13948 results about "Engineering" patented technology

A manipulator apparatus comprises a surgical treatment section to be inserted into a subject body, a supporting section which turnably supports the surgical treatment section around a first axis and a second axis, an arm section having the supporting section connected to a distal end side thereof, a manipulating section provided at a proximal end side of the arm section, a manipulating lever provided at the manipulating section, the manipulating lever being turnably supported around a third axis provided at the proximal end side of the arm section, and a manipulating device provided at the manipulating lever, the manipulating device causing the surgical treatment section to turn around the first axis and the second axis.

A wafer-supporting device for supporting a wafer thereon adapted to be installed in a semiconductor-processing apparatus includes: a base surface; and protrusions protruding from the base surface and having rounded tips for supporting a wafer thereon. The rounded tips are such that a reverse side of a wafer is supported entirely by the rounded tips by point contact. The protrusions are disposed substantially uniformly on an area of the base surface over which a wafer is placed, wherein the number (N) and the height (H [μm]) of the protrusions as determined in use satisfy the following inequities per area for a 300-mm wafer:

(−0.5N+40)≦H≦53; 5≦N<100.

The present invention relates to a method for verifying a charging state of a wireless power receiving apparatus in the wireless power transmitting apparatus, and more particularly, to an apparatus and a method for efficiently performing and controlling wireless power transmission.

To this end, the present invention provides a wireless power transmitting method, wherein a standby state of determining whether at least one wireless power receiving apparatus is positioned within a wireless charge range of the wireless power transmitting apparatus and a power transfer state of transmitting power to the corresponding wireless power receiving apparatus when at least one wireless power receiving apparatus is detected in the standby state are provided, and the standby state includes a first standby state of periodically transmitting a weak detector signal and a strong detector signal and a second standby state in which at least one of a transmission period of the weak detector signal and a transmission period of the strong detector signal is different from that of the first standby state, the method including: determining any one state of the first standby state and the second standby state of the wireless power transmitting apparatus; and transmitting the weak detector signal and the strong detector signal based on the determined standby state, wherein the transmission period of the weak detector signal in the second standby state is longer than the transmission period of the weak detector signal in the first standby state.

An inductively coupled power system for use in a structure having at least one power emitter electrically coupled to an external electrical power source and at least one power receptor directly coupled to a load with direct electrical connections, which is configured to inductively couple to energy wirelessly resonating from the at least one power emitter and to convert the inductively received energy to a desired output energy configuration for supply to the load. The system can also include at least one passive power emitter that is configured to be inductively coupled to energy wirelessly resonating from the at least one power emitter or the at least one passive power emitter.

A robotic system for manipulating a catheter with a plurality of steering wires longitudinally situated within a length of the catheter includes a user interface configured to display a view of an anatomical model and to receive one or more user inputs; a catheter manipulator assembly configured to linearly actuate one or more control members of a catheter; and a robotic controller configured to provide a view of an anatomical model to the user interface; accept one or more user inputs from the user interface; register the one or more user inputs to a coordinate system associated with the anatomical model; compute one or more actuator commands from the one or more registered inputs; and cause the catheter manipulator assembly to linearly actuate one or more control members of a catheter in accordance with the computed actuator commands.

A golf club head (20) having a body (22) with a front wall (30) with an opening (32) and a striking plate insert (40) is disclosed herein. The body (22) is preferably composed of a light weight material such as a magnesium alloy or an aluminum alloy. A ribbon (28) of the body (22) has a recess (52) therein for placement of a rear weighting member (50). The golf club head (20) preferably has a volume between 300 cubic centimeters and 500 cubic centimeters. The golf club head (20) preferably has a mass between 105 grams and 300 grams.

A reactor for processing a substrate includes a first housing defining a processing chamber and supporting a light source and a second housing rotatably supported in the first housing and adapted to rotatably support the substrate in the processing chamber. A heater for heating the substrate is supported by the first housing and is enclosed in the second housing. The reactor further includes at least one gas injector for injecting at least one gas into the processing chamber onto a discrete area of the substrate and a photon density sensor extending into the first housing for measuring the temperature of the substrate. The photon density sensor is adapted to move between a first position wherein the photon density sensor is directed to the light source and a second position wherein the photon density sensor is positioned for directing toward the substrate. Preferably, the communication cables comprise optical communication cables, for example sapphire or quartz communication cables. A method of processing a semiconductor substrate includes supporting the substrate in a sealed processing chamber. The substrate is rotated and heated in the processing chamber in which at least one reactant gas is injected. A photon density sensor for measuring the temperature of the substrate is positioned in the processing chamber and is first directed to a light, which is provided in the chamber for measuring the incident photon density from the light and then repositioned to direct the photon density sensor to the substrate to measure the reflection of the light off the substrate. The incident photon density is compared to the reflected light to calculate the substrate temperature.

Method and apparatus for bonding a polarizing plate high in operating efficiency and yield. The apparatus includes a cutting unit for cutting at least a polarizing plate of a strip-shaped film, composed of the polarizing plate and a release film bonded to the polarizing plate, leaving the release film uncut, when a forward end side pre-severed end face of the strip-shaped film perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the strip-shaped film has traveled up to a length corresponding to a length of a substrate, to form a film piece, a release film separating unit for separating the release film from the film piece thus severed, and a bonding unit for bonding the tacky surface of the film piece freed of the release film to a mating position of the substrate so that the forward end side end face of the transported substrate is parallel to the pre-severed end face of the film piece.

The present invention teaches methods of making ammunition having a polymer cartridge casing overmolding a primer inserts made by joining 2 or more primer sections.

An LED lighting device of AC power-driven type having a comparatively simple constitution and a high power efficiency. The device compares a signal voltage (rectified voltage) obtained by rectifying an AC source with a predetermined reference voltage and controls ON/OFF of a driving current to each LED of an LED array in response to a comparison result. In this constitution, a large voltage of AC source enables lighting of more number of LEDs, while a small voltage thereof enables lighting of less number of LEDs, thus enhancing power efficiency of the LED lighting device.

A robotic catheter rotatable device cartridge may include a housing member attachable to a drive mechanism for rotating the cartridge and a catheter attached to the cartridge along an axial direction of the catheter. A slider block may be generally slidable relative to the housing and engaged with one or more steering wires for controlling movement of the catheter in a transverse direction relative to the axial direction. The catheter may include the steering wire(s) engaged therewith and movable in the transverse direction when the slider block is linearly driven in a predetermined direction.

The present invention relates to methods for hindering formation of tobacco-specific nitrosamines during processing of dark fire tobacco, as well as a facility in which at least portions of these methods may be conducted. According to the present invention, dark fire tobacco that has been harvested and that is generally green and/or yellow is exposed to an uncontrolled, yet active, ambient airflow so as to provide a substantially aerobic environment about the tobacco. This exposure of the dark fire tobacco to the ambient airflow may be done until the tobacco is substantially brown and/or substantially free of enzymatic activity. Subsequently, the tobacco is exposed to gaseous emissions (e.g., smoke) from combusting sawdust/wood. This step may be conducted at least until the tobacco exhibits a moisture content of no more than about 16% and/or until the tobacco exhibits a gloss or shine on a surface of the tobacco.

An improvement is provided in a bed having a side rail framework, and at least one dual-position rail assembly which is secured on one side of the bed. The improvement includes a rotatable structure upon which the dual-position rail assembly, is mounted in order to enable the dual-position rail assembly to move between two positively-stopped and automatically locked positions. A first of such positively-stopped and automatically locked positions disposes the dual-position rail assembly in an assist, vertically-oriented, position which is perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the bed. A second of such positively-stopped and automatically locked positions disposes the dual-position rail assembly in a guard, horizontally-oriented, position which is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bed. The lock structure for assuring such stopped and locked position is one which automatically locks and maintain the assist dual-position rail in a selected one of the positively-stopped and automatically locked first position, or the positively-stopped and automatically locked second position. The dual-position rail assembly is not adopted to be operated by the occupant of the bed, but it can be selectively, otherwise operated to aid a person in getting in or out of bed, or to restrain the person within the bed.

Flip-flops in a monolithic three-dimensional (3D) integrated circuit (IC)(3DIC) and related method are disclosed. In one embodiment, a single clock source is provided for the 3DIC and distributed to elements within the 3DIC. Delay is provided to clock paths by selectively controllable flip-flops to help provide synchronous operation. In certain embodiments, 3D flip-flop are provided that include a master latch disposed in a first tier of a 3DIC. The master latch is configured to receive a flip-flop input and a clock input, the master latch configured to provide a master latch output. The 3D flip-flop also includes at least one slave latch disposed in at least one additional tier of the 3DIC, the at least one slave latch configured to provide a 3DIC flip-flop output. The 3D flip-flop also includes at least one monolithic intertier via (MIV) coupling the master latch output to an input of the slave latch.

A system for monitoring the power output levels for each photovoltaic module of a solar array. The system connects individual photovoltaic module with its own voltage level sensing circuit, where the power output data is transferred through wired and wireless means to be efficiently analyzed. In addition to isolating high voltage DC power for safer information, the system enables technicians to quickly ascertain the productivity levels, potential problems, solutions and exact locations relating to each specific photovoltaic module within a solar array.

A flexible, resistive touch screen includes a transparent, flexible substrate; a first conductive layer located on the flexible substrate; a flexible transparent cover sheet having integral compressible spacer dots; and a second conductive layer located on the flexible transparent cover sheet, the peaks of the integral compressible spacer dots extending through the second conductive layer, whereby, when a force is applied to the touch screen at the location of one of the compressible spacer dots, the compressible spacer dot is compressed to allow electrical contact between the first and second conductive layers.

A sport or active shoe that can be stored in a compact configuration can be folded generally in half and secured closed with a closure connected to the heel and toe. The shoe includes a single layer upper to facilitate folding. The shoe can be folded into a very compact configuration and stored conveniently in a pocket, pack, purse, etc., allowing a user to keep a pair of the shoes handy for wearing before or after sports activities or specialized activities requiring specialized or bulky footwear.

The present invention relates to a Light Emitting Diode (LED) selection circuit for an LED driver that drives multiple unequal lengths of LED strings, which selectively turns the LED strings ON and OFF corresponding to an input alternating current (AC) line voltage. The LED driver provides optimal efficiency as input AC line voltage varies from low to high voltages (i.e. 90V to 150V for nominal 120 VAC operation and 190V to 250V for nominal 220 VAC operation). Thus The LED driver can be used internationally since it accepts voltages from virtually every industrialized country in the world. The LED selection circuit in accordance with the present invention comprises a rectifier, multiple LED strings, multiple current sources and a controller. The controller generates multiple signals to the corresponding current source and turns ON and OFF the LED strings.

Embodiments of the present invention generally relate to a clamshell and small volume chamber with a fixed substrate support. One embodiment of a processing chamber includes a fixed substrate support having a substrate receiving surface, a pumping ring disposed around a perimeter of the substrate receiving surface, and a gas distribution assembly disposed over the fixed substrate support. The pumping ring forms at least a portion of a pumping channel and has one or more apertures formed therethrough. The chamber may further include a gas-flow diffuser disposed radially inward of the apertures of the pumping ring. Another embodiment of a processing chamber includes a first assembly comprising a fixed substrate support and a second assembly comprising a gas distribution assembly. The first assembly includes a first assembly body that is shaped and sized so that at least a portion of the first assembly body is below the substrate receiving surface of the substrate support. A hinge assembly couples the first assembly and the second assembly. The first assembly and the second assembly can be selectively positioned between an open position and a closed position.

A mirror or other reflecting surface is used for collecting and reflecting incident solar radiation. The mirror is supported for independent motion about a pair of axes. An accelerometer generates signals representative of an amount and direction of motion of the mirror about each of the axes. Motors or other drive mechanisms independently drive the mirror about each of the axes. A tracking device provides information about the current position of the Sun. A control is connected to the accelerometer, the motors and the tracking device for maintaining a predetermined optimum orientation of the mirror as the Sun moves across the sky. Position sensors that sense the position of the mirror relative to the earth's magnetic field may also be employed.

A countertop thermoelectric assembly includes a countertop forming a food preparation surface at an upper side thereof, at least one Peltier effect device located below the countertop, a thermal transfer plate located between the countertop and the thermoelectric device, a heat sink in thermal communication with the thermoelectric unit, and a controller to selectively operate the thermoelectric unit to cool and/or warm the food preparation surface formed by the countertop. A first temperature sensor located to provide signals representative of a temperature of the countertop. A second temperature sensor located to provide signals representative of a temperature of the heat sink. A condensation shield is located below the heat sink. A moisture sensor is located to provide signals representative of moisture at the condensation shield. At least one fan is located below the countertop to direct air over the heat sink and/or the condensation shield.

A food blender and processor device comprising a motor at the base and a rotating shaft with a plurality of rotatable blade modules, which also includes a safety system that activates to enables activation of the device if the cap is tightly secured onto the top opening of the food blender and process device.

System and method for modeling a nonlinear process. A combined model for predictive optimization or control of a nonlinear process includes a nonlinear approximator, coupled to a parameterized dynamic or static model, operable to model the nonlinear process. The nonlinear approximator receives process inputs, and generates parameters for the parameterized dynamic model. The parameterized dynamic model receives the parameters and process inputs, and generates predicted process outputs based on the parameters and process inputs, where the predicted process outputs are useable to analyze and/or control the nonlinear process. The combined model may be trained in an integrated manner, e.g., substantially concurrently, by identifying process inputs and outputs (I/O), collecting data for process I/O, determining constraints on model behavior from prior knowledge, formulating an optimization problem, executing an optimization algorithm to determine model parameters subject to the determined constraints, and verifying the compliance of the model with the constraints.

The invention discloses a method and a device for transmitting control information, and provides a diversity transmission model-based control information transmitting mode. The method for transmitting the control information comprises the following steps of: ensuring that each enhanced-control channel elements E-CCE for transmitting an enhanced-physical downlink control channel (E-PDCCH) comprises a plurality of enhanced-resource element groups (E-REGs) with the same quantity, and the E-REGs of each E-CCE are respectively assigned to different frequency RB (resource blocks); and bearing each downlink control information (DCI) transmitted on the E-PDCCH into at least one E-CCE to be transmitted. Each part in one DCI is respectively borne on a plurality of different frequency bands which correspond to the E-PDCCH to be transmitted, so that the transmitting stability and reliability of the DCI can be improved.