Abstract: The subject invention pertains to systems and methods for controlling an end-effector moving in three-dimensional space within long piles or shafts. Systems can include a fixed base platform, a cable-driven working platform, a cable-driven end-effector, a sensing system including draw wire sensors, gyroscopes, sonar sensors, and lidar, a control system in communication with the sensing system, and actuators for cables. The end-effector can be configurable to become a cable-driven parallel end-effector, a serially linked arm, a flexible end-effector or an air-lifting end-tool in cases of cleaning founding layers in bored pile shafts. The control system can be configurable to regulate the lengths of cables through actuators and modulate the positions and orientations of the working platform and the end-effector.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a test apparatus and a jumper thereof. The test apparatus includes a base board and the jumper. The base board has a first slot and a second slot. The first slot has a plurality of electrical contacts, and is configured to receive a plurality of pins of a device under test. The jumper is inserted into the second slot. The jumper includes a body and a plurality of first circuits. The first circuits are disposed on the body and electrically connect the electrical contacts of the first slot to a plurality of pins of a tester.

Abstract: Peptide sequencing is important in decoding data stored in a data-encoded peptide. Tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) is particularly useful for peptide sequencing. In a computer-implemented method for sequencing the data-encoded peptide from an experimental spectrum, raw data of the experimental spectrum are first preprocessed to remove uninterpretable peaks to yield preprocessed data. A first set of one or more candidate sequences contending for a peptide sequence of the peptide is identified from a spectrum graph. The spectrum graph is formed according to the preprocessed data rather than the raw data for generating a fewer number of candidate sequences to thereby reduce a time cost in sequencing. The first candidate-sequence set is then processed to estimate the peptide sequence to thereby obtain a set of peptide-sequence estimate(s). Each estimate is verified whether it is invalid. The set of peptide-sequence estimate(s) is purged to remove any invalid estimate.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a green method for producing and exploiting multiple nano-carbon polymorphs from coal commonly known as anthracite, meta-anthracite, and semi-graphite. The method disrupts the prevalent environmentally unfriendly practices of burning coal with poor profitability and sustainability because the method yields an unexpectedly rich mixture of high-performance nano-materials, comprising carbon nano-fibers, carbon nano-tubes, carbon nano-onions, nano-graphite-plates, and nano-graphene-disks, by simply mechanically-comminuting coal to nano-size, with minimal sorting efforts. The resulting total-yield of nano-carbon polymorphs is over 50% by weight from properly selected coal. Innovative means are added to the prevalent comminution and sorting practices to further reduce energy and chemical consumption. More importantly, the method also refines the comminution and sorting details for producing the best custom-made formulations.

Abstract: An amplifier system includes an amplifier transistor and a reference transistor used to provide a direct current (DC) bias voltage to bias a gate terminal of the amplifier transistor. The amplifier transistor may have a drain terminal coupled to a drain voltage supply and a radio frequency (RF) output node and a gate terminal coupled to bias circuitry that includes the reference transistor. The reference transistor may have a gate terminal coupled to a reference potential, a drain terminal coupled to the drain voltage supply, and a source terminal coupled to a constant current source and to the gate terminal of the amplifier transistor. The reference transistor may be formed on the same die as the amplifier transistor and may have a threshold voltage that is correlated with that of the amplifier transistor.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a test apparatus and a jumper thereof. The test apparatus includes a base board and the jumper. The base board has a first slot and a second slot. The first slot has a plurality of electrical contacts, and is configured to receive a plurality of pins of a device under test. The jumper is inserted into the second slot. The jumper includes a body and a plurality of first circuits. The first circuits are disposed on the body and electrically connect the electrical contacts of the first slot to a plurality of pins of a tester.

Abstract: Methods and systems for storing digital data into peptide sequences and retrieving digital data from peptide sequences are disclosed. The method for storing digital data into peptide sequences may include: encoding the digital data into a digital code; translating the digital code into the peptide sequences; and synthesizing the translated peptide sequences. The method for retrieving digital data from peptide sequences may include: sequencing and determining an order of the peptide sequences; converting the peptide sequences with the determined order into a digital code; and decoding the digital data from the digital code. Codes with error-correction capability are developed for encoding digital data into peptide sequences, and a computational method implemented in a software is developed for sequencing the digital data bearing peptides.

Abstract: A probing apparatus includes a chuck supporting a DUT, and a platform with an opening above the chuck. The probing apparatus further includes first and second rails positioned at first and second sides of the platform, respectively. The probing apparatus further includes a probing device, the probing device includes a probing module slidably along the first and second rails, and a first motor system configured to automatically align a probe card with the DUT. The probing module includes a third rail with two ends slidably attached to the first and second rails, respectively, a probing stage slidably attached to the third rail, and the probe card attached to the probing stage. The first motor system includes a first motor configured to control movement of the probing stage along the third rail, and a second motor configured to control movement of the probing module along the first and second rails.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a green method for producing and exploiting multiple nano-carbon polymorphs from coal commonly known as anthracite, meta-anthracite, and semi-graphite. The method disrupts the prevalent environmentally unfriendly practices of burning coal with poor profitability and sustainability because the method yields an unexpectedly rich mixture of high-performance nano-materials, comprising carbon nano-fibers, carbon nano-tubes, carbon nano-onions, nano-graphite-plates, and nano-graphene-disks, by simply mechanically-comminuting coal to nano-size, with minimal sorting efforts. The resulting total-yield of nano-carbon polymorphs is over 50% by weight from properly selected coal. Innovative means are added to the prevalent comminution and sorting practices to further reduce energy and chemical consumption. More importantly, the method also refines the comminution and sorting details for producing the best custom-made formulations.

Abstract: A microscope having three-dimensional imaging capability and a three-dimensional microscopic imaging method are provided, the microscope including: at least one excitation device configured to generate a detectable contrast in a detection target region of a sample which is to be detected, in an excitation principal axis direction; at least one detection device, configured to detect the contrast as generated from the detection target region of the sample in a detection principal axis; and at least one movement mechanism, configured to generate a relative movement of the sample relative to the excitation device and the detection device; the relative movement is in a direction neither parallel to nor perpendicular to the excitation principal axis direction or the detection principal axis direction.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and a device are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for operating a bias controller for an amplifier circuit involves obtaining temperature data corresponding to a temperature of the amplifier circuit, generating a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) bias voltage based on a first PTAT slope when the temperature is within a first range of temperatures or a second PTAT slope when the temperature is within a second range of temperatures, wherein the second PTAT slope is greater than the first PTAT slope, and biasing the amplifier circuit based on the generated PTAT bias voltage.

Abstract: A robotic constructing system based on a cable-driven robot for constructing a structure formed by objects such as bricks is provided. The process of laying the bricks is performed by the cable-driven robot autonomously. The bricks are provided to the robotic constructing system by an external conveyor and a robot arm of the robotic constructing system is configured to pick up the bricks. The robot arm is then configured to place the bricks in a position to receive an adhesive from an adhesive dispenser of the robotic constructing system and further to load the bricks onto a linear rail. The linear rail can be configured to place the bricks within the proximity of the cable-driven robot. The cable-driven robot can be configured to pick up the bricks and lay the bricks in the designated position of a three-dimensional space.

Abstract: A method of operating a probing apparatus is disclosed. The method includes providing a chuck configured to support a DUT, a probe card disposed above the DUT and having a probe, and an inspection module configured to determine positions of the DUT and the probe. The method further includes determining a first position of a DUT by an inspection module; moving a probe card to align a first position of a probe with the first position of the DUT; moving a chuck toward the probe; adjusting a temperature of the probe to a predetermined temperature by a temperature-controlling device; determining a second position of the probe by the inspection module after the adjustment of the temperature of the probe; moving the probe card to align the probe with the position of the DUT based on the determination of the second position of the probe; and probing the DUT.

Abstract: A robot system for maintenance of a building façade with an irregular façade surface is provided. The robot system includes a platform cooperating with a least four pairs of cables for positioning the platform at a distance from a building façade. At least one robot arm is situated on the platform, and includes an adaptor positioned at a distal end thereof for holding and manipulating a building façade maintenance tool. An actuator drives the cables to move the platform to any arbitrary position along the building façade. A controller cooperates with the actuator to instruct the actuator to drive the cables and to control movement of the robot arm, such that driving the actuator and movement of the robot arm is coordinated by the controller; any position deviations in the platform are compensated for by positioning or movement of the robot arm.

Abstract: A method of operating a probing apparatus is disclosed. The method includes providing a chuck configured to support a DUT, a probe card disposed above the DUT and having a probe, and an inspection module configured to determine positions of the DUT and the probe. The method further includes determining a first position of a DUT by an inspection module; moving a probe card to align a first position of a probe with the first position of the DUT; moving a chuck toward the probe; adjusting a temperature of the probe to a predetermined temperature by a temperature-controlling device; determining a second position of the probe by the inspection module after the adjustment of the temperature of the probe; moving the probe card to align the probe with the position of the DUT based on the determination of the second position of the probe; and probing the DUT.

Abstract: A probing apparatus includes a chuck supporting a DUT, and a platform with an opening above the chuck. The probing apparatus further includes first and second rails positioned at first and second sides of the platform, respectively. The probing apparatus further includes a probing device, the probing device includes a probing module slidably along the first and second rails, and a first motor system configured to automatically align a probe card with the DUT. The probing module includes a third rail with two ends slidably attached to the first and second rails, respectively, a probing stage slidably attached to the third rail, and the probe card attached to the probing stage. The first motor system includes a first motor configured to control movement of the probing stage along the third rail, and a second motor configured to control movement of the probing module along the first and second rails.

Abstract: Embodiments of a method and a device are disclosed. In an embodiment, a method for operating a bias controller for an amplifier circuit involves obtaining temperature data corresponding to a temperature of the amplifier circuit, generating a proportional to absolute temperature (PTAT) bias voltage based on a first PTAT slope when the temperature is within a first range of temperatures or a second PTAT slope when the temperature is within a second range of temperatures, wherein the second PTAT slope is greater than the first PTAT slope, and biasing the amplifier circuit based on the generated PTAT bias voltage.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a junction temperature of a device under test, including applying a reverse bias to a reference diode adjacent to the device under test, obtaining a calibration current of the reference diode under the reverse bias, deriving the junction temperature of the device under test according to the reference diode, and adjusting an environment temperature when the junction temperature of the device under test is deviated from a predetermined value by a predetermined temperature range.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a method for controlling a junction temperature of a device under test, including applying a reverse bias to a reference diode adjacent to the device under test, obtaining a calibration current of the reference diode under the reverse bias, deriving the junction temperature of the device under test according to the reference diode, and adjusting an environment temperature when the junction temperature of the device under test is deviated from a predetermined value by a predetermined temperature range.

Abstract: A robotic constructing system based on a cable-driven robot for constructing a structure formed by objects such as bricks is provided. The process of laying the bricks is performed by the cable-driven robot autonomously. The bricks are provided to the robotic constructing system by an external conveyor and a robot arm of the robotic constructing system is configured to pick up the bricks. The robot arm is then configured to place the bricks in a position to receive an adhesive from an adhesive dispenser of the robotic constructing system and further to load the bricks onto a linear rail. The linear rail can be configured to place the bricks within the proximity of the cable-driven robot. The cable-driven robot can be configured to pick up the bricks and lay the bricks in the designated position of a three-dimensional space.