Abstract: A limited rotation motor system is disclosed that includes a rotor shaft mounted within first and second bearing units. The rotor shaft is coupled to a helically shaped torsion member that is fixed with respect to a motor housing.

Abstract: A method, system and scan lens for use therein are provided for high-speed, laser-based, precise laser trimming at least one electrical element along a trim path. The method includes generating a pulsed laser output with a laser, the output having one or more laser pulses at a repetition rate. A fast rise/fall time, pulse-shaped q-switched laser or an ultra-fast laser may be used. Beam shaping optics may be used to generate a flat-top beam profile. Each laser pulse has a pulse energy, a laser wavelength within a range of laser wavelengths, and a pulse duration. The wavelength is short enough to produce desired short-wavelength benefits of small spot size, tight tolerance, high absorption and reduced or eliminated heat-affected zone (HAZ) along the trim path, but not so short so as to cause microcracking. In this way, resistance drift after the trimming process is reduced.

Abstract: Carbon nanotubes, which carry surface functional groups on side walls thereof relative to lengths thereof, and a dispersant are added to a base liquid to provide a heat transport medium capable of achieving high heat conductivity while suppressing an increase in kinetic viscosity.

Abstract: A diode pumped laser is disclosed having a CW level and adapted to output one or more pulses having peak power greater than the CW level thereby to provide higher peak power for use in material piercing or penetrating operations without affecting diode lifetime.

Abstract: A sheathing of elastically deformable waterproofing sheet material (11) is applied and sealingly secured to a surface area of a hydraulic structure (10; 31; 36, 39) to be protected. The seeped water, which collects behind the waterproof sheathing (11), is discharged by gravity through one-way drainage valves (13), provided in pre-established drainage positions of the waterproof sheathing (11); the drainage valves (13) are automatically opened and closed by the differential pressure of the water acting on opposite faces of a flexible sheet like flat valving member (M) of the drainage valve (13).

Abstract: A material level detection sensor (10) having a continuous ultrasonic sensor (12) and a capacitive proximity sensor (13). The capacitive proximity sensor detects the material only when the material is at or within the dead zone (15) of the ultrasonic sensor, at which point it switches the ultrasonic sensor off. The ultrasonic sensor transmits a level detection output signal until it is turned off by the capacitive proximity sensor. The capacitive proximity sensor transmits a level detection output signal only when it detects the material, and it will switch the ultrasonic sensor on when it does not detect the material. The material level detection sensor transmits only a single level detection output signal at any given time, providing an accurate and reliable estimate of material level. The device is particularly useful for measuring inventory and consumption of particulate solids and powders in bins or silos (11).

Abstract: An optical fibre laser or amplifier device is disclosed, comprising: a rare-earth-doped multi-clad optical fibre having at least three cladding layers, one or more multimode pump laser diodes, and a means of multiplexing a laser signal and the pumping radiation, adapted so that a fraction of the stray signal light originating within the device is captured by one of the intermediate cladding layers of the rare-earth-doped fibre and guided out of the laser structure through the multiplexing system resulting in a reduction in the amount of stray signal radiation impinging upon the pump laser diodes.

Abstract: An energy-efficient method and system for processing target material such as microstructures in a microscopic region without causing undesirable changes in electrical and/or physical characteristics of material surrounding the target material is provided. The system includes a controller for generating a processing control signal and a signal generator for generating a modulated drive waveform based on the processing control signal. The waveform has a sub-nanosecond rise time. The system also includes a gain-switched, pulsed semiconductor seed laser for generating a laser pulse train at a repetition rate. The drive waveform pumps the laser so that each pulse of the pulse train has a predetermined shape. Further, the system includes a laser amplifier for optically amplifying the pulse train to obtain an amplified pulse train without significantly changing the predetermined shape of the pulses.

Abstract: A method, system and scan lens for use therein are provided for high-speed, laser-based, precise laser trimming at least one electrical element along a trim path. The method includes generating a pulsed laser output with a laser, the output having one or more laser pulses at a repetition rate. A fast rise/fall time, pulse-shaped q-switched laser or an ultra-fast laser may be used. Beam shaping optics may be used to generate a flat-top beam profile. Each laser pulse has a pulse energy, a laser wavelength within a range of laser wavelengths, and a pulse duration. The wavelength is short enough to produce desired short-wavelength benefits of small spot size, tight tolerance, high absorption and reduced or eliminated heat-affected zone (HAZ) along the trim path, but not so short so as to cause microcracking. In this way, resistance drift after the trimming process is reduced.

Abstract: A system and method for adjustable laser mark depth is provided. In one embodiment, the system is used in Nd—YAG laser marker for wafer processing in the semiconductor industry, with smart control of the mark depth and expanded work range between the deep mark and the light mark.

Abstract: A fibre laser system is disclosed comprising an optical fibre, a part of which is doped with a rare earth to form an optical gain medium; at least one laser diode; means for applying pump radiation from the laser diode to the optical gain medium and for generating a laser beam and delivery fibre means for delivering a laser beam to a workpiece, wherein the fibre laser is provided with at least one means for protecting one or more components from damage caused by errant radiation. Several different means of protection are disclosed.

Abstract: A device for coupling multimode pump light and a laser signal into or out of a cladding-pumped fibre laser is disclosed, comprising an output optical fibre, a substantially un-tapered feed-through optical fibre, an annular waveguide having a tapered section, and a plurality of multimode pump fibres such that: the signal feed-through fibre is located within the annular waveguide; the signal feed-through fibre is fused into the annular waveguide in the tapered section so that the annular waveguide becomes an additional cladding layer of the feed-through fibre; the end of the feed-through fibre that is fused into the annular waveguide is optically coupled to the output optical fibre; the multimode pump fibres are optically coupled to the annular waveguide in the un-tapered section. Methods of forming the device are also disclosed.

Abstract: A ceiling vent assembly consisting of a pair of opposed end panels and a pair of opposed side panels which defining a frame. At least one louver is pivotally mounted within the frame to be movable between an open position to permit airflow through the vent assembly and a closed position blocking airflow. The louver includes an upper surface defining a curvature and decreases in thickness at an outer edge. When in an open configuration, the louver permits air to pass through the ceiling vent assembly in a directed flow associated with the curvature of the louver upper surface.

Abstract: A laser processing system implements a method for aligning a probe element (e.g., a probe pin) with a device interface element (e.g., a contact pad of a circuit substrate). First, the laser processing system generates an optical reference beam at one or more predetermined positions to calibrate a reference field. The laser processing system then detects a position of the probe element in the reference field. The laser processing system also determines a relative position of the device interface element in the reference field. Based on the position of the probe element and the device interface element, the laser processing system then initiates alignment of the probe element and the device interface element. In one application, alignment of the probe element and the device interface element further includes contacting the probe element to the device interface element to make an electrical connection.

Abstract: The present invention relates to the field of laser processing methods and systems, and specifically, to laser processing methods and systems for laser processing multi-material devices. Systems and methods may utilize high speed deflectors to improve processing energy window and/or improve processing speed. In some embodiments, a deflector is used for non-orthogonal scanning of beam spots. In some embodiment, a deflector is used to implement non-synchronous processing of target structures.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dosimeter (1) for the detection of neutron radiation within an energy range of 0.025 eV to several hundred GeV, comprising a substantially spherical base body (3) which is used as a moderation body and which comprises hydrogenous material, a detection element (5) which is arranged in the center of the base body (3), and a neutron converter (7) surrounding the detection element (5). The neutron converter (7) comprises metal atoms which convert the energy of the high-energy neutron radiation essentially into neutrons within a suitable energy range. The dosimeter (1) is characterized in that the base body (3) is provided with an access (19) through which the detection element (5) can be introduced into the neutron converter (7) and removed therefrom, and in that the neutron converter (7) is embodied in the form of a cylinder.

Abstract: A rotary optical position encoder for detecting angular position includes a light source, a monolithic scale disk including an optical scale pattern, a monolithic reticle substrate including sets of reticle aperture patterns between the light source and the scale disk, detection and conversion circuitry, and digital processing circuitry. The light source, scale disk, reticle substrate, and detection and conversion circuitry form a plurality of optical sub-encoders at angular positions about the rotational axis, each sub-encoder having an optical path extending from the light source to the detection and conversion circuitry via a respective set of reticle aperture patterns and the optical scale pattern. The digital processing circuitry is operative to combine digital position output values of the sub-encoders to generate an encoder position output value.

Abstract: An energy filter device for beams which are used in the course of ion beam therapy, wherein at least one passive modulator is provided. The modulator can comprise a scattering film for the beams and a collimator with an opening for controlling the beams, or a magnetic filter and an absorber, or a nonlinear filter and an apparatus for clipping the intensity of individual energy levels of the beams.

Abstract: An optical position encoder employs spatial filtering of diffraction orders other than +/? 1st diffraction orders for greater accuracy. The encoder includes a light source, a scale including a diffractive scale pattern, an optical detector adjacent to the scale, and first and second spaced-apart diffraction gratings between the light source and the scale. The gratings and scale are configured to spatially separate +/? 1st diffraction orders from other diffraction orders and to direct the +/? 1st diffraction orders along respective optical paths. The optical paths diverge from the first grating to respective locations on the second grating that are separated by more than the beam width of the source light beam. The optical paths further converge from the locations on the second grating to an area of the scale adjacent to the detector, and then extend from the area of the scale to the detector to create an interference pattern as a function of the relative position between the scale and the light source.