Abstract: Method and subsystem are provided for determining a sequence in which microstructures are to be processed at a laser-processing site by taking into account microstructures located near travel limits of a motor-driven stage. The method includes receiving reference data which represent locations of microstructures to be processed at the site and coalescing adjacent groups of microstructures into clusters of microstructures including edge clusters which contain the microstructures located near the travel limits of the motor-driven stage which moves the microstructures relative to a laser beam at the site. The method also includes dividing a cluster fragment from each edge cluster. The cluster fragments contain the microstructures located near the travel limits. The method then includes sorting the clusters and cluster fragments to obtain data which represent a substantially optimum sequence in which the microstructures are to be processed to increase throughput at the site.

Abstract: A laser scanning method and system for marking articles is provided wherein control is provided by a single central controller. The system includes a conveyor for conveying the articles in a first direction at a marking station. A conveyor controller controls the conveyor in response to conveyor control signals. A laser and an optical subsystem are optically coupled to the laser for generating a focused laser beam in response to laser control signals. A scan head includes a laser beam deflector for steering the focused laser beam along two substantially orthogonal intersecting axes at the marking station to mark a first predetermined region on at least one of the articles in response to deflection control signals.

Abstract: The invention has many different applications and implementations. One or more embodiments of the invention, however, are directed to a software program and/or computer hardware configured to enable users to select one or more master clips having predefined gaps, obtain insert data (e.g., an insert clip), seamlessly merge the insert data into the selected master clip to generate a media clip, and distribute the media clip having the insert data to one or more receiving users for playback. The method of distribution can vary, but in one or more embodiments of the invention the system is configured to obtain user information from a server, assemble personalized media clips (e.g., file(s)) based on that user information, and distribute the personalized media file to one or more users associated with that user information. Embodiments of the invention may utilize scaleable architectures to process any number of users and/or recipients.

Abstract: A high-speed precision positioning apparatus has a stage supported by a platen. The stage is driven by a plurality of drive motors that are co-planar with the stage and arranged symmetrically around the stage. The drive motors apply drive forces directly to the stage without any mechanical contact to the stage. The drive forces impart planar motion to the stage in at least three degrees of freedom of motion. In the remaining three degrees of freedom the motion is constrained by a plurality of fluid bearings that operate between the stage and the platen. The drive motors are configured as magnets, attached to the stage, moving in a gap formed in-between top and bottom stationary coils. Integral force cancellation is implemented by a force cancellation system that applies cancellation forces to the stage. The cancellation forces, which are co-planar with a center of gravity of the stage and any components that move with the stage, cancel forces generated by planar motion of the stage.

Abstract: Methods and systems for laser-based processing of materials are disclosed wherein a scalable laser architecture, based on planar waveguide technology, provides for pulsed laser micromachining applications while supporting higher average power applications like laser welding and cutting. Various embodiments relate to improvements in planar waveguide technology which provide for stable operation at high powers with a reduction in spurious outputs and thermal effects. At least one embodiment provides for micromachining with pulsewidths in the range of femtoseconds to nanoseconds. In another embodiment, 100W or greater average output power operation is provided for with a diode-pumped, planar waveguide architecture.

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: Method and apparatus for maintaining the focal point of a laser beam used for laser machining relative to a workpiece, including an optical distance measuring sensor having a measurement beam, a mirror for combining the measurement and laser beams into a predetermined optical path having a common axis for both beams, and a focusing element which may be in the form of a refractive lens or a reflective parabolic mirror located in the optical path, and a control means for controlling the location of the focal point of the laser beam based on the distance sensed by measurement beam. In drilling, once the hole breaks through the workpiece, the application of the laser beam can be stopped by observing a departure from the incremental distance measurement change.

Abstract: The resin in a fiber-reinforced resin material that uses a single fiber reinforcing ply or a number of fiber reinforcing plies for reinforcing the resin material is reinforced by dispersing carbon nanofibers therein, whereby a fiber-reinforced composite resin material having improved strength such as compressive strength is provided. In a carbon nanofiber-dispersed resin fiber-reinforced composite material 1, an uncured resin 4 having carbon nanofibers 5 dispersed therein is impregnated into a number of fiber reinforcing plies 2a laid one upon another. Upon curing the resin 4, the strength of the matrix 3 itself is increased through the carbon nanofibers 5 dispersed in the resin 4. Moreover, the fiber reinforcement 2 and the resin 4 are joined together strongly by the carbon nanofibers 5, and hence the strength of the composite material, for example the compressive strength, which hitherto has been dependent on the strength of the resin 4 only, is improved.

Abstract: A diaphragm operated water pressure regulator switchable between an operating mode and a flushing mode by changing the relative positions of the water inlet port and the valve in the regulator. By moving the port to a position in which the valve cannot close the inlet port, water at full line pressure enters the watering system to flush the system. A mounting bracket is also disclosed which independently suspends the regulator and a support pipe from a cable in the poultry house such that the regulator can be removed from the watering system without affecting the support pipe.

Abstract: A high precision torque motor, including a partial rotation drive suitable for use in a galvanometer scanner, where the rotor is supported within the stator and housing assembly on all ceramic ball bearings, including inner and outer races and bearing balls. The ceramic ball bearing assemblies and all structural support elements have substantially equal coefficients of expansion through the use of matched expansion, nickel-iron alloy for the rotor shaft, stator, housing and other structural components which contact, locate, and support the inner and outer bearing races. The non-conductive bearings permit exclusion of any grounding conductor strap as between the rotor shaft and the housing.

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 having a first wavelength 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 fiber amplifier subsystem for optically amplifying the pulse train to obtain an amplified pulse train without significantly changing the predetermined shape of the pulses.

Abstract: A solid state laser, includes laser rod tubes (10, 117) crimped onto each end of a laser rod (15, 121) with PTFE seal rings (25, 118) compressed between the laser rod and the laser rod tube. The compressed seal rings provide an improved leak tight seal in a laser pumping chamber. Each laser rod tube (10) provides a mounting and holding area (20) for supporting the laser rod ends therein while protecting and sealing the end faces of the laser rod. A swaging tool (40) and method for swaging the laser rod tube (10) onto the laser rod (15) to provide a compression fit are provided. The compression seal and swaging method are usable in a variety of leak tight sealing applications.

Abstract: Method and subsystem are provided for determining a sequence in which microstructures are to be processed at a laser-processing site by taking into account microstructures located near travel limits of a motor-driven stage. The method includes receiving reference data which represent locations of microstructures to be processed at the site and coalescing adjacent groups of microstructures into clusters of microstructures including edge clusters which contain the microstructures located near the travel limits of the motor-driven stage which moves the microstructures relative to a laser beam at the site. The method also includes dividing a cluster fragment from each edge cluster. The cluster fragments contain the microstructures located near the travel limits. The method then includes sorting the clusters and cluster fragments to obtain data which represent a substantially optimum sequence in which the microstructures are to be processed to increase throughput at the site.

Abstract: Drilling holes in structures using two different lasers allows a precise hole to be formed quickly. While one laser cuts a hole quickly, a second laser precisely shapes the hole. One useful application of such a method is drilling holes in multilayered structures such as Printed Wiring Boards (PWBs). One laser can precisely remove a first layer (copper) and a portion of a second layer (dielectric material). During this removal the shape of the hole is precisely formed. A second laser can remove the remaining portion of the second layer, exposing a third layer (copper). The use of the second laser can allow rapid removal of the remaining portion of the second layer. When cutting through a PWB, the second laser can be of a type that minimally damages the third copper layer.

Abstract: An electrode material for an electric double layer capacitor having a carbon fiber as an essential material. The carbon fiber has a coaxial stacking morphology of truncated conical tubular graphene layers, and each of the truncated conical tubular graphene layers includes a hexagonal carbon layer. Edges of the hexagonal carbon layer are exposed. The exposed edges of the hexagonal carbon layers have a high degree of activity and can be modified with functional groups such as —COOH, —CHO, or —OH. This enables use of the carbon fiber as the electrode material. The specific surface area of the surfaces on which the edges are exposed is extremely large, whereby a large-capacitance electric double layer capacitor can be formed.

Abstract: Process and apparatus for automated production of optical devices comprising two plane parallel optical surfaces of a desired optical performance for transmitted light, by measuring and quantifying the spectral response of intensity versus wavelength across the working surface area of a starter optical device as compared to an acceptable computer model, as a three dimensional contour map of optical thickness based on the assumption of a constant index of refraction, then reducing the high spots by automated means such as polishing, and measuring the spectral response again.

Abstract: A method and system for processing at least one microstructure which is part of a multi-material device containing a plurality of microstructures is provided. The at least one microstructure has a designated region for target material removal. The method includes generating a laser beam, modifying the laser beam to obtain a modified laser beam, and sequentially and relatively positioning the modified laser beam into at least one non-round spot having a predetermined non-round energy distribution on the designated region to remove the target material in the designated region. The predetermined non-round energy distribution covers an area of the designated region such that energy is more efficiently coupled into the designated region for the non-round energy distribution than energy coupled into the designated region for a round energy distribution covering the same area.

Abstract: The field portion (40) of a workpiece (14) that an electro-optical system (28) can image is deflected by a field-of-view deflector (38) and an array of light sources (42, 44) illuminates the workpiece. As the field of view (40) moves about the workpiece surface, individual sources (42, 44) in the light-source array are so turned on and off that all sources that could be imaged into the field of view by specular reflection are turned off. In this way, proper dark-field illumination is maintained.

Abstract: A method of fabricating a limited-rotation motor that is characterized by axial stability of a rotor that includes a permanent-magnet armature and further characterized by a relatively small inherent axial force on the rotor. The rotor is supported by a pair of ball-bearing units and axial stability is provided by preloading the bearing unit at the end of the rotor with a relatively stiff spring and preloading the bearing at the second end with a relatively weak spring, whereby thermal expansion and contraction of the rotor are accommodated almost entirely by a movement of the second end of the rotor. A low axial force on the rotor is obtained by forming the armature with a split mold so that uniform compression is extended along the entire armature, resulting in relatively uniform magnetic properties, and by positioning the corresponding stator elements symmetrically relative to the magnetic center of the armature.

Abstract: A system for qualifying and monitoring bearing performance and condition in a rotary servo system. A position error signal is analyzed for signal anomalies that can signify bearing damage. A DC offset ramp is applied to the position error signal to test whether the anomaly is angular position dependent. The anomaly is associated with the corresponding command signal value and range of values to calculate the angular position and range of the apparent bearing damage. The amplitude of the anomaly is measured and associated with a relative degree of bearing damage.