Techniques for determining time of arrivals (TOAs) of signals in a wireless communication network are described. Each cell may transmit (i) synchronization signals on a set of contiguous subcarriers in the center portion of the system bandwidth and (ii) reference signals on different sets of non-contiguous subcarriers distributed across the system bandwidth. A UE may determine TOA for a cell based on multiple signals transmitted on different sets of subcarriers. The UE may perform correlation for a first signal (e.g., a synchronization signal) from the cell to obtain first correlation results for different time offsets. The UE may perform correlation for a second signal (e.g., a reference signal) from the cell to obtain second correlation results for different time offsets. The UE may combine the first and second correlation results and may determine the TOA for the cell based on the combined correlation results.

A system and method to display, when within an envelope of an ownship's flight path, a symbol representing wake turbulence from another aircraft based on aircraft type and flight parameters received from the other aircraft, the symbol being formatted to indicate the severity of portions of the wake turbulence. The format is modified periodically in accordance with the aircraft's flight path and a decay rate of the wake turbulence.

According to one aspect of the present invention, a radar system is provided which accurately measures the surface profile in a wide sector beneath and forward of a helicopter, to aid low level transit and landing in poor visibility. This uses an electronic beam synthesis technique to form multiple beams directed at the area of interest, each measuring the distance to the first reflected signal received by each beam. These distances represent the profile of the ground and any objects on the ground. A processor then compares the measured profile with the ideal ground profile for safe landing. If the deviations from straight and level exceed the specified requirement for safe landing, or if sufficient rotor clearance is not detected, then a warning is given to the operator. A display will show the measured ground profile highlighting the unsafe regions, allowing the operator to seek a safe region to land. The novelty lies in the way the beams are formed to measure and display the ground profile and provide a warning system. This beam-forming technique is simpler and more cost effective than with a conventional phased array radar.

A signal processing device, which includes an echo signal input module for inputting echo signals from an antenna discharging electromagnetic waves to a predetermined area and receiving the echo signals reflected on a target object, an echo signal level detection module for detecting a level of each of the echo signals from each location within the predetermined area, a target object detection module for detecting the target object based on the levels of the echo signals, a correlation processing module for performing scan-to-scan correlation processing of a plurality of scans, and a level adjustment module for adjusting the levels of the echo signals after the scan-to-scan correlation processing. The level adjustment module adjusts the levels of the echo signals corresponding to the locations where the target object detection module detects the target object.

A method for processing return radar waveforms in response to transmitted radar waveforms. The method includes receiving, with a processor, a return radar waveform having a Doppler shift larger than Doppler tolerance. The method also includes separating, with the processor, the return radar waveform into a plurality of shortened waveforms. The method also includes compressing, with the processor, each of the plurality of shortened waveforms with a shortened form of the return radar waveform. The method also includes summing, with the processor, the plurality of compressed, shortened waveforms by computing a Doppler Fourier transform for each radar range bin of the return radar waveform using the plurality of compressed, shortened waveforms.

Multi-pattern transmission of frames. The method of operations comprises transmitting a first portion of a frame using a first radiation pattern. The frame comprises one or more preambles and a single data portion associated with the one or more preambles. Thereafter, an operation is conducted to switch the radiation pattern from the first radiation pattern, used to produce the first portion of the frame, to a second radiation pattern. A second portion of the same frame is produced using the second radiation pattern.

Techniques for positioning access points and terminals in WLANs and other wireless networks are described. For access point positioning, measurements are obtained for at least one access point in a WLAN. The measurements may be based on transmission sequences (e.g., beacon frames) transmitted periodically by each access point. The measurements may be made by multiple terminals at different locations or a single mobile terminal at different locations. The location of each access point is determined based on the measurements and known locations of the terminal(s). For terminal positioning, measurements for at least one access point in a WLAN are obtained. The location of the terminal is determined based on the measurements and known location of each access point. The measurements may be round trip time (RTT) measurements, observed time difference (OTD) measurements, time of arrival (TOA) measurements, signal strength measurements, signal quality measurements, etc.

A positive response notification to provide information regarding locate and/or marking operations for underground facilities may include time-stamp information to provide proof of a time at which the locate and/or marking operation was completed by a locate technician, and/or place-stamp information to provide proof of a presence of the locate technician at or near a work site. An electronic manifest image and/or a virtual white line image similarly may be included in a positive response notification. In one example, such images may be bundled together based on respective descriptor files (or descriptor metadata) that associates the corresponding images with a locate request ticket for the operation. In another example, a positive response notification may include environmental information regarding one or more environmental conditions present at or near the work site during the locate and/or marking operation.

A detector arrangement related to a contact device in a system for driving an electrically propellable vehicle along a roadway. The system comprises a plurality of road sections subdividing the roadway, each one connected to one or more electric stations for charging a set of batteries of the vehicle and/or supplying the necessary power and energy for driving the vehicle forward. The contact device comprises displaceable current collectors disposed underneath the vehicle, which are moveable up and down and sideways. The current collectors are coordinated with control equipment to bring the current collector into mechanical and electrical contact with conducting rails arranged in a track in the roadway. The detector arrangement comprises one or more coils and is adapted to sense the variation of a magnetic field generated by additional electrical conductors disposed in the track.

Described herein are improved configurations for a wireless power transfer involving photovoltaic panels. Described are methods and designs that use electric energy from a photovoltaic module to energize at least one wireless energy source to produce an oscillating magnetic field for wireless energy transfer. The source may be configured and tuned to present an impedance to a photovoltaic module wherein said impedance enables substantial extraction of energy from said photovoltaic module.

A wireless power feeder feeds power from a feeding coil L2 to a receiving coil L3 by wireless using a magnetic field coupling between the feeding coil L2 and the receiving coil L3. The feeding coil L2 is formed so as to be rotated. A power transmission control circuit supplies AC power to the feeding coil L2 to make the feeding coil L2 feed the AC power to the receiving coil L3. The power transmission control circuit rotates the feeding coil L2 to change the opposing area between the feeding coil L2 and the receiving coil L3 as viewed in the axis direction of the feeding coil L2 to thereby adjust the AC power to be supplied from the feeding coil L2 to the receiving coil L3.

An inductive power outlet for providing power to an electric load via an inductive power receiver includes at least one primary inductive coil wired to a power supply via a driver configured to provide a driving voltage across the primary inductive coil such that a secondary voltage is induced in a secondary inductive coil associated with the inductive power receiver. The driver may include a controller configured to receive feedback control signals from the inductive power receiver indicating if more or less power is required. The controller may be further configured to adjust the driving voltage according to the control signals.

A transmit pad inspection device includes a magnetic coupling device, which includes an inductive circuit that is configured to magnetically couple to a primary circuit of a charging device in a transmit pad through an alternating current (AC) magnetic field. The inductive circuit functions as a secondary circuit for a set of magnetically coupled coils. The magnetic coupling device further includes a rectification circuit, and includes a controllable load bank or is configured to be connected to an external controllable load back. The transmit pad inspection device is configured to determine the efficiency of power transfer under various coupling conditions. In addition, the transmit pad inspection device can be configured to measure residual magnetic field and the frequency of the input current, and to determine whether the charging device has been installed properly.

Systems and methods to operate a power supply. A power supply has an inductor and a capacitor coupled in a substantially series connection. The power supply has a first selectably conductive path that selectably couples a first power pack to the series reactive circuit and a second selectably conductive path that selectably couples the series reactive circuit to a substantially series combination of the first power pack and a second power pack. When the first power pack output voltage is above the threshold, the first selectably conductive path couples electrical current between the first power pack to the series reactive circuit. Otherwise, the second selectably conductive path couples electrical current between the series combination and the series reactive circuit. The controller further transfers charge from the second power pack to the first power pack.

The power of DC electrical sources is combined onto a DC buss, such that each source behaves independently from any other source attached to the buss. In one embodiment, a converter module is attached to each of a plurality of solar photovoltaic panels and its output is attached in a parallel manner to a common buss that forms the input to a DC AC inverter. The converter module includes a Maximum Power Point Tracking component that matches the output impedance of the panels to the input impedance of the converter module. The converter also includes a communication component that provides parametric data and identification to a central inverter. Data generated by each converter module is transmitted over the power line or by wireless means and is collected at the inverter and forwarded to a data collection and reporting system.

A circuit and method for wirelessly coupling an electrical energy between an electrical energy source and at least one load is provided. The circuit comprises a primary unit and at least one secondary unit. The primary unit includes an input node for receiving an input voltage produced by the energy source; a transmitter circuit including a transmitter coil configured to generate an electromagnetic field; and a regulator. The regulator is configured to sense a current consumption of the primary unit, determine a gradient of the current consumption with respect to different input voltages, and determine an optimal input voltage based on the gradient. The at least one secondary unit comprises a receiver circuit and a load. The receiver unit includes a coil that wirelessly and inductively couples with the electromagnetic field of the primary unit to receive power therefrom. The receiver unit further includes a regulator circuit configured to provide a constant power to an output node.

A system and method for combining power from DC power sources. Each power source is coupled to a converter. Each converter converts input power to output power by monitoring and maintaining the input power at a maximum power point. Substantially all input power is converted to the output power, and the controlling is performed by allowing output voltage of the converter to vary. The converters are coupled in series. An inverter is connected in parallel with the series connection of the converters and inverts a DC input to the inverter from the converters into an AC output. The inverter maintains the voltage at the inverter input at a desirable voltage by varying the amount of the series current drawn from the converters. The series current and the output power of the converters, determine the output voltage at each converter.

An insertion and removal assembly for installing and removing hard drives from an enclosure, such as a computer chassis, is provided. The insertion and removal assembly includes a sliding member configured to receive a hard drive, a lever handle rotatably connected to the sliding member and an attachment wall having a plurality of protrusions defining a plurality of slots, each slot configured to receive one sliding member. A user reveals a slot for accepting the installation of the hard drive in the enclosure by pushing a tab on the attachment wall near a distal portion of the lever handle to release the lever handle and then pulling the lever handle outward exposing the sliding member. A hard drive is inserted into the sliding member and pushed inwardly into the chassis. Conversely, the sliding member can contain a hard drive which is partially ejected by unlatching and subsequently pulling the lever.

An electronic device may be provided with a printed circuit board having padded through-holes. The padded through-holes may be formed from openings in a printed circuit board substrate and elastomeric members in the openings. The elastomeric members may be conductive elastomeric members such as electrically or thermally conductive elastomeric members. The printed circuit board may be secured within a housing for the electronic device using engagement members that extend through padded through-holes. The engagement members may engage with the housing or with additional engagement members that are attached to the housing. The electronic device may include a cowling structure formed over electronic components on a surface of the printed circuit board. The cowling structure may be secured to the printed circuit board using attachment members that engage with the engagement members in the padded through-holes.

An apparatus includes a first substrate having a first land and a second substrate having a second land. A first molding compound is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. A first semiconductor chip is disposed on the first substrate and in contact with the first molding portion. A first connector contacts the first land and a second connector contacts the second land. The second connector is disposed on the first connector. A volume of the second connector is greater than a volume of the first connector. A surface of the first semiconductor chip is exposed. The first molding compound is in contact with the second connector, and at least a portion of the second connector is surrounded by the first molding compound.

An apparatus for reducing EMI at the micro-electronic-component level includes a substrate having a ground conductor integrated therein. A micro-electronic component such as an integrated circuit is mounted to the substrate. An electrically conductive lid is mounted to the substrate, thereby forming a physical interface with the substrate. The electrically conductive lid substantially covers the micro-electronic component. A conductive link is provided to create an electrical connection between the electrically conductive lid and the ground conductor at the physical interface.

The present invention is directed to a circuit interrupting device including an actuator that provides an actuator stimulus upon the occurrence of the fault actuation signal. A circuit interrupter is positioned to electrically disconnect the first, second and third electrical conductors from each other upon the occurrence of the actuator stimulus. An automated test circuit is coupled to the circuit interrupting assembly. The automated test circuit is configured to automatically produce the simulated fault condition during a predetermined portion of an AC line cycle to determine whether the fault detection assembly is operational such that the fault detection assembly provides a fault detection signal without the circuit interrupter electrically disconnecting the first, second and third electrical conductors from each other. The automated test circuit is further configured to provide a device failure mode signal such that a plurality of the first, second or third electrical conductors are disconnected from each other if the fault detection signal is not detected within a predetermined time frame.

An electrostatic discharge (ESD) protection circuit is provided. The ESD protection circuit includes an impedance device coupled between a pad and a power line and a clamp unit coupled between the pad and a ground line.

A brake system and related components including a metering device are configured to regulate a control signal received from a brake control device such that a control valve delays the supply of a level of requested braking pressure for a prescribed amount of time. The metering device can be an inversion valve and orificed check valve in a control circuit adapted to allow relatively unrestricted flow until a threshold pressure is reached, after which pressure the inversion valve closes and the flow is metered through an orifice. This has the effect of allowing rapid brake actuation to a first level, and then slowing further application of the brake until full requested braking is achieved. An electronic control unit can also be configured to regulate a control signal to delay development of the requested brake pressure.

In some aspects, a master cylinder assembly for vertical lift aircraft is configured to move pressurized fluid through a conduit in response to applied movement of an input lever. A low pressure relief valve can be connected to a first conduit to limit pressure to a low level. An isolation valve can be connected to the first conduit and configured to isolate the low pressure relief valve from the conduit when engaged. A high pressure relief valve can be connected to a second fluid conduit to limit pressure to a high level. In some aspects, a rotor brake actuator is fluidly connected to the first conduit and the second conduit and configured to engage a rotor brake in response to hydraulic fluid pressure.

A brake control system for motor vehicles includes a stability system for stabilizing the vehicle from the standpoint of driving dynamics during braking, a triggering unit for the automatic output of a braking demand as a function of the traffic situation, a braking unit which converts the braking demand into a braking action, and a control unit for modifying the braking demand prior to its implementation as a function of the state of the stability system.

A pressure control reservoir includes a valve ball and a shaft which is movable to move the valve ball to open or close a fluid path leading to a fluid reservoir chamber. The shaft has a tip with a slant surface which has a peripheral edge of a polygonal shape with even numbers of vertices and is inclined to the longitudinal center line of the shaft. Such a polygonal geometry increases an entire or inclined length of the slant surface, which results in an increased range where an angle which the slant surface makes with a plane extending perpendicular to an axial direction of the tip is permitted to be increased without causing the point of contact between the valve ball and the slant surface to be shifted close to the tip of the slant surface when the tip of the shaft moves the valve ball.

An electric braking device for a vehicle. The device includes: front wheel and/or rear wheel braking modules that are not powered when the vehicle is in a standby state; at least one on-board computer; at least one user control module which, upon a user's request, delivers a power supply control signal to control the power supply to the braking modules and braking control signals to activate the braking modules when the modules are powered; and a mechanism for cutting the power supply to the braking modules once the vehicle has zero speed and the wheels are immobilized under action of the braking modules. The device can reduce the power consumption of vehicles.

In a pump housing of a motor-vehicle hydraulic assembly, on which at least two inlet-valve openings, at least two outlet-valve openings, at least one high-pressure control valve opening and at least one switchover-valve opening and a pressure-sensor connection are formed. The at least two inlet-valve openings are arranged in a first row, the at least two outlet-valve openings are arranged in a following second row, the pressure sensor connection is arranged in a further following third row, and the at least one high-pressure control valve opening and the at least one switchover valve opening are arranged in a further following fourth row. There are also five embodiments of arrangements of connecting lines and holes in a pump housing for the short connection of the valve openings and connections, and one embodiment with respect to the use of the pump housing according to one of the six embodiments.

When a trailer is pulled by a tow vehicle where the trailer begins to sway to the left and right of the tow vehicle a large sway can result in loss of control of the trailer and or tow vehicle. The field of the present invention is a system and method of controlling a trailer sway which comprises determining the sway of the trailer utilizing an electronic sensor and independently applying the left and or right trailer brakes at varying levels to reduce trailer sway the traditional single braking signal power from the tow vehicle is separated into two independent braking signals for each of the left and right brakes. All brakes are applied whenever the traditional braking signal goes active where trailer battery power is utilized to independently activate the left and or right brakes during trailer sway.

A system for electrical braking of a vehicle comprises a power bus coupled to a first driver associated with a first electromechanical actuator (EMA). The power bus is also coupled to a second driver associated with a second EMA, and the first EMA and the second EMA are associated with a wheel of the vehicle. The power bus provides braking power to the first EMA via the first driver and to the second EMA via the second driver. A normal braking command interface provides a first braking signal to the first driver and a second braking signal to the second driver. An emergency/park brake interface bypasses the normal braking command interface and sends a first emergency/park braking signal to the first driver and a second emergency/park braking signal to the second driver. A sensor measures a current at a single location of the power bus that is proportional to a braking force exerted on the wheel.

A pressure control valve arrangement for controlling a fluid pressure in an ABS brake system of a vehicle so that, while there is a tendency of individual wheels of the vehicle to lock, the brake pressure in at least one associated brake cylinder can be adaptively adjusted, including: a housing; and at least one diaphragm valve is accommodated in the housing, the diaphragm valve having a diaphragm as the valve body, which diaphragm can be acted upon by introducing pressure medium into a control chamber that is covered on the outside of the housing by a cover so that the control chamber is formed between the diaphragm and the cover, wherein at least one pressure medium channel carrying pressure medium is formed in the housing in the region of the cover, wherein at least one cover has at least one projection projecting into the pressure medium channel in the housing, a pressure medium guiding surface for directing the flow of the pressure medium carried in the pressure medium channel being formed on the projection.

To achieve peak acoustic and power performance, the coil or applied current should be in phase or substantially aligned with the back electromotive force (back-EMF) voltage. However, there are generally phase differences between the applied current and back-EMF voltage that are induced by the impedance of the brushless DC motor (which can vary based on conditions, such as temperature and motor speed). Traditionally, compensation for these phase differences was provided manually and on an as-needed basis. Here, however, a system and method are provided that automatically perform a commutation advance by incrementally adjusting a drive signal over successive commutation cycles when the applied current and back-EMF voltage are misaligned.

A driving circuit for a single-phase-brushless motor includes a driving-signal-generating circuit to generate a driving signal for supplying, to a driving coil of the single-phase-brushless motor, first- and second-driving currents alternately with a de-energized period therebetween, an output circuit, and a zero-cross-detecting circuit. While measuring a driving cycle from a start of an energized period, during which the output circuit supplies the first- or the second-driving current to the driving coil, to a time when the zero-cross-detecting circuit detects a zero cross of an induced voltage, generated across the driving coil, during the de-energized period, the driving-signal-generating circuit determines a length of a subsequent energized period based on the measured driving cycle, when the zero-cross-detecting circuit detects the zero-cross, and the driving-signal-generating circuit determines a length of an immediately previous energized period as a length of a subsequent energized period, when the zero-cross-detecting circuit does not detect the zero-cross.

The present invention relates to a drive apparatus and drive method for switching an energization mode when a voltage of a non-energized phase of a brushless motor crosses a threshold. In threshold learning, first, the brushless motor is stopped at an initial position. The brushless motor is then rotated by performing phase energization based on the energization mode from the stopped state. The voltage of the non-energized phase at an angular position of switching the energization mode is detected from a maximum value or a minimum value of the voltage of the non-energized phase during the rotation, and the threshold is learned based on the detected voltage. Alternatively, the brushless motor is positioned at the angular position of switching the energization mode by maintaining one energization mode, and then the energization mode is switched to the next energization mode. The voltage of the non-energized phase immediately after the switching to the energization mode is detected, and the detected voltage of the non-energized phase is learned as the threshold used to determine the timing of switching to the next energization mode.

A control circuit for a blender provides low-cost power conditioning through the use of a high resistance which provides temporary power for operation of low-voltage logic circuitry and low-voltage switches for a time sufficient to switch the motor on, and a lower resistance which provides sufficient power for maintaining the motor on state indefinitely as instructed by the low-voltage logic circuitry. Low average power dissipation is provided by powering the low-voltage logic circuitry and low-voltage switches using the high resistance in a standby mode and switching in the lower resistance only when the motor is activated.

In order to process a motor signal (Ia, Um) of a DC motor (4), in particular of an adjustment drive of a motor vehicle, the armature current (Ia) and the motor voltage (Um) of the DC motor (4) are detected and used for determining the back-emf (E) of the DC motor (4), wherein the determined back-emf (E) is used to generate a useful signal (Sf, SEFL), which is in particular speed-proportional, from the armature current signal (Ia) for position sensing or for evaluating an excess force limitation.

Embodiments of the present method and system permit an effective method for determining the optimum selection of pulse width modulation polarity and type including determining machine parameters, inputting the machine parameters into a predicted duty cycle module, determining the optimum polarity of the pulse width modulation for a predicted duty cycle based on a pulse width modulation generation algorithm, and determining the optimum type of the pulse width modulation for a predicted duty cycle based on the pulse width modulation generation algorithm.

A system to monitor the temperature of power electronic devices in a motor drive includes a base plate defining a planar surface on which the electronic devices and/or circuit boards within the motor drive may be mounted. The power electronic devices are mounted to the base plate through the direct bond copper (DBC). A circuit board is mounted to the base plate which includes a temperature sensor mounted on the circuit board proximate to the power electronic devices. The temperature sensor generates a digital signal corresponding to the temperature measured by the sensor. A copper pad is included between each layer of the circuit board and between the first layer of the circuit board and the sensor. The circuit board also includes vias extending through each layer of the board. The copper pads and vias establish a thermally conductive path between the temperature sensor and the base plate.

Assemblies for HVAC systems and methods of operating HVAC systems are disclosed, including a method of operating an HVAC system having a compressor assembly and a condenser assembly. The compressor assembly includes a compressor having a compressor motor that is susceptible to backspinning and capable of generating electric power when backspinning. The condenser assembly includes a condenser motor operatively coupled to a fan. The condenser assembly is electrically coupled to the compressor assembly. The method includes using the condenser motor as an electric load to dissipate electric power generated by the compressor motor when the compressor motor backspins.

The invention relates to a method for detecting blocking or sluggishness (M1, M3) of a DC motor (2). The method comprises the following steps: applying a voltage pulse (Uv,t=Os) to the DC motor (2); monitoring a motor current (IMotor) flowing through the DC motor (2); detecting a maximum value of the motor current (IMotor) following the application of the voltage pulse; checking whether a change in the motor current (IMotor) after reaching the maximum value exceeds a specific amount; signalling the blocking or the sluggishness (M1, M3) of the DC motor (2) if the change in the motor current (IMotor) after reaching the maximum value exceeds the specific amount.

A substrate processing system and substrate transferring method capable of transferring a substrate bi-directionally through the use of substrate transferring device provided between two rows of processing chambers arranged linearly, thereby improving the substrate-transferring efficiency, the substrate processing system includes a transfer chamber having at least one bi-directional substrate transferring device for bi-directionally transferring a substrate; and a plurality of processing chambers for applying a semiconductor-manufacturing process to the substrate, wherein the plurality of processing chambers are linearly arranged along two rows confronting each other, and the transfer chamber is interposed between the two rows of the processing chambers, wherein the bi-directional substrate transferring device have a moving unit inside the transfer chamber, and horizontally moved by a linear motor; and a bi-directional substrate transferring unit in the moving unit, the bi-directional substrate transferring unit transferring the substrate to the processing chamber through a bi-directional sliding movement.

Methods and apparatus for transferring one or more substrates from a first pressure environment to a second pressure environment is provided. In one embodiment, a load lock chamber is provided. The load lock chamber comprises a first circular housing, and a second circular housing disposed within and movable relative to the first circular housing, one of the first circular housing or the second circular housing comprising a plurality of discrete regions, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of discrete regions are in selective fluid communication with one of at least two vacuum pumps based on the angular position of the second circular housing relative to the first circular housing.

Reduction in cooling rate of a substrate having a lower temperature is suppressed because the substrate having a lower temperature is not affected by radiant heat of a substrate having a higher temperature while cooling a plurality of substrates in a cooling chamber. The substrate processing apparatus includes a load lock chamber configured to accommodate stacked substrates; a first transfer mechanism having a first transfer arm provided with a first end effector, and configured to transfer the substrates into/from the load lock chamber at a first side of the load lock chamber; a second transfer mechanism having a second transfer arm provided with a second end effector, and configured to transfer the substrates into/from the load lock chamber at a second side of the load lock chamber; a barrier installed between the substrates to be spaced apart from the substrates supported by a substrate support provided in the load lock chamber; and an auxiliary barrier unit installed between the substrate support and the barrier, wherein the auxiliary barrier unit is installed at places other than standby spaces of the end effectors.

An apparatus for loading and unloading a truck with cargo includes a mounting frame for attaching adjacent to a truck doorway. The mounting frame includes a first guide member forming a first channel, a first support member slideably received within the first channel, a second guide member forming a second channel, and a second support member slideably received within the second channel. A platform for supporting the cargo is pivotally coupled to the first support member and to the second support member. A power driven lift elevator slides the first support member within the first channel and slides the second support member within the second channel to thereby raise and lower the platform. A power driven platform elevator pivots the platform respect to the first and second support members to move the platform between horizontal and vertical positions.

In some aspects, an unloading device for a pipe processing system includes a depositing carriage having a depositing surface for depositing a pipe during and/or after a pipe processing operation, the depositing carriage being configured to move in a longitudinal direction of the pipe, and a supporting carriage having a supporting member for the pipe, the supporting member having a wall for radially supporting the pipe, and the supporting carriage being configured to move in a longitudinal direction of the pipe, where the depositing surface of the depositing carriage and/or the supporting member of the supporting carriage is configured to move in at least one other direction in addition to the longitudinal direction of the pipe so that the depositing carriage and the supporting carriage can be at least partially moved past each other along the longitudinal direction of the pipe.

A storage system for items such as substrate carriers includes at least one stocker including a plurality of storage areas each adapted to store at least one storage device. At least one movable support is arranged on the at least one stocker. A control controls movement of the at least one movable support at least between a first position wherein the at least one movable support receives the at least one storage device outside one of the storage areas and a second position wherein the at least one movable support is arranged substantially within the one of the storage areas.

A grain bin access door and chute system that can be retrofitted into existing grain bins or installed in new grain bins. The access panel includes an outer door and an inner door and allows a user to quickly access and assess the grain within a bin without fear of falling into the grain or through the crust of grain which can form a bridge on the top of grain. The access door includes a lever-controlled chute door and pipe-chute connection. This allows grain to be gravity fed into awaiting grain trucks or rail cars without using a more dangerous grain auger and without relying on outside energy sources. Additionally, grain transferred through a gravity-fed method is less likely to become damaged than grain transferred through a grain auger. An optional grain agitator may likewise be installed within the grain bin.

A combine harvester grain bulk tank and grain unloading system includes opposed bulk tank augers and an unloading auger formed in a grain bulk tank of a combine harvester. The bulk tank augers are for receiving and conveying grain through the bulk tank to the unloading auger, and the unloading auger is for receiving grain from the bulk tank augers and conveying grain to a grain unloading spout for grain unloading. A primary drive gear is coupled to the unloading auger and to an input, a secondary drive gear is drivingly coupled to the bulk tank augers, and a clutch is coupled between the primary drive gear and the secondary drive gear, which is movable between an engaged position for transferring power from the input to the unloading auger and to the bulk tank augers, and a disengaged position for isolating the bulk tank augers from the primary drive gear.

Boom drive apparatus for substrate transport systems and methods are described. The boom drive apparatus is adapted to drive one or more multi-arm robots rotationally mounted to the boom to efficiently put or pick substrates. The boom drive apparatus has a boom including a hub, a web, a first pilot above the web, and a second pilot below the web, a first driving member rotationally mounted to the first pilot, a second driving member rotationally mounted to the second pilot, a first driven member rotationally mounted to the boom above the a web, a second driven member rotationally mounted to the boom below the a web, and a first and second transmission members coupling the driving members to driven members located outboard on the boom. Numerous other aspects are provided.