Abstract: An actuating assembly of a locking system (200) to operate a displaceable component of a latching system (210), includes: (i) a first member (24) which is connected or connectable to the displaceable component of the latching system (210); (ii) a second member (26), the first and second members (24, 26) being disconnectably connectable to each other, with the first and second members (24, 26) being in an inoperative configuration when they are disconnected from each other such that the second member (26) is displaceable independently of the first member (24), and the first and second members (24, 26) being in an operative configuration when they are connected to each other such that displacement of the second member (26) causes the first member (24) to be displaced; (iii) a first actuating sub-assembly (46) including a first key receiver (230) for receiving a non-mechanical first key in the form of a predetermined electromagnetic signal transmitted via a cellular telecommunications network from the communicat

Abstract: An actuating assembly of a locking system (200) to operate a displaceable component of a latching system (210), includes: (i) a first member (24) which is connected or connectable to the displaceable component of the latching system (210); (ii) a second member (26), the first and second members (24, 26) being disconnectably connectable to each other, with the first and second members (24, 26) being in an inoperative configuration when they are disconnected from each other such that the second member (26) is displaceable independently of the first member (24), and the first and second members (24, 26) being in an operative configuration when they are connected to each other such that displacement of the second member (26) causes the first member (24) to be displaced; (iii) a first actuating sub-assembly (46) including a first key receiver (230) for receiving a non-mechanical first key in the form of a predetermined electromagnetic signal transmitted via a cellular telecommunications network from the communicat

Abstract: The invention provides a plug-and-work sensor interface device named “puck” for fast and easy deployment of various types of serial devices, which include commercial off-the-shelf and custom-made sensors and instruments, in a distributed, dynamic oceanic observing network. In an embodiment, each puck is removably attached and electrically coupled to a specific sensor to be deployed. The puck comprises a non-volatile memory for associating and storing arbitrary binary information about the sensor and a microprocessor for controlling how the information is read from and written into the non-volatile memory. The sensor information may include unique sensor identifier, sensor metadata, sensor device driver, etc. The puck itself does not execute any of the device code; rather, a host retrieves the sensor information from the puck when the puck is plugged in. The retrieval can be done automatically or semi-automatically with user interaction.

Abstract: The invention provides a plug-and-work sensor interface device named “puck” for fast and easy deployment of various types of serial devices, which include commercial off-the-shelf and custom-made sensors and instruments, in a distributed, dynamic oceanic observing network. In an embodiment, each puck is removably attached and electrically coupled to a specific sensor to be deployed. The puck comprises a non-volatile memory for associating and storing arbitrary binary information about the sensor and a microprocessor for controlling how the information is read from and written into the non-volatile memory. The sensor information may include unique sensor identifier, sensor metadata, sensor device driver, etc. The puck itself does not execute any of the device code; rather, a host retrieves the sensor information from the puck when the puck is plugged in. The retrieval can be done automatically or semi-automatically with user interaction.

Abstract: An apparatus for centering and gripping semiconductor wafers. A solenoid is used to actuate two or three curved contacts. Power to the solenoid, and position information from the solenoid is transmitted along a pair of wires. To center the wafer, the solenoid is actuated and the contacts move radially towards the center of the wafer. The contacts grip the edge of the wafer and a pulse-width-modulation signal is used to determine solenoid position as a function of back electromotive force value or waveform. During handling, the contacts hold the wafer such that the wafer does not move relative to the apparatus.