Abstract:
A towing device comprising a power-assisted spider wheel assembly for ascending and descending stairwells is capable of avoiding unintentional back turning hazards that may result while descending shallower stairwells by applying torque alternatively in the climb-down and climb-up direction to the spider assembly responsive to the angle formed between the spider assembly and lower stair riser. This ensures that the unit will not suddenly fall to a lower tread, which results if the lower-leaning wheel is not first pinned against the lower inside riser and rolls forward instead. The torque exerting means may also lock said spider assembly in a fixed arbitrary orientation during ascent and descent to allow the spider assembly to achieve a safe orientation before stopping mid-stairwell increasing safety.
Abstract:
A wheeled vehicle comprising a power-driven spider assembly for ascending and descending stairs. The vehicle includes an angular position sensor providing input to a controller operable to control a servo-motor to effectively lock the position of the spider relative to the frame, regardless of the hand truck's spatial orientation relative to a vertical plane, or any balancing of the hand truck. The angular position sensor provides input to the controller, which is programmed with predefined angular zones of instability, and causes the controller to accelerate rotation of the spiders through those zones when the wheeled vehicle is in the descent mode, to avoid instability of the hand truck. A hand truck may include a removable basket and/or a pivotable platform usable to transport loads.
Abstract:
A collapseable spider wheel assembly on a towing device enables storage of the device into a standard rectangular space. Once collapsed, the collapsible spider assembly is protected within the body of the towing device. Furthermore, actuation of the folding and unfolding may be accomplished through the usual telescoping of the carrying handle of such a device, such as in a suitcase embodiment. While the spider wheels are in the open position, the carrying apparatus may exert a drive force to climb up stairs and braking force to descend stairs. The unit operates as a normal wheeled carrying apparatus while traversing a horizontal surface.
Abstract:
A method for controlling the chemical composition of an electroplating bath solution used to plate a plurality of substrates by providing the electroplating bath solution to a small-volume plating cell configured to minimize additive breakdown, and discarding the electroplating bath after a predetermined bath lifetime. The method includes predetermining a lifetime of an electroplating bath solution having a desired chemical composition, combining a plurality of electroplating bath solution components thereby forming the electroplating bath solution having the desired chemical composition, filling a small-volume plating cell with the electroplating bath solution, plating a plurality of substrates in the electroplating bath solution until the bath lifetime is reached; and discarding the electroplating bath solution after the bath lifetime is reached.
Abstract:
The present invention relates to methods in fabrication of electronics and optoelectronics devices. Devices are first fabricated on the substrate, followed by novel substrate thinning processes from slicing the substrate sidewall. This invention is further directed to methods of separating a substrate into two pieces with a laser irradiation on substrate sidewall. In one embodiment, the method involves a laser anneal of the materials, accompanied by forces applied from front and back surfaces to separate the substrate. In yet another embodiment, the method consists of both laser ablation and laser anneal process steps.
Abstract:
An ablation catheter (10) is provided for ablating internal tissue of a patient. The catheter includes a distal end that is adapted to be inserted into a body cavity relative to a desired location therein (e.g., within the heart). An ablation electrode (22) is connected relative to the distal end of the catheter (10) for providing ablation energy to patient tissue. A heat sink (40) is provided that is in thermal contact with the ablation electrode (22). The heat sink (40), in addition to being in thermal contact with the ablation electrode (22), is electrically isolated from the ablation electrode (22). This allows the heat sink (40) to conduct heat away from the ablation electrode (22) without dissipating electrical energy from the electrode (22). In this regard, the heat sink (40) may prevent build-up of excess heat within the electrode (22) that may result in blood coagulation and/or tissue charring.