Abstract: Systems, methods, and products for dynamically selecting carriers in a shipping management system are disclosed. In one embodiment, in response to a user requesting a new shipment, a shipping management system collects shipping information from a plurality of carriers. The system provides the user with a choice of carriers to ship the new shipment based on selection rules. In response to the choice of carriers provided to the user, the user can select one of the carriers to execute the new shipment. The shipping management system can send a signal to the computer system of the chosen carrier to execute the new shipment.

Abstract: A tie-down strap tensioner maintains a desired strap tension on cargo when placed on a truck flatbed or sea transport. Tie-down strap tensioners are made of rubbery-type resins that remain compressive in the amount of hand applied pressure on the strap assigned to a given cargo container shape. The tie-down strap tensioner has at least three different embodiments: one is for round or radius corners such barrels, one is for square corners such as boxes, and one is for either or both round and square corners. Each tie-down strap tensioner has an upper surface and a lower surface and the lower surface has extending members that are compressive in amount of tension applied to the strap thus accommodates the shape of the cargo container selected which remains expandable to its original shape.

Abstract: Sensitive articles, such as IC wafers can be maintained in a contamination-free condition. A base member is provided for supporting one or more of the sensitive articles. A cover is provided for sealing engagement with a base member so as form a sealed unit. The sealed unit has an interior. The sealed unit is positioned at a storage position. A particle-free ionized gas is passed though the interior to bathe the articles supported therein with the gas at the storage position. The sealed unit is moved with the articles to an access position on associated processing equipment. The cover is removed from the base to expose the articles. The exposed articles are bathed continuously at the access position with a particle-free ionized gas. The articles are moved sequentially between the access position and a processing position on the associated processing equipment. The articles are bathed with a particle-free ionized gas during the moving steps.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for maintaining sensitive articles such as IC wafers or the like contaminant-free including a base member having a removable cover defining a sealed unit having an interior in which a plurality of sensitive articles are supported and through which a particle-free ionizing gas from a source on a wheeled table is continuously passed, the sealed unit being movable from a storage position on the table to an access position on associated processing without interruption of the ionized gas flow and at which the cover is removed and the supported articles continuously bathed with a particle-free, ionized gas to permit the articles to be sequentially moved to a fabricating position in the processing equipment and back to the access position while being continuously bathed with a particle-free ionized gas for subsequent assembly of the cover and base member and return of the sealed unit to the storage position.

Abstract: A method for establishing a shelf life for getters is provided. The getter absorbs one or more gasses. One type of getter that can be used is desiccant to absorb moisture. The getter is sealed in a container that is impervious to the gas that is to be absorbed by the getter. The gas impervious container is placed within a gas previous first enclosure, which is positioned in a sealable second enclosure. A gas sensitive article is also located within the sealable enclosure. The sealable enclosure is sealed about the first enclosure and the article. The getter is activated to absorb any gas within the sealed enclosure by rupturing the container through the first and second enclosures. The second container retains the ruptured first container and the exposed getter.

Abstract: A method, system and apparatus for maintaining articles to be processed clean, having an airtight transportable container with an inlet valve for admitting ionized gas and an outlet valve for venting gas, a purger with an interface to the container inlet valve and a vacuum pick-up and ionized gas spray wand is disclosed. A purger rack for storing multiple containers is also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus (10) for transforming digital data stored in a memory (18) into sounds is disclosed. The apparatus includes an oscillator (12) which drives an address selector (14). The address selector drives the memory. A note generator (20) generates an analog electrical signal responsive to the memory, and a speaker with its associated amplifier stages (22) produces sounds corresponding to the analog electrical signal.A preferred arrangement of the note generator includes an inverting amplifier which can simply be a logic gate (44) and a plurality of resistors (50) selected by switches (56) in feedback relationship with the amplifier.A preferred arrangement includes a duty cycle selector (80) to produce harmonics of the fundamental frequency of the analog electrical signal.

Abstract: A socket insertion guide for an encapsulated electronics package having pins oriented to be inserted into socket contacts in substantially a single direction is disclosed. The socket insertion guide includes a pair of longitudinal placement guides and a pair of lateral placement guides. The guides extend beyond the distal ends of the pins and guide the movement of the encapsulated electronics package toward the socket so that the pins are inserted into the socket contacts. The guide also includes a means for orienting the proximal ends of the pins for proper insertion of the distal ends of the pins into the socket contacts.