Abstract:
The invention describes a unique and novel pyrolysis kiln for separating water vapor from a carbonaceous feedstock early in the pyrolysis process. The kiln structure includes two fans, one located near the proximal end of the kiln, the other near the kiln's distal end. Both fans create a local decrease in pressure at the respective ends with a dead zone in the intermediate region between the two ends of the kiln. At the proximal end, low temperature volatiles are removed, especially water vapor, and directed to a waste water cleanup station. Early removal of the water vapor makes the remaining pyrolysis process substantially more efficient. At the distal end, the high temperature hydrocarbons and other impurities are removed in a conventional manner and directed to a hot gas cleanup unit.
Abstract:
A system and method for measuring thermal distributions of an electronic device during operation is disclosed. The system includes an electronic device, a heat sink adjacent to the electronic device and an electrical-insulating layer disposed on the electronic device so as to separate the electronic device and the heat sink. The system further includes a plurality of thermal sensors located on the electrical-insulating layer, each of the plurality of thermal sensors in a different location. The plurality of thermal sensors is located within one or more thin film circuit layers disposed adjacent to the electrical insulating layer. The system further includes a module for receiving thermal information from the plurality of thermal sensors during operation of the electronic device. The system further includes a processor coupled to the module for generating a thermal distribution of the electronic device based on the thermal information received from the plurality of thermal sensors.
Abstract:
A system and method for maintaining a dispensing system a desired distance between a dispenser and a surface is shown. The system includes a light-emitting device, connected to the dispenser, that emits light in the direction of the surface. The emitted light is reflected off of the surface as well as a mirror connected to the dispenser. Subsequently, all reflected light is received by a sensor. Using the sensor data, a computer calculates the distance between the dispenser and the surface. A servo device then adjusts the location of the dispenser, in accordance with the calculated distance, in order to maintain the desired distance between the dispenser and the surface. One advantage of the system and method is the increased ability to maintain a desired distance between the dispenser and the surface. This can lead to increased and higher quality production by a dispensing system.
Abstract:
A self-alignment process for the precise alignment in a deposited diamond-like carbon (DLC), which results in a wider viewing angle for the display being manufactured. The process involves ion bombardment, which is swept across the liquid crystal panel in a two-pass process. In one embodiment, both ion sweeps are aligned at a 45-degree angle with respect to the bottom edge of the panel. The first pass is accomplished without any electrical bias on the panel. During the first pass the impinging ions may be at an angle with respect to a point on a plane defined by the surface of the panel that is less than 90 degrees. The second ion sweep is accomplished with the impinging ions at a second angle, greater than 90 degrees up to 180 degrees with respect to the point on the plane defined by the surface.
Abstract:
A tag structure suitable for attachment to an object includes one or more bimorphs comprised of a thin strip of a magnetostrictive material attached to a thicker bar of hard magnetic material. The tag is preferably excited using either magnetic or acoustic fields, tuned to the resonance of the bimorphs. The excitation induces strain in the bimorph which causes mechanical vibrations in the bimorph which are sensed acoustically or magnetically, giving rise to a code. A device for detecting the output of the tag is provided along with a device for decoding the output from the detecting means thereby to identify the object.
Abstract:
An apparatus for generating a focusable and scannable ultrasonic beam for e in nondestructive internal examination of an object. In one embodiment an optical mask modifies a pulsed light beam to form an optical zone pattern. The zone pattern is imaged on the surface of an optically absorbing thermoelastic layer in contact with a propagation medium. An ultrasonic beam is thereby generated which focuses at a point in an object submerged in the propagation medium. An optical lens and a mirror respectively focus and scan the modified light beam, whereby the ultrasonic beam is also focused and scanned. A second embodiment utilizes an acousto-optic modulator to modify the light beam and cause scanning and focusing of the ultrasonic beam. Suitable detectors and instrumentation may be provided to analyze the ultrasonic beam after it has traversed the object under examination.
Abstract:
Method of ablating the surface of a substrate including providing a dry substrate and an electrolyte source, ablating the surface of the dry substrate to at least partially remove a native oxide layer, and immersing the ablated dry substrate in the electrolyte source, in which the dry substrate is ablated prior to being introduced into the electrolyte source. Also provided is a method of ablating the surface of a substrate that includes providing a dry substrate and an electrolyte, depositing a portion of the electrolyte on the substrate at a thickness of less than 10 microns and ablating the surface of the substrate with the electrolyte applied thereon. System for use in the ablation of the surface of a substrate are also provided.
Abstract:
A system and method for collecting hot coal tar gases emanating from a coal containing pyrolytic kiln are described. The hot coal tar gases, comprising a variety of different hydrocarbons as well as inorganic gases arising from the kiln thermal processing are transferred by diffusion and forced convection to a thermal duct in which the temperature is controlled to be maintained at a temperature below that of the kiln. The gaseous hydrocarbon with the highest condensation temperature is the first to liquefy. Additional useful hydrocarbons liquefy as the temperature of the gas continues to cool from the kiln temperature of ˜5000 C to one approaching the minimum duct temperature, ˜175° C. After a number of desirable hydrocarbons present in the coal tar gas have liquefied, the liquid contents are collected, either separately or as a combination of liquid hydrocarbons. The several remaining inorganic and some hydrocarbons gases with condensation temperatures below the minimum duct temperature are separately collected in gaseous form for further processing and/or safe disposal.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for in-situ annealing of metal layers as they are being plated on a substrate by action of a chemical solution are provided. The in-situ annealing, in conjunction with controlled slow growth rates, allows control of the structure of the plated metal layers. The systems and methods are used for maskless plating of the substrates.
Abstract:
Systems and methods for protecting radio frequency identification cards from unauthorized interrogation are provided herein. In some embodiments, the system includes a card having a first card portion, second card portion, and a spacer located between the first card portion and second card portion, each of the first and second card portions having an inner surface and an outer surface. A logic and memory chip is affixed to the inner surface of first card portion. An antenna is connected to the chip. The antenna has a gap that cause the antenna to be electrically discontinuous thereby making the chip inactive to interrogation. A spring-like member that has an electrically conducting portion is positioned in proximity to the gap in the antenna. The spring-like member can be selectively moved substantially across the gap to complete an antenna circuit and make the chip susceptible to interrogation.