Abstract: A process for recovering product dialkyl succinate, dialkyl maleate or dialkyl succinate and dialkyl maleate from an overhead stream from an esterification reaction column, said overhead stream comprising as a major component alkanol and water and as a minor component the product dialkyl succinate, dialkyl maleate or dialkyl succinate and dialkyl maleate which forms an azeotrope with the water, wherein said process comprises washing the overhead stream with butanol.

Abstract: An example MEMS force sensor is described herein. The MEMS force sensor can include a cap for receiving an applied force and a sensor bonded to the cap. A trench and a cavity can be formed in the sensor. The trench can be formed along at least a portion of a peripheral edge of the sensor. The cavity can define an outer wall and a flexible sensing element, and the outer wall can be arranged between the trench and the cavity. The cavity can be sealed between the cap and the sensor. The sensor can also include a sensor element formed on the flexible sensing element. The sensor element can change an electrical characteristic in response to deflection of the flexible sensing element.

Abstract: A simulator system for use in simulating fabrication or construction comprises a simulation tool with a magnet mounted on a working end, a simulation workpiece comprising a substrate with an alignment location and at least one tool path indicator; and a sensor device with a corresponding alignment location and at least one magnetic sensor. When the sensor device is aligned with the simulation workpiece, the sensor device detects the moving magnetic field of the simulation tool and determines a path travelled by the tool with respect to the sensor device. The system can then determine if the path is consistent with simulation performance data, and can provide feedback accordingly. In this system, the simulation workpiece can be formed of inexpensive printed paper that is bent, curved, or folded into shape.

Abstract: A simulator system for use in simulating fabrication or construction comprises a simulation tool with a magnet mounted on a working end, a simulation workpiece comprising a substrate with an alignment location and at least one tool path indicator; and a sensor device with a corresponding alignment location and at least one magnetic sensor. When the sensor device is aligned with the simulation workpiece, the sensor device detects the moving magnetic field of the simulation tool and determines a path travelled by the tool with respect to the sensor device. The system can then determine if the path is consistent with simulation performance data, and can provide feedback accordingly. In this system, the simulation workpiece can be formed of inexpensive printed paper that is bent, curved, or folded into shape.

Abstract: Described herein are, among other things, handheld controllers having touch-sensitive controls, as well as methods for use of the touch-sensitive controls and methods for assembling the handheld controllers. An example handheld controller may include a top-surface control (e.g., a “trigger button”) that includes a switch, a pressure sensor, and a touch sensor for detecting a presence, location, and/or gesture of a finger on the top-surface control.

Abstract: A hand-held controller includes a controller body having a front and a back, with at least one thumb control on the front of the controller body. A back shell on the back of the controller body has left and right portions, each having top and bottom regions. A first force sensitive resistor (FSR) underlies the top region of the left portion of the back shell. A second FSR underlies the bottom region of the left portion of the back shell. A third FSR underlies the top region of the right portion of the back shell. A fourth FSR underlies the bottom region of the right portion of the back shell.

Abstract: A hand-held controller includes a controller body having a front and a back, with at least one thumb control on the front of the controller body. A back shell on the back of the controller body has left and right portions, each having top and bottom regions. A first force sensitive resistor (FSR) underlies the top region of the left portion of the back shell. A second FSR underlies the bottom region of the left portion of the back shell. A third FSR underlies the top region of the right portion of the back shell. A fourth FSR underlies the bottom region of the right portion of the back shell.

Abstract: A multi-dimensional track pad is described that acts as human-machine interface (HMI). Inputs to the HMI can be made not only using the tradition two-dimensional (X-Y) inputs of a track pad, but also a third dimension, force, and even a fourth dimension, time. Tactile or audible feedback to the inputs can be provided. Methods of using the HMI to control a system are described as well as a track pad system that utilizes the HMI in communication with a processor.

Abstract: Injection apparatus for injecting a liquid formulation into a molten polymer at high pressure includes a reservoir containing liquid formulation at ambient temperature and pressure which is arrange to flood-feed pump body 26 of a first progressing cavity pump (pep) 4. The first pep 4 is driven by motor 6 and is arranged to accurately meter the liquid formulation into a second pep 8 which is downstream of the first pep and is arranged to increase the pressure of the liquid formulation by 200 bar or more. Downstream of pump 8 is a delivery valve 14 arranged to control passage of liquid formulation, via outlet 17, into pressurised molten polymer stream 75 which is present in an extruder 77.

Abstract: An example actuator device for a force sensor is described herein. The device can include a device body, a force concentrator element, an overload protection element, one or more legs, and an attachment layer for attaching the device to a substrate. An example method for assembling a force sensing system is also described herein. Further, an example method for protecting a force sensor from excessive forces or displacement is described herein.

Abstract: A force sensing resistor (FSR) that is constructed with a first substrate made of polyimide disposed underneath a second substrate that is resistive and flexible. A handheld controller for an electronic system may include the FSR having a first substrate made of polyimide. The FSR may be mounted on a planar surface of a structure within the controller body, such as a structure mounted within a handle of the controller body, and/or a structure that is mounted underneath at least one thumb-operated control that is included on a head of the controller body. The FSR may be configured to measure a resistance value that corresponds to an amount of force applied to an outer surface of the handle and/or an amount of force applied to the at least one thumb-operated control.

Abstract: Logic of a handheld controller can implement sensor fusion algorithms based on force data provided by a force sensing resistor (FSR) in combination with touch data or proximity data provided by a touch sensor or an array of proximity sensors, respectively. An example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to re-calibrate the FSR when an object contacts an associated control, as detected by the touch sensor. Another example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to ignore spurious inputs detected by the FSR when an object is in contact with an adjacent control. Another example sensor fusion algorithm can be used to detect a hand size of a hand grasping a handle of the controller, as detected by the array of proximity sensors, and to adjust the threshold force to register a FSR input event at the FSR according to the hand size.

Abstract: A multi-dimensional track pad is described that acts as human-machine interface (HMI). Inputs to the HMI can be made not only using the tradition two-dimensional (X-Y) inputs of a track pad, but also a third dimension, force, and even a fourth dimension, time. Tactile or audible feedback to the inputs can be provided. Methods of using the HMI to control a system are described as well as a track pad system that utilizes the HMI in communication with a processor.

Abstract: Nano technologies are widely recognized as enabling enhanced and new functionality in a wide range of applications and products. Many different ways have been developed to create and apply these nanomaterials. One method for making dry nanocoatings is vapor deposition. There exists a need for a portable machine that can apply nanocoatings to a wide of range of surfaces in a wide range of locations. The present invention comprises such a portable machine that can apply nanocoatings to a wide of range of surfaces in a wide range of locations.

Abstract: A document transformation system automatically transforms documents electronically transferred between senders and recipients, even where documents of a given type from a given sender which are assumed to be identically formatted differ in various aspects, for instance in scaling, alignment, concatenating, resizing, etc. Document transformation instructions selected based on sender, recipient, or both specify transformation instructions which include one or more maps, document layouts, page layouts, sections extraction instructions, allowing extraction of data or information, and generation of documents or information in a format specified by recipient. Headers and footers may be extracted, and a remaining body concatenated. The system continues to searching for additional instructions on failure of previous instructions to successfully extract a previous section, without terminating. Documents may be converted from a large variety of file formats into a common file format.

Abstract: An example force-sensitive electronic device is described herein. The device can include a device body, a touch surface bonded to the device body in a bonded region that is arranged along a peripheral edge of the touch surface, and a plurality of force sensors that are arranged between the device body and the touch surface. Each of the plurality of force sensors can be spaced apart from the bonded region.

Abstract: An example actuator device for a force sensor is described herein. The device can include a device body, a force concentrator element, an overload protection element, one or more legs, and an attachment layer for attaching the device to a substrate. An example method for assembling a force sensing system is also described herein. Further, an example method for protecting a force sensor from excessive forces or displacement is described herein.

Abstract: A process for production of dialkyl succinate from bio-succinic acid feedstock where solid bio-succinic acid is fed to a reactor to react with alkanol by autocatalytic esterification. Products from the reactor including unreacted succinic acid, mono alkyl ester, dialkyl ester, alkanol, water and impurities are sent to a reaction distillation column for esterification of succinic acid and further esterification of mono alkyl ester with upflowing alkanol. The bottoms products from the reaction distillation column including residual succinic acid, mono alkyl ester, dialkyl ester, impurities and alkanol are sent to a bottoms stream separation zone where di-alkyl ester is separated from alkanol, succinic acid, mono alkyl ester and impurities. The tops products from the reaction distillation column including alkanol, water and organic components are sent to a top stream distillation zone where alkanol is separated from water and organic components. The organic components are recycled to the reaction zone column.

Abstract: A document transformation system automatically transforms documents electronically transferred between senders and recipients, even where documents of a given type from a given sender which are assumed to be identically formatted differ in various aspects, for instance in scaling, alignment, concatenating, resizing, etc. Document transformation instructions selected based on sender, recipient, or both specify transformation instructions which include one or more maps, document layouts, page layouts, sections extraction instructions, allowing extraction of data or information, and generation of documents or information in a format specified by recipient. Headers and footers may be extracted, and a remaining body concatenated. The system continues to searching for additional instructions on failure of previous instructions to successfully extract a previous section, without terminating. Documents may be converted from a large variety of file formats into a common file format.

Abstract: A linear compressor comprising a cylinder part including a cylinder bore. A piston disposed in, and is slidable within, the bore. A main spring connects the cylinder part directly or indirectly to the piston. A connecting rod connects between the main spring and the piston. A stator has an air gap, and the connecting rod passes through the air gap. At least one armature pole is located along the connecting rod.