Abstract: An intrusion detection system for altering the operation of an associated machine when an appropriate intrusion is detected, the system comprising: a first detector to detect the presence of a first distinguishing property and to selectively produce an intrusion signal when the first distinguishing property associated with an object is detected within a danger zone approximate a pinch point of a machine, wherein an area approximate the pinch point of the machine does not exhibit the first distinguishing property; and, a controller, operatively coupled to the intrusion detector and the machine, for controlling the operation of the machine, wherein the controller generates a corrective action signal directed toward the machine when intrusion signals are received from the intrusion detector.

Abstract: A system that detects cellular telephone and other electronic use within an unauthorized locations. The location can be detected by GPS or triangulation, and once detected can automatically produce certain operations.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for tracking the location of an object near a machine at a site. The method and apparatus includes determining a position of the machine, determining a position of the object, transmitting the determined position of the object from the object to the machine, and displaying the position of the object relative to the position of the machine to an operator of the machine.

Abstract: A transmission apparatus with flexible structure for introducing external cables that controls signal transmission efficiently. A cable connector for introducing a cable from the outside is fixed on a sub-printed circuit board. A main printed circuit board has a guide rail along which the sub-printed circuit board can be inserted reversely to change the direction from which the cable is introduced at the time of the sub-printed circuit board being housed. An enclosure has ducts for bunching cables. Transmission units are mounted in the enclosure.

Abstract: Woodworking machines including cutting tools and motors adapted to drive the cutting tools are disclosed. The machines also include a detection system adapted to detect a dangerous condition between the cutting tool and a person, and a reaction system adapted to perform a specified action upon detection of the dangerous condition. The machines further include a control system adapted to test the operability of at least a portion of the detection system and/or the reaction system. The control system is adapted to disable the motor if the tested portion is inoperable. The control system also includes a test mode to test whether the detection system is working, to test whether various materials would be detected by the detection system, and/or to test whether various materials would trigger the reaction system.

Abstract: A portable panel position detector for determining the orientation of panels being serially moved on a transfer line into a downstream panel treatment facility comprising a pair of support towers laterally spaced to allow the passage of line supported panels therethrough. The spaced support towers operatively mount elongated and vertically extending sensor strips in opposing spaced relationship that defines clearance-determining gating between the towers. In the event a panel moving through the restricted gate is not properly orientated on the transfer line, at least one sensor strip or a portion thereof will be deflected by physical contact with the panel moving therethrough. The displaced strip effects the triggering of an alarm that advises a transfer line attendant that the panel is improperly loaded. The panel can be appropriately repositioned on the transfer line so that it can successfully pass through the treatment facility without damage.

Abstract: A personal electrical injury protection system is provided which can be worn by electricians, construction workers, or other individuals working around or with low-voltage lines (i.e., generally less than about 600 volts). The personal electrical injury protection system has both a proximity warning component which provides a warning of potential electrical hazards upon close approach to the low-voltage power line and an electrical contact protection component which turns off the power upon actual electrical contact with the power line. The present personal electrical protection system relies on a radio frequency transmitter attached to the worker or person to be protected and a radio receiver/controller connected to the power line. The radio frequency transmitter has a low frequency generator which is used for electrical-contact protection and a high frequency generator which is used for proximity warning.

Abstract: An apparatus for supporting a combined substrate structure, comprising first and second substrates combined, includes: level-adjustable supporting mechanisms for supporting plural supporting points of a bottom surface of the combined substrate structure; a level-detecting system for detecting respective levels of corresponding points of a top surface of the combined substrate structure to the plural supporting points of the bottom surface; and a control system for receiving the detected levels from the level-detecting system and for controlling the plurality of level-adjustable supporting mechanism in respective level-adjustment operations in accordance with the detected levels.

Abstract: The present invention involves a methodology for the interconnection of safety control modules used for the safeguarding of personnel around points and areas of hazardous machine operation. The system includes one or more safety control modules connected together so that the safety control modules communicate with each other using actively diverse safety control signals. The safety control modules are also connected to the machine safety control circuit so that the safety control modules can stop machine operation when one or more safety control modules are activated. The use of actively diverse safety control signals provides a control reliable system.

Abstract: A substrate support is provided that comprises a sensing system configured to detect when a moveable end effector is in an over clamp position. The sensing system may comprise various sensors such as an inductive sensor, a light emitter and a detector, and a pressure sensor, etc. Use of such an over clamp sensor may prevent substrate damage that results from improper substrate gripping.

Abstract: A wafer imaging system is provided in which a camera is mounted at a known position in relation to an open front of a cassette to view the cassette and its entire stack of wafer contents. The camera can be mounted on a robot or on a tool. An image of the set of wafers is captured and is image processed to provide information on the position and alignment of each wafer in the cassette. The image can be processed to provide data on separation of the wafers within the cassette, any cross slotting of wafers, and the center point of each of the wafers. Image analysis and processing is employed to determine the edge of each of the wafers. One image scan provides a determination of all information on the X, Y and Z position of the wafers in relation to the camera reference position.

Abstract: The method and the device of the present invention are capable of uniformly using whole surface of a carrying plate, improving the polishing accuracy of wafers and extending span of life of the carrying plate. The method of adhering a plurality of wafers onto a surface of a carrying plate with predetermined spaces is characterized by regularly shifting wafer adhering positions, at which the wafers are respectively adhered, with respect to a standard position of the carrying plate, in the surface of the carrying plate. The wafer adhering position is regularly shifted when the carrying plate is exchanged or predetermined time elapses.

Abstract: A collision preventing device includes: a holder 20; an annular collision detecting portion 30; holding means 40; and switching means 50. The holder 20 is attached to a non-contact probe 18. The annular collision detecting portion 30 covers the non-contact probe 18. The holding means 40 holds the collision detecting portion 30 displaceably and returnably in a Z-axis direction with respect to the holder 20. The switching means 50 detects a relative displacement occurring between the holder 20 and the collision detecting portion 30 and commands a driving system to stop the movement of the non-contact probe 18 or move the non-contact probe 18 in a escape direction. Accordingly, it is possible to prevent the breakage of the non-contact probe 18, the main body of the measuring apparatus, the work, and the like due to the collision.

Abstract: A robot apparatus for detecting a sound signal outputted from a sound signal generating unit to move to a position of the sound signal generating device, wherein the sound signal has a specific pattern, includes: at least three sound receiving unit (114) for receiving the sound signal; a phase difference detecting unit (118) for detecting a phase difference between each sound signal from the sound receiving unit (114); a processing unit (125) for determining a position of the sound generating unit using the phase difference, to generate a moving control signal; and a moving unit (130) for moving the robot apparatus in response to the moving control signal.

Abstract: In order to improve a monitoring device for checking for a predefined position of a body or for checking for the presence of a body, comprising a pivotal checking element, a motor for driving the checking element and a control device for controlling the pivotal movement of the checking element, in such a manner that it is universally employable and, in particular, the exertion of too high a force on a body is prevented, it is proposed that the checking element be adapted to be pivoted commencing from a starting position through a transition region into a monitoring region in which the predefined position of the body lies or in which the presence of a body should be monitored, and that the control device limit the torque of the checking element in such a manner that the maximum possible torque in the monitoring region is reduced relative to that in the transition region. The present disclosure relates to the subject matter disclosed in German patent application No. 100 00 954.9 of Jan.

Abstract: In a component mounting device in which a component is picked up and mounted on a circuit board by a suction nozzle, an amount of displacement between a center position of the suction nozzle 11 and that of the picked-up component 12 is measured, and when it is larger than a preliminarily determined value, a warning is generated indicating that the parts cassette 3 from which the component 12 has been fed is in abnormal condition, as well as the mounting action of the component 12 is stopped.

Abstract: The present invention relates generally to measuring devices, namely calipers. The invention is a measuring device for measuring the height or depth of a conductive element comprising a stabilizing body comprising a beam; at least one leg extending from said beam; a contact affixed to at least one leg, an electrical energy source connected in series with said contact; an indicator connected in series with said electrical energy source and said contact; a caliper comprising a measuring scale; a probe, said probe connected in series with said contact, said electrical energy source, said indicator; and means for affixing the caliper to the beam.

Abstract: A remotely powered electronic part sensing system is integrated with a chuck of a rotatable device such as a lathe machine for sensing the position of a part after loading of the part onto the lathe. The sensing system includes a detecting sensor arrangement, a transmitter, and an output sensor/receiver. The detecting sensor and transmitter are electrically connected to each other and integrated into the chuck, while the output sensor/receiver is mounted to a support member of the lathe. The output sensor/receiver is directly wired to an electrical power source in a conventional manner, while electrical power for the transmitter and detecting sensor arrangement is generated remotely, i.e., wirelessly, through an inductive coupling arrangement between the transmitter and output sensor/receiver. The transmitter and all sensors are located under the chuck face plate to minimize potential system fail due to contact with coolant and machine chips.

Abstract: A device for effecting at least one of a loading and unloading operation of a workpiece with respect to a machine tool. The device includes a base adapted to be mounted adjacent the machine tool and a tubular member. The tubular member includes an inner chamber and an elongate opening communicating with the inner chamber for receiving the workpiece. The inner chamber has one end adapted to communicate with a spindle of the machine tool and the tubular member is mounted for rotation with respect to the base. A sealing member is mounted for selective removal and sealing engagement with respect to the elongate opening and a source of pressurized air communicates with the chamber for moving the workpiece in at least one direction within the chamber when the sealing member is in sealing engagement around the elongate opening.

Abstract: A wafer mapping system is disclosed mounted to the port door of a process tool. As the port door is lowered away from the access port of the process tool in order to allow wafer transfer through the port, the wafer mapping system according to the present invention detects the presence and position of the various wafers in the pod shell, which information may then be stored in memory for later use. As such, wafer mapping according to this system occurs without additional processing steps or time. The port door is lowered by a servo drive which allows the precise position of the port door to be identified at any given time. As such, the position of a wafer within the pod shell may be precisely identified by the wafer mapping system mounted on the port door as the door is lowered.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tool position detection assembly that aligns a tool relative to a feature within a lap joint of a first panel and a second panel. The detection assembly includes an indexing device engageable to the feature. The indexing device includes a reflecting member having a width. The assembly also includes an end-effector movable along at least one axis parallel to the lap joint for positioning the tool. The end-effector has a dual laser device for detecting when the device is aligned with the reflecting member.