Abstract: A method for providing safety protection in an additive manufacturing apparatus for forming a three-dimensional article through successive fusion of parts of a powder bed in an enclosable chamber, which parts corresponds to successive cross sections of the three-dimensional article is provided. The method comprising the steps of providing a position detecting device connected to a control unit to detect whether a foreign matter is within the enclosable chamber. The method may also include, upon detecting that the foreign matter is within the enclosable chamber, either (1) switching off, via the control unit, at least one device associated with the additive manufacturing apparatus; or (2) providing power to a powder suction device. Associated safety protection devices are also provided.

Abstract: An avian eggshell egg-check/crack detection system was developed to aide official egg graders. It includes an imaging system and a device to produce negative pressure in an egg chamber.

Abstract: A exposure system for use in forming phosphor layers of a plasma display panel, capable of forming the phosphor layers with minimum light exposure, is provided. The exposure system is used in a process of forming the phosphor layers wherein the phosphor layers are formed first by forming photosensitive phosphor layer forming layers at least between barrier ribs facing each other, provided on a work substrate, and by exposing via a photomask, after alignment of the photomask with the work substrate, the photosensitive phosphor layer forming layers, and subsequently, developing, and heat treating same. The exposure system includes an exposure light source disposed such that divergent or diffused rays of light are radiated from above the photomask.

Abstract: In the grading of shell eggs passing in a stream through a candling bed, images of the eggs are compared with image data characteristic of eggs of known grade so as to assign a grade to each egg in the stream. Positional information representative of the movement of the eggs is combined with the assigned grade to control a mechanical egg routing device. Images of multiple egg streams may be multiplexed and processed together. The images may be Fourier transformed before comparison.

Abstract: A conductor bit line for a dynamic random access memory (RAM) structure is formed of a material selected from the group consisting of polycrystalline silicon and a metal silicide, polycrystalline silicon and a conductive metal, and polycrystalline silicon, a metal silicide, and a conductive metal with the polycrystalline silicon contacting at least a portion of the drain region of the field effect transistor of each of a plurality of cells of the RAM structure via a self-aligned contact. When the selected material is polycrystalline silicon and a metal silicide, the conductor bit line is continuous.