Abstract: A means to accurately measure the pressure distribution across a rigid or semi-rigid surface, or between two rigid or semi-rigid surfaces with high special resolution is disclosed. The present invention relates to measuring a pressure distribution. The present invention would be ideal for use in various types of manufacturing tooling and various in situ industrial machine controls. The present invention uses an array of commercial micro-machined silicon pressure sensing die attached to a substrate and encapsulated in an elastomer.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to microtiter plate format devices and methods for separating molecules having different net charges. The devices and methods of the invention are particularly suited for use in high-throughput screening to monitor enzymatic reactions which result in a product having an altered net charge. For example, the systems and methods disclosed herein may be used to detect the activity of phosphatases, proteases and kinases on various peptidic substrates under various conditions.

Abstract: A biologic can be immobilized in a transparent polyurethane-hydrogel composition. Such a polyurethane-hydrogel composition can be prepared from forming a polyurethane-hydrogel mixture and immobilizing a biologic in the mixture. The mixture can be formed by admixing a prepolymer and a water-soluble crosslinker in aqueous solvent and in the substantial absence of organic solvent. A suitable prepolymer generally includes at least one water-soluble polyol and at least one isocyanate and can be added to the mixture in an amount of no greater than about 5 weight percent based on total weight of all components. A suitable crosslinker generally has a crosslinker functionality of at least 2. A biologic includes cells, peptides, nucleics, peptide nucleic acids, saccharides, lipopolysaccharides, glycolipids, and combinations of these. A polyurethane-hydrogel composition having an immobilized biologic can be particularly useful for biomedical applications.

Abstract: A moving coil linear motor positioning stage with a concentric aperture is disclosed. The present invention relates to positioning an element or device such as an optic or lens. The apparatus is ideal for moving an optic coaxial with a light beam. The present invention uses a voice coil motor with a cylindrical moving coil and a cylindrical permanent magnet assembly with a radial gap. The moving coil and magnet assemblies have clear apertures concentric with the apparatus and the axis of motion. A pair of planar flexures guides the moving coil. A position-sensing device is used to sense the position of the moving coil to enable fine position control.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments relate to a water discharge device in indoor and/or outdoor environments. The discharge unit preferably comprises a pop-up water discharge device inside a natural item enclosure. In some preferred embodiments, the discharge unit is configured in the shape of a natural object, such as an animal native to the locality (e.g., frog, turtle, rabbit, etc.), a non-native animal (e.g., a dolphin, whale, seal, bear, etc.), a natural or unnatural object or the like. Preferably, the discharge device is a rotary discharge device. In preferred embodiments the pop-up water discharge device discharges water in various manners (e.g. misting, sprinkling, and/or the like).

Abstract: A moving coil linear motor positioning stage with a concentric aperture is disclosed. The present invention relates to positioning an element or device such as an optic or lens. The apparatus is ideal for moving an optic coaxial with a light beam. The present invention uses a voice coil motor with a cylindrical moving coil and a cylindrical permanent magnet assembly with a radial gap. The moving coil and magnet assemblies have clear apertures concentric with the apparatus and the axis of motion. A pair of planar flexures guides the moving coil. A position-sensing device is used to sense the position of the moving coil to enable fine position control.

Abstract: A means to accurately measure the pressure distribution across a rigid or semi-rigid surface, or between two rigid or semi-rigid surfaces with high special resolution is disclosed. The present invention relates to measuring a pressure distribution. The present invention would be ideal for use in various types of manufacturing tooling and various in situ industrial machine controls. The present invention uses an array of commercial micro-machined silicon pressure sensing die attached to a substrate and encapsulated in an elastomer.

Abstract: A means for an servo controller to use predetermined and stored parameters of the servo components to perform tuning of the servo system is disclosed. The present invention relates to tuning, compensating, returning or recompensating a servo system given the pertinent parameters of the servo components such as the motor, the load and the feedback sensor. The method is ideal for galvanometers and servo motors when the implementation includes incorporation of a memory device into the motor to store the motor constants.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments relate to a system for replenishing water (e.g., due to evaporation, leakage, etc.) in a body of water (e.g., a pool, pond, etc.) via a discharge unit displaced from the body of water. The discharge unit is preferably laterally displaced. Preferably, a timer mechanism is provided to adjust the amount of water discharged into the body of water. In preferred embodiments, the discharge unit is configured in the shape of a natural object, such as a animal native to the locality (e.g., frog, turtle, rabbit, etc.), a non-native animal (e.g., a dolphin, whale, seal, bear, etc.), a natural or unnatural object or the like.

Abstract: A means for compensating a vector command to one or more galvanometers, or other beam steering device, with pointing error information about the laser source is disclosed. The apparatus is to be used in galvanometer based vector writing or raster scanning system. The present invention measures the laser beam lateral and angular pointing errors, and or any target position error information, and modifies the vector command sent to the galvanometer head with the pointing error information in order to eliminate the laser pointing error from the resultant projected laser vector. The incoming laser beam is sampled to extract two dimensions of lateral error and two dimensions of angular error. The lateral error information from the incident beam or the target is directly added to the vector. The angular information must be multiplied by the optical path length from the error measurement point to the target to derive the effective lateral displacement due to the angular error.

Abstract: An acceleration limiting electronic filter for a position motion control system is disclosed. The filter is used in conjunction with a position control system to precisely control the position of a device. The present invention limits the acceleration content of a position command signal to some value less than what the control system can execute so that the control system does not clip the acceleration and degrade control.

Abstract: The preferred embodiments relate to a system for replenishing water (e.g., due to evaporation, leakage, etc.) in a body of water (e.g., a pool, pond, etc.) via a discharge unit displaced from the body of water. The discharge unit is preferably laterally displaced. Preferably, a timer mechanism is provided to adjust the amount of water discharged into the body of water. In preferred embodiments, the discharge unit is configured in the shape of a natural object, such as a animal native to the locality (e.g., frog, turtle, rabbit, etc.), a non-native animal (e.g., a dolphin, whale, seal, bear, etc.), a natural or unnatural object or the like.

Abstract: This invention provides an apparatus and method for desalting a low volume solution for use in connection with an electronically addressable microarray. The apparatus comprises a tubular molecular weight cut-off membrane embedded within a ion exchange resin filled chamber. The apparatus provides a very high surface to volume ratio of membrane pore surface to exchange resin capacity for absorbing charged molecules. The design facilitates the speedy removal of charged molecules from test solutions with the resultant desalted solution having a very low ionic strength suitable for use in the electronic transport of nucleic acids, proteins, and cells.

Abstract: A system and method for reproducing isolated images over an entire substrate, by creating multiple adjacent scanned strips of whole images using a unity magnification scanning photolithographic system.

Abstract: A connector is provided between a bow end and a cable system that moves the bow across the opening of a container or truck box. One end of the connector is adapted to mate with the end of the bow. The other end of the connector has a bore through which the cable passes. A first open slot in the connector communicates with the bore and is oriented transversely of the bore. A second open slot extending through a first side of the connector communicates with both the bore and the first open slot and opens in a first direction relative to the connector. A third open slot extending through a side of the connector opposite the first side communicates with both the bore and the first open slot and opens in a second direction relative to the first direction. The connector may be conveniently attached to the cable by passing the cable through the first slot into transverse alignment with the bore to the point where it is parallel to the transverse slots.

Abstract: A mechanism for assisting the rolling or unrolling of a tarp on a roll bar over the top opening of a trailer, container or similar structure. The mechanism includes an elongated, C-shaped housing, pulleys mounted at opposite ends of the housing, an elastic cord that is secured to the housing and passes about the pulleys, and a strap attached to the opposite, free end of the elastic cord for engaging an end of the roll bar. The housing, pulleys and cord are arranged so that the cord is extended when the tarp is in the open position, urging the active end of the crank to the closed position during the rolling step. The elastic cord pulls against movement at the active end of the roll bar when the bar is unrolled from the closed position to the open position.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting and compensating for focus errors in a photolithography tool which holds a reticle and a substrate substantially parallel is described. The apparatus includes at least one proximity gauge for determining a first distance between the reticle and the substrate, thereby determining if a focus error condition exists. The apparatus also includes an actuator for adjusting the position of the reticle with respect to the substrate, thereby compensating for the focus error condition. According to another embodiment, a lens system actuator is employed for adjusting a lens system parameter, thereby compensating for the focus error condition detected by the at least one proximity gauge.

Abstract: A system and method for transferring a reticle (201) pattern to a substrate image (203) by scanning. The reticle is placed between an illumination system (118) and the projection lens (117). The substrate is located below the projection lens. A loading system, wafer adjustment system, and focusing system are also disclosed.

Abstract: A shelf stable, intermediate moisture, food bar having a soft and chewy texture with good taste is disclosed. Lowered sugar content and good texture and taste characteristics are maintained through the use of a combination of at least two polyhydric alcohols in varying ratios, one of which comprises a sugar alcohol and the other either glycerol or propylene glycol. In preferred embodiments the two polyhydric alcohols are glycerol and sorbitol employed in a ratio of glycerol to sorbitol in the range 1:1 to 5:1. Despite a low total sugar content the water activity may be maintained in the 0.2-0.55 range through the use of such polyhydric alcohols while achieving a soft texture.