Abstract: A flow control device typically for protecting a seal (20) in a valve, wherein a body portion (5) has an orifice (8) allowing fluid flow, and the valve has a control portion (10) to allow and restrict fluid flow through the orifice. The flow control device has a fluid flow controller (30) between the body portion and the control portion in the form of at least one annular ring (35), disposed in a recess in one of the body portion and the control portion (10). The fluid flow controller (30) defines a leak path through the device that is opened and closed by a pressure differential acting across the annular member. Typically the application of a pressure differential across the fluid flow controller moves the ring(s) to one end of the recess and reduces the cross sectional area of the leak path available to the fluid, thereby diffusing the fluid flow through the orifice (8).

Abstract: A water purification system and method for removing inorganic, organic and biological species from water. The system and method involve simultaneous treatment of water using mild heat, a photoactive catalyst such as titanium dioxide and UV irradiation.

Abstract: Anatomical structures such as the musculoskeletal structure of a knee or hip joint, are modeled using a predictive cause-and-effect mathematical model wherein parameters and interactions associated with biological tissues are examined. The model extends over nested small scale parameters (e.g., genetic or cellular) up to macro scale parameters, e.g., body force and motion. The parameter values are populated for a subject or group, and the model is operated iteratively while subjecting the parameters to one or more influences, to project changes over a span of time that encompasses adaptive changes in tissues and also aging and wear.

Abstract: The invention provides an actuator for an electric motor and an electric motor including said actuator. The actuator includes one or more body formed from a dielectric elastomer, each body having at least one active region that is directly or indirectly coupled to a drive means. The active regions are arranged such that, in use, actuation thereof causes driven means to move with components in at least first and second directions, preferably within a plane of the body.

Abstract: An infrared, room heater system for installation in a wall or on a floor An electric fan assembly draws room air into a housing, through three parallel, air transit channels where the air is heated by infrared radiation within and about a heat exchanger assembly, and thence back out into the room One or more ceramic heating elements attached to a copper plate incorporate a resistive conductor that causes the elements to emit infrared radiation when electrically energized The first copper plate lies adjacent to, but spaced away from, a first heat insulated housing sidewall, thereby defining a first air transit channel The second air transit channel is defined by the space between the second copper plate and the second housing sidewall, and the third air transit channel is defined by the space between the two copper plates.

Abstract: A method of identifying features within a dataset such as an image comprises applying a multiscale transform such as a dual tree Complex Wavelet Transform to generate a plurality of scale-related transform levels each having a plurality of transform coefficients defining magnitude and phase; determining the phase difference between a first coefficient on one level, and a second coefficient on the same or a different level; and identifying the feature in dependence on the phase difference. Each quadrant of the phase difference, when plotted as an angle, is indicative of a different type of feature. The invention is equally applicable to the identification of two-dimensional features such as images, as well as to the identification of features within one-dimensional data streams such as audio.

Abstract: A paint roller frame with a paint roller is held firmly by an adjustable holding device affixed externally to a containment cylinder. The containment cylinder contains a high pressure spray jet system designed to apply a series of close centered liquid jets which impinge along the length of the paint roller nap and at a controlled angle to the nap thus providing nap washing conditions that rotate the paint filled nap fast enough to create centrifugal force to the paint on and in the nap and a forceful spray jet which will wash away the paint particles. To provide superior nap washing conditions the direction of rotation of the nap can be changed by simply changing the spray jet angle of attack on to the nap and so allow the roller to rotate in the opposite direction for maximum cleaning benefit. The bracket assemble, which holds the paint roller frame, is specifically designed to accommodate all sizes of paint roller diameters and also the dimensional variations found in the proprietary paint roller frames.

Abstract: A buffer apparatus includes a vertically moving mechanism containing a plurality of horizontally moving mechanisms to store carriers and transfer carriers to and from a load port, and one or more buffer load ports adjacent to the buffer apparatus to charge and uncharge the buffer apparatus by means of a guided vehicle, an overhead vehicle, or a human. A buffer system includes a buffer apparatus and a processing system load port to transfer carriers from the buffer apparatus to a processing system load port. An arrayed buffer system includes a plurality of buffer systems where each buffer system interacts with an individual set of load ports or a pair of buffer systems interacts with a shared set of load ports. A combination of arrayed buffer systems includes a plurality of adjacent arrayed buffer systems capable of sharing a single, environmental front-end mechanism maintenance space and capable of being serviced from the front.

Abstract: A buffer apparatus includes a vertically moving mechanism containing a plurality of horizontally moving mechanisms to store carriers and transfer carriers to and from a load port, and one or more buffer load ports adjacent to the buffer apparatus to charge and uncharge the buffer apparatus by means of a guided vehicle, an overhead vehicle, or a human. A buffer system includes a buffer apparatus and a processing system load port to transfer carriers from the buffer apparatus to a processing system load port. An arrayed buffer system includes a plurality of buffer systems where each buffer system interacts with an individual set of load ports or a pair of buffer systems interacts with a shared set of load ports. A combination of arrayed buffer systems includes a plurality of adjacent arrayed buffer systems capable of sharing a single, environmental front-end mechanism maintenance space and capable of being serviced from the front.

Abstract: A buffer apparatus includes a vertically moving mechanism containing a plurality of horizontally moving mechanisms to store carriers and transfer carriers to and from a load port, and one or more buffer load ports adjacent to the buffer apparatus to charge and uncharge the buffer apparatus by means of a guided vehicle, an overhead vehicle, or a human. A buffer system includes a buffer apparatus and a processing system load port to transfer carriers from the buffer apparatus to a processing system load port. An arrayed buffer system includes a plurality of buffer systems where each buffer system interacts with an individual set of load ports or a pair of buffer systems interacts with a shared set of load ports. A combination of arrayed buffer systems includes a plurality of adjacent arrayed buffer systems capable of sharing a single, environmental front-end mechanism maintenance space and capable of being serviced from the front.

Abstract: A joint replacement prosthesis is disclosed. The prosthesis has a conical base and a hemispherical or part hemispherical top providing a hemispherical or part hemispherical replacement bearing surface. The prosthesis is shaped and sized to have a wedge fit in a conical recess formed in the head or neck of a human femur or humerus without removal of all of the neck of the femur or humerus.

Abstract: A joint replacement prosthesis is disclosed. The prosthesis has a conical base and a hemispherical or part hemispherical top providing a hemispherical or part hemispherical replacement bearing surface. The prosthesis is shaped and sized to have a wedge fit in a conical recess formed in the head or neck of a human femur or humerus without removal of all of the neck of the femur or humerus.

Abstract: Switching off a fuel pump of a fuel supply system for the internal combustion engine with the aid of a signal from a retardation sensor of the airbag in the event of a crash in which the motor vehicle is involved is known. To further enhance the safety of motor-vehicle occupants, a method is proposed for an internal combustion engine which has at least one fuel injection valve, a fuel supply system for the at least one fuel injection valve, and a sensor for detecting a crash. After the crash has been detected by means of the sensor, the fuel injection valve is brought into an open position, with the result that fuel is discharged from the fuel supply system of the fuel injection valve into a combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine. The method according to the invention is provided for internal combustion engines with at least one fuel injection valve.

Abstract: A linear pad conditioning mechanism provides a linear in situ or ex situ conditioning for a polishing pad mounted on a polishing belt of a CMP apparatus. The linear pad conditioning mechanism includes a linear oscillation mechanism for driving a conditioning pad in a direction orthogonal to the polishing belt's direction of travel. In one example, multiple conditioning assemblies are provided to each provide a trapezoidal conditioning pad, and the conditioning assemblies are positioned such that a constant-width area in the polishing belt's direction of travel is provided. In that example, a rotational mechanism is provided to position the conditioning pad between a conditioning position against the polishing pad, and a cleaning position in a bath of cleaning fluid. Further, each conditioning assembly is provided a fluid delivery system to a conditioner block, so that a conditioner fluid can be delivered at the point of use.

Abstract: A wafer polishing apparatus includes a module frame; a continuous belt rotatable with respect to the frame, the belt having at least one vertically-oriented belt transverse portion including a polishing pad assembly; and at least one pivotable wafer-holding head drive within the frame and having a distal end portion movable to a vertical first position parallel and juxtaposed to the belt transverse portion. The head drive includes a wafer carrier for holding a wafer on the distal end portion of the head drive, while a drive moves the distal end portion and a held wafer into a vertical polishing position abutting the belt transverse portion and pressure is applied to the held-wafer against the polishing pad assembly while the wafer-holding distal end portion is rotated and swept side-by-side. After polishing the drive is reversed and the head drive is pivoted away from the belt transverse portion to a horizontal or other orientation and the then polished wafer removed.

Abstract: A shuttle system for transferring a semiconductor wafer from a receiving station to a horizontal-oriented head drive of a wafer polishing machine includes a linear horizontal rail extending from a first position to a second position; a wafer transfer assembly adjacent to the first position; a wafer conveying assembly movable along the rail from adjacent the first position to adjacent the second position; and wherein the wafer conveying assembly includes a vertically movable and radially movable gripper for gripping peripheral edges of a wafer to be transferred and conveyed from the transfer assembly to the head drive. The transfer assembly includes a transfer receiver for receiving an unpolished wafer from a cassette which receiver is movable to the second position where the gripper is movable to edge-grip the received unpolished wafer. The gripper includes a series of radially movable segments having edge-contacting fingers depending therefrom for gripping the wafer edges.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for baking and cooling silicon substrates are disclosed. Both baking and cooling of silicon substrates are done in a single integrated thermal process module. Each thermal process module includes two hot plate assemblies, a cool plate assembly, two local linear transfer arms and a micro-processor based module controller. Both transfer arms are capable of transferring substrates among the cool and hot plate assemblies. The module controller ensures that there are no conflicts in use of the transfer arms or in use of the hot and cool plate assemblies and so that a transfer arm is always available when a substrate is finished baking. A central substrate handling robot transports substrates only from and to the cool plate assembly of the thermal process module. Also, the vacuum tubing is routed via a unique pulley arrangement to achieve compact mounting and eliminate loose tubing.

Abstract: A substrate photolithography system includes a substrate handling robot which pivots about a fixed point and transfers substrates between photoresist coater, a developer, and a heating/cooling unit, all of which are clustered about the robot. The end effector of the robot is capable of both vertical and lateral movement so that individual modules of the heating/cooling unit may be stacked. An apparatus and a method for baking and cooling silicon substrates are disclosed. Both baking and cooling of silicon substrates are done in a single integrated thermal process module. Each thermal process module includes two hot plate assemblies, a cool plate assembly, two local linear transfer arms and a micro-processor based module controller. Both transfer arms are capable of transferring substrates among the cool and hot plate assemblies. A cassette input/output unit handles cassettes which contain semiconductor wafers or other substrates that are to be delivered to or withdrawn from a semiconductor processing system.

Abstract: In a photolithography system, baking and cooling of semiconductor substrates is done in a thermal process module that uses a unique mechanism including pulleys to route vacuum tubing to a transfer arm. Specifically, the mechanism includes a pair of pulleys and a vacuum tube wrapped around the pulleys. The vacuum tube has a movable portion connected to the transfer arm which is reciprocable between the pair of pulleys. The vacuum tube also has a stationary portion that is connected to the movable portion to form an endless loop. The stationary portion of the vacuum tube is rigidly connected to a vacuum supply line in the housing of the thermal process module.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mixture-compressing internal-combustion engine with secondary-air injection and with air-mass measurement as well as with an injection valve sequential fuel injection and air assistance, the air line provided for air assistance being equipped with a shut-off valve opening in the starting and the warmup phase of the internal-combustion engine.