Abstract: An apparatus for producing light includes a chamber and an ignition source that ionizes a gas within the chamber. The apparatus also includes at least one laser that provides energy to the ionized gas within the chamber to produce a high brightness light. The laser can provide a substantially continuous amount of energy to the ionized gas to generate a substantially continuous high brightness light.

Abstract: A valve system includes a valve and a controller that controls the valve. The valve includes a valve body, and a motor configured to deliver a torque to the valve body to cause the valve body to move between an open position and a closed position. The controller is configured to drive the motor by applying a current to the motor. The controller is configured to measure the torque delivered by the motor to the valve body, compare the calculated torque with a threshold value, and diagnose a need by the valve system for preventive maintenance when the calculated torque is substantially equal to the threshold value. The threshold value represents substantially the maximum amount of torque available from the stepper motor.

Abstract: A master valve and at least one slave valve are connected via a network, wherein upon broadcast of a position setpoint of the master valve the at least one slave valve achieves a corresponding position within a shortened period of time, such network being a dedicated network or high speed shared network with position setpoint priority.

Abstract: A valve system includes a valve and a controller that controls the valve. The valve includes a valve body, and a motor configured to deliver a torque to the valve body to cause the valve body to move between an open position and a closed position. The controller is configured to drive the motor by applying a current to the motor. The controller is configured to measure the torque delivered by the motor to the valve body, compare the calculated torque with a threshold value, and diagnose a need by the valve system for preventive maintenance when the calculated torque is substantially equal to the threshold value. The threshold value represents substantially the maximum amount of torque available from the stepper motor.

Abstract: A pressure control system that controls the pressure of a fluid in a plurality of zones includes a distribution manifold, at least one main manifold connected to the distribution manifold, and at least one disposable manifold connected to the distribution manifold and the main manifold. The disposable manifold is adapted to be replaced independent of the distribution manifold and the main manifold, and is connected to each zone and to at least one vacuum source. The distribution manifold distributes the fluid to the plurality of zones, so as to cause flow of the fluid into and out of a measurement chamber located within each zone. The main manifold includes, for each zone, a pressure sensor configured to measure pressure in the measurement chamber in that zone, and a control valve configured to regulate the flow of the fluid through that zone.

Abstract: A pressure control system includes a digital communication network between a pressure sensor and a pressure controller. The digital communication network is configured to communicate signals between the pressure sensor and the pressure controller. The pressure sensor is configured to measure pressure within a vacuum chamber in a processing tool. The pressure controller is responsive to pressure measurements made by the pressure sensor and communicated to the pressure controller through the digital communication network, to control the pressure within the vacuum chamber so as to maintain the pressure in the vacuum chamber at a pressure set point received from the tool.

Abstract: A pressure control system for controlling pressure of a fluid in a chamber includes a pressure sensor configured to measure the pressure of the fluid in the chamber, and a valve configured to control the pressure of the fluid in the chamber by regulating flow of the fluid from the chamber. The pressure control system further includes a controller. The controller is configured to estimate the volume of the chamber, and to generate a pump speed curve of the valve. The controller is further configured to monitor and modify the pump speed curve so as to maintain a slope of the pump speed curve to at least a minimum value, and to use the modified pump speed curve to adjust the position of the valve in response to pressure measurements by the pressure sensor, so as to maintain the pressure in the chamber at a desired pressure setpoint.

Abstract: A master valve and at least one slave valve are connected via a network, wherein upon broadcast of a position setpoint of the master valve the at least one slave valve achieves a corresponding position within a shortened period of time, such network being a dedicated network or high speed shared network with position setpoint priority.

Abstract: A pressure control system for controlling pressure of a fluid in a chamber includes a pressure sensor configured to measure the pressure of the fluid in the chamber, and a valve configured to control the pressure of the fluid in the chamber by regulating flow of the fluid from the chamber. The pressure control system further includes a controller. The controller is configured to estimate the volume of the chamber, and to generate a pump speed curve of the valve. The controller is further configured to monitor and modify the pump speed curve so as to maintain a slope of the pump speed curve to at least a minimum value, and to use the modified pump speed curve to adjust the position of the valve in response to pressure measurements by the pressure sensor, so as to maintain the pressure in the chamber at a desired pressure setpoint.

Abstract: A pressure control system remotely controls pressure within one or more remote zones, each respectively connected to an enclosure through a conduit, by controlling flow of a fluid into and out of each enclosure. The pressure of the fluid is measured within each enclosure. An estimated pressure within each zone is computed, as a function of the measured pressure in the enclosure and known characteristics of the conduit and the zone. For each zone, an inlet proportional valve and an outlet proportional valve of each enclosure is operated so as to control the input flow rate of the fluid into the respective enclosure and the output flow rate of the fluid out of the enclosure as a function of a pressure set point and the estimated pressure, thereby regulating pressure within the zone in accordance with the pressure set point.

Abstract: A camera system includes a user friendly interface to enable a camera user to enter text data to be printed on a photographic film in a simple and convenient manner. The user interface is also used to display text messages to the user indicating certain camera conditions. More specifically, a camera is provided that includes a display unit, a display control interface for manually selecting text data to be displayed on the display unit and a control unit for controlling the operation of the display unit to display the text data selected by the manual user interface. The display unit preferably includes a text data display section and fixed icon display section.

Abstract: A mechanical device is used for separating oil films from the surface of water or for separating any two immiscible phases where the lighter phase forms a thin film on the top of the heavier phase. Both phases flow into the airlift scavenger outer vessel through a strainer which provides easier access to the lighter or oil phase due to larger orifices being located at the top of the strainer. After flowing into the vessel, both phases flow downwards to an expansion zone where the fluid velocities drop. This allows the large oil slugs to rise to the top of the outer vessel. The water phase, containing medium and small sized oil slugs, flows downwards to a baffle that turns the flow upwards. This causes the medium sized oil slugs to reverse their downward motion and rise to the top of the outer vessel to agglomerate at the top. This oil phase is continuously pumped to a storage vessel for recovery.