Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for inspecting the quality of laser welding by monitoring the size of a metal molten pool (i.e., weld metal) during a laser welding process. The present invention provides a method and apparatus for inspecting the quality of laser welding, in which a new type laser welding quality inspection system is implemented in which one sensor signal and one filtered electrical signal of the plasma light can be used to perform a correct welding quality inspection through the development of a filtering method of an electrical signal of the plasma light, thereby facilitating a laser welding quality management and making possible its example application to a vehicle body laser welding process.

Abstract: A thermal processing apparatus and method in which a first laser source, for example, a CO2 emitting at 10.6 ?m is focused onto a silicon wafer as a line beam and a second laser source, for example, a GaAs laser bar emitting at 808 nm is focused onto the wafer as a larger beam surrounding the line beam. The two beams are scanned in synchronism in the direction of the narrow dimension of the line beam to create a narrow heating pulse from the line beam when activated by the larger beam. The energy of GaAs radiation is greater than the silicon bandgap energy and creates free carriers. The energy of the CO2 radiation is less than the silicon bandgap energy so silicon is otherwise transparent to it, but the long wavelength radiation is absorbed by the free carriers.

Abstract: A micro melting process to melt surface irregularities or features on a surface of a substrate. The method includes providing a laser and a control mechanism associated with the laser. The control mechanism is used to melt the surface irregularities on the substrate. The control mechanism varies the laser intensity and direction by varying and monitoring the power of the laser. The approach direction of the laser is used to control the manner in which irregularities or surface features are melted, ambient atmospheric conditions, induced motion between the laser and the surface being processed.

Abstract: A method of forming an opening through a substrate having a first side and a second side opposite the first side includes laser machining a first portion of the opening into the substrate from the second side toward the first side, and abrasive machining a second portion of the opening into the substrate. Abrasive machining the second portion of the opening into the substrate includes completing the opening through the substrate.

Abstract: A pulsed machining method for the optimized machining of a contour which is characterized in that the instantaneous frequency ratio of ? of the pulse frequency of tool fL and of the rotational frequency of tool fCNC is optimized to achieve a highest possible degree of coverage of the individual machining pulses in the context of a shortest possible machining duration and without a direct concatenation of the machining pulses. It is especially preferred that this be achieved in that frequency ratio ? is an irrational number, thus cannot be expressed by the ratio of two whole numbers. By applying the method according to the present invention, a considerable time savings is achieved since there is no longer a need for time-consuming preliminary trials to ascertain an at least sufficient frequency ratio ?.

Abstract: An arc welding system according to the present invention includes a welding power supply for supplying welding power to a welding wire, a welding robot including a welding torch mounted to an arm fore end thereof, and a controller for controlling the welding power supply and the welding robot. The welding power supply and the controller perform communication using digital signals, and the welding power supply outputs, to the controller, a welding power-supply feedback signal obtained at the time of inputting of a welding power-supply sync signal. With that configuration, accurate arc tracking can be realized by using the digital signals.

Abstract: A welding power supply including power conversion circuitry adapted to receive a primary source of power, to utilize one or more power semiconductor switches to chop the primary source of power, and to convert the chopped power to a welding output is provided. The provided welding power supply includes a pulse width modulated (PWM) digital controller including gate drive circuitry that generates a PWM output signal that controls the switching of the one or more power semiconductor switches. The PWM output signal includes a duty cycle term corrected for one or more sources of error in the welding system.

Abstract: A wireless controller (14) comprises a housing including a first portion (20a) and a second portion (20b) moveably attached to the first portion (20a). The first portion (20a) supports the controller (14) relative to an external surface and is adjustable between an elevated position and a collapsed position, wherein a first end of the first portion (20a) is elevated relative to a second end of the first portion (20a) when the first portion is in the elevated position. A sensing element (22) senses a position of the second portion (20b) relative to the first portion (20a) and provides a corresponding position signal. A transmitter (24) is coupled with the sensing element (22) and wirelessly transmits the position signal.

Abstract: A system, in one embodiment, may include a portable unit having an engine, a generator coupled to the engine, a compressor coupled to the engine, and a priority load controller. The controller may be configured to adjust various loads on the engine, the generator, or the compressor, or a combination thereof, in response to sensor feedback and a priority control scheme. A computer-implemented method, in another embodiment, may include adjusting power output to various loads on an engine, a welding generator coupled to the engine, or an air compressor coupled to the engine, or a combination thereof, in a portable welding unit in response to sensor feedback and a priority control scheme.

Abstract: A portable engine driven welder is provided that has a case enclosing an internal combustion engine and a welding generator, and a running gear that is attached to the case. The running gear includes a pair of rails and a pair of leading wheels connected to the rails toward the back wall of the case. A pair of trailing wheels is connected to the rails toward the front wall of the case. The leading and trailing wheels have different resiliency values with the leading wheels being more resilient or flexible than the trailing wheels. This allows the leading wheels to act like a suspension system for the portable engine driven welder and running gear by soaking up or absorbing impacts instead of transmitting them therethrough so as to reduce exposure of the portable engine driven welder to such impacts.

Abstract: A method and system to start and use a combination wire feed and energy source system for any of brazing, cladding, building up, filling, and hard-facing overlaying applications. High intensity energy is applied onto a workpiece to heat the workpiece. One or more resistive filler wires are fed toward the workpiece at or just in front of the applied high intensity energy. Sensing of when a distal end of the one or more resistive filler wires makes contact with the workpiece at or near the applied high intensity energy is accomplished. Electric heating current to the one or more resistive filler wires is controlled based on whether or not the distal end of the one or more resistive filler wires is in contact with the workpiece. The applied high intensity energy and the one or more resistive filler wires are moved in a same direction along the workpiece in a fixed relation to each other.

Abstract: A device for connecting welding wires for CO2 gas welding includes a base frame, first and second electrode plates that are disposed apart from each other on the base frame and including disposing grooves to which an old wire and a new wire are respectively disposed, and clampers that are disposed to each electrode plate and that clamp the used wire and the new wire disposed to the disposing grooves, respectively.

Abstract: A window defroster assembly having a transparent panel and a defroster. The defroster includes a conductive layer applied over the panel and an electrically conductive heater grid formed integrally with the transparent panel. The heater grid includes a series of grid lines and at least a portion of the conductive layer is located between adjacent ones of the grid lines.

Abstract: A temperature control circuit of an oven controlled crystal oscillator (OCXO) is provided. A first and a second digital potentiometer are correspondingly arranged in a bridge circuit which outputs a voltage to an input terminal of a differential amplifier (OPAMP), wherein the resistance value of the first digital potentiometer is adjustable so as to adjust the temperature of the oven to the peak temperature of the crystal resonator, and the resistance value of the second digital potentiometer is adjustable so as to cancel the temperature gradient of the first digital potentiometer. In the temperature control circuit of OCXO, the heat generation of the heater resistor is controlled by the power transistor based on the control voltage from the differential amplifier.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for heating weather masts on wind turbines. The object of the invention is to eliminate the drawbacks of the prior art and to keep the weather masts of a wind turbine free of ice. The device according to the invention for heating a weather mast on a wind turbine is that the weather mast comprises interconnected pipings. In the pipings, there is arranged a heating system which is formed by one or a plurality of electric heating wires.

Abstract: The heater is capable of improving heat generation uniformity in a sheet feeding area while suppressing the temperature rise of a non-sheet feeding portion. Each of heat generation lines includes a plurality of heat blocks in which a plurality of heat generating resistors are electrically connected in parallel between two conductive members. The heat generation lines are arranged in a lateral direction of the substrate, and the heat blocks are arranged so that the end of the heat block in the heat generation line of a first row does not overlap with the end of the heat block in the heat generation line of a second row in a longitudinal direction of a heater.

Abstract: The present invention provides an integrated thick film heating element on a substrate made from high temperature melt-flowable thermoplastic polymer/powder additive formulations which form an electrically insulating thermoplastic dielectric coating on the substrate, and electrically resistive lead free films and electrically conductive film formulations that are deposited and fired to form an integrated thick film heating element on a substrate at a processing temperature well below 600° C. This thick film heating element is formed on a substrate material coated first with the electrically insulating, filled melt flowable high temperature thermoplastic polymer/powder composite layer on which is deposited the electrically resistive lead free thick film that is capable of operating over a wide range of power densities for consumer and industrial heating element applications, with suitable electrical insulation properties under temperature cycling to for example 250° C.

Abstract: A method to optimize the welding energy input into the heating coil of a heating coil fitting is disclosed. In particular, the invention pertains to a compensation method for the effects on the welding energy input from using a fundamental frequency outside the tolerance range for the AC welding voltage established for the heating coil fitting. A generator is one option to supply power to a device for the implementation of the invention-based method. It supplies an AC welding voltage to the heating coil with a fundamental frequency outside the tolerance range for the AC welding voltage as marked out for the heating coil fitting. Another option is especially the use of DC welding voltage for the heating coils of heating coil fittings. To execute the method, a welding power supply unit is connected to the contact elements of a heating coil fitting via connecting leads and connecting elements.

Abstract: Induction heating of a pattern perforated rotating cylinder susceptor is utilized to melt and apply thermoplastic materials to a substrate.

Abstract: A heat treatment apparatus is disclosed, which enables suppression of a warp of a base substrate to which a plurality of single crystal semiconductor substrates are bonded. An example of the apparatus comprises a treatment chamber, a supporting base provided in the treatment chamber, a plurality of supports which are provided over the supporting base and are arranged to support the base substrate, and a heating unit for heating the base substrate, where each position of the plurality of supports can be changed over the supporting base. The use of this apparatus contributes to the reduction in the region where the base substrate and the supports are in contact with each other, which allows uniform heating of the base substrate, leading to the formation of an SOI substrate with high quality.

Abstract: A digital SAL receiver implements a multiobject tracking method to detect EM pulses transmitted by a known source at a pulse repetition interval (PRI) and returned off of a target object to acquire multiple tracks. Intra and inter track temporal information is used to associate pulses with different tracks and to rank the tracks in order to designate a primary track for the target object.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solar-powered wireless communication module with daylight intensity measurement, which comprises: a solar cell module, capable of converting solar energy into electricity; a Microcontroller Unit (MCU), coupled to the solar cell module for detecting and outputting values regarding the voltage and the current of the electricity converted from the solar cell module; and a wireless communication unit, powered by the electricity from the solar cell module and coupled to the MCU for transmitting values outputted from the MCU to a control end.

Abstract: Example embodiments disclosed herein relate to an imaging device. The imaging device includes a photosensor and an exposure system or developer. The exposure system or developer controls illumination or exposure of light sensitive elements of the photosensor based on their location within the photosensor.

Abstract: Optical apparatus includes a device package, with a radiation source contained in the package and configured to emit a beam of coherent radiation. A diffractive optical element (DOE) is mounted in the package so as to receive and diffract the radiation from the radiation source into a predefined pattern comprising multiple diffraction orders. An optical detector is positioned in the package so as to receive and sense an intensity of a selected diffraction order of the DOE.

Abstract: There is provided a photoelectric conversion device utilizing surface plasmons, including: a plate-shaped light receiving portion which made of metal, provided on a most superficial surface of the photoelectric conversion device, and having a front surface and a rear surface so as to receive incident light at the front surface; a slot-shaped slit provided in the front surface of the light receiving portion; and a voltage detection portion adapted to measure an electric potential at the front surface of the light receiving portion; wherein the incident light is caused to excite surface plasmons through the slit, and an electric potential at the front surface of the light receiving portion induced by the surface plasmons is measured by the voltage detection portion.

Abstract: Coherent optical signal processing is performed in a coherent receiver (or diagnostic/testing apparatus) that converts an amplitude and/or angle-modulated optical signal into two electrical signals. A simple receiver can only detect one phase of the signal and only the polarization that is aligned with a local oscillator laser polarization. To detect both phases and both polarizations, two sets of two interferometers, one each with a ?/2 phase shift are required. Coherent optical signal processing methods, apparatus, techniques, etc. are disclosed that include individual components comprising a polarization combiner, a Savart device and photodetection apparatus with substantially reduced temperature and alignment sensitivity operating in optical communication systems and/or subsystems. The various embodiments can be used alone or in such combinations to provide improved coherent optical signal processing in a receiver.

Abstract: In a gain-switching-type transimpedance amplifier, in order to provide a technique capable of preventing unnecessary gain switching caused when noise is received, and preventing decrease in sensitivity caused when noise with a large input level is received, and then, a burst signal with a small input level is received, a transimpedance amplifier 5 includes: a pre-amplifier 200 to which the burst signal is inputted; an average detection start determination unit 300 for comparing an output of a pre-amplifier 200 with a first threshold voltage; an average detection circuit 400 for detecting and outputting an average value of the output of the pre-amplifier 200 during a certain period of time from a time point when the output of the pre-amplifier 200 exceeds the first threshold voltage; and a gain switching control unit 500 for determining whether to switch a gain of the pre-amplifier 200 based on an output of the average detection circuit 400.

Abstract: An accurate and rapid method for characterizing the performance of an APD and setting its operating voltage Vop to an optimal value uses an on-board LED or other pulsed light source to measure APD responses at different operating voltages Vop. An estimated breakdown voltage Vb is determined by comparing the measured responses, and the Vop is adjusted to a new value at a fixed offset from the estimated Vb. The fixed offset is selected according to ambient light conditions, including the presence or absence of light background noise, and whether the sun is partially or fully in the field of view. The method is iterated until convergence, or until a maximum number of iterations is reached. In embodiments, a plurality of APD's having a common Vop can be adjusted, and the Vop is never set below a minimum value VopBW necessary to meet timing requirements for a missile guidance system.

Abstract: A high speed analog photon counter and method is provided. In one aspect, the method includes accumulating an electric charge in a capacitor of a circuit electrically coupled to a current source. The method further includes comparing the electric charge accumulated in the capacitor of the circuit with a reference voltage through a comparator of the circuit electrically coupled to an output of the capacitor. The method also includes increasing a speed of operation of a measurement device through implementing the circuit inside a pixel. The method further includes transferring the accumulated electric charge to a circuit of an adjacent pixel and synchronizing the transfer of the accumulated electric with a movement of an object captured by an image sensor device before implementing a time-delay integration operation.

Abstract: A pinned photodiode structure with peninsula-shaped transfer gate which decrease the occurrence of a potential barrier between the photodiode and the floating drain, prevents loss of full well capacity (FWC) and decreases occurrences of image lag.

Abstract: A device is disclosed herein which may comprise a droplet generator producing droplets of target material; a sensor providing an intercept time signal when a droplet reaches a preselected location; a delay circuit coupled with said sensor, the delay circuit generating a trigger signal delayed from the intercept time signal; a laser source responsive to a trigger signal to produce a laser pulse; and a system controlling said delay circuit to provide a trigger signal delayed from the intercept time by a first delay time to generate a light pulse that is focused on a droplet and a trigger signal delayed from the intercept time by a second delay time to generate a light pulse which is not focused on a droplet.

Abstract: A light source unit is disclosed for arranging on a plane and emitting a light beam oblique to the plane. The light source unit includes an illuminant element and a transparent encapsulator. The illuminant element has an upper surface and a lower surface both parallel to the plane. The transparent encapsulator physically contacts with the illuminant element and at least covers the upper surface of the illuminant element. The transparent encapsulator has an oblique surface above the upper surface and oblique to the upper surface. In addition, an optical inputting module having the light source unit mentioned above is disclosed.

Abstract: An optical sensor system is disclosed including a source module, a detection module, and a heating module. The source module includes a source housing unit having a source window member to emit a detection signal through the source window member. The detection module includes a first detection housing unit having a first detection window member spaced apart from the source module. The detection signal received by the detection module corresponds to an amount of volatile organic compounds (VOC) present in a path of the detection signal between the detection module and the source module. The heating module heats the source window member and the detection window member to remove deposit formation of the VOC there from.

Abstract: Exemplary embodiments can be used in a replicating system to guide source electromagnetic waves, such as infrared (IR) radiation, from an emitter of a reflective-type sensor towards an object held on a support mechanism and to guide reflected electromagnetic waves that are related to the source electromagnetic waves to a receiver of the reflective-type sensor. The height of the support mechanism can be adjusted based on whether the object is detected.

Abstract: The invention provides a method, apparatus and system for separating cellular components, and can be combined with holographic optical trapping manipulation or other forms of optical tweezing. One exemplary method includes providing a first flow having a plurality of components; providing a second flow; contacting the first flow with the second flow to provide a first separation region; and differentially sedimenting a first cellular component of the plurality of components into the second flow while concurrently maintaining a second cellular component of the plurality of components in the first flow. The second flow having the first cellular component is then differentially removed from the first flow having the second cellular component. Holographic optical traps may also be utilized in conjunction with the various flows to move selected components from one flow to another, as part of or in addition to a separation stage.

Abstract: The invention includes a source stream of neutral particles (neutral atoms and neutral molecules, but not neutrons) in free molecular flow, a beam forming element disposed within the source stream having at least one small aperture located proximal to the sample allowing part of the source stream to pass through the aperture as a beam of neutral particles directed at the sample for revealing the sample, a control positioner for scanning the beam of neutral particles over or through portions of said sample surface, optionally one or more detector nozzles having an inlet positioned to collect neutral particles proceeding from or through the sample surface in free molecular flow, at least one detector, the detector arranged to sense neutral particles proceeding from the sample, and a processor connected to the detector and control positioner for generating an image of said sample.

Abstract: A method and a calibration system for calibrating a measurement tool for measuring the radiation in a radiation system, such as a radiation therapy system, are provided. The measurement tool, including a holder and at least one photodiode element, is adapted to be mounted in a positioning unit of the radiation system. The radiation sensitive volume of the photodiode element is embedded in a light transparent coating transparent for, for instance, light in the visible spectrum. Thereby, the position of the sensitive volume can easily be determined or calculated with high accuracy relative to the holder on which the photodiode element is arranged, from which the position of the sensitive volume can be determined or calculated in relation to the positioning unit of the radiation system.

Abstract: A method for detecting and viewing invisible indicia includes illuminating the invisible indicia with radiation of a first wavelength with an illumination source; detecting emitted light from the invisible indicia at a second wavelength with a sensor array; eliminating reflected radiation at the first wavelength; focusing an image of the invisible indicia on the sensor array; displaying the image of the invisible indicia; spacing the sensor array at a fixed distance from the invisible indicia with a spacer; and adjusting sensitivity of the sensor array.

Abstract: A method is provided increasing the useful dynamic range of an ion mobility spectrometry (IMS) or an IMS-mass spectrometry (IMS-MS) device. The method includes accumulating a first sample of ions over a first time interval; providing the first sample of ions to an ion detector to provide a first frame, accumulating a second sample of ions over a second time interval, where the second time interval is different than the first time interval, and providing the second sample of ions to the ion detector to provide a second frame. First data points of the first frame are selectively combined with second data points of the second frame to provide an accumulation frame of the first and second samples of ions.

Abstract: When an SIM measurement for ions originating from a target component separated by a chromatograph is performed, the measurement is performed while the mass-resolving power is switched among a plurality of levels of resolving power, with the mass-to-charge ratio fixed at a target value (S2), and an extracted ion chromatogram is created based on each of data obtained corresponding to respective mass-resolving powers (S3). After the extracted ion chromatograms are obtained, an S/N ratio is calculated for a peak of the target component on each of the chromatograms (S4), and a mass-resolving power which yields the highest S/N ratio is selected (S5). The selected mass-resolving power is set as the mass-resolving power in the subsequent measurements of the same target component in the same kind of sample (S6), and the quantitative determination of the target component is performed using the extracted ion chromatogram obtained with the selected mass-resolving power (S7).

Abstract: In order to provide an analysis method that is capable of determining a glycan structure with high detection sensitivity, a method of the present invention includes the steps of: carrying out triple quadrupole mass spectrometry at various values of CID energy; creating an energy-resolved profile including yield curves representing relationships between (i) a value of the CID energy and (ii) measured amounts of specific types of product ions; preparing a reference profile, and identifying a glycan structure of a test material by comparing the energy-resolved profile with the reference profile.

Abstract: An ion mobility spectrometer (IMS) for the detection of trace gaseous molecular compounds dissolved or suspended in a carrier gas, particularly in ambient air, without preconcentration or the trapping of analyte particles. The IMS of the invention comprises an ionization volume of greater than 5 cm3 and preferably greater than 100 cm3. The larger size ionizers of this invention enable analysis of trace (<1 ppb) of sample compounds in the gas phase. To facilitate efficient ion motion through the large volume ionization and reaction regions of the IMS, an electric field gradient can be provided in the ionization region or in both the ionization and reaction regions. The systems can be implemented with radioactive ionization sources, corona discharge ion sources or ions can be formed by photoionization.

Abstract: A microengineered multipole ion guide for use in miniature mass spectrometer systems is described. Exemplary methods of mounting rods in hexapole, octupole, and other multipole geometries are described. The rods forming the ion guide are supported by etched silicon structures provided on first and second substrates.

Abstract: A flight-of-time mass spectrometer and method of flight-of-time mass spectrometry. The spectrometer includes a storage portion, a parameter adjusting portion, a parameter setting portion, and a flight time measuring portion. The parameter adjusting portion calculates values of an adjustment parameter correlated with any specified m/z value based on an adjustment table. The parameter setting portion sets the delayed extraction parameters of the ion source based on the values of the adjustment parameters calculated by the parameter adjusting portion.

Abstract: There is provided a pulser, a time of flight mass spectrometer system comprising the same, and a method of analyzing the ions using the pulser. The pulser comprises a first positive switch for coupling and decoupling a first electrode of the accelerator assembly to a first positive voltage; a first negative switch for coupling and decoupling the first electrode to a first negative voltage; and, a first bipolar switch for alternately coupling and decoupling the first electrode to a third voltage.

Abstract: An analysis device for mass discrimination is disclosed. The analysis device comprises: a sample chamber for holding a gaseous sample; an analysis chamber arranged to receive sample gas from the sample chamber; a mass discriminator arranged to discriminate in the analysis chamber between ion species generated from the sample gas; and a wall separating the sample chamber from the analysis chamber, the wall comprising a rupture zone controllable to rupture and thereby release sample gas from the sample chamber into the analysis chamber. In one embodiment the rupture zone is adapted to rupture on application of an electric current or mechanical force. The wall may be micromachined. A method of mass discrimination is also disclosed.

Abstract: A technique for reconstructing an electron-beam (EB) image, which can be a scanning-electron-microscope (SEM) image or an EB-inspection image, is described. This reconstruction technique may involve an inverse electro-optical calculation that corrects for the influence of an electro-optical transfer function associated with an EB system on the EB image. In particular, in the inverse calculation a multi-valued representation of an initial EB image is at an image plane in the model of the electro-optical transfer function and a resulting EB image is at an object plane in the model of the electro-optical transfer function. Furthermore, the model of the electro-optical transfer function may have an analytical derivative and/or may be represented by a closed-form expression.

Abstract: The charged particle beam device has a problem that a symmetry of equipotential distribution is disturbed near the outer edge of a specimen, an object being evaluated, causing a charged particle beam to deflect there. An electrode plate installed inside the specimen holding mechanism of electrostatic attraction type is formed of an inner and outer electrode plates arranged concentrically. The outer electrode plate is formed to have an outer diameter larger than that of the specimen. The dimensions of the electrode plates are determined so that an overlapping area of the outer electrode plate and the specimen is substantially equal to an area of the inner electrode plate. The inner electrode plate is impressed with a voltage of a positive polarity with respect to a reference voltage and of an arbitrary magnitude, and the outer electrode is impressed with a voltage of a negative polarity and of an arbitrary magnitude.

Abstract: It is an object of the present invention to provide a technique capable of accurately inspecting a circuit pattern in which the contrast of an observation image is not clear, like a circuit pattern having a multilayer structure. A pattern inspection method according to the present invention divides a circuit pattern using the brightness of a reflection electron image and associates the region in the reflection electron image belonging to each division with the region in a secondary electron image.

Abstract: A method of examining a sample using a spectroscopic apparatus, comprising the following steps: Mounting the sample on a sample holder; Directing a focused input beam of radiation onto a location on the sample, thereby producing an interaction that causes a flux of stimulated photonic radiation to emanate from said location; Examining said flux using a multi-channel photon-counting detector, thus accruing a measured spectrum for said location; Automatically repeating said directing and examining steps for a series of successive locations on the sample, which method comprises the following steps: Choosing a beam parameter of the input beam that will influence a magnitude of said flux of stimulated photonic radiation; For each location within a first set of locations on the sample, accruing a spectrum using a first value of said beam parameter; For each location within a second set of locations on the sample, accruing a spectrum using a second value of said beam parameter, different from said first value.