Abstract: A thermal switch having an on-state and an off-state is provided. First and second plates are composed from a thermally conductive material. The first and second plates are connected to form an internal cavity having a channel defining a gap between the first and second plate. The first reservoir is coupled to the channel and contains a thermally conductive liquid. The actuator is coupled to the first reservoir and the channel and is moveable between a first state and a second state corresponding to the on-state and the off-state of the thermal switch, respectively. Thermally conductive liquid is allowed to flow from the first reservoir to the channel when the actuator is in the first state and allowed to flow from the channel to the first reservoir when the actuator is in the second state.

Abstract: A system and method for calculating a draft/freeboard for a vessel. The system includes multiple sensor units, wherein each sensor unit includes a housing; a distance sensor to sense a freeboard from various positions in the vessel. The sensor unit includes a coupling member, such as magnets coupled to the housing that allow the sensor units to be mounted to the vessel. The sensor units can connect to a control unit for processing data and presenting the measurements. The system can calculate drafts from the freeboard data, wherein the freeboard data can be determined from different positions of the vessel.

Abstract: A thermal switch having an on-state and an off-state is provided. First and second plates are composed from a thermally conductive material. The first and second plates are connected to form an internal cavity having a channel defining a gap between the first and second plate. The first reservoir is coupled to the channel and contains a thermally conductive liquid. The actuator is coupled to the first reservoir and the channel and is moveable between a first state and a second state corresponding to the on-state and the off-state of the thermal switch, respectively. Thermally conductive liquid is allowed to flow from the first reservoir to the channel when the actuator is in the first state and allowed to flow from the channel to the first reservoir when the actuator is in the second state.

Abstract: A thermal switch having an on-state and an off-state is provided. First and second plates are composed from a thermally conductive material. The first and second plates are connected to form an internal cavity having a channel defining a gap between the first and second plate. The first reservoir is coupled to the channel and contains a thermally conductive liquid. The actuator is coupled to the first reservoir and the channel and is moveable between a first state and a second state corresponding to the on-state and the off-state of the thermal switch, respectively. Thermally conductive liquid is allowed to flow from the first reservoir to the channel when the actuator is in the first state and allowed to flow from the channel to the first reservoir when the actuator is in the second state.

Abstract: A thermal switch having an on-state and an off-state is provided. First and second plates are composed from a thermally conductive material. The first and second plates are connected to form an internal cavity having a channel defining a gap between the first and second plate. The first reservoir is coupled to the channel and contains a thermally conductive liquid. The actuator is coupled to the first reservoir and the channel and is moveable between a first state and a second state corresponding to the on-state and the off-state of the thermal switch, respectively. Thermally conductive liquid is allowed to flow from the first reservoir to the channel when the actuator is in the first state and allowed to flow from the channel to the first reservoir when the actuator is in the second state.

Abstract: A lower electrode assembly configured to support a semiconductor substrate in a plasma processing chamber includes a base plate, an upper plate above the base plate, and a mounting groove surrounding a bond layer located between the base plate and the upper plate. An edge seal including a compressible ring is mounted in the mounting groove such that the compressible ring is axially compressed between the upper plate and the base plate. At least one gas passage is in fluid communication with an annular space between the compressible ring and an inner wall of the mounting groove. The at least gas one passage extends through the base plate and includes a plurality of outlets in fluid communication with the annular space. In some examples, a backing seal may be located between the edge seal and an inner wall of the mounting groove.

Abstract: A thermal switch having an on-state and an off-state is provided. First and second plates are composed from a thermally conductive material. The first and second plates are connected to form an internal cavity having a channel defining a gap between the first and second plate. The first reservoir is coupled to the channel and contains a thermally conductive liquid. The actuator is coupled to the first reservoir and the channel and is moveable between a first state and a second state corresponding to the on-state and the off-state of the thermal switch, respectively. Thermally conductive liquid is allowed to flow from the first reservoir to the channel when the actuator is in the first state and allowed to flow from the channel to the first reservoir when the actuator is in the second state.

Abstract: A thermal switch having an on-state and an off-state is provided. First and second plates are composed from a thermally conductive material. The first and second plates are connected to form an internal cavity having a channel defining a gap between the first and second plate. The first reservoir is coupled to the channel and contains a thermally conductive liquid. The actuator is coupled to the first reservoir and the channel and is moveable between a first state and a second state corresponding to the on-state and the off-state of the thermal switch, respectively. Thermally conductive liquid is allowed to flow from the first reservoir to the channel when the actuator is in the first state and allowed to flow from the channel to the first reservoir when the actuator is in the second state.

Abstract: Substrate temperature control apparatus and electronic device manufacturing systems provide pixelated light-based heating to a substrate in a process chamber. A substrate holder in the process chamber may include a baseplate. The baseplate has a top surface that may have a plurality of cavities and a plurality of grooves connected to the cavities. Optical fibers may be received in the grooves such that each cavity has a respective optical fiber terminating therein to transfer light thereto. Some or all of the cavities may have an epoxy optical diffuser disposed therein to diffuse light provided by the optical fiber. A ceramic plate upon which a substrate may be placed may be bonded to the baseplate. A thermal spreader plate may optionally be provided between the baseplate and the ceramic plate. Methods of controlling temperature across a substrate holder in an electronic device manufacturing system are also provided, as are other aspects.

Abstract: An optical fiber temperature sensor including a lead-in fiber and black body emitter. The lead-in optical fiber includes a fiber end, and the black body emitter is fused on the fiber end, wherein the black body emitter is made up of a melted high emissivity material included integrally in melted silica. Further embodiments include temperature monitoring apparatus with one or more optical fiber temperature sensors, and electronic device processing apparatus including optical fiber temperature monitoring. Numerous other aspects and embodiments are included.

Abstract: A paving machine includes an auger drive system secured with a primary auger shaft, and a primary auger sleeve disposed for selective rotation with the primary auger shaft with engagement of a selectively-actuable primary auger clutch. The paving machine further includes at least a first auger extension that is selectively-engagable with the primary auger shaft with engagement of a first auger extension clutch. In this way, the primary auger sleeve and the first auger extension may be separately actuated for rotation with the auger drive system.

Abstract: A paving machine includes an auger drive system secured with a primary auger shaft, and a primary auger sleeve disposed for selective rotation with the primary auger shaft with engagement of a selectively-actuable primary auger clutch. The paving machine further includes at least a first auger extension that is selectively-engagable with the primary auger shaft with engagement of a first auger extension clutch. In this way, the primary auger sleeve and the first auger extension may be separately actuated for rotation with the auger drive system.

Abstract: A lower electrode assembly useful for supporting a semiconductor substrate in a plasma processing chamber includes a temperature controlled base plate, an upper plate above the base plate, and an annular mounting groove surrounding a bond layer located between the base plate and the upper plate. The mounting groove includes an inner wall, an opening of the mounting groove faces radially outward relative to the inner wall, and the mounting groove includes a step extending downward from the upper plate on an upper wall of the groove or extending upward from the base plate on a lower wall of the groove. An edge seal including a compressible ring is mounted in the groove such that the compressible ring is compressed between the upper plate and the base plate to cause an outer surface of the compressible ring to be biased radially outward relative to the inner wall toward the step.

Abstract: Substrate temperature control apparatus including groove-routed optical fibers. Substrate temperature control apparatus includes upper and lower members including grooves in one or both, and a plurality of optical fibers routed in the grooves. In one embodiment, the optical fibers are adapted to provide light-based pixelated heating. In another embodiment, embedded optical temperature sensors are adapted to provide temperature measurement. Substrate temperature control systems, electronic device processing systems, and methods including groove-routed optical fiber temperature control and measurement are described, as are numerous other aspects.

Abstract: Substrate temperature control apparatus including optical fiber temperature control are described. Substrate temperature control apparatus includes a base, a thermal contact member proximate to the base, and a plurality of optical fibers adapted to provide light-based heating extending laterally between the base and thermal contact member. Substrate temperature control systems and electronic device processing systems and methods including optical fiber temperature control are described, as are numerous other aspects.

Abstract: An optical fiber temperature sensor including a lead-in fiber and black body emitter. The lead-in optical fiber includes a fiber end, and the black body emitter is fused on the fiber end, wherein the black body emitter is made up of a melted high emissivity material included integrally in melted silica. Further embodiments include temperature monitoring apparatus with one or more optical fiber temperature sensors, and electronic device processing apparatus including optical fiber temperature monitoring. Numerous other aspects and embodiments are included.

Abstract: A management application can automatically coordinate the decommissioning of ports in a switch, ensuring that ports are gracefully taken out of service without unnecessary interruption of service and triggering of automatic recovery functionality that may occur during manual decommissioning of ports. Embodiments may provide for decommissioning of F_ports only, E_ports only, or both F_ports and E_ports. Where link aggregation is provided for in the fabric, decommissioning of a port in a link aggregation group may be performed if there are other operational links in the group. Decommissioning of a non-aggregated port (or the last operational port in a link aggregation group) may be performed if there is a redundant path available.

Abstract: A control system that includes deflection sensors which can control clamping forces applied by electrostatic chucks, and related methods are disclosed. By using a sensor to determine a deflection of a workpiece supported by an electrostatic chuck, a control system may use the deflection measured to control a clamping force applied to the workpiece by the electrostatic chuck. The control system applies a clamping voltage to the electrostatic chuck so that the clamping force reaches and maintains a target clamping force. In this manner, the clamping force may secure the workpiece to the electrostatic chuck to enable manufacturing operations to be performed while preventing workpiece damage resulting from unnecessary higher values of the clamping force.

Abstract: Substrate temperature control apparatus including groove-routed optical fibers. Substrate temperature control apparatus includes upper and lower members including grooves in one or both, and a plurality of optical fibers routed in the grooves. In one embodiment, the optical fibers are adapted to provide light-based pixelated heating. In another embodiment, embedded optical temperature sensors are adapted to provide temperature measurement. Substrate temperature control systems, electronic device processing systems, and methods including groove-routed optical fiber temperature control and measurement are described, as are numerous other aspects.

Abstract: Substrate temperature control apparatus and electronic device manufacturing systems provide pixelated light-based heating to a substrate in a process chamber. A substrate holder in the process chamber may include a baseplate. The baseplate has a top surface that may have a plurality of cavities and a plurality of grooves connected to the cavities. Optical fibers may be received in the grooves such that each cavity has a respective optical fiber terminating therein to transfer light thereto. Some or all of the cavities may have an epoxy optical diffuser disposed therein to diffuse light provided by the optical fiber. A ceramic plate upon which a substrate may be placed may be bonded to the baseplate. A thermal spreader plate may optionally be provided between the baseplate and the ceramic plate. Methods of controlling temperature across a substrate holder in an electronic device manufacturing system are also provided, as are other aspects.