Abstract: An apparatus is provided for activating switches in a leading edge flap drive actuator. The apparatus comprises a mount plate having at least a first side, a second side, and an outer peripheral surface, an actuator arm rotationally coupled to the mount plate and rotationally moveable between at least an activate position and a deactivate position, and a spring arm coupled to the mount plate and extending away from the mount plate outer perpheral surface, the spring arm configured to supply a force that biases the actuator arm toward the deactivate position at least when the actuator arm is in the activate position.

Abstract: A finger controllable switching device (10) is provided with at least one connector element (107) for inputing information to the electronic device by connecting and disconnecting an electrical connection to the electronic device. A finger touchable key member (102) is arranged to select a switching position by a planar multi-directional movement of the key member towards triggering means (103) which are arranged to push against at least one connector element to make a connection. An elastic member (101) supports the key member to its rest position and restores the key member to its rest position to disconnect at least one connector element, when the key member is released from the finger's grip.

Abstract: Switch with a fixed set of contacts and a movable set of contacts. The fixed set of contacts comprises at least one pair of fixed contacts arranged a distance apart and each having an auxiliary contact part and a main contact part. The movable set of contacts comprises at least one auxiliary contact element and a main contact element, which, when the switch is closed, are in contact, under mechanical pre-stress, with the surface of the auxiliary contact part and of the main contact part of the pair of fixed contacts and bridge the distance between the free end edges thereof facing one another, the various features being such that when the switch is closed the auxiliary contact element and the main contact element make contact more or less simultaneously with the auxiliary and with the main contact parts of the pair of fixed contacts.

Abstract: A drive train is for a displaceable contact on a breaker contact arrangement in an electrical power breaker. A coupling element displaceable against a stop and arranged between the moveable contact and corresponding drive element is provided with an anti-bounce device, including a catch element and a counter piece. The catch element which may be swung into a catch position as a result of the inertia exerted on the centre of gravity thereof, when the coupling element strikes the stop, includes a working surface extending in the pivoting direction to forma momentary working connection with the counter piece. A retaining spring is additionally provided on the catch element to guarantee that a rebounding of the coupling element into the position corresponding to the close state of the breaker contact arrangement does not occur.

Abstract: A touch panel switch having a wide usable operating range and thus a large effective use area and having electrodes disposed opposedly to each other through a spacer installed around the periphery thereof, the spacer formed in an elastic body of 1×105 to 1×107 dyne/cm2 in elastic modulus comprising an insulation layer and an adhesive layer, the insulation layer further comprising a clearance holding part with a uniform thickness and a gradient part with a thickness gradually decreasing from the clearance holding part into a substrate having the electrodes formed thereon.

Abstract: A push switch device of the invention comprises a body including a set of terminals and closed via a cover. An inner side of the cover is provided with a second resilient unit on which is formed a stopper portion. A push unit is further formed through the body, the push unit being provided with a stop controller pad made of an abrasion-resistant material that is vis-à-vis the stopper portion. A first resilient unit is further placed below the push unit. With the above disposition, when a pressure is exerted on the push unit, the stop controller pad pushes on the stopper portion that moves outwardly. Thereby damage due to wear of the push unit is prevented.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the sorting of items such as mail pieces, according to their distribution addresses, in a sorting machine, whereby non-readable mail pieces are sorted into special bins for recirculation according to the different reasons for the non-reading. Beginning and end of the stack of mail pieces of the respective special bin for recirculation is readably marked for sorting machine reading, and the marked stack of mail pieces is again fed to the feeder of the sorting machine in the reading position and orientation. At unsuccessful reattempts of a mail piece of a marked stack of mail pieces from one of the special bins for recirculation, the mail piece is sorted into an additional special bin, from which it is no longer fed to the sorting machine.

Abstract: A gas-insulated switch equipped with a fixed contact and a moving contact that can contact with and separate from the fixed contact, wherein a single shock absorber absorbs the shock in both the breaking action and the closing action of the moving contact.

Abstract: A wire electric discharge machining apparatus has a wire guide upper unit for slidably retaining a wire electrode above a subject to be machined, a wire guide lower unit for slidably retaining the wire electrode below the subject, an arm member for retaining the wire guide lower unit in a position opposite to the wire guide upper unit, a machining tank filled with machining solution in which the subject is immersed and having a long hole through which the arm member can pass and move, and a scaling unit for suppressing outflow of the machining solution from the long hole. The sealing unit has a sealing plate for blocking the long hole of the machining tank. The wire electric discharge machining apparatus has machining solution jetting unit for jetting the machining solution into a small gap formed between a peripheral portion of the long hole and the sealing plate.

Abstract: An electrical discharge machining (EDM) apparatus includes a plurality of machining heads, at least one EDM control system, and a plurality of programmable servo drives. Each one of the programmable servo drives is connected to the EDM control system and to a respective one of the plurality of machining heads. The programmable servo drives receive a velocity command from the EDM control system and feed a control signal to a respective one of the plurality of machining heads to control electrode positioning.

Abstract: A resistance butt flash welding machine comprises two work piece clamping platens, at least one of which is movable with respect to the other, an electric servo motor operatively mechanically connected to the movable platen, and a programmable electrical control connected to the servo motor to control the motor, and programmed to regulate the pattern of timing of changes in motion of the movable platen, to control speed of the motion and to control the upsetting force applied to the movable platen required to forge together work pieces clamped in the platens. The process of use of the machine includes programming the programmable control.

Abstract: Process for welding together the two longitudinal edges of a sheet of austenitic, ferritic or martensitic stainless steel so as to obtain a welded pipe, employing at least one laser beam having a power ranging up to 12 kW, and in which a gas mixture is used that consists of 30% to 80% nitrogen by volume and of helium for the remainder (up to 100%). The stainless steel sheet has a thickness of 0.5 to 4 mm and the pipe obtained has a diameter of 5 mm to 50 cm. The welding is full-penetration welding.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for producing very high crown and camber curvature in slider materials using a laser processing system which produces fluence which is variable in a controllable manner, by applying a laser beam to the flex side of the slider material and varying the fluence of the laser beam to optimize the curvature in the slider material. The fluence is variable by finely controlling the power output of the laser or by changing the spot size of the laser beam. The beam spot size can be changed by using a focusing lens to establish a focal plane and then varying the relative positions of the slider relative and the focal plane. An apparatus for producing high crown and camber is also disclosed, as well as a slider produced by the process of applying a laser beam to the flex side of the slider material and varying the fluence of the laser beam to optimize the curvature in the slider material.

Abstract: A method for calculating the shape of a bead of a welded part by solving the problem of multiple solutions when the shape causing a recess or undercut in the flange is determined by calculation. The geometry data on the object to be welded, the characteristic parameters of the object and welding environment, and the welding conditions are set. Under the welding conditions, the melting part of the object is inferred by heat conduction calculation. The coordinates are rotated about an axis parallel to the direction of the welding and/or about an axis perpendicular to the welding direction for the inferred melting part. A difference lattice is set for the coordinate-rotated melting part. The displacement of the melting part for which the difference lattice is set is calculated by a curved surface equation.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method of feeding welding wire (13) from a wire supply reel (14) to a welding torch (10), having at least one welding wire feeder (27) and an apparatus, in particular another welding wire feeder (28), for applying a feed force, in particular a main drive (29) and an auxiliary drive (30), whereby a feed force or a pressure force, acting on the welding wire (13) between the welding wire feeders (27, 28) is detected by a detection means, in particular a sensor, and compensated or limited. A deflection or lateral deflection of the welding wire (13) is detected on the basis of the feed force or pressure force on the welding wire (13) between the welding wire feeders (27, 28), in particular the main drive (29) and the auxiliary drive (30), and this deflection is used as information for regulating at least one of the welding wire feeders (27, 28).

Abstract: An electric soldering iron useful for heavy duty applications, such as sheet metal lamination, comprises a soldering tip held between two carbon electrodes which are electrically connected through busses to a source of low voltage, variable amperage current. The carbon electrodes are preferably graphite. An additional feature allows the tip to pivot to various angles with respect to the handle to provide optimum comfort and soldering efficiency. The body of the soldering tip is provided with longitudinal grooves into which the shaped carbon electrodes are slid and are secured in place with suitable fasteners, such as bolts. Alternatively, the electrodes may have a contour corresponding to the surface of the body of the soldering tip and are then clamped or otherwise secured to the body. Another option is to use electrodes that are shaped as cylindrical plugs seated in blind recesses in the body of the soldering tip.

Abstract: A glow plug in which a ceramic heater is fixedly disposed in a metallic, cylindrical member such that a front end thereof projects from a front end of the cylindrical member, and the resultant cylindrical member is fixedly disposed in a plug body such that the front end of the cylindrical member projects from a front end of the body, and which readily provides a mounting structure such that, even when loosening arises at a joint between the body and the cylindrical member after the glow plug is mounted onto a cylinder head, the cylindrical member is prevented from dropping into the interior of an engine.

Abstract: A system used to program and coordinate the cooking operations for two or more ovens such that the cooking operations are completed at the same time, independent of particular setting variations. In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a single controller is utilized to program each of the ovens, with the controller incorporating an auto sequencing feature which causes the different cooking operations to be automatically performed, while terminating at the same time. Preferably, the system enables a second cooking operation to be programmed and initiated after a first cooking operation, while still providing for the auto sequencing of the cooking operation. Furthermore, a system is provided to enable the refrigerating of food items in one or more of the ovens prior to initiating a respective cooking operation.

Abstract: An electric oven includes a cabinet within which is arranged an oven cavity. Arranged below a bottom portion of the oven cavity is a combination convection/radiant bake cooking system adapted to derive heat energy from a single heat source. The oven preferably includes a central opening in the bottom portion within which is arranged a glass panel. Arranged about a periphery of the central opening are a plurality of vented openings adapted to introduce a convective airflow into the oven cavity. The glass panel provides both a conductive heat surface transmitting radiant heat energy into the oven cavity and a viewing surface allowing a consumer to view the operation of the heat source.

Abstract: A thin food heating unit suitable for use as a restaurant griddle includes a silicone rubber heating blanket vulcanized to the underside of a highly thermally conductive metal food warming plate for heating a food item placed thereon, a base insulated from the heating blanket and the food warming plate by a high temperature ceramic fiber insulation, insulating standoffs between the food warming plate and the top of the base, a separate power supply which supplies electrical energy to the griddle at a relatively low voltage compared to standard line voltage, and a power controller including an on/off switch which is separate from the base and which can be mounted separately in a restaurant installation.

Abstract: The present invention is a system that automatically controls the selection, start-up and operation of primary and secondary heating towers chosen from an array of heating towers having varying physical and thermal sizes. The automatic control is implemented via a programmable logic controllers (PLC). The PLC provides independent control for each heating tower irrespective of the tower being a primary or secondary heating source. Should the demand for heated water upon the primary heating tower increase to a rate that the primary tower cannot satisfy, the PLC maintains the operation of the primary tower and at the same time starts the secondary heating tower to meet the increased hot water demand. Once the demand has dropped to rates that the primary heating tower can once again maintain, the secondary tower is disabled.

Abstract: A heating apparatus for performing heat treatment on a wafer applied with a resist before or after exposure includes a heating plate for heating a wafer which is placed on the heating plate, a light intensity detecting apparatus for irradiating light on the wafer to detect intensity of reflected light from the resist on the wafer, and a control section for controlling heating performed by the heating plate on the basis of the detected intensity of reflected light so that heating amount applied to a plurality of wafers becomes constant. Accordingly, the heating amount of the wafer can be controlled to be constant and variations in dimension of resist patterns can be reduced.

Abstract: An apparatus for the heating of pressed stock in the manufacture of boards of material or in the manufacture of veneer panels. The apparatus includes a microwave preheating device having rod antennae disposed in series, reflective shields, and a heating cell configured as a continuous oven in which the introduction of microwaves into the pressed stock takes place via the rod antennae. The rod antennae are attached to lie horizontally and transversely to the direction of production above, below, or above and below the pressed stock within the heating cell. The reflective surfaces are assigned to the rod antennae on the opposite sides of the pressed stock.

Abstract: A blur and image distortion of an electron beam on a sample are reduced even at a large converging angle of the electron beam. A reduction projection optical system (120) has an immersion lens (108) on the image plane (wafer 111) side. A collimator lens (pupil control optical system) 106 is arranged between the reduction projection optical system (120) and its object plane (mask 104). The collimator lens (106) arranges the entrance pupil (110) of the reduction projection optical system (120) at a finite position from the image plane on the downstream side of the image plane of the reduction projection optical system (120). This can minimize any blur and image distortion of an electron beam on a sample.

Abstract: A headlamp control system for a vehicle includes an imaging array sensor, which has a field of view forward of the vehicle, and a control that processes images captured by the imagine array sensor. The control is operable to detect light sources in the field of view and to determine an activity level in the field of view in response to a quantity of light sources detected. The control is operable to control a headlamp of the vehicle in response to identification of at least one of a headlamp of another vehicle and a taillight of another vehicle and in response to the activity level. The control may be operable to process the captured images to detect lane markers or precipitation in the field of view and may control a steering system of the vehicle or a wiper motor of the vehicle in response to such image processing.

Abstract: There is disclosed a method of determining characteristic correction data from reference data values picked up through an image sensor by scanning a reference original a plurality of times per one photoelectric conversion element of the image sensor. A running mean value of the reference data values is calculated with respect to a respective one of the photoelectric conversion elements, and is served as low spatial frequency component data. High spatial frequency component data is obtained by subtracting the running mean values from the reference data values with respect to the respective one of the photoelectric conversion elements. Noise components are eliminated from the high spatial frequency component data by averaging only those data values of the high spatial frequency component data which are not less than AV−K&sgr; and not more than AV+K&sgr;, wherein AV is a mean value and &sgr; is a standard deviation of the high spatial frequency component data, and K is a predetermined constant.

Abstract: An apparatus for detecting a centroid of a spot produced by electromagnetic radiation, e.g., optic radiation, using an array of PIN photodiodes serving as photodetectors and being organized in columns and in rows. Vertical connections are used to interconnect the PIN photodiodes in the columns in accordance with a first pattern that interconnects two or more adjacent columns. Horizontal connections are used to interconnect PIN photodiodes in the rows in accordance with a second pattern that interconnects two or more adjacent rows. The first and second patterns of interconnections can include just two adjacent columns and two adjacent rows, respectively and form a checkerboard interconnect pattern. The interconnections are made such that there are no anode connections between the PIN photodiodes in the rows and columns.

Abstract: A photodetector including an amorphous silicon photodiode having its anode connected to a reference voltage, an initialization MOS transistor connected between the cathode of the photodiode and a first supply voltage to set the cathode to the first supply voltage during an initialization phase, and means for measuring the voltage of the photodiode cathode, including saturation means for bringing the photodiode cathode to a saturation voltage close to the reference voltage immediately before the initialization phase.

Abstract: A photodetector includes an optical absorption layer having a thickness d optimized with regard to a voltage applied across the optical absorption layer such that there occurs an increase of optical absorption coefficient at the wavelength of 1580 nm or longer.

Abstract: An optical transducer includes a base member, a light source carried on a face of the base member, a light detector carried on the face of the base member, a displaceable member overlying and spaced from the light source and light detector and effective to reflect light from the light source to the light detector, and light shielding means effective to shield the light detector from exposure to the light source except for the light reflected by the displaceable member from the light source to the light detector. The light detector is configured to substantially surround the light source such as to receive light emitted in substantially all directions from the light source for reflection to the light detector by the displaceable member.

Abstract: A light beam emitted from a semiconductor-laser light source is projected onto a diffraction-grating scale after passing through a collimator lens, a beam splitter and a central portion of an annular reflection grating. Two diffracted light beams reflected from the diffraction-grating scale are projected onto the annular reflection grating. The annular reflection grating diffracts the light beams projected onto all portions thereon to a substantially original direction to be projected onto and diffracted from the same position on the diffraction-grating scale. The diffracted light beams are superposed and the resultant light beam is returned to the beam splitter. The light beam is guided by the beam splitter in a direction different from the semiconductor-laser light source, and is detected by a photosensor as an interference light beam.

Abstract: The inventive sensor device includes a support structure, a sensing element mounted on the support substrate for sensing optical radiation and generating an electrical output signal in response thereto, and an encapsulant encapsulating the sensing element on the support structure. The encapsulant being configured to define a lens portion for focusing incident optical radiation onto an active surface of the sensing element, and an optical radiation collector portion surrounding the lens portion for collecting and redirecting optical radiation that is not incident the lens portion onto the active surface of the sensing element. The collector portion may be a parabolic reflector that reflects incident light by total internal reflection. The sensor device may be incorporated into an assembly including a diffuser positioned across an aperture, and/or may be incorporated into a vehicle accessory such as a rearview mirror assembly.

Abstract: A lesion phantom with no inner cold encapsulation. The phantom has a plurality of lesion analogues formed without any encapsulation by a dissimilar material and formed of a matrix of solidified material. A background matrix into which at least one radionuclide is dispersed to form a background level of radioactivity. The background matrix is placed in a container. The background level of radioactivity of the background matrix is different than that of the level of radioactivity of the plurality of lesion analogues.

Abstract: A sample plate is provided with a mass-spectrometry-use measuring-sample preparation area which serves as an ionization area used for ionizing the sample through laser irradiation, and a membrane affixing area which serves as a plane area on which the membrane bearing the sample adsorbed thereon is fixedly held. The mass-spectrometry-use measuring-sample preparation area is provided with spots at which the sample, extracted from the membrane fixedly affixed to the membrane affixing area, is dropped together with a matrix solution, and placed, and the spots are preferably regularly arranged thereon. Each of the spots preferably has a round structure surrounded by a groove on the periphery thereof so as to be dried in a converged state without being diffused from a fixed area.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for separating and enriching stable isotopes in gas phase using the principles of high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometry, substantially at atmospheric pressure (760 torr) and substantially at room temperature (298 K). Specifically, the method of the present invention may be used to separate and enrich isotopes of chlorine. Electrospray ionization may be used to generate a gaseous mixture of ions and the ion beam exiting the high field asymmetric waveform ion mobility spectrometer may be sampled into a mass spectrometer for isotope identification.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for measuring the distribution of cluster ion sizes in a gas cluster ion beam (GCIB) and for determining the mass distribution and mass flow of cluster ions in a GCIB processing system without necessitating the rejection of a portion of the beam through magnetic or electrostatic mass analysis. The invention uses time-of-flight measurement to estimate or monitor cluster ion size distribution either before or during processing of a workpiece. The measured information is displayed and incorporated in automated control of a GCIB processing system.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for detecting whether substances of interest are present in a sample of air. The apparatus includes a detector, such as an ion trap mobility spectrometer. The detector is operated at a high drift voltage and then is switched to a low drift voltage. Spectra are collected at the high and low field strengths and are compared with standard spectra at those strengths to determine whether materials of interest are present.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that utilizes two or more emitters simultaneously to form an electrospray of a sample that is then directed into a mass spectrometer, thereby increasing the total ion current introduced into an electrospray ionization mass spectrometer, given a liquid flow rate of a sample. The method and apparatus are most conveniently constructed as an array of spray emitters fabricated on a single chip, however, the present invention encompasses any apparatus wherein two or more emitters are simultaneously utilized to form an electrospray of a sample that is then directed into a mass spectrometer.

Abstract: The invention relates to the mass-selective ejection of stored ions from linear ion traps. The invention consists in using nonlinear resonances to enhance the ejection speed.

Abstract: A mass sensor, in an exemplary embodiment, includes a housing that includes a first plate, a second plate, and a center portion positioned between the first and second plates. The mass analyzer also includes an ionizer a double focusing mass spectrometer, and an ion detector. The ionizer, the double focusing mass spectrometer, and the ion detector are located in a cavity in the housing. The double focusing mass spectrometer includes an electric sector energy analyzer that includes a first element located on an inside surface of the first plate, and a second element located on an inside surface of the second plate. The first and second elements are substantially concentric and congruent and have a circular arc shape. Each first and second element include a first boundary electrode, a second boundary electrode, and a continuous resistive material extending between the first and second boundary electrodes.

Abstract: A method of measuring variation in dimensions and alignment error of thin film magnetic heads formed on a raw bar cut-off from a substrate is provided. Such method comprises illuminating a MR element and a resistance detector element which is formed for monitoring a lapping process, both of which are formed on the raw bar, with illuminating light whose wavelength is 300 nm or less; forming an image by imaging light reflected from the elements; and converting the image to an image signal through photoelectric conversion so as to detect variation in dimensions of the MR element and the resistance detector element formed on the raw bar, and alignment error between the MR element and the resistance detector element with a high degree of accuracy.

Abstract: An electron beam irradiation system has a pumping block at an end of a microscope column of electron optics. The system has the rotary stage, the microscope column for directing an electron beam at the target on the rotary stage, the pumping block for evacuating air in the gap between the column and the target, a moving mechanism for sliding the rotary stage between a working position and a mounting position, and a cover member. In the working position, the target is opposite to the column. The cover member is brought into intimate contact with the rotary stage or target to prevent vacuum deterioration when the rotary stage moves from the working position to the mounting position.

Abstract: Apparatus is provided for detection of viable and potentially hazardous biological particles in a population which may be dispersed in fluid flow. The particles are characterized as biological and viable by contacting particles with laser light from a laser diode and then looking for the emission of fluorescence which is typically emitted from bacteria or bacterial spore. Biomolecules which are representative of viability are now known to be excited in range of 320 nm and longer. The resulting apparatus is economical, compact and has low-power requirements enabling portable operation. Preferably, the laser diode is combined with an aerodynamic particle sizer to separate particles for sequential contacts, or with additional timing lasers for establishing particle size.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods are disclosed for measuring time delays between pulse streams or other input signals and for measuring ion beam energies in an ion implantation system. A variable delay apparatus is applied to one input signal, and the signals are correlated or compared in a correlator apparatus providing a minimum, maximum, or other ascertainable output signal value when a delay value of the variable delay is representative of the time delay between the first and second input signals. By adjusting or sweeping the variable delay until the ascertainable correlator apparatus output value is obtained, the actual time delay is determined as the dialed-in value of the variable delay that produces the ascertainable correlator output value.

Abstract: CPB microlithography systems are disclosed that effectively cancel the effects of floating external magnetic fields and that exhibit a high magnetic shielding ratio using small components. An exemplary system includes a search coil situated and configured to detect external magnetic field, and a compensation coil situated and configured to produce a magnetic field that, based on the detected magnetic field, cancels the external magnetic field. These coils desirably are situated downstream of an illumination lens. The external magnetic field detected by the search coil is converted to a corresponding electrical signal by an external-magnetic-field-detection circuit and routed to an external-magnetic-field-compensation circuit to which the compensation coil is connected. The external-magnetic-field-compensation circuit cancels the external magnetic field by providing an electrical current, corresponding to the detected external magnetic field, to the compensation coil.

Abstract: Methods and devices are disclosed for evaluating the imaging performance of a charged-particle-beam (CPB) micro lithography apparatus. A measurement mark is situated at an object plane, a knife-edged reference mark is situated at an image plane, and a beam-limiting diaphragm, defining a beam-limiting aperture, is situated downstream of the reference mark. The knife-edged reference mark is defined as a respective aperture in a scattering membrane. Passage of a charged particle beam through the measurement mark produces a beamlet that is scanned over the knife-edged reference mark. Charged particles of the beamlet passing through the reference mark are not scattered, while charged particles of the beamlet passing through the membrane are forward scattered. The diameter of the beam-limiting aperture can be established such that an axial angle of the beam-limiting aperture as measured at the knife-edge is slightly greater than a convergent angle of the beamlet at a projection lens.

Abstract: A charged particle beam drawing apparatus and a pattern forming method capable of drawing fine patterns while minimizing the proximity effect, thus overcoming the drawbacks of the conventional exposure area density correcting method and supplementary exposure method. The inventive method comprises the steps of performing supplementary exposure by irradiating a drawing area on a specimen with a charged particle beam, and performing main exposure by irradiating with the charged particle beam a region made up of the drawing pattern inside the drawing area on the specimen.

Abstract: An electron beam apparatus that includes a vacuum chamber, a large-area cathode disposed in the vacuum chamber, and a first power supply connected to the cathode. The first power supply is configured to apply a negative voltage to the cathode sufficient to cause the cathode to emit electrons toward a substrate disposed in the vacuum chamber. The electron beam apparatus further includes an anode positioned between the large-area cathode and the substrate. The anode is made from aluminum. The electron beam apparatus further includes a second power supply connected to the anode, wherein the second power supply is configured to apply a voltage to the anode that is positive relative to the voltage applied to the cathode.

Abstract: A lithographic apparatus includes a support that provides a magnetic force in a first direction between a first part and a second part of the apparatus. The support comprises first, second and third magnet assemblies, the first and third magnet assemblies attached to the first part and each including at least one magnet oriented such that its magnetic polarization is substantially parallel or anti-parallel to the support direction. The first and third magnet assemblies define a space between them in a second direction that is substantially perpendicular to the first direction. The second magnet assembly is attached to the second part and includes at least one magnet. The second magnet assembly is at least partly located in the space. The at least one magnet of the second magnet assembly has its magnetic polarization oriented so as to produce a bias force substantially along the support direction by magnetic interaction between the first, second and third magnet assemblies.

Abstract: A method for determining an emitting angle of an optical pickup head of an optical drive. A jitter inspection device comprises a jig, simulating and adjusting a tilt angle of the optical pickup head, and a jitter meter installed on the jig, inspecting jitter values at different tilt angles. A quadratic surface equation decreases the data points required for measurement to five, and enables product efficiency to raise 17% , such that the minimum jitter value and optimum tilt angle can be obtained quickly.