Abstract: A material dispensing device, a material output volume detecting device, and a related damper device for use in an automated beverage preparation apparatus are disclosed. The material output volume detecting device includes: a damper device arranged to operably buffer liquid material flowing therethrough; and a flowmeter arranged to operably measure the flow of liquid material outputted from the damper device. The damper device includes: a damper base having a material entrance hole, a material exit hole, and a material buffer chamber positioned between the material entrance hole and the material exit hole; a diaphragm covered on the material buffer chamber; and a fastening element positioned on the diaphragm and having a hollow portion. When the volume of liquid material within the material buffer chamber exceeds a predetermined amount, the diaphragm deforms to protrude outward, so that a part of the diaphragm enters the hollow portion of the fastening element.

Abstract: A method for evaluating SoH of a battery includes measuring current in a circuit of a control battery to obtain Ia and measuring current in a circuit of an experimental battery to obtain Ib respectively; obtaining voltage Va of the control battery by checking a voltage-DoD table of the control battery based on Ia, and obtaining voltage Vb of the experimental battery by checking a voltage-DoD table of the experimental battery based on Ib respectively; substituting Ia, Ib, Va, Vb and V into a first expression to calculate an estimated current lest where V is an ideal voltage value; and substituting lest and I into a second expression to evaluate the SoH of the battery where I is a real current value.

Abstract: A method for estimating DoD of a battery includes obtaining voltage Va at a first electric charge rate A(Ia) and voltage Vb at a second electric charge rate B(Ib) by checking a voltage-DoD table based on DoD of an experimental battery respectively; measuring voltage V of the experimental battery; substituting Ia, Ib, Va, Vb and V into an expression to calculate an estimated current lest; and using a Coulomb counter to update the voltage-DoD table and estimate the DoD of the experimental battery.

Abstract: A method for estimating film thickness in CMP includes the following operations. A substrate with a film formed thereon is disposed over a polishing pad with a slurry dispensed between the film and the polishing pad. A CMP operation is performed to reduce a thickness of the film. An in-situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement is performed during the CMP operation by an EIS device to estimate the thickness of the film real-time. The CMP operation is ended when the estimated thickness of the film obtained from the fit parameters of the first equivalent electrical circuit model reaches a target thickness.

Abstract: A lock apparatus includes a bracket, an engagement module, and an actuation module. The engagement module is supported in the bracket and has an engagement member configured to move to a first position or a second position in a first axial direction along the first axial direction. The actuation module is connected to the bracket and includes a pushing member. The actuation module drives the pushing member to move to a first position or a second position in the second axial direction along the second axial direction. When the pushing member is at the first position in the second axial direction, the engagement member is at the first position in the first axial direction. When the pushing member is at the second position in the second axial direction, the engagement member is at the second position in the first axial direction.

Abstract: AN LED driving apparatus includes a power stage circuit and a dimming control circuit. The power stage circuit drives an LED circuit. The dimming control circuit includes a duty ratio conversion circuit, a digital-to analog conversion (DAC) circuit, an error amplifier (EA) circuit and a modulation control circuit. The duty ratio conversion circuit converts a PWM dimming signal to a digital duty ratio signal. The DAC circuit converts the digital duty ratio signal to an analog reference signal. The EA circuit generates an error amplified signal according to a difference between the analog reference signal and an output current related signal. The modulation control circuit generates a PWM control signal according to the error amplified signal, to control the power switch, such that the output current relates to a dimming duty ratio, whereby the dimming control circuit dims the LED circuit according to the PWM dimming signal.

Abstract: AN LED driving apparatus includes a power stage circuit and a dimming control circuit. The power stage circuit drives an LED circuit. The dimming control circuit includes a duty ratio conversion circuit, a digital-to analog conversion (DAC) circuit, an error amplifier (EA) circuit and a modulation control circuit. The duty ratio conversion circuit converts a PWM dimming signal to a digital duty ratio signal. The DAC circuit converts the digital duty ratio signal to an analog reference signal. The EA circuit generates an error amplified signal according to a difference between the analog reference signal and an output current related signal. The modulation control circuit generates a PWM control signal according to the error amplified signal, to control the power switch, such that the output current relates to a dimming duty ratio, whereby the dimming control circuit dims the LED circuit according to the PWM dimming signal.

Abstract: A lock apparatus includes a bracket, an engagement module, and an actuation module. The engagement module is supported in the bracket and has an engagement member configured to move to a first position or a second position in a first axial direction along the first axial direction. The actuation module is connected to the bracket and includes a pushing member. The actuation module drives the pushing member to move to a first position or a second position in the second axial direction along the second axial direction. When the pushing member is at the first position in the second axial direction, the engagement member is at the first position in the first axial direction. When the pushing member is at the second position in the second axial direction, the engagement member is at the second position in the first axial direction.

Abstract: A method for estimating film thickness in CMP includes the following operations. A substrate with a film formed thereon is disposed over a polishing pad with a slurry dispensed between the film and the polishing pad. A CMP operation is performed to reduce a thickness of the film. An in-situ electrochemical impedance spectroscopy (EIS) measurement is performed during the CMP operation by an EIS device to estimate the thickness of the film real-time. The CMP operation is ended when the estimated thickness of the film obtained from the fit parameters of the first equivalent electrical circuit model reaches a target thickness.

Abstract: A lock apparatus includes a bracket, an engagement module, and an actuation module. The engagement module is supported in the bracket and has an engagement member configured to move to a first position or a second position in a first axial direction along the first axial direction. The actuation module is connected to the bracket and includes a pushing member. The actuation module drives the pushing member to move to a first position or a second position in the second axial direction along the second axial direction. When the pushing member is at the first position in the second axial direction, the engagement member is at the first position in the first axial direction. When the pushing member is at the second position in the second axial direction, the engagement member is at the second position in the first axial direction.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for corrosion detection in structural tendons. In one example, among others, a method includes injecting current through a portion of a tendon assembly including a tendon at least partially encased in grout, where the current is injected through the portion of the tendon assembly via contact points on a surface of the grout. A potential across the portion of the grout surface is measured and a condition of the tendon can be based at least in part upon the current and the potential. In another example, a system includes supply electrodes to inject current into grout surrounding a tendon via contact with a surface of the grout, sensor electrodes to measure a potential difference between the supply electrodes, and an impedance detection device to determine an impedance of the tendon based at least in part upon the injected current and the potential difference.

Abstract: Multidirectional electrical connectors, electrical connector plugs and electrical connection systems for electrically connecting a portable energy storage device to an electrically powered device, such as an electric powered vehicle or a device for electrically charging the portable electrical energy storage device are described. The multidirectional feature of the electrical connectors, electrical connector plugs and electrical connections systems permits electrical connection between the electrical connectors and electrical connector plugs in a plurality of rotational orientations between a portable electrical energy storage device to which a connector or plug is electrically connected and an electrically powered device to which a corresponding plug or connector is electrically connected.

Abstract: An apparatus for continuous synthesis of carbon film or inorganic material film includes an external chamber having a gas intake gate and a gas exhaust gate; a substrate transporting apparatus disposed inside the external chamber and including a rolling-out member, a plurality of rollers, a rolling-in member, and a moving path; a substrate with metal conveyed along the moving path; a temperature controller correspondingly disposed above or under the substrate transporting apparatus, wherein when the substrate with metal passes through the temperature controller, the temperature controller heats the substrate with metal; a vacuum system connected to the external chamber and inhaling a gas through the gas intake gate and exhausting the gas through the gas exhaust gate; and a gas source controller connected to the external chamber and controlling a supply of the gas, wherein the gas includes a carbon source or an inorganic material source.

Abstract: Multidirectional electrical connectors, electrical connector plugs and electrical connection systems for electrically connecting a portable energy storage device to an electrically powered device, such as an electric powered vehicle or a device for electrically charging the portable electrical energy storage device are described. The multidirectional feature of the electrical connectors, electrical connector plugs and electrical connections systems permit electrical connection between the electrical connectors and electrical connector plugs in a plurality of rotational orientations between a portable electrical energy storage device to which a connector or plug is electrically connected and an electrically powered device to which a corresponding plug or connecter is electrically connected.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a control circuit and a control method of a light emitting device circuit. When the light emitting device circuit is normally connected in normal operation, an output current is regulated to a predetermined current. When the light emitting device circuit is removed, an output voltage is regulated to a predetermined voltage. When the light emitting device circuit is reconnected, the output current is regulated to the predetermined current. The output voltage is at or above a level when the light emitting device circuit is normally connected in normal operation, and the predetermined voltage is lower than this level.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for corrosion detection in structural tendons. In one example, among others, a method includes injecting current through a portion of a tendon assembly including a tendon at least partially encased in grout, where the current is injected through the portion of the tendon assembly via contact points on a surface of the grout. A potential across the portion of the grout surface is measured and a condition of the tendon can be based at least in part upon the current and the potential. In another example, a system includes supply electrodes to inject current into grout surrounding a tendon via contact with a surface of the grout, sensor electrodes to measure a potential difference between the supply electrodes, and an impedance detection device to determine an impedance of the tendon based at least in part upon the injected current and the potential difference.

Abstract: A frame of a photovoltaic panel includes at least one L-shaped corner joint at least one first frame body and at least one second frame body. The L-shaped corner joint includes a support, a first joint arm and a second joint arm respectively disposed on different surfaces of the support, wherein the first joint arm and the second joint arm respectively have at least one first riveting hole and at least one second riveting hole. The first frame body has a first engaging groove therebetween. The first joint arm is inserted in the first engaging groove. Part of the first inner frame plate is caved in the first riveting hole. The second frame body has a second engaging groove. The second joint arm is inserted in the second engaging groove. Part of the second inner frame plate is caved in the second riveting hole.

Abstract: A moving module and an electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a first body, a second body, and the moving module disposed between the first and second bodies. The moving module includes a rail, a moving element, and an elastic element. The moving element is in contact with the rail. The elastic element is connected between the moving element and the first body. When the moving element moves from a first end of the rail to a curved portion of the rail, a force exerted on the elastic element by the moving element is gradually increased. When the moving element passes the curved portion, an elastic restoration force of the elastic element drives the moving element to move toward a second end of the rail. When the moving element reaches the first end or the second end, the first body and the second body interfere with each other.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a control circuit and a control method of a light emitting device circuit. When the light emitting device circuit is normally connected in normal operation, an output current is regulated to a predetermined current. When the light emitting device circuit is removed, an output voltage is regulated to a predetermined voltage. When the light emitting device circuit is reconnected, the output current is regulated to the predetermined current. The output voltage is at or above a level when the light emitting device circuit is normally connected in normal operation, and the predetermined voltage is lower than this level.

Abstract: A locking mechanism and an electronic device are provided. The electronic device includes a first body, a second body, a moving module, and a locking mechanism. The moving module is disposed between the first body and the second body, so that the second body is rotatable and tiltable relative to the first body. The locking mechanism includes a first connecting member and a plug. When the plug is coupled with the first connecting member by a magnetic force, the second body is slidable relative to the first body. When the second body is tilted up to decouple the plug from the first connecting member, the plug interferes the moving module, so that the second body is not slidable relative to the first body.