Abstract: The present invention relates to chemical delivery systems and methods for delivery of liquid chemicals. In one embodiment, the present invention relates to systems having multi-reservoir load cell assemblies for delivering chemicals used in the semiconductor industry. In one embodiment, the present invention provides a multi-reservoir load cell assembly, including a controller, a buffer reservoir, a main reservoir, one or more load cells, coupled to the assembly and to the controller, operable to weigh the liquid in the reservoir(s), a plurality of supply lines, each supply line having a valve and connecting one of the supply containers to the main reservoir, and a gas and vacuum sources for withdrawing the liquid from the assembly when demanded by the controller and for refilling the assembly from the supply containers.

Abstract: A preparation of peptides eluted from class II HLA molecules is disclosed. Methods of decreasing measles infections comprising inoculating human patients with a vaccine comprising one or more of the peptides and methods of diagnosing measles infections or immunity comprising analyzing human patients for the presence of one or more of the peptides or antibodies to the peptide(s) are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus, method, and kit for probing a pattern of points on a first printed circuit board are disclosed. In one exemplary embodiment, the apparatus includes a probe having i) a plurality of compression interconnects to probe the pattern of points on the first printed circuit board, and ii) a plurality of fixed pins that are electrically coupled to the compression interconnects. The fixed pins extend from the probe opposite the compression interconnects. The apparatus further includes a flexible wire interconnect having first and second sets of electrically coupled connectors, the first set of which is coupled to the fixed pins of the probe. A second printed circuit board has at least one first connector that is electrically coupled to at least one second connector. The at least one first connector is coupled to the second set of connectors of the flexible wire interconnect, and the at least one second connector is configured to couple to a test instrument.

Abstract: A probe retention kit may include a plurality of probe retention devices, each having: (i) a base; (ii) a retention mechanism, coupled to the base, for mechanically coupling a probe substrate with the plurality of probe retention devices; and (iii) solder legs to be inserted into a printed circuit board, the solder legs having opposite ends that extend through the base and provide an alignment mechanism for receiving the probe substrate. Alternative probe retention devices, and systems and methods using same, are also disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a handle member that has a grip portion and a coupling portion. In one embodiment, the grip portion is removably coupled to the coupling portion. The coupling portion is configured to be slidably coupled to a tension member such that the tension member may slide with respect to the coupling portion from a first portion of the coupling portion to a second portion of the coupling portion. In one embodiment, the travel distance of the tension member from the first portion of the coupling portion to the second portion of the coupling portion is greater than 2 inches (5 cm). In another embodiment, the grip portion includes a vertex location. A first axis is defined by the handle member and extends from the vertex location to the first portion of the coupling portion. A second axis is defined by the handle member and extends from the vertex location to the second portion of the coupling portion. In one embodiment, the angle defined by the first axis and the second axis is greater than 5°.

Abstract: A low or no pressure use indicator for use on a tire is provided. The tire has a crown and a pair of sidewalls that extend from the crown. Each of the sidewalls has a bead located on an end of the sidewall that is opposite from the crown. The low or no pressure use indicator is located on a wall of one of the sidewalls. The low or no pressure use indicator is configured for indicating by a permanent physical change whether the tire has been subjected to an operation condition of an undesirable amount of low tire pressure.

Abstract: In a method for probing a grid array package, a probe having a plurality of probe tip spring pins therein is aligned with a plurality of breakout vias on a printed circuit board. The breakout vias are on a side of the printed circuit board opposite a side of the printed circuit board to which the grid array package is attached. The probe tip spring pins are engaged with the breakout vias, and the probe is then mechanically coupled to the printed circuit board to keep the probe tip spring pins engaged with the breakout vias. Various embodiments and methods of constructing the probe are also disclosed.

Abstract: One method of the invention is for welding and includes obtaining first and second members each including an extrusion having a through hole and includes obtaining first and second electrodes each having an electrode portion. The second member is positioned to have the second extrusion nest in the first through hole against the first extrusion. The first electrode is positioned to have the first-electrode portion nest in the second through hole against the inside of the second extrusion. The second electrode is positioned to have the second-electrode portion contact the outside of the first extrusion. Another method of the invention is for welding and includes obtaining a tube having an end form and a member having first and second portions. The tube and the member are positioned with the end form contacting the first portion while leaving a recess between the end form and the second portion.

Abstract: Welding apparatus includes a first electrode having an electrode surface adapted to contact an outward end fold of a heat-exchanger tube which is positioned in an orifice of a tubesheet with the fold contacting an outward-facing side of the tubesheet. A second electrode has an electrode surface adapted to contact the outward-facing side of the tubesheet. Another welding apparatus includes a first electrode having an electrode surface adapted to contact an end of a heat exchanger tube positioned in an orifice of a tubesheet. The first electrode is movable to create an outward end fold in the tube and deform the fold against the outward-facing side of the tubesheet. Another welding apparatus includes a second electrode having an electrode surface adapted to contact the outward-facing side of a tubesheet and having cutouts which surround each of a plurality of heat-exchanger tubes and which are adapted to receive a first electrode.

Abstract: One method for welding includes obtaining a heat-exchanger tube having an outward fold. The tube is inserted at least partially through the orifice of a tubesheet with the fold contacting one of the outward and inward facing sides of the tubesheet. A first electrode is positioned in contact with the outward fold and a second electrode in contact with the one side of the tubesheet. Another method for welding includes obtaining a heat-exchanger tube having a tube end. The tube is inserted at least partially through the orifice of a tubesheet. A first electrode is positioned in contact with the first tube end and a second electrode is positioned in contact with one of the outward and inward facing sides of the tubesheet. The first electrode is moved against the first tube end to create an outward fold with the outward fold contacting the one side of the tubesheet.

Abstract: A database interpolation method is used to rapidly calculate a predicted optical response characteristic of a diffractive microstructure as part of a real-time optical measurement process. The interpolated optical response is a continuous and (in a preferred embodiment) smooth function of measurement parameters, and it matches the theoretically-calculated optical response at the database-stored interpolation points.

Abstract: A reduced multicubic database interpolation method is provided. The interpolation method is designed to map a function and its associated argument into an interpolated value using a database of points. The database is searched to locate an interpolation cell that includes the function argument. The interpolation cell is used to transform the function argument to reflect translation of the interpolation cell to a unit cell. The interpolated value is then generated as a cubic function using the data points that correspond to vertices of the unit cell. All of the derivatives in the cubic function are simple and the interpolation accuracy order is higher than first-order.

Abstract: A generally cylindrical shaped tool handle holds multiple sizes of tools. The handle includes one or more holding slots each positioned on one of multiple outer surface faces into which tools are inserted and held. Each holding slot includes one or more contoured compartments in which tools rest when engaged with the handle. Each contoured compartment is of a size and dimension which corresponds to one or more tool sizes. In the preferred embodiment of the tool handle, three of its outer surface faces have a continuous holding slot with multiple receiving holes for inserting therein hexagonal wrenches of multiple sizes. The continuous holding slots of the preferred embodiment of the handle include multiple contoured compartments for holding an inserted hexagonal wrench. Each contoured compartment is formed about a corresponding receiving hole. A lock is positioned over the contoured compartment to irremovably confine the short leg of the hexagonal wrench within the contoured compartment.

Abstract: A multiple Interactive Program Guide (IPG) system provides different television programming and different IPGs to several different users respectively. A single set-top box is capable of providing programming and scheduling data to several different television sets. Each of the different IPGs share a common database. Therefore, a first IPG being viewed by a first user can display data added or modified via a second IPG by a second user of the system. Furthermore, the data added or modified by the second user can influence the viewing rights of the first user. Also, all the competing and conflicting requests for limited resources, such as VCR scheduled recordings, will be brought to the users' attention and will be displayed by the system.

Abstract: A probe for probing test points on a target board uses a printed circuit board (PCB) having a plurality of signal routes for routing signals to a test instrument. The probe also has a plurality of spring pins for probing the test points on the target board. Each of the spring pins is i) disposed perpendicularly to the PCB, and ii) electrically coupled to at least one signal route of the PCB. By way of example, the spring pins may be fit into holes in the PCB or, alternately, they may be electrically coupled to signal routes of a second PCB that is perpendicularly abutted to the first PCB. Methods for making and using such probes are also disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for capturing an analog waveform on a serial bus. The method comprises the steps of designating a predetermined digital data sequence, decoding a serial data signal carried on a serial data bus, and comparing the decoded serial data signal to the predetermined digital data sequence. When it is determined that a portion of the decoded serial data matches the predetermined digital data sequence, the portion of the serial data signal corresponding to the matching portion of the decoded serial data signal is marked.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for unloading grain bins. The apparatus (10) comprises an endless conveyor belt (18) supported on a set of rollers. A first section of the supported conveyor belt (18) is adapted for insertion at or near the bottom of a grain bin. A second section is adapted for extension out of the grain bin to an outlet. The conveyor belt (18) is supported in a manner that allows transport of the grain with a minimization of friction, trauma or interaction between the grain to maintain quality of the grain. The speed of the conveyor belt (18) is selected to make for efficient throughput of unloading. Other aspects of the invention include a structure to incline the output end of a conveyor belt (18), support the conveyor belt (18), adapt the conveyor to different sizes, and assist in movement of the conveyor, and ancillary parts to allow selective use of the conveyor relative to the bin.

Abstract: Frequency correction of a radio module. Multiple samples of frequency data are taken during a quiescent portion of the base station transmission, to estimate the amount of frequency correction needed. An embodiment applies the frequency data to a median filter to eliminate invalid data. Next, a new reference frequency is applied to a radio transceiver in the radio module to provide the frequency correction. If the frequency was corrected by greater than a pre-determined amount, the process performs a large shift frequency correction, including verifying that the first frequency correction was satisfactory and verifying that the radio transceiver is able to receive data after the frequency correction has been performed. If the frequency was corrected by smaller than a pre-determined amount, the process performs a small shift frequency correction, including updating a total of all frequency corrections made since a stored reference frequency was updated.

Abstract: An EUV lithography system achieves high-resolution printing without the use of photomasks, projection optics, multilayer mirrors, or an extremely high-power EUV source. The system comprises a xenon laser-produced-plasma (LPP) illumination source (requiring 93 W hemispherical EUV emission in the wavelength range 10-12 nm), all-ruthenium optics (grazing-incidence mirrors and microlenses) and spatial light modulators comprising MEMS-actuated microshutters. Two 300-mm wafers are simultaneously exposed with a single 10 kHz LPP source to achieve a throughput of 6 wafers per hour, per LPP source. The illumination is focused by the microlens arrays onto diffraction-limited (42-nm FWHM) spots on the wafer plane, and the spots are intensity-modulated by the microshutters as they are raster-scanned across the wafer surface to create a digitally synthesized exposure image.

Abstract: An overlay target includes two pairs of test patterns used to measure overlay in x and y directions, respectively. Each test pattern includes upper and lower grating layers. A single pitch (periodic spacing) is used for all gratings. Within each test pattern, the upper and lower grating layers are laterally offset from each other to define an offset bias. Each pair of test patterns has offset biases that differ by the grating pitch/4. This has the important result that the combined optical response of the test patterns is sensitive to overlay for all values of overlay. An algorithm obtains overlay and other physical properties of the two or more test patterns from their optical responses in one combined regression operation.