Abstract: The invention relates to a digital image capturing device (10) for capturing a scene. The device comprises a two-dimensional array of light-exposable cells (12) capable of capturing said scene and one or more light-emitting diodes (4) capable of illuminating said scene. A controller (13) of said device is arranged to sequentially expose one or more of said light-exposable cells of said two-dimensional array to capture said scene and to selectively vary the illumination of various parts of said scene by said one or more light-emitting diodes during capturing of said scene in synchronism with the exposure of one or more of said cells.

Abstract: A joint assembly for connecting two ceramic material tubes has a cup-ball interface. One of the tubes has at a first end a cup shaped member, and the other tube has at a first end a ball shaped member adapted to be received in the cup shaped member. The ball shaped member and the cup shaped member define the cup-ball interface. The cup shaped member is provided with a gas feed channel discharging at a first end into an annular groove at the cup-ball interface. At the other end, the cup shaped member is connected to a conduit outside the cup shaped member. The conduit is connected to an inert gas source having a pressure above atmospheric pressure.

Abstract: Joint assembly for connecting two ceramic material tubes. One of the tubes is provided with a cup and the other tube with a ball to be received in said cup. To prevent atmospheric gases entering at the joint of the cup and ball inert gas in introduced at super atmospheric pressure at the innerface between cup and ball.

Abstract: Method for purging a furnace comprising a closable processing tube defining in its interior a closable, processing space, a purging gas being flowed along the outer surface of the processing tube separated from the processing gas flow inside the processing tube, wherein said processing gas flow comprises a gas being reactive with air at elevated temperature and said purging gas comprises an inert gas. A furnace assembly for realizing this method is proposed comprising a controller for controlling force connected in a conduit connected to a source of reactive and inert gas respectively. This controller is realized such that only after placing the closure of the processing chamber in the closing position the valve in the supply conduit for reactive gas can be opened and said closure can only be removed from said closing position after said valve in supply conduits for reactive gas has been closed.

Abstract: Boat comprising a number of vertically extending rods for the accepting therein of shield rings. Each shield ring is provided with a number of projections or other carrying means for accepting a wafer. The ‘thickness’ of the shield rings in the radial direction is not constant according to the invention and is smaller close to one of the rods than in the area between two rods.

Abstract: Method for purging a furnace comprising a closable processing tube defining in its interior a closable, processing space, a purging gas being flowed along the outer surface of the processing tube separated from the processing gas flow inside the processing tube, wherein said processing gas flow comprises a gas being reactive with air at elevated temperature and said purging gas comprises an inert gas. A furnace assembly for realizing this method is proposed comprising a controller for controlling force connected in a conduit connected to a source of reactive and inert gas respectively. This controller is realized such that only after placing the closure of the processing chamber in the closing position the valve in the supply conduit for reactive gas can be opened and said closure can only be removed from said closing position after said valve in supply conduits for reactive gas has been closed.