Abstract: The present disclosure provides a door lock device for releasably locking a door of a washing machine. The door lock device has first to third latches, and a drive motor and a latch drive mechanism for moving the third latch. The first latch releasably locks the door of the washing machine and is movable in frontward and rearward directions. The movement of the first latch is changed at a change position. The first latch is always biased frontward by a spring. The second latch releasably locks the first latch, which locks the door of the washing machine, at a door locking position. The third latch is moved in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the first latch. The third latch restricts the first latch at the door locking position, or unlocks the first latch after pushing the first latch from the door locking position against the spring.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for driving an icemaker for making ice cubes in a refrigerator. An ice-full state is sensed in such a way as to rotate an ejector and a cam gear in a reverse direction (opposite to an ice-ejecting direction), thereby preventing interference with the ice cubes present in the icemaker and thus enabling the ice-full state to be accurately sensed. A first torsion spring is mounted to an intermediate gear with a small rotation angle ratio to allow only a minimum amount of torque to be transferred to other components such as an ice-detecting lever, thereby increasing the durability of the components and providing a precise rotation force. The axial center of rotation of a second torsion spring is defined at a position that faces the other end (the revolving end) of the ice-detecting lever, to allow a minimum moment to be substantially constantly applied.

Abstract: Provided is a driving device for an automatic ice-making machine, the driving device including: a cam gear that rotates a tray; and an operating lever that organically operates along a cam plane for an ice-cube quantity detecting arm formed at the cam gear and allows the ice-cube quantity detecting arm to rotate downward into an ice-cube storage bin, wherein a cam groove for the ice-cube quantity detecting arm is formed in the cam plane for the ice-cube quantity detecting arm of the cam gear and allows the operating level to descend so that the ice-cube quantity detecting arm rotates downward into the ice-cube storage bin, and a protrusion is formed between the cam plane for the ice-cube quantity detecting arm and the cam groove for the ice-cube quantity detecting arm and allows the operating lever to ascend so that the ice-cube quantity detecting arm that rotates downward into the ice-cube storage bin rotates upward.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a door lock device for releasably locking a door of a washing machine. The door lock device has first to third latches, and a drive motor and a latch drive mechanism for moving the third latch. The first latch releasably locks the door of the washing machine and is movable in frontward and rearward directions. The movement of the first latch is changed at a change position. The first latch is always biased frontward by a spring. The second latch releasably locks the first latch, which locks the door of the washing machine, at a door locking position. The third latch is moved in a direction perpendicular to the movement direction of the first latch. The third latch restricts the first latch at the door locking position, or unlocks the first latch after pushing the first latch from the door locking position against the spring.

Abstract: A driving device of an icemaker for refrigerator may include: a case 100; a driving unit 110 mounted in the case 100, including a gear unit 104 having a magnet M formed thereon and a motor M connected to the gear unit 104, and configured to drive an icemaker of a refrigerator; and a housing 100b into which the case 100 including the driving unit 110 is detachably inserted. Since the driving device of the icemaker is assembled as a module, the assembly time and speed may be improved to increase workability. Simultaneously, a low-voltage DC step motor may be used to reduce a risk of fire and electric shock, thereby increasing stability. Furthermore, since the magnet M is rotated around the center axis of the gear unit, a rotation signal may be sensed and outputted through a constant magnetic force. Thus, the merchantable quality of the driving device may be maximized.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for driving an icemaker for making ice cubes in a refrigerator. An ice-full state is sensed in such a way as to rotate an ejector and a cam gear in a reverse direction (opposite to an ice-ejecting direction), thereby preventing interference with the ice cubes present in the icemaker and thus enabling the ice-full state to be accurately sensed. A first torsion spring is mounted to an intermediate gear with a small rotation angle ratio to allow only a minimum amount of torque to be transferred to other components such as an ice-detecting lever, thereby increasing the durability of the components and providing a precise rotation force. The axial center of rotation of a second torsion spring is defined at a position that faces the other end (the revolving end) of the ice-detecting lever, to allow a minimum moment to be substantially constantly applied.

Abstract: A driving device of an icemaker for refrigerator may include: a driving device case coupled to an ice-making tray having an ejector rotating shaft coupled thereto; and a driving module housed in the driving device case so as to rotate the ejector rotating shaft.

Abstract: A door opening/closing device for an ice dispenser is disclosed. The door opening/closing device includes a DC motor 1 which is rotated in forward and reverse directions, a 2-staged spur gear 3 meshed with a worm gear 2 installed on a driving shaft, a 3-staged spur gear 4 meshed with the 2-staged spur gear 3, and a fan-shaped output gear 5 meshed with the 3-staged spur gear 4 and rotated in forward and reverse directions by interconnection of the motor 1 and the gears 2, 3 and 4. If the output gear 5 is rotated in the forward direction, a rod-shaped boss 5a pushes and rotates a link lever 6a to press a coil spring 8 wound around an opening/closing link 6 and thus open a door 7. If the output gear 5 is rotated in the reverse direction, the coil spring 8 is released from a pressurized state, and the rod-shaped boss 5a rotates in the reverse direction while abutting against the link lever 6a, so that the door 7 is closed without generating impact and sound.

Abstract: Provided is a driving device for an automatic ice-making machine, the driving device including: a cam gear that rotates a tray; and an operating lever that organically operates along a cam plane for an ice-cube quantity detecting arm formed at the cam gear and allows the ice-cube quantity detecting arm to rotate downward into an ice-cube storage bin, wherein a cam groove for the ice-cube quantity detecting arm is formed in the cam plane for the ice-cube quantity detecting arm of the cam gear and allows the operating level to descend so that the ice-cube quantity detecting arm rotates downward into the ice-cube storage bin, and a protrusion is formed between the cam plane for the ice-cube quantity detecting arm and the cam groove for the ice-cube quantity detecting arm and allows the operating lever to ascend so that the ice-cube quantity detecting arm that rotates downward into the ice-cube storage bin rotates upward.

Abstract: A door opening/closing device for an ice dispenser is disclosed. The door opening/closing device includes a DC motor 1 which is rotated in forward and reverse directions, a 2-staged spur gear 3 meshed with a worm gear 2 installed on a driving shaft, a 3-staged spur gear 4 meshed with the 2-staged spur gear 3, and a fan-shaped output gear 5 meshed with the 3-staged spur gear 4 and rotated in forward and reverse directions by interconnection of the motor 1 and the gears 2, 3 and 4. If the output gear 5 is rotated in the forward direction, a rod-shaped boss 5a pushes and rotates a link lever 6a to press a coil spring 8 wound around an opening/closing link 6 and thus open a door 7. If the output gear 5 is rotated in the reverse direction, the coil spring 8 is released from a pressurized state, and the rod-shaped boss 5a rotates in the reverse direction while abutting against the link lever 6a, so that the door 7 is closed without generating impact and sound.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a liquid crystal display includes: loading an upper substrate or a lower substrate on a stage; positioning a printing roll on the loaded substrate; measuring the printing roll, the measurement being indicative of a size change of the printing roll; compensating the operation of the printing roll relative to the stage according to the measurement of the printing roll; supplying an alignment solution to the printing roll; driving the printing roll under the compensated operation to print the alignment solution onto the loaded substrate; attaching the upper substrate and the lower substrate; and forming a liquid crystal layer between the upper substrate and the lower substrate.

Abstract: A focal plane array detector in a sensor for IR imaging. Pixel readout and analog to digital conversion is performed in an integrated circuit which includes the imaging array. The charge of each pixel is accumulated in a capacitor (16) and a digital to analog charge converter cancels this charge. A controller controls this charge converter providing the appropriate amount of charge. An analog to digital converter incorporating a comparator (92) switches the controller on/off. In some embodiment a programmable device external to the sensor participates in the control of the analog to digital converter. In a typical embodiment of the invention a cycle generator controls the charge output of the digital to analog converter. In a preferred embodiment the analog to digital converters are grouped wherein all such converters group operate simultaneously.

Abstract: A method (400) for cleaning a semiconductor wafer. The method includes immersing (420) a wafer in a liquid comprising water. The wafer has a front face, a back face, and an edge. The method also includes providing a substantially particle free environment adjacent to the front face and the back face as the liquid is being removed. A step of introducing a carrier gas comprising a cleaning enhancement substance during the providing step (450) also is included. The cleaning enhancement substance dopes the liquid which is attached to the front face and the back face to cause a concentration gradient of the cleaning enhancement substance in the attached liquid to accelerate fluid flow of the attached liquid off of the wafer.

Abstract: A method (400) for cleaning a semiconductor wafer. The method includes immersing (420) a wafer in a liquid comprising water. The wafer has a front face, a back face, and an edge. The method also includes providing a substantially particle free environment adjacent to the front face and the back face as the liquid is being removed. A step of introducing a carrier gas comprising a cleaning enhancement substance during the providing step (450) also is included. The cleaning enhancement substance dopes the liquid which is attached to the front face and the back face to cause a concentration gradient of the cleaning enhancement substance in the attached liquid to accelerate fluid flow of the attached liquid off of the wafer.

Abstract: A method (400) for cleaning a semiconductor wafer. The method includes immersing (420) a wafer in a liquid comprising water. The wafer has a front face, a back face, and an edge. The method also includes providing a substantially particle free environment adjacent to the front face and the back face as the liquid is being removed. A step of introducing a carrier gas comprising a cleaning enhancement substance during the providing step (450) also is included. The cleaning enhancement substance dopes the liquid which is attached to the front face and the back face to cause a concentration gradient of the cleaning enhancement substance in the attached liquid to accelerate fluid flow of the attached liquid off of the wafer.

Abstract: The invention relates to a wafer rinsing system for rinsing chemicals and particles off of wafers without introducing contaminants. The system reduces the particle count on wafers by filtering the water and the gas used during rinsing at the wet bench. The system includes a rinsing unit, a local water filter bank, a local gas filtering system, an H2O2 injection unit, an auxiliary chemical injection unit, and a controller for operating the other components. The water filter bank provides a multiple stage filtering system to eliminate particles without a substantial drop in water pressure. The H2O2 injection unit provides a local source of H2O2 to clean the filter and rinser and to provide a mechanism for controlling the formation of native oxide on the wafer during rinsing. The auxiliary chemical injection unit provides a chemical additive to the rinsing unit to enhance the wafer cleaning process. The gas filtering system provides clean gas to the rinsing unit and to the injection units.

Abstract: An improved mandrel device (100) and method. The mandrel device (100) has an elongated member (117) for supporting a plurality of hard disks, for example. The elongated member (117) includes an inner member (107) that is defined between a pair of outer members (105), where each of the members have ridges (103) defined thereon. The combination of these members and ridges are used to support a plurality of disks that do not touch each other during, for example transportation.

Abstract: A method for cleaning an object. The method (400) includes immersing (420) an object in a liquid comprising water, which can be ultra-clean. The object has a front face, a back face, and an edge. The method includes providing (450) a cleaning enhancement substance (e.g., trace amount of polar organic compound, surfactant, ammonia bearing compound) into the liquid. In one embodiment, the cleaning enhancement substance can form a liquid film, such as a monolayer overlying an upper surface or level of the liquid. The method also includes providing a substantially particle free environment (e.g., ultra-clean gas, ultra-clean non-reactive gas) adjacent to the front face and the back face of the object as the liquid including the cleaning enhancement substance is being removed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for nulling the magnetic field within a specified volume in the presence of an external ambient field by generating compensating magnetic fields at a number of locations around the volume, sensing the field in the volume and controlling the value of the compensating fields in a closed loop system to null the field within the volume.

Abstract: A microwave dipole probe for in vivo localized hyperthermia includes an outer conductor and an inner conductor extending through and beyond the outer conductor. The portion of the inner conductor extending beyond the outer conductor is expanded in diameter relative to the portion within the outer conductor. A dielectrically loaded phase reversal sleeve is folded over the outside of the outer conductor and contains a dielectric loading material similar to the dielectric constant of the in vivo target volume.