrations within the blood sample. Advantageously, the waveform of the actual sample may be detrended to extract a residual oscillatory component to aid in the determination of initial coefficients for simplifying the curve fit operation. The non-linear equation may additionally be used for providing simulated clotting waveforms for testing clot analysis instruments. A residual oscillatory component may advantageously be extracted from the clotting signal.

Abstract: A compact spray valve that provides an extended atomizing air cap for reaching between tightly spaced electronic components. The compact spray valve of the present invention includes an air body, a fluid control body and an extended atomizing air cap. The atomizing air cap along with a seat extension provides a plurality of laminar air flow conduits causing atomization of a fluid into a spray. The resulting spray pattern can be controlled to provide a narrow line spray pattern with clearly defined edges. Another embodiment of the present invention provides a flat spray pattern.

Abstract: A method and system for automated temperature measurement is described. The system includes a programmable logic controller, a temperature measurement diode, an analog-to-digital converter coupled to the diode and the programmable logic controller, a current source coupled to the diode and configured to generate a first current and a second current different from said first current, and a processor coupled to the current source and to the analog-to-digital converter. The processor controls the current source such that the current source sequentially applies the first current to the diode at a first point in time and applies the second current to the diode at a second point in time. The processor also receives a first voltage across the diode measured when the first current is applied to the diode and a second voltage across the diode measured when the second current is applied to the diode. Based on the first and second voltages, the processor determines the temperature proximate the diode.

Abstract: A substrate handling system with integrated door removal assembly for an environmentally controlled substrate processing chamber is provided. The system includes a robot positioned within the chamber. A drive mechanism is connected to the robot. A door interface mechanism is attached to the drive mechanism and includes a door key and a door key control assembly. The drive mechanism provides mechanical control of the door key control assembly such that that door key is manipulated to couple a substrate carrier door to a port door. The coupled doors are storable within the chamber or on the robot. The drive mechanism may also include a substrate end effector, thereby allowing the robot to transport substrates within the chamber. The robot is movable within the chamber to multiple processing stations.

Abstract: A system for calculating interconnect wire lateral capacitances in an automated integrated circuit design system subdivides the chip area of a circuit design to be placed and routed into a coarse grid of buckets. An estimate of congestion in each bucket is computed from an estimated amount of routing space available in the bucket and estimated consumption of routing resources by a global router. This congestion score is then used to determine the spacing of the wires in the bucket which is in turn used to estimate the capacitance of the wire segment in the bucket.

Abstract: A method and system for forwarding a message from a communication device on the ground to a passenger traveling in an airplane, is disclosed. The method and system include creating the message using a first communication device, transmitting the message to a messaging router, transmitting from the message router to the passenger through a second communication device a notification that the message is available for receipt by the passenger, requesting receipt of the message by the passenger through the second communication device, transmitting the message from the message router to the second communication device on the airplane, and receiving the message through the second communication device on the airplane.

Abstract: A circuit connects a low-voltage high-current DC power source (PL) in series with a high-voltage low-current DC source (PD). The series connection is made under full power by using the second source PL to commutate the load current and allow the first source PD to be reconfigured from series to parallel operation, doubling its current rating.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a method and system for packing an order of parts. An operator is prompted to select an indicated part. The part is read by the system to verify the selection of the part. An array of indicators directs the operator to where the part should be placed in a shipping tote. An array of sensors confirms the packing of the part.

Abstract: A communication interface involves a processor that communicates to expansion modules in order to read and write discrete input/output, analog input/output, intelligent module control, and expansion module status. The expansion modules can be application specific integrated circuits (ASIC), each having a state machine architecture that responds appropriately to the input/output expansion bus signals. The ASIC can include error detection using the first byte of messages from the controller. Thus, the ASIC detects when an erroneous message from the controller has been communicated and transmits a message to expansion modules that their output states not be changed in response to the message from the controller.

Abstract: A safety device for a moving system with a drive in which a pneumatically operated piston, by linear movement in a cylinder, moves a transported object past a stationary part in at least one direction has the aim of generating a switching signal at every point of a through-opening when an obstacle is located between the moving object and the edge of the through-opening, regardless of the movement direction of the object and the geometrical construction of the through-opening. The cylinder has, at its ends, devices for measuring the pressure of the air flowing out of the cylinder in the movement direction of the piston, wherein a drop in the otherwise substantially constant pressure below a threshold value serves as a switching signal at least for switching off the system. The device is useful for safety purposes during the transport of objects, particularly when the objects form shearing edges with neighboring objects.

Abstract: A measure of the current through a first terminal of a device in a three-phase power system is obtained for each phase of the system. A measure of the current through a second terminal is also obtained for each phase. To compensate for any changes in phase introduced by the device between the first and second terminals, the measured currents obtained for each phase at those terminals are normalized using a novel, generalized normalization transform having the form: G(&thgr;)=cos(&thgr;)U+sin(&thgr;)J where U represents a unit zero degree phase shift with zero sequence components removed, and J represents a unit ninety degree phase shift with zero sequence components removed. From the normalized currents, a differential current is then calculated for each phase.

Abstract: A design is formed in a carpet secured to a table with a carriage controlled and moved over the table by a computer. A carver is mounted to the carriage and is computer-controlled to carve a design into the secured carpet. Also, a separator is mounted to the carriage and is computer-controlled to separate the carved carpet into a plurality of pieces. The secured carpet has a grain extending in a first particular direction, and carving in a second particular direction produces an actual result offset from an intended result by a quantified offset. The first direction and second directions are determined and a relationship therebetween is calculated. An offset associated with such relationship is then determined, and the determined offset is employed to position a carver during carving in the second direction. Thus, the employed offset produces an actual result that aligns with the intended result.

Abstract: A system for monitoring power quality events of electrical energy provided to an energy meter via a service type comprises a memory for storing reference information reflective of different service types, a digital signal processor for measuring characteristics of the electrical energy, and a microcontroller for retrieving the reference information from the memory and comparing the measured characteristics to the reference information for the service type to determine the occurrence of power quality events. For each power quality event, at least one of a start time, a stop time, a duration, a measured phase, a magnitude of a measured quantity, and a predisturbance value, and a cumulative total of the power quality events is recorded.

Abstract: Disclosed is a subgrid detailed router that performs searches for wire locations at the grid level. Once a solution is found, the wire is placed in a based upon a finer subgrid. Specifically, the present invention includes subgrids that in a preferred embodiment have a resolution that is 16X greater than the resolution of the conventional grids. This increased resolution is useful for improving routing density with variable width and variable spacing designs. In operation, the subgrid detailed router of the present invention searches at the grid level for potential wire paths using a code associated with each grid. This code contains data corresponding to each of the subgrids, such that upon completion of a routing a net, information exists that allows for the placement of the net at locations corresponding to the subgrid that has finer resolution than the grid which was used to implement the routing search.

Abstract: A method of handling an object using a robot end effector. The method includes providing a robot having an end effector supporting a pair of carriages, providing a pair of fingers for each carriage, moving the end effector over an object, grasping an object with the fingers, moving the object with the end effector to a container, and depositing the object by counter-rotating the pairs of fingers. One or both of the carriages is movable toward the other carriage to engage objects on a conveyor system with the fingers. The robot moves the end effector between the conveyor system and shipping containers for shipping the objects. Because the pairs of fingers counter-rotate, the friction forces between each finger and the tray is offset by the friction forces between the other finger in the pair and the tray. The improved handling method thereby maintains objects substantially in the desired stacking orientation within the shipping container. Preferably, an actuator is provided for each finger.

Abstract: An automated logic circuit design system uses a common database to store design data at different states of the design process, including data-flow graphs, netlists and layout descriptions. In this way, the need to translate circuit descriptions between tools is eliminated, thus leading to increased speed, flexibility and integration. The common database includes entities, models, cells, pins, busses and nets. The data-flow graphs are stored as graphs, the nodes in a graph as cells, and the edges as busses. Physical design data is available by storing the cells in a model in a KD tree. This allows queries on cells in the netlist located in the layout within arbitrary areas.

Abstract: A circuit breaker system (100) providing application specific module (ASM) instantaneous overcurrent indication is disclosed herein (FIG. 5). A trip unit (110) included in the circuit breaker system (100) is powered by an external power supply unit (134) in the ASM (104). The circuit breaker system (100) includes transmitting an indication signal (130) from the trip unit (110) to the ASM (104) in response to an overcurrent condition. The indication signal (130) triggers a first controller (130) included in the ASM (104), the first controller (130) configured to cause the external power supply unit (134) to maintain power to the trip unit (110) for a first length for time sufficient to communicate a data corresponding to the overcurrent condition to the ASM (104).

Abstract: A computerized system and method of computerized bullet ballistic analysis is based on acquisition of depth profiles of the surface of a bullet under examination, estimation and compensation for coaxiality errors of the data acquired, and matching normalized data with reference data related to reference bullet(s) or a gun in question to determine whether the bullet under examination was fired from the gun in question. The computerized system includes a mechanism used for holding and rotating a bullet, a depth sensor measuring the depth profile of striations over part of the surface of the bullet, an analog to digital converter for receiving data from the sensor and sending digitized data to the computer where a computer program estimates and compensates the received digitized data for coaxiality errors and compares the normalized data of the bullet under examination with reference data.