Abstract: Disclosed are processes for the production of fluorinated olefins, preferably adapted to commercialization of CF3CF?CH2 (1234yf). Three steps may be used in preferred embodiments in which a feedstock such as CCl2?CClCH2Cl (which may be purchased or synthesized from 1,2,3-trichloropropane) is fluorinated (preferably with HF in gas-phase in the presence of a catalyst) to synthesize a compound such as CF3CCl?CH2, preferably in a 80-96% selectivity. The CF3CCl?CH2 is preferably converted to CF3CFClCH3 (244-isomer) using a SbCl5 as the catalyst which is then transformed selectively to 1234yf, preferably in a gas-phase catalytic reaction using activated carbon as the catalyst. For the first step, a mixture of Cr2O3 and FeCl3/C is preferably used as the catalyst to achieve high selectivity to CF3CCl?CH2 (96%). In the second step, SbCl5/C is preferably used as the selective catalyst for transforming 1233xf to 244-isomer, CF3CFClCH3.

Abstract: A vending machine includes a rotary dispensing mechanism and a rotary arm mechanism. A control circuit inside the vending machine drives a rotary base of the rotary dispensing mechanism by a stepper motor device, so that an accommodating space of the rotary base is rotated to above an outlet of a fixed frame to discharge a vending item. At this point, a stepper motor device of the rotary arm mechanism is actuated by the control circuit inside the vending machine, and drives a rotary arm to hook out and convey the vending item discharged by the rotary dispensing mechanism. Meanwhile, a transition module at one side of the rotary arm mechanism covers a gap between an adjacent mechanism and a drawing plate, so that the item hooked out can be conveyed stably onto the drawing plate.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for automatically controlling and stabilizing aspects of a scanning probe microscope (SPM), such as an atomic force microscope (AFM), using Peak Force Tapping (PFT) Mode. In an embodiment, a controller automatically controls periodic motion of a probe relative to a sample in response to a substantially instantaneous force determined, and automatically controls a gain in a feedback loop. A gain control circuit automatically tunes a gain based on separation distances between a probe and a sample to facilitate stability. Accordingly, instability onset is quickly and accurately determined during scanning, thereby eliminating the need of expert user tuning of gains during operation.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for automatically controlling and stabilizing aspects of a scanning probe microscope (SPM), such as an atomic force microscope (AFM), using Peak Force Tapping (PFT) Mode. In an embodiment, a controller automatically controls periodic motion of a probe relative to a sample in response to a substantially instantaneous force determined and automatically controls a gain in a feedback loop. A gain control circuit automatically tunes a gain based on separation distances between a probe and a sample to facilitate stability. Accordingly, instability onset is quickly and accurately determined during scanning, thereby eliminating the need of expert user tuning of gains during operation.

Abstract: Provided herein are variably flexible (i.e., variably stiff) metal alloys and methods of making the variably flexible (i.e., variably stiff) metal alloys. A variably flexible (i.e., variably stiff) metal alloy is a metal alloy that has areas of differing flexibility (i.e., stiffness, rigidity or elasticity) along a length of the metal alloy when the metal alloy is subjected to a load in use. Also provided herein are methods of making variably flexible (i.e., variably stiff) metal alloys and products including casting a metal alloy and selectively heat treating portions of the metal alloy to achieve predetermined stiffnesses in those portions.

Abstract: A vending machine includes a rotary dispensing mechanism and a rotary arm mechanism. A control circuit inside the vending machine drives a rotary base of the rotary dispensing mechanism by a stepper motor device, so that an accommodating space of the rotary base is rotated to above an outlet of a fixed frame to discharge a vending item. At this point, a stepper motor device of the rotary arm mechanism is actuated by the control circuit inside the vending machine, and drives a rotary arm to hook out and convey the vending item discharged by the rotary dispensing mechanism. Meanwhile, a transition module at one side of the rotary arm mechanism covers a gap between an adjacent mechanism and a drawing plate, so that the item hooked out can be conveyed stably onto the drawing plate.

Abstract: A noodle vending machine and a control method thereof are disclosed. The noodle bowl is rotated out through the rotary noodle selector and taken through the noodle picking mechanism. Then, it is hooked out and carried to the X-Y axis noodle provide. The noodle bowl is lifted through the X-Y axis noodle provider and simultaneously the soup injection mechanism is lowered. Steam is sent to the soup injection mechanism to thaw the noodle bowl. A warm tank is heated and the hot water is injected into a mixing can and simultaneously the soup base is injected into the mixing can. A mixing motor is started to mix the hot water and the soup base. After being mixed, the soup base is sent to the soup injection mechanism and injected into the noodle bowl. Thus, a noodle bowl with soup using steam cooking is completed.

Abstract: Disclosed are processes for the production of fluorinated olefins, preferably adapted to commercialization of CF3CF?CH2 (1234yf). Three steps may be used in preferred embodiments in which a feedstock such as CCl2?CClCH2Cl (which may be purchased or synthesized from 1,2,3-trichloropropane) is fluorinated (preferably with HF in gas-phase in the presence of a catalyst) to synthesize a compound such as CF3CCl?CH2, preferably in a 80-96% selectivity. The CF3CCl?CH2 is preferably converted to CF3CFClCH3 (244-isomer) using a SbCl5 as the catalyst which is then transformed selectively to 1234yf, preferably in a gas-phase catalytic reaction using activated carbon as the catalyst. For the first step, a mixture of Cr2O3 and FeCl3/C is preferably used as the catalyst to achieve high selectivity to CF3CCl?CH2 (96%). In the second step, SbCl5/C is preferably used as the selective catalyst for transforming 1233xf to 244-isomer, CF3CFClCH3.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for automatically controlling and stabilizing aspects of a scanning probe microscope (SPM), such as an atomic force microscope (AFM), using Peak Force Tapping (PFT) Mode. In an embodiment, a controller automatically controls periodic motion of a probe relative to a sample in response to a substantially instantaneous force determined and automatically controls a gain in a feedback loop. A gain control circuit automatically tunes a gain based on separation distances between a probe and a sample to facilitate stability. Accordingly, instability onset is quickly and accurately determined during scanning, thereby eliminating the need of expert user tuning of gains during operation.

Abstract: Multi-channel receiver circuits implemented with time-multiplexed successive approximation register (SAR) analog-to-digital converter (ADC) circuits and methods for operating such receiver circuits are disclosed. One example receiver circuit generally includes a first multiplexer having a plurality of inputs coupled to a plurality of in-phase (I) receive paths associated with different channels of the receiver circuit, a first SAR ADC circuit having an input coupled to an output of the first multiplexer, a second multiplexer having a plurality of inputs coupled to a plurality of quadrature (Q) receive paths associated with the different channels of the receiver circuit, and a second SAR ADC circuit having an input coupled to an output of the second multiplexer.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for automatically controlling and stabilizing aspects of a scanning probe microscope (SPM), such as an atomic force microscope (AFM), using Peak Force Tapping (PFT) Mode. In an embodiment, a controller automatically controls periodic motion of a probe relative to a sample in response to a substantially instantaneous force determined, and automatically controls a gain in a feedback loop. A gain control circuit automatically tunes a gain based on separation distances between a probe and a sample to facilitate stability. Accordingly, instability onset is quickly and accurately determined during scanning, thereby eliminating the need of expert user tuning of gains during operation.

Abstract: An apparatus and method of collecting topography, mechanical property data and electrical property data with an atomic force microscope (AFM) in either a single pass or a dual pass operation. PFT mode is preferably employed thus allowing the use of a wide range of probes, one benefit of which is to enhance the sensitivity of electrical property measurement.

Abstract: Systems and methods discussed herein provide for fabricating orthopedic implants one or more shape-memory alloys including TiNi and TiNb and shape-setting the alloys to the geometry appropriate for the orthopedic implant. The shape-setting may include tuning the transformation temperature of the one or more alloys, and a single implant may comprise one or more alloys that may differ in composition, shape-setting process, or both.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for automatically controlling and stabilizing aspects of a scanning probe microscope (SPM), such as an atomic force microscope (AFM), using Peak Force Tapping (PFT) Mode. In an embodiment, a controller automatically controls periodic motion of a probe relative to a sample in response to a substantially instantaneous force determined, and automatically controls a gain in a feedback loop. A gain control circuit automatically tunes a gain based on separation distances between a probe and a sample to facilitate stability. Accordingly, instability onset is quickly and accurately determined during scanning, thereby eliminating the need of expert user tuning of gains during operation.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing biocompatible, corrosion resistant, self-adaptive, shape-memory titanium-based alloys by using specific ranges of elements in the alloy. Subsequent to melting, the alloy may undergo heat treating, thermo-mechanically processing, and training. Subsequent to training, the alloy has an ultra-low elastic modulus and exhibits self-adaptive, superelastic behavior.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods, and apparatus for improving angular distribution of light and total light throughput in a display device. A display device can include first and second substrates and an array of display elements positioned between the first and second substrates. A first light blocking layer can be positioned on the first substrate and can define a first plurality of apertures. A second light blocking layer can be positioned on the second substrate and can define a first second of apertures. A plurality of reflective sidewalls can be positioned adjacent to at least one edge of a respective aperture of the first plurality of apertures. The reflective sidewalls can help to improve angular distribution of light and total light throughput of the display device.

Abstract: This disclosure provides devices and methods of reducing stiction during a fluid-filling process. A device can include two substrates with movable MEMS components on at least one of the substrates. The device can include a fluid between the two substrates and surrounding or at least partially surrounding the movable MEMS components, where the fluid can serve as a lubricant for the movable MEMS components. The fluid can be a liquid solution doped with a surface energy modifier, where the surface energy modifier includes a nonpolar functional group R. In some implementations, the nonpolar functional group R can be selected from the group consisting of: alkyl, aryl and naphthenic.

Abstract: A method of operating a metrology instrument includes generating relative motion between a probe and a sample at a scan frequency using an actuator. The method also includes detecting motion of the actuator using a position sensor that exhibits noise in the detected motion, and controlling the position of the actuator using a feedback loop and a feed forward algorithm. In this embodiment, the controlling step attenuates noise in the actuator position compared to noise exhibited by the position sensor in a bandwidth of about seven times the scan frequency. Scan frequencies up to a third of the first scanner resonance frequency or greater than 300 Hz are possible.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing biocompatible, corrosion resistant, self-adaptive, shape-memory titanium-based alloys by using specific ranges of elements in the alloy. Subsequent to melting, the alloy may undergo heat treating, thermo-mechanically processing, and training. Subsequent to training, the alloy has an ultra-low elastic modulus and exhibits self-adaptive, superelastic behavior.

Abstract: Methods and apparatuses are provided for automatically controlling and stabilizing aspects of a scanning probe microscope (SPM), such as an atomic force microscope (AFM), using Peak Force Tapping (PFT) Mode. In an embodiment, a controller automatically controls periodic motion of a probe relative to a sample in response to a substantially instantaneous force determined and automatically controls a gain in a feedback loop. A gain control circuit automatically tunes a gain based on separation distances between a probe and a sample to facilitate stability. Accordingly, instability onset is quickly and accurately determined during scanning, thereby eliminating the need of expert user tuning of gains during operation.