Abstract: A robotic line kitting system is disclosed. In various embodiments, a signal associated with an unsafe condition is received via a communication interface. In response to the signal, a controlled operation to reduce a speed of movement of a robotic instrumentality is performed prior to a safety stop of the robotic instrumentality being triggered.

Abstract: Data indicating a corresponding safety state information indicating an extent to which that operating zone currently is or is not available to the robotic system to perform tasks using one or more robotic instrumentalities associated with a robotic system is used, for each of a plurality of operating zones, to dynamically schedule and perform tasks associated with a higher level objective. The corresponding safety state information associated with the first operating zone indicating one of a plurality of safety states associated with a presence of a human worker in the first operating zone is received from one or more sensors associated with a first operating zone of the plurality of operating zones. Autonomous behavior of the one or more robotic instrumentalities is altered based on the one of the plurality of safety states associated with the presence of the human worker in the first operating zone indicated by the corresponding safety state information.

Abstract: Systems and methods include an asset tracking platform for tracking, analyzing, and managing facility assets at an operational facility site. The asset tracking platform includes a site operator device in local communication with a field device. The facility assets are assigned to physical asset tags using an assignment procedure that includes scanning the physical asset tag with the field device (e.g., using a radio-frequency identifier (RFID) sensor) to associate an identifier of the physical asset tag with asset data (e.g., location data, an asset identifier, an asset type, etc.). The field device downloads an asset task list using the local communication to represent a list of daily tasks to be completed with the field device. Task execution procedures are performed for the list of daily tasks by scanning the physical asset tag with the field device which starts a timer. Task completion data is synced with the site operator device.

Abstract: A thermal process device for heat treating a product or plurality of products includes a thermal processing chamber having opposed distal ends and at least one controllable heating zone. At least one buffer zone disposed is at each of the distal ends, the buffer zones and at least one heating zone of the thermal processing chamber forming a heating element assembly having an inner and outer surface. At least one layer of insulating material is disposed along the at least one buffer and heating zones of the thermal processing chamber and forming part of the heating element assembly, the at least one layer of insulating material having a controlled efficiency being applied non-uniformly across an axial length of the heating assembly.

Abstract: A thermal process device for heat treating a product or plurality of products includes a thermal processing chamber having opposed distal ends and a plurality of controllable heating zones. At least one buffer zone is disposed at each of the distal ends. The buffer zones and heating zones of the thermal processing chamber form a heating element assembly. The heating assembly has an inner and outer surface and a secondary shell is disposed about the outer surface of the heating element assembly and spaced therefrom to form an inlet flow passage for a flow of a temperature adjusting medium along the heating element assembly.

Abstract: A thermal process device for heat treating a product or plurality of products includes a thermal processing chamber having opposed distal ends and a plurality of controllable heating zones. At least one buffer zone is disposed at each of the distal ends. The buffer zones and heating zones of the thermal processing chamber form a heating element assembly. The heating assembly has an inner and outer surface and a secondary shell is disposed about the outer surface of the heating element assembly and spaced therefrom to form an inlet flow passage for a flow of a temperature adjusting medium along the heating element assembly.

Abstract: A thermal process device for heat treating a product or plurality of products includes a thermal processing chamber having opposed distal ends and at least one controllable heating zone. At least one buffer zone disposed is at each of the distal ends, the buffer zones and at least one heating zone of the thermal processing chamber forming a heating element assembly having an inner and outer surface. At least one layer of insulating material is disposed along the at least one buffer and heating zones of the thermal processing chamber and forming part of the heating element assembly, the at least one layer of insulating material having a controlled efficiency being applied non-uniformly across an axial length of the heating assembly.

Abstract: A circuit is provided that provides for the same power characteristics to an assembly of electrical resistive elements wired in parallel as to the assembly as wired in series. An input power source provides electrical resistive power to a plurality of load elements, wherein the plurality of load elements are connected in parallel to each other. A plurality of power splitters divide the power source into separate and equal power subsources such that there is one power splitter and one power subsource for each load element, wherein the power provided to each of the plurality of load elements is equal to the power of the electrical power source. Redundancy and fault tolerance is provided to the circuitry by permitting remaining load elements to continue to operate should one or more load elements fail.

Abstract: An arrangement of a heating element into divided zones of intermingled groups is provided. The heating element arranged circumferentially about an exterior of a heating zone of a furnace, in combination with a fault tolerant circuit that provides for the same power characteristics to an assembly of electrical resistive elements wired in parallel as to the assembly as wired in series is also provided. Redundancy and fault tolerance is provided to a heating process using the combination because the circuitry permits remaining load elements to continue to operate should one or more load elements fail and the intermingled arrangement maintains a balanced application of heat.

Abstract: Heating element assemblies, heating furnaces incorporating heating element assemblies, methods to form heating element assemblies, methods to form heating furnaces and methods to reduce a magnetic field in a bifilar coil are disclosed. The heating element assembly includes two components, each component formed from heating element wire. The two components are spatially positioned and electrically arranged, relative to each other, so that an electrical current applied to the heating element assembly simultaneously travels through the two components in opposite directions.

Abstract: A circuit is provided that provides for the same power characteristics to an assembly of electrical resistive elements wired in parallel as to the assembly as wired in series. An input power source provides electrical resistive power to a plurality of load elements, wherein the plurality of load elements are connected in parallel to each other. A plurality of power splitters divide the power source into separate and equal power subsources such that there is one power splitter and one power subsource for each load element, wherein the power provided to each of the plurality of load elements is equal to the power of the electrical power source. Redundancy and fault tolerance is provided to the circuitry by permitting remaining load elements to continue to operate should one or more load elements fail.

Abstract: A vertically oriented thermal processor for processing batches of semiconductor wafers held within a processing chamber. The processing chamber is contained within a processing vessel. A furnace liner surrounds the processing vessel in spaced relationship. A flow path for cooling fluid is supplied between the furnace liner and an inner wall of the furnace heater. The flow occurs through end and base segments forming part of the furnace heating enclosure. The end and base segments have interior ports which communicate with a manifold chamber. The manifold chamber is advantageously divided into inner and outer chambers by shields which reflect radiant heat. The inner and outer manifold chambers are connected by manifold connecting passages formed between the shields.