Abstract: An electrohydraulic controller feedback system and method including an electrohydraulic operator controller and a feedback mechanism is disclosed. An operator controls a machine hydraulic function using the electrohydraulic operator controller, the feedback system senses a property of the hydraulic function, and generates tactile feedback in the electrohydraulic operator controller based on the sensed property. The electrohydraulic operator controller can be, for example, a joystick or control lever. The tactile feedback can be vibrations that vary based on the sensed property. The vibration can vary according to a profile relating the vibration amount to the sensed property. The profile can include portions of various shapes, for example, linear, exponential or parabolic, and can include breakpoints. The profile can include high sensitivity regions where small changes in the sensed property result in large vibration changes.

Abstract: An electrohydraulic controller feedback system and method including an electrohydraulic operator controller and a feedback mechanism is disclosed. An operator controls a machine hydraulic function using the electrohydraulic operator controller, the feedback system senses a property of the hydraulic function, and generates tactile feedback in the electrohydraulic operator controller based on the sensed property. The electrohydraulic operator controller can be, for example, a joystick or control lever. The tactile feedback can be vibrations that vary based on the sensed property. The vibration can vary according to a profile relating the vibration amount to the sensed property. The profile can include portions of various shapes, for example, linear, exponential or parabolic, and can include breakpoints. The profile can include high sensitivity regions where small changes in the sensed property result in large vibration changes.

Abstract: A method of cooling light emitting diode (LED) lighting systems and associated structures are disclosed and claimed herein. The method involves determining the areas of a printed circuit board (PCB) onto which LEDs will be mounted will have the highest temperature during operation and positioning thermal vias of a certain size in or adjacent that area. The thermal vias extend from the PCB first side through the PCB substrate to the PCB second side to allow fluid flow through the PCB. The thermal vias are coated with a plating so that thermal energy is conductively transferred from the area adjacent an LED or resistor to the thermal via. From the thermal via the thermal energy may be dissipated to the atmosphere adjacent the thermal via through various modes. Novel structures according to the present invention include LED circuits, light fixtures, PCBs, and various combinations thereof employing the thermal vias.

Abstract: A balanced, closed cycle silicon refinery system has been developed for producing electronic grade silicon from industrial grade silicon. Impurities comprising approximately 1% of the industrial grade silicon are removed in the refinery system to produce the purified silicon, while only a relatively small percentage of make-up chemicals are added to the system. In the refinery, hydrogen chloride is reacted with the impure silicon in a halide reactor to provide trichlorosilane and silicon tetrachloride and hydrogen. The trichlorosilane and/or silicon tetrachloride are passed through purification means, and then reacted with the hydrogen from the halide reactor in a fluidized bed reactor to produce the purified silicon and an effluent comprised of unreacted trichlorosilane, silicon tetrachloride, hydrogen, and the by-product hydrogen chloride.

Abstract: A balanced closed cycle silicon refinery has been developed for producing electronic silicon from industrial grade silicon. Impurities comprising approximately 1% of the industrial grade silicon are removed during the refinery process to produce the purified silicon, while only a relatively small percentage of make-up chemicals are added to the system. In the refinery, hydrogen chloride is reacted with the impure silicon in a halide reactor to provide trichlorosilane and silicon tetrachloride and hydrogen. The trichlorosilane and/or silicon tetrachloride are purified to remove the impurities, and then reacted with the hydrogen from the halide reactor in a fluidized bed reactor to produce the purified silicon and an effluent comprised of unreacted trichlorosilane, silicon tetrachloride, hydrogen, and the by-product hydrogen chloride.