Abstract: A prosthetic foot includes a base spring, a top spring assembly, a connector assembly, and a heel cushion. The top spring assembly includes first and second spring members, and first and second bond connections. The second spring member extends parallel with and spaced apart from the first spring member. The first bond connection is between distal ends of the first and second spring members, and the second bond connection is between a distal end of the second spring member and a top surface of the base spring. The top spring assembly has a first portion arranged horizontally, and a second portion arranged vertically. The connector is connected to a proximal end of the top spring assembly to connect the prosthetic foot to a lower limb prosthesis. The heel cushion is mounted to the base spring at a location spaced forward of a heel end of the base spring.

Abstract: A processing tool for charged particle processing is described herein. The processing tool has a vacuum chamber, a first support member disposed in an interior of the vacuum chamber, the first support member having a plurality of openings to accept a modular charged particle device through each opening, a second support member disposed in the interior of the vacuum chamber in juxtaposition with the first support member, first and second electrical couplings adjacent to the first and second support members, respectively for connecting to the charged particle devices upon inserting through the respective opening for delivering power and control signals to the modular charged particle devices. Processing systems and methods using such processing tools are also described herein.

Abstract: Charged particle beam apparatus and methods are described herein. A charged particle beam apparatus herein includes a first column portion that has an emitter, a passively connectable power coupling coupled to the emitter, and a mechanical alignment structure coupled to the emitter, and a second column portion connected to the first column portion.

Abstract: A prosthetic foot includes a base spring, a top spring assembly, a connector assembly, and a heel cushion. The top spring assembly includes first and second spring members, and first and second bond connections. The second spring member extends parallel with and spaced apart from the first spring member. The first bond connection is between distal ends of the first and second spring members, and the second bond connection is between a distal end of the second spring member and a top surface of the base spring. The top spring assembly has a first portion arranged horizontally, and a second portion arranged vertically. The connector is connected to a proximal end of the top spring assembly to connect the prosthetic foot to a lower limb prosthesis. The heel cushion is mounted to the base spring at a location spaced forward of a heel end of the base spring.

Abstract: A prosthetic device includes a footshell having a first portion and a second portion. The first portion has a first portion polymer lattice structure and the second portion has a second portion polymer lattice structure. The first portion polymer lattice structure has a first set of mechanical properties and the second portion polymer lattice structure has a second set of mechanical properties different from the first set of mechanical properties. The footshell also includes a sole attached to a bottom of the first portion and the second portion, wherein the sole is formed of a solid material.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a compact vertical oven for reflow of solder bumps for backend processes in semiconductor wafer assembly and packaging. This disclosure describes a vertical oven which uses a plurality of wafers (e.g., an example value is 50-100 wafers) in a batch with controlled injection of the reducing agent (e.g. formic acid), resulting in a process largely free of contamination. This disclosure describes controlled formic acid flow through a vertical system using laminar flow technology in a sub-atmospheric pressure environment, which is not currently available in the industry. The efficacy of the process depends on effective formic acid vapor delivery, integrated temperature control during heating and cooling, and careful design of the vapor flow path with exhaust. Zone-dependent reaction dynamics managed by vapor delivery process, two-steps temperature ramp control, and controlled cooling process and formic acid content ensures the effective reaction without any flux.

Abstract: A solder reflow oven may include a reflow chamber and a plurality of vertically spaced apart wafer-support plates positioned in the reflow chamber. A plurality of semiconductor wafers each including a solder are configured to be disposed in the reflow chamber such that each semiconductor wafer is disposed proximate to, and vertically spaced apart from, a wafer-support plate. Each wafer-support plate may include at least one of liquid-flow channels or resistive heating elements. A control system control the flow of a hot liquid through the channels or activate the heating elements to heat a wafer to a temperature above the solder reflow temperature.

Abstract: A solder reflow oven may include a reflow chamber and a plurality of vertically spaced apart wafer-support plates positioned in the reflow chamber. A plurality of semiconductor wafers each including a solder are configured to be disposed in the reflow chamber such that each semiconductor wafer is disposed proximate to, and vertically spaced apart from, a wafer-support plate. Each wafer-support plate may include at least one of liquid-flow channels or resistive heating elements. A control system control the flow of a hot liquid through the channels or activate the heating elements to heat a wafer to a temperature above the solder reflow temperature.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to a compact vertical oven for reflow of solder bumps for backend processes in semiconductor wafer assembly and packaging. This disclosure describes a vertical oven which uses a plurality of wafers (e.g., an example value is 50-100 wafers) in a batch with controlled injection of the reducing agent (e.g. formic acid), resulting in a process largely free of contamination. This disclosure describes controlled formic acid flow through a vertical system using laminar flow technology in a sub-atmospheric pressure environment, which is not currently available in the industry. The efficacy of the process depends on effective formic acid vapor delivery, integrated temperature control during heating and cooling, and careful design of the vapor flow path with exhaust. Zone-dependent reaction dynamics managed by vapor delivery process, two-steps temperature ramp control, and controlled cooling process and formic acid content ensures the effective reaction without any flux.

Abstract: A prosthetic foot includes a base spring, a top spring assembly, a connector assembly, and a heel cushion. The top spring assembly includes first and second spring members, and first and second bond connections. The second spring member extends parallel with and spaced apart from the first spring member. The first bond connection is between distal ends of the first and second spring members, and the second bond connection is between a distal end of the second spring member and a top surface of the base spring. The top spring assembly has a first portion arranged horizontally, and a second portion arranged vertically. The connector is connected to a proximal end of the top spring assembly to connect the prosthetic foot to a lower limb prosthesis. The heel cushion is mounted to the base spring at a location spaced forward of a heel end of the base spring.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for optimizing a purchase of a desired product on a computer. The method includes receiving product information related to the desired product, a companion product, shelf prices, ring prices, a price threshold, and a rebate amount, and calculating a total shelf price based on shelf prices of the desired and companion products. The method further includes determining whether the total shelf price is greater than or equal to the price threshold, and if so, calculating a total ring price based on the ring prices of the desired and companion products. A result set is provided with the total shelf price and the total ring price. The result set may be ordered based on the total ring price. If a selection of a desired product is received, the result set may include the desired product.

Abstract: A lawn mower includes a cutting device placed underneath a mower deck housing that surrounds the cutting device. The lawn mower further comprises a grass outlet in the mower deck housing. The outlet is leading cut grass via a discharge chute to a bag where the grass is collected. The end of the discharge chute is provided with a door that closes the discharge chute when the bag is removed from the lawn mower. The door is rotatable around an axis parallel to the axial direction of the discharge chute and automatically rotated to not cover the end of the discharge chute when the bag is secured to the lawn mower.

Abstract: The invention provides various apparatus and methods for aerosolizing a powdered medicament. In one exemplary embodiment, an apparatus includes a pressurization cylinder, and a piston which is slidable within the cylinder to pressurize a gas. A handle is coupled to the piston and is movable between an extended position and a home position to pressurize the gas. An aerosolizing mechanism is included and is configured to aerosolize a powdered medicament that is held within a receptacle with pressurized gas from the cylinder. A carriage assembly is included to receive the receptacle and to couple the receptacle to the aerosolizing mechanism. A first and a second interlock are operably engageable with the carriage assembly to prevent coupling of the receptacle with the aerosolization mechanism. The first interlock is released to allow movement of the carriage upon movement of the handle to the extended position.

Abstract: In an embodiment, a method includes authenticating a computing device and a different entity for a session of communication between the computing device and the different entity. The authenticating includes generating a hash of a value selected from the group consisting of an encrypted attribute associated with computing device stored in the computing device and the identification of the session stored in a protected storage within the computing device. The authenticating also includes encrypting a random number based on the hash. The authenticating includes transmitting the encrypted random number to the different entity.

Abstract: In accordance with an embodiment of the present intention, a fluorine residue removing method includes: supplying an oxygen-containing gas and a hydrogen-containing gas into a CVD chamber; producing a plasma of a mixture of the oxygen-containing gas and the-hydrogen containing gas, so that the plasma reacts with the fluorine residue, exothermically generating water; and evacuating from the CVD chamber a product of the reaction between the plasma and the fluorine residue. For the hydrogen-containing gas, NH3 is often used, and for the oxygen-containing gas, N2O, O2, or air is used. Exemplary mixtures of the oxygen-containing and the hydrogen-containing gases include 70 mol % N2O/NH3, 50 mol % N2O/NH3, and 52 mol % O2/NH3. An inert gas, such as He, Ne, Ar, or Kr, can be optionally supplied into the chamber to stabilize the plasma.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a mixing device includes a nozzle that is disposed tangent to a wall of a chamber. Gas flowing from the nozzle rotates in the chamber forming a vortex. Another gas may be flown near a middle portion of the chamber, thereby uniformly mixing the two gases. In another embodiment, an evaporation and mixing device includes a nozzle configured to impart rotation to a gas flowing into a chamber. An injector flows a liquid material near a middle portion of the chamber, thereby mixing the gas and the liquid material. A heater may be employed to help evaporate the liquid material.

Abstract: A RAID-compatible data storage system which allows incremental increases in storage capacity at a cost that is proportional to the increase in capacity. The system does not require changes to the host system. The control and interface functions previously performed by a single (or redundant) central data storage device controller are distributed among a number of modular control units (MCUs). Each MCU is preferably physically coupled to a data storage device to form a basic, low-cost integrated storage node. One of two bus ports interfaces an MCU with the host computer on a host bus, and the other bus port interfaces an MCU with one or more data storage devices coupled to the MCU by a data storage device bus. The serial interface ports provide a means by which each of the MCUs may communicate with each other MCU to facilitate the implementation of a memory array architecture.

Abstract: A RAID-compatible data storage system which allows incremental increases in storage capacity at a cost that is proportional to the increase in capacity. The system does not require changes to the host system. The control and interface functions previously performed by a single (or redundant) central data storage device controller are distributed among a number of modular control units (MCUs). Each MCU is preferably physically coupled to a data storage device to form a basic, low-cost integrated storage node. One of two bus ports interfaces an MCU with the host computer on a host bus, and the other bus port interfaces an MCU with one or more data storage devices coupled to the MCU by a data storage device bus. The serial interface ports provide a means by which each of the MCUs may communicate with each other MCU to facilitate the implementation of a memory array architecture.

Abstract: A RAID-compatible data storage system which allows incremental increases in storage capacity at a cost that is proportional to the increase in capacity. The system does not require changes to the host system. The control and interface functions previously performed by a single (or redundant) central data storage device controller are distributed among a number of modular control units (MCUs). Each MCU is preferably physically coupled to a data storage device to form a basic, low-cost integrated storage node. One of two bus ports interfaces an MCU with the host computer on a host bus, and the other bus port interfaces an MCU with one or more data storage devices coupled to the MCU by a data storage device bus. The serial interface ports provide a means by which each of the MCUs may communicate with each other MCU to facilitate the implementation of a memory array architecture.

Abstract: A releasably attachable manual dispensing aid is operable with a syringe having a syringe body and a syringe plunger that is movable within the syringe body. The dispensing aid includes a dispensing aid body that is releasably attachable to the syringe body. The dispensing aid further includes a dispensing aid plunger that is attachable to the syringe plunger, and has a slide that is slidable within the dispensing aid body. A fine adjustment, bottom stop, Chaney stop, and/or drag brake for the slide are optionally provided. An electronic linear position measuring device has a first portion fixed to the dispensing aid body and a second portion fixed to the dispensing aid plunger. Optionally, the dispensing aid includes a microprocessor that receives as inputs a calibration value for a particular syringe and the position signal, and determines as an output signal the true volume of liquid displaced by the syringe plunger movement.