Abstract: A substrate includes; a fiducial mark disposed on the substrate, an area on the substrate on which a probe material is configured to be immobilized, the area being separated from the fiducial mark, and a probe immobilization compound disposed on the area on the substrate on which the probe material is configured to be immobilized, wherein the fiducial mark has a structure which reflects irradiated light at a greater intensity than an intensity of reflected irradiated light form the area on the substrate not corresponding to the fiducial mark.

Abstract: An automated signature detection system and method of use and, more particularly, a predictive modeling component configured to accurately predict maintenance events for optical elements used in lithographic tools. The system comprises at least one module configured to analyze data associated with power illumination at a surface. The at least one module also is configured to fit a curve to the analyzed data using an exponentially based decay model.

Abstract: An anti-chop system for a pneumatic paintball marker that is automatically cleaned. The anti-chop eye system includes a transmitter and receiver arranged so as to sense the presence of a paintball within a breech using a beam of light. A moving member of the paintball marker automatically wipes at least one surface of the transmitter and/or receiver to remove contaminants such as paint, grease, dirt and the like. By automatically cleaning the anti-chop eye system, the reliability of the system is improved.

Abstract: A wedge fastener configured for use in extreme ambient conditions includes a pin or bolt having a head and a shank with an elongate slot through the shank. The wedge fastener also includes a wedge sized so that at least a portion of the wedge may extend through the elongate slot to grip a flange between the head and the wedge. The wedge fastener also includes a locking mechanism for locking the wedge in a gripping position against the flange. In one example, the locking mechanism includes locking keys with angled ridges configured to slide in angled slots on the wedge until the locking keys engage the shank. In another example, the locking mechanism includes a jack plate attached to the wedge and adjustment screws for engaging the shank to pull the wedge through the elongate slot.

Abstract: An image pickup apparatus includes: an image pickup substrate on which an image pickup device is mounted on an object side; an optical unit having a lens for imaging an object light on the image pickup device; a blade member adjusting an amount of the object light entering into the lens; a drive unit having a motor driving the blade member; and a motor substrate supplying the motor with a drive power. The optical unit is provided in the image pickup substrate. The drive unit is provided in the optical unit so as to be spaced apart from the image pickup substrate. The motor substrate is provided in the drive unit so as to face the image pickup substrate. The conductive member electrically connecting the image pickup substrate with the motor substrate is disposed between the image pickup substrate and the motor substrate.

Abstract: A focal plane shutter includes: an electromagnet; a board including an opening; a blade movable between a position where the blade recedes from the opening and a position where the blade covers at least part of the opening; and a drive lever driving the blade, and including: a spindle portion provided at its one end with a flange portion; an iron piece provided at the other end of the spindle portion and capable of being adsorbed to the electromagnet; a support portion including a through hole through which the spindle portion penetrates with a play; and a guide portion provided along the iron piece.

Abstract: A torso-covering garment for playing paintball having gripping areas to enable the user to grippably contact a gripping area of the garment with the butt stock of the gun. Each gripping area comprises a pliant, non-cushioning substrate. Common embodiments of the garment are shirts, jerseys, jackets, and vests. A method of playing paintball which comprises wearing the garment of the invention, and a method of fabricating the garment.

Abstract: A compact type fine-tuning lifter, which may have a volume of 8 cm×5 cm×4 cm and is able to support an article with the weight of several hundreds of kilograms, and can achieve a fine-tuning of micrometer scale. The lifter can achieve the efficacies of miniaturization, fine-tuning and low-cost by utilizing the combination of simple mechanisms comprising a base, a sliding seat, a sliding block and an adjustable screw bolt to perform the fine tuning in X-axis, Y-axis and Z-axis directions, respectively, to position the adjustable screw bolt. The present invention also relates to a use of the lifter.

Abstract: A method for matching a first OPE curve (700) for a first exposure apparatus (10A) used to transfer an image to a wafer (28) to a second OPE curve (702) of a second exposure apparatus (10B). The method can include the step of adjusting a tilt of a wafer stage (50) that retains the wafer to adjust the first OPE curve. As provided herein, the first exposure apparatus (10A) has the first OPE curve (700) because of the design of the components used in the first exposure apparatus (10A), and the second exposure apparatus (10B) has a second OPE curve (702) because of the design of the components used in the second exposure apparatus (10B). Further, the tilt of the wafer stage (50) can be selectively adjusted until the first OPE curve (700) approximately matches the second OPE curve (702). With this design, the two exposure apparatuses (10A) (10B) can be used for the same lithographic process.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention are directed to imaging technologies, and, in particular, to an imaging system that detects relatively weak signals, over time, and that uses the detected signals to determine the positions of signal emitters. Particular embodiments of the present invention are directed to methods and systems for imaging fluorophore-labeled samples in order to produce images of the sample at resolutions significantly greater than the diffraction-limited resolution associated with optical microscopy. Embodiments of the present invention employ overlapping-emitter-image disambiguation to allow data to be collected from densely arranged emitters, which significantly decreases the data-collection time for producing intermediate images as well as the number of intermediate images needed to computationally construct high-resolution final images. Additional embodiments of the present invention employ hierarchical image-processing techniques to further resolve and interpret disambiguated images.

Abstract: A board mounted connector (100) includes an insulative housing (1) defines a top side and a bottom side; a plurality of terminals (2) combined with the insulative housing, each terminal having a contacting portion disposed above the top side of the insulative housing; and a protective cover (3) floatably associated with the insulative housing and enclosing the contacting portions of the terminals.

Abstract: An image pickup device includes: an image pickup element; a control portion sequentially resetting charge stored in the image pickup element for every pixel line in a predetermined direction such that an electronic leading shutter moves in a simulated manner; a focal plane shutter including: a board including an opening; a mechanical type of a trailing shutter capable of opening and closing the opening; an actuator driving the trailing shutter; and a detection portion detecting that the trailing shutter passes through a given position of a movement trace of the trailing shutter; and a drive control portion controlling driving of the actuator based on a detection result of the detection portion.

Abstract: The present technology relates generally to the manufacturing of optical lenses used in the fabrication of optical modules, such as for miniature camera, as the camera used in mobile phones. More particularly, the present technology relates to devices and methods for manufacturing arrays of lenses.

Abstract: A motor drive apparatus that can be used to drive a wide range of brushless motors without any limit to a magnetic pole number of a rotor magnet. One rotational period T of the rotor magnet is obtained, and one period S of the sine wave drive signal according to a mathematical expression of S=T/(n/2). The one period S of the sine wave drive signal is updated at intervals of one period of the output signal from one magnetic pole detecting element among the three magnetic pole detecting elements.

Abstract: A pneumatic paintball marker has, for example, a sleeve that controls the passage of air through the longitudinal barrel or opening within the marker. By sequentially filling separate chambers defined within the opening and the sleeve, the sleeve is able to translate axially through the opening in a sequential manner. When the sleeve is in a forward position, air is caused to be released through the barrel, propelling the paintball. A sear member engages the sleeve and prevents it from inadvertently moving to a forward position. Air filling the chambers returns the sleeve to the loading position.

Abstract: A focal plane shutter includes: a board including an opening; an arm including: a rear end portion rotatably supported by the board; and a front end portion swingable in response to rotation of the rear and portion; blades coupled to the arm for opening and closing the opening; and a sensor arranged at a position opposite to the arm across the opening, and detecting a state of the blades.

Abstract: A paintball loader, more specifically a paintball loader which rapidly and forcibly feeds paintballs to a paintball marker, comprises a rotor body having at least one rotor fin, and a drive motor for rotating said rotor body in a first direction. The paintball loader has a central outlet located radially inwards of the tip of the rotor fin and an abutment body arranged to interact with the at least one rotor fin. When the rotor body is rotated, a paintball, located in a space formed between the at least one rotor fin and the abutment body, is pushed out of the paintball loader through the central outlet.

Abstract: A blade drive device includes: a board including an optical path opening; first and second blades cooperatively defining an amount of light passing through the optical path opening to a given amount of light. The first blade includes a first opening. The second blade includes: a first cutout portion defining the amount of light in cooperation with the first opening; and a second cutout portion defining the amount of light in cooperation with the first opening. The second cutout portion overlaps the first blade when the first cutout portion and the first opening cooperatively define the amount of light.

Abstract: A focal plane shutter includes: a board including an opening; a drive lever swingably supported by the board, biased from a start end to a terminal end of a swingable range by a drive spring, and driving blades opening and closing the opening; and a set member rotating in a first direction to position the drive lever at the start end, and then rotating in a second direction.

Abstract: A novel and unique pneumatic paintball marker having a variety of novel features, the first being an on/off compressed air control valve, positioned at the front of the marker below the barrel and adjacent to an in-line pressure regulator. Major innovations have been made in reducing the size and weight of the body of the marker, along with the construction of a new bolt assembly consisting of just four components and only one moving part. An anti-chop eye electronic system insures that the paintballs are in proper position, and rubber ball detents are optionally added to hold the paintballs in place prior to firing the marker, so that the paintballs will not roll out the barrel.