Abstract: A heat exchanger for transferring thermal energy between a first working fluid and a second working fluid. The heat exchanger has an outer shell that has a first port, a second port, a third port, and a fourth port. A set of tubes each extend within the outer shell and between the first and second ports, such that the first working fluid can flow in parallel through the tubes. A plenum space extends within the outer shell and between the third and fourth ports, and surrounding the tubes. The second working fluid is to flow through the plenum space. The heat exchanger has a central core region, a first transition region that extends between the first port and the central core region, and a second transition region that extends between the second port and the central core region.

Abstract: The present invention concerns a heat exchanger (1; 1?) including a circulation device (2) for a first heat-transfer fluid including a first-heat-transfer-fluid inlet (3) and a first-heat-transfer-fluid outlet (4) between which a first heat-transfer fluid is designed to flow, characterized in that it includes a housing (5) containing the circulation device (2) for a first heat-transfer fluid, the housing (5) including: at least one opening (7) designed to be traversed by the first-heat-transfer-fluid inlet and outlet (3, 4) of the circulation device (2) for a first heat-transfer fluid, a second-heat-transfer-fluid inlet (8) and a second-heat-transfer-fluid outlet (9) between which a second heat-transfer fluid is designed to flow. The present invention also concerns a thermal management facility (100) for batteries of electric or hybrid vehicles.

Abstract: A heat exchanger includes one or more hot medium flow regions and one or more cooling medium flow regions. Hot medium bars border the one or more hot medium flow regions and cooling medium bars border the one or more cooling medium flow regions. At least one cooling medium bar of the cooling medium bars is joined to a pair of partition sheets. The at least one cooling medium bar includes a base, a first leg, and a second leg. The first leg and the second leg each extend from the base. A cavity is provided between the first leg and the second leg. The cavity is in fluid communication with a first cooling medium flow region of the one or more cooling medium flow regions via an opening provided between the first leg and the second leg.

Abstract: An enclosing member including a sheet member connected in a liquid tight manner, refrigerant enclosed in the enclosing member, and an absorbing member arranged in the enclosing member and absorbing the refrigerant. The enclosing member includes a condensation section where the refrigerant that is in a gaseous state is condensed, and in the condensation section, the absorbing member is attached on at least a lower section of an inner surface of the enclosing member with respect to a vertical direction.

Abstract: A rotary pre-heater having a cold-end rotor and a hot-end rotor including an insulation assembly including a plurality of elongate retainer elements. Each of the retainer elements has a root end adapted to be held in fixed relationship to the cold-end rotor and a distal end proximate to the hot-end rotor. Portions of each of the plurality of retainer elements are adapted for circumferential movement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a heat exchanger tube having a tube longitudinal axis, wherein fins extend continuously from the tube wall on the tube outer face and/or the tube inner face, or extend axially parallel thereto or in the form of a helix. Continuously extending primary grooves are formed between adjacent fins, said fins have at least one structured area on the tube outer face and/or tube inner face, and the structured area has a plurality of projections of a projection height projecting from the surface, the projections being separated by notches. According to the invention, a plurality of projections are deformed relative one another in pairs to such an extent that cavities are formed between adjacent projections. Furthermore, according to the invention, a plurality of projections are deformed in the direction of the tube wall such that cavities are formed between a respective projection and the tube wall.

Abstract: A graphite heat sink with light weight and high mechanical strength includes graphite fins and a metal press-fitted and fixed to a part of a surface of the graphite fin.

Abstract: A heat exchanger may include a first collecting tank and a second collecting tank. The first collecting tank may include a first collecting pipe having a first collecting pipe opening for letting in a fluid and a second collecting pipe having a second collecting pipe opening for discharging the fluid. The second collecting tank may be arranged opposite the first collecting tank and may include a third collecting pipe and a fourth collecting pipe. The heat exchanger may also include a plurality of heat exchanger pipes fluidically connecting the first collecting pipe to the third collecting pipe and the second collecting pipe to the fourth collecting pipe. The heat exchanger may also include a separating wall arranged in each of the first collecting pipe and the second collecting pipe respectively dividing each into a first pipe section and a second pipe section.

Abstract: A heat exchanger comprising an ion wind generating part configure to generate an ion wind having directionality charged positive or negative, a heat exchanging part provided at an upstream side in the direction of flow of the ion wind and configured to exchange heat with the ion wind, and a charge removing part provided at a downstream side in the direction of flow of the ion wind and electrically neutralizing the ion wind exchanged in heat with the heat exchanging part.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus for creating an interface between a surface and a substrate, where the thermal conductivity of the substrate exceeds that of the surface. At least one of the surface and the substrate is subtractively nanostructured to create a nanostructured surface, each nanostructured surface is functionalized, and the surface is bonded to the substrate. The nanostructured surface may be functionalized using at least one of the processes of surface acid etching, oxygen plasma etching, atomic layer deposition, sputtering, e-beam deposition, and ion-beam bombardment or implantation, with or without subsequent reflow.

Abstract: This heat exchanger (1) comprises a stack of plates (2) spaced apart in such a way as to present an assembly of intermediate spaces (4) allowing a fluid circulation between the plates (2). Further, the assembly of intermediate spaces (4) comprises a plurality of intermediate multi-fluid spaces (40) each intended for circulation of a plurality of fluids between two adjacent plates (2), and each partitioned into a plurality of compartments (42) separated from each other in a sealed manner. Each compartment (42) is configured for the circulation of one fluid from the plurality of fluids, and is in fluid communication with one of the compartments (42) of a distinct intermediate multi-fluid space (40).

Abstract: A gas turbine engine component formed of material having phononic regions. The phononic regions are formed of alloys or allotropes of the material. The phononic regions modify the behavior of the phonons and control heat conduction.

Abstract: The invention concerns a method for the manufacturing of a clad sheet product comprising a core layer (6) and at least one cladding layer, the method comprising rolling an assembly of a core layer and at least one cladding layer and reducing the thickness to a desired gauge, the core layer being made of an aluminium alloy, the at least one cladding layer comprising a centre section (2) and at least two edge sections (4, 5) positioned at opposite sides of the centre section (2) along the edges of the at least one cladding layer, the centre section being made of a material being an aluminium alloy or a composite material comprising a matrix of aluminium or an aluminium alloy, the edge sections along (4, 5) the edges being made of a material different from the material of the centre section, wherein the edge sections (4, 5) are cut off during or after the rolling. The invention further concerns a cladding plate useful in the method.

Abstract: A water distribution system with wide-range variable traffic includes a water distribution tank and at least two types of spray heads uniformly distributed on the bottom of the water distribution tank. Each spray head is provided with a spray pipe connected to the bottom of the water distribution tank. A water inlet is arranged on the upper part of each spray pipe, and a water outlet is arranged on the lower part of the spray pipe. The heights, by which water inlets of at least two types of spray heads are exposed out of the bottom of the water distribution tank, are different.

Abstract: A method of regulating a temperature (TM) associated with a heat exchanger assembly (10) of a turbine engine (1), the method comprising, in a single cycle: measuring (500) the temperature (TM) of an air stream at the outlet from a heat exchanger (14); receiving a setpoint temperature (TC) for the air stream at the outlet from the heat exchanger (14); estimating (510) a theoretical temperature (TT) for the air stream at the outlet from the heat exchanger (14) as a function of an estimate of the position of a shutter of a controlled valve (15) bleeding off a cooling air stream for the heat exchanger (14); determining a correction current (ICO) from the difference (?T1) between the measured temperature (TM) and the theoretical temperature (TT); and determining (530) a control current (IC) for the shutter from the difference (?T2) between the measured temperature (TM) and the setpoint temperature (TC) and while taking account of the correction current (ICO) determined during the preceding cycle, the position of t

Abstract: A remote controlled portable resonance induction cleaning system for cleaning a process tubular or heat exchanger can include a portable high pressure plunger pump, which can provide a liquid to the portable resonance induction cleaning apparatus, The remote controlled portable resonance induction cleaning apparatus can regulate flow of the liquid to provide pressurized pulses of the liquid with a resonance for removing fouling. A hose assembly or ram connecting mechanism can provide the pressurized pulses of the liquid to the process tubular or heat exchanger. Air can be used to control flow of the pressurized pulses of the liquid. A hydraulic intensifier can be in fluid communication with the remote controlled portable resonance induction cleaning apparatus for receiving the air, and a hydraulic control valve can be bi-directionally engaged with the hydraulic intensifier and the hydraulic ram. The hydraulic ram can seal with the heat exchanger to provide the pressurized pulses of the liquid thereto.

Abstract: A launcher with a digital range finder that controls the operation of a variable velocity control valve that controls the flow of compressed air delivered to the breech. The launcher includes internal air chamber that fills with compressed air and a restrictor plate housing located on one end of the air chamber. The housing includes a center bore axially aligned with the air chamber. Located inside the center bore is a motorized restrictor plate configured to permit or block the flow of air from the air chamber into the breech. During operation, distance readings from the range finder are processed by a main microprocessor into motor signals that selective rotate the restrictor plate to control the flow of pressurized air and control the distance the projectile travels. In a second embodiment, the launcher is used with a computer controlled ballistic that includes a secondary microprocessor coupled to the main processor that triggers a secondary explosion inside the projectile after being launched.

Abstract: A bolt assembly for firearms utilizing a blowback type operating system. The bolt assembly comprises a non-rotatable bolt slideably disposed in the receiver for forward and rearward movement and a dead blow weight assembly slideably coupled to the bolt. The dead blow weight assembly may be two-piece comprising a dead blow weight and dead blow top member. These parts are separate components movable independently of each other, but functionally interacting and cooperating under recoil after discharging the firearm to eject a spent cartridge casing and chamber a new cartridge as the action is reset. When the firearm discharged, a two-stage felt recoil force is generated by this mechanism, thereby advantageously producing peak forces which are less in magnitude than the single strong felt recoil force experienced by users with conventional one-piece bolt used in many blowback type firearms.

Abstract: Ammunition containers are reloadable from within an armored vehicle to supply a remote weapon system mounted externally on the vehicle. The ammunition containers are designed to be fixedly mounted within an internal compartment of a weapon turret. In a first embodiment, at least one guide wall defines a spiral guide path for an ammunition belt, and a rotatable sprocket enables the belt to be loaded into the guide path. In a second embodiment, an ammunition clamp holds a round of ammunition, and the clamp is rotatable to wind the ammunition belt about the clamp's axis of rotation. A third embodiment has a guide sprocket and an adjacent peg to facilitate reloading an ammunition belt in horizontal layers. A fourth embodiment includes a pair of spaced support rails for hanging an ammunition belt in vertical columns, wherein rear ends of the rails may be located outside the container for easier loading.

Abstract: An ammunition monitoring apparatus of the present disclosure includes at least one object-position detection sensor and a controller. The at least one object-position detection sensor is installed near a shell or charge route to face at least one set area and to output position information of each shell or charge in the at least one set area. The controller is configured to determine whether a position range occupied by the shell or the charge in the at least one set area exceeds an allowable position range, based on the position information received from the at least one object-position detection sensor, and to output an alert signal indicating a poor position upon determining that the position range occupied by the shell or the charge in the at least one set area exceeds the allowable position range.

Abstract: Implementations of the present disclosure relate to apparatuses, systems, and methods for constructing, installing, and using a compression follower in a tubular firearm magazine. In particular, the compression follower resides inside a shotgun magazine and replaces the standard follower. The compression follower has a compressible tail, thereby providing the capacity of a standard follower and increased reliability by aligning the follower and a magazine spring.

Abstract: A rotary ammunition magazine cooperates with a bolt catch to hold the bolt of a firearm out of battery in an open position after the last round has been fired. A cam mounted on the rotor of the magazine actuates a movable body on the magazine housing as the cam rotates to feed ammunition to the action. The body moves to an extended position and engages a bolt catch pivotably mounted in the firearm receiver. The bolt catch is pivoted by the body into a position where it will engage the bolt and prevent it from returning to battery after the last round has been fired.

Abstract: In some embodiments, a firearm suppressor comprises a body comprising a sidewall defining a cavity. In some embodiments, the body is configured for attachment to a firearm such that a muzzle of the firearm barrel is oriented in the cavity. In some embodiments, the suppressor comprises a rotating member oriented in the cavity, which is arranged to rotate with respect to the body. In some embodiments, the rotating member comprises a plurality of turbine blades and a central aperture.

Abstract: The installation space dimensions of a weapon system in the tower are complied with, and a loading space diameter of a caliber-larger weapon barrel is approximately maintained in relation to the smaller caliber. The required larger loading space volume for the caliber increase is predominantly achieved by an extension of the loading space of the caliber-larger weapon barrel relative to a loading space of the caliber-smaller weapon barrel itself. Since the loading space diameter of a larger caliber remains virtually unchanged, the outer dimensions of the caliber-larger weapon barrel also remain virtually unchanged compared to the outer dimensions of the caliber-smaller weapon barrel in the region of the loading part.

Abstract: A modular gun rest has a mounting bracket assembly and a rest assembly. The rest assembly is removably attached to the mounting bracket assembly, which is in turn attached to a tree or other surface. The rest assembly has a camouflaged outer core, which may be constructed from polyurethane foam using a silicon mold, and an inner supporting element. The mounting bracket assembly and/or the rest assembly may include an articulating joint, and may be interchangeable with multiple rest assemblies, and vice versa. When assembled, the gun rest provides a stable, non-marring, and naturally appearing surface upon which to rest a gun. A hunter may affix multiple mounting bracket assemblies in the field, and may then use a single rest assembly in conjunction with the multiple mounting bracket assemblies. Additionally, the hunter may even be provided with multiple rest assemblies, according to the species of trees that are present.

Abstract: A rotor support system and a related method are disclosed herein. The rotor support system, in an embodiment, includes a limb coupler and a rotor coupler. The limb coupler is configured to be moveably coupled to a crossbow limb of an archery crossbow so as to enable a first movement of the limb coupler relative to the crossbow limb. The rotor coupler is configured to be moveably coupled to a rotor of the archery crossbow so as to enable a second movement of the rotor relative to the rotor coupler. The limb coupler and the rotor coupler are operably coupled.

Abstract: A limb for an archery bow is provided. The limb includes an outer elongate member, an inner elongate member, and a core member. The outer elongate member is formed of a first material and includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. The inner elongate member is formed of a second material and includes an interior surface and an exterior surface. The core member is formed of a third material and is sandwiched between the outer elongate member and the inner elongate member. The core member is coupled with at least a portion of each of the interior surfaces of the outer elongate member and the inner elongate member. The outer elongate member and the inner elongate member are configured to move relative to each other when the limb is bent. The first material and the second material are each stiffer than the third material.

Abstract: A paintball loader for use on a paintball gun for feeding paintballs is provided. The paintball loader includes a container for holding a plurality of paintballs, a paintball agitator rotatably mounted in the container, the paintball agitator including at least two fins extending substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, the fins spaced apart from each other forming a gap therebetween large enough to accommodate more than one paintball. At least two paintballs are positioned in the gap between the fins. A motor is configured to rotate the paintball agitator. The container includes an exit tube exiting from the bottom portion of the container and leading to an inlet tube of the paintball gun. A microprocessor in communication with a sensor may also be provided for controlling the motor. A deflector for deflecting paintballs may also be provided, the deflector movably attached to the interior surface of the container.

Abstract: This invention relates to a semi-automatic air rifle and air pistol with pneumatic system (PCP) operating in such a way that the air, which carries the ammunition in the pneumatic air rifles and air pistols, hits, without changing its direction, the piston at the instant it leaves the barrel to set said piston in motion towards the muzzle, and at the same time, the other members of the system that we have developed also start to move, thereby enabling, after each shot, the rifle and the pistol to become automatically prepared for the next shot.

Abstract: Locking mechanisms for and methods of securing firearm components in the shoulder stock or butt and/or handgrip of a collapsible firearm. In one example, the locking mechanism may include one or more locking members and a locking mechanism. In another example the locking mechanism may include a cylinder lock. The locking mechanism is configured to secure one or more firearm components in place within a storage compartment of the shoulder stock or butt and/or handgrip of the collapsible firearm, and/or to secure an endcap of the collapsible firearm to the shoulder stock or butt and/or handgrip, thereby rendering the storage compartment a locked container, with the one or more firearm components locked therein.

Abstract: A holster having a holster body; a locking element having a first helical portion defining a first helical ramp surface and a second helical portion defining a second helical ramp surface, wherein the locking element is at least rotatable between a locking element engaged position, wherein at least a portion of the locking projection portion of the locking element protrudes into an at least partial cavity portion of the holster and a locking element disengaged position, wherein at least a portion of the locking projection portion of the locking element is withdrawn from the at least partial cavity portion; and a release lever attached or coupled to a pushrod, and wherein as the release lever is urged toward the locking element, interaction between a first end of the pushrod and the second helical ramp surface causes the locking element to rotate toward the release lever disengaged position.

Abstract: A visual aid device for an elongate item of equipment (100) intended, in use, to be launched or to launch a projectile at a target region, whereby a user performs an aiming process with said item of equipment by looking along the length thereof from a proximal end to its opposing distal end and directing said distal end in respect of said target region, said visual aid device comprising a contrasting region or member (120, 120a, 120b) located on said item of equipment nearer to said distal end than the proximal end thereof, and being positioned thereon and configured such that it is only fully visible in the peripheral vision of one of the user's eyes during a said aiming process.

Abstract: A combined reflex and laser sighting device with co-aligned iron sights is provided. In one aspect, the laser elements are co-aligned with each other, the reflex sight is co-aligned with the laser elements, and the iron sights are then co-aligned with the reflex sight and lasers, such that both the reflex sight, laser sight, and iron sights can all be calibrated or boresighted to a weapon together in a single operation. In another aspect, one or more laser elements are mounted to a laser bench and aligned with a reflex sight and iron sights attached to the laser bench. In yet another aspect, a plurality of laser elements are provided on the laser bench and are co-aligned with each other, the reflex sight, and the iron sights. In yet another aspect, an elevation adjustment apparatus for a laser sight includes selectable primary and secondary adjustment assemblies.

Abstract: A device comprised of bubble level embedded into a solid block of material and located above the rifle grip and behind the barrel to facilitate the measurement and compensation of the rifle's cant while lining up the rifle's sights. The device is precision machined to allow the bubble to be aligned with the axis of the barrel to produce a true “zero-cant” condition. Graduation markings are placed on either left or right of the bubble level to allow the user to judge the relative degree of cant. The location allows cant adjustment without having to change the shooter's position.

Abstract: A launch control system relates to a method and apparatus for launch control packet processing that is provided in the launch control system and configured to allow interworking between a plurality of firing control systems and the launch control system. The launch control system comprises a plurality of operation equipments, a system control device, and control the plurality of operation equipments, a launch control packet processing unit, a control signal distribution device, and a status display device.

Abstract: A fabric (30) includes a first flexible fabric layer (32), having fabric emissivity properties in a visible radiation range that are selected so as to mimic ambient emissivity properties of a deployment environment of the fabric, and at least one second flexible fabric layer (34), which is joined to the first flexible fabric layer, and which is configured to scatter long-wave radiation that is incident on the fabric. The first and second flexible fabric layers are perforated by a non-uniform pattern of perforations (44) extending over at least a part of the fabric.

Abstract: In a body armor assembly and method of forming the body armor assembly a strike plate is provided that is formed of a number of sheets layered on each other. Each sheet of the strike plate is formed of fibers having a parallel orientation greater than 70%. The sheets are oriented such that the parallel-oriented fibers of all of the plural sheets are oriented or aligned in a single direction. The body armor assembly includes a backing plate formed of a metal or a metal alloy with randomly oriented atoms, or fibers that have a random orientation. The backing plate and the strike plate are joined, or bonded, or cross-linked together. Each strike plate sheet can be formed of ultra-high-molecular-weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) fibers. The backing plate can be formed of polyethylene thermoplastic fibers.

Abstract: A lightweight armor system providing blast protection and ballistic protection against small arms fire, suitable for use in helmets, personnel or vehicle protection, and other armor systems. A hard substrate is coated on the front surface with a thin elastomeric polymer layer, in which hollow ceramic or metal spheres are encapsulated. The coating layer having a thin elastomeric polymer layer with encapsulated metal or ceramic hollow spheres can be stand-alone blast protection, or can be added to an underlying structure. The glass transition temperature of the polymer is preferably between negative fifty Celsius and zero Celsius.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a capsule configured to be launched or carried towards an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The apparatus also includes a directed energy device within or carried by the capsule. The directed energy device includes a first inductor configured to generate an inductive magnetic field that is able to inductively couple into one or more electronics of the UAV in order to disable or destabilize the UAV. The capsule can be configured to be launched towards the UAV and can include a loiter mechanism (such as a rotor, umbrella, or parachute) configured to maintain a position of the capsule or to slow a descent of the capsule after launch. The capsule can also be configured to be carried towards the UAV by a different UAV, and the apparatus can further include a tether coupling the capsule to the different UAV.

Abstract: A firearm ammunition cartridge including a case having a substantially tubular body portion, an open leading end, and a trailing end defining a primer port, the primer port opening to an interior of the case, a projectile received and retained within the leading end of the case, and configured with a recess extending inwardly from a trailing end of the projectile to receive a quantity of gunpowder, and a quantity of compressed gunpowder provided in the recess of the projectile such that the compressed gunpowder remains in the recess at any orientation of the projectile.

Abstract: A cartridge includes a case, a primer, and propellant disposed in the case. The cartridge also includes a projectile at least partially received in the case. The projectile includes a main body that defines a counter-bore and a through-bore and a piston received in the main body. The piston includes a base, a head, and a shaft. The projectile defines a non-deployed state in which the base is entirely received within the counter-bore, a first portion of the shaft is received in the counter-bore and a second portion of the shaft is received in the through-bore, and the head is received in the through-bore. The projectile also defines a deployed state in which the base is received within the counter-bore and at least part of the head is not received in the through-bore.

Abstract: A small-scale fragmenting projectile capable of remaining intact when contacting a soft target but fragmenting when contacting a hard target. The projectile is made of a hard material and includes a cylindrical body, a head and an end, the cylindrical body having a plurality of grooves extending radially into and substantially around the circumference of the cylindrical body. The grooves are sized and shaped to avoid projectile fragmentation on impact with a soft target but to fragment when impacting a hard target.

Abstract: The cartridge package (100) comprises an elongated housing (110) with a first 5 compartment (120) being divided into two sub-compartments (121, 122) with a flexible intermediate wall (117). Each sub-compartment receives a row (R1, R2) of cartridges (150). Opposite side walls (111, 112) of the housing are provided with a longitudinal slot (160, 162). A mouth portion (130) extending outwards from a top end (E2) of the housing comprises a second compartment 10 (135) having an open top end (E3) and being adapted to receive a mouth portion of a first cartridge magazine in order to load the cartridges from the cartridge package into the first cartridge magazine. The width of each longitudinal slot is dimensioned to receive an edge of a second cartridge magazine in order to push a respective row of cartridges from the cartridge package into the first cartridge magazine.

Abstract: A fishing rod ruler including an elongate flexible body with a number of length markings provided thereon, the elongate flexible body to be at least temporarily applied to a fishing rod.

Abstract: A coordinate measuring probe body includes a rigid probe body structure including an upper mounting portion, a compliant element mounting frame, and an axial extension portion between them. A stylus suspension portion includes compliant elements that suspend a moving element from the compliant element mounting frame. A displacement sensing arrangement that senses displacement of the moving element includes displacement sensors that output a respective displacement signals. A circuit board assembly that receives the displacement signals has three component mounting portions which are interconnected with a flexible circuit component, and located around the axial extension portion. In various embodiments, all of the compliant elements are located on a distal side of the circuit board assembly.

Abstract: A deformation detecting device includes weft yarns and warp yarns woven together. At least some of the weft yarns, or some weft yarns, and some warp yarns, are electrically conductive. The weft yarns include a flocking made up of non-electrically conductive fibers protruding substantially radially from the weft yarns. The electrically conductive yarns are connected to conductive ends for applying an electrical voltage, such that yarns that are connected to conductive ends with different polarities define respective plates of a capacitive sensor, while the fibers of the flocking of the weft yarns define a dielectric material interposed between the capacitive sensor plates. The device comprises an electronic control and processing unit configured to detect a deformation of the fabric based on a capacitance variation of the capacitive sensor.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides an optical coherence tomography (OCT) system for characterising first and second areas of interest of a material. The OCT system comprises first and second optical elements in use positioned at the first and second areas of interest of the material. The first and second optical elements are at least partially transmissive for electromagnetic radiation. The system further comprises first and second scanning heads in use positioned at the first and second optical elements, respectively, to receive electromagnetic radiation that has interacted with the material at the first and second areas of interest. In addition, the system comprises at least one detector optically coupled to the first and second scanning heads.

Abstract: An optical position-measuring device for sensing a position of two relatively movable objects includes a scale connected to one object and having a measuring graduation. A scanning unit is disposed on the other object and has optical elements. An arrangement and design of the optical elements of the scanning unit results in a scanning beam path in which split and subsequently interfered sub-beams propagate mirror-symmetrically with respect to a plane of symmetry and either impinge on and/or are reflected back from the scale in a V-shape. The plane of symmetry is tilted by a defined tilt angle relative to the scale about an axis of rotation that is oriented parallel to a surface of the scale and extends perpendicular to the graduation direction. The sub-beams that are interfered are deflected at the measuring graduation into symmetric diffraction orders. The sub-beams travel identical optical path lengths between splitting and recombination.

Abstract: A method for measuring a thickness of a thin film includes: a step of basing on a training database to establish an artificial neural network, the training database including a plurality of modified spectra and a plurality of film thicknesses corresponding individually to the plurality of modified spectra; a step of measuring a sample having a coated film so as to obtain a spectrum; and, a step of running the artificial neural network already trained by the plurality of modified spectra so as to use the spectrum to estimate a thickness of the coated film on the sample. In addition, a system related to the method for measuring a thickness of a thin film is provided to include a measuring unit, a spectrometer and a processing unit.

Abstract: Inspecting a multilayer sample. In one example embodiment, a method may receiving, at a beam splitter, light and splitting the light into first and second portions; combining, at the beam splitter, the first portion of the light after being reflected from a multilayer sample and the second portion of the light after being reflected from a reflector; receiving, at a computer-controlled system for analyzing Fabry-Perot fringes, the combined light and spectrally analyzing the combined light to determine a value of a total power impinging a slit of the system for analyzing Fabry-Perot fringes; determining an optical path difference (OPD); recording an interferogram that plots the value versus the OPD for the OPD; performing the previous acts of the method one or more additional times with a different OPD; and using the interferogram for each of the different OPDs to determine the thicknesses and order of the layers of the multilayer sample.