Abstract: Methods for preparing a sample for analysis by a charged particle microscope (for example by providing a lamella) include removing material from a surface of a sample to provide a newly exposed surface and determining a region of interest (ROI) on the newly exposed surface. A plurality of lines is formed on the newly exposed surface and material from a working surface of the sample, different from the newly exposed surface, is removed a plurality of times. The working surface is imaged a plurality of times to at least capture the plurality of lines and an endpoint is determined based on a relative spatial characteristic between two or more lines of the plurality of lines.

Abstract: A decoder for the MIL-STD-1553B bus which operates at a slower clock rate than the 40 MHz industry standard clock rate. This embodiment uses a 10 MHz clock rate. Because the clock rate is slower than the 40 MHz clock rate, the invention will inherently use less power. Additional features of this invention include: flexible resolution timestamp input, error checking and reporting throughout the decode process and 32 bit buffered parallel output of the bus controller and remote terminal communication. In another embodiment the decoder has a plurality of n ancillary clocks which provide partial state timestamps, which are summable to create a system timestamp.

Abstract: In an example, a method includes producing a set of projected sample characterization values associated with each of a plurality of processing axes and identifying a preferred processing axis based on the projected sample characterization values. In another representative example, a method includes extracting a sample specimen, producing a sample image of the sample specimen, identifying a preferred sample tilt angle, and rotating the sample specimen to an orientation corresponding to a preferred sample tilt angle. The method further includes processing the sample specimen to produce a lamella. In another representative example, a system includes a focused ion beam (FIB) system, a sample holder, a stage, and a controller operable to cause the stage to rotate the sample specimen relative to the ion beam axis such that the ion beam approaches the sample specimen along a preferred processing axis.

Abstract: A decoder for the MIL-STD-1553B bus which operates at a slower clock rate than the 40 MHz industry standard clock rate. This embodiment uses a 10 MHz clock rate. Because the clock rate is slower than the 40 MHz clock rate, the invention will inherently use less power. Additional features of this invention include: flexible resolution timestamp input, error checking and reporting throughout the decode process and 32 bit buffered parallel output of the bus controller and remote terminal communication. In another embodiment the decoder has a plurality of n ancillary clocks which provide partial state timestamps, which are summable to create a system timestamp.

Abstract: A connector for connecting a first conduit to a second conduit including a body having a passageway therethrough, a first cavity and a second cavity, a first sealing member, a second sealing member, a first compression, a second compression fitting, a first set of one or more keys and one or more mated key ways for preventing rotation of the first conduit when the first sealing member is compressed, and a second set of one or more keys and one or more mated key ways for preventing rotation of the second conduit when the second sealing member is compressed, wherein each of the first cavity and the second cavity in the body is configured to receive one of the sealing members or a detachable holder configured to receive one of the sealing members.

Abstract: A connector for connecting a first conduit to a second conduit including a body having a passageway therethrough, a first cavity and a second cavity, a first sealing member, a second sealing member, a first compression, a second compression fitting, a first set of one or more keys and one or more mated key ways for preventing rotation of the first conduit when the first sealing member is compressed, and a second set of one or more keys and one or more mated key ways for preventing rotation of the second conduit when the second sealing member is compressed, wherein each of the first cavity and the second cavity in the body is configured to receive one of the sealing members or a detachable holder configured to receive one of the sealing members.

Abstract: An HPLC column holding apparatus used to mount an HPLC column in one of a plurality of positions is disclosed herein. The apparatus comprises a clip-device interface that secures the apparatus to a platform and a clip-column interface that secures the HPLC column to the apparatus.