Wood particles having fibers aligned in a grain, wherein: the wood particles are characterized by a length dimension (L) aligned substantially parallel to the grain, a width dimension (W) normal to L and aligned cross grain, and a height dimension (H) normal to W and L; the L×H dimensions define two side surfaces characterized by substantially intact longitudinally arrayed fibers; the W×H dimensions define two cross-grain end surfaces characterized individually as aligned either normal to the grain or oblique to the grain; the L×W dimensions define two substantially parallel top and bottom surfaces; and, a majority of the W×H surfaces in the mixture of wood particles have end checking.

Embodiments provide a unidirectional multi-path kiln with two or more chambers and generally parallel flow paths extending through the kiln, on opposite sides, from charge entry portals at a first end of the kiln to charge exit portals at a second end of the kiln. Moist heated air flowing from the second heated chamber is received in the first chamber and circulated around the lumber charges with one or more fans. The lumber charges proceed in the same direction on the flow paths through the heated second chamber, which may be an existing kiln. Charge exit portals at the distal end of the kiln and/or intermediate charge portals between the second chamber and a third chamber may be provided with insulating members configured to reduce airflow from the second chamber through the charge exit portals.

A simulation apparatus includes a storing unit that stores therein information about a shape of a blank piece to be cut out from raw wood, information about a final shape of a wooden piece obtained by compressing the blank piece, and image data of a surface of the blank piece. The apparatus also includes detecting unit that detects a knot appearing on the surface of the blank piece by image recognition using the image data; a shape estimating unit that estimates a shape of the detected knot using shape information on the blank piece; and a determining unit that determines, in accordance with the shape of the estimated knot, a cutting location and a cutting shape of the blank piece in such a manner that the cutting location and shape include a part and a thickness of the knot is substantially the same as that of the compressed blank piece.

A tree processing head for processing a tree element. The tree processing head includes: a body; a scissor assembly mounted to the body and a chainsaw assembly also mounted to the body. The scissor and chainsaw assemblies are selectively usable individually or cooperatively to process the tree element.

A waste strip-removing apparatus for use with a ripsaw that saws an incoming board into one or more usable boards and removes the opposite side edges, which become two waste strips that must be removed and transported to a different destination from that to which the usable board(s) is (are) transported. The apparatus includes two air-blasting units each having one or more air nozzles assigned to each waste strip. The air-blasting units are positioned with respect to a lateral direction by a positioning mechanism so that air directed from the nozzles impinges on the waste strips and moves them laterally away from the usable board(s). The positioning mechanism can include a linear motor having two forcers movable along a platen and respectively attached to air-blasting units.

Systems and methods for adjusting a moisture concentration of veneer are provided. In at least one specific embodiment, the method for adjusting a moisture concentration of a veneer can include estimating a moisture concentration of a veneer surface at one or more locations thereon. The method can also include comparing the one or more estimated locations to a minimum moisture concentration level. The method can also include moisturizing at least a portion of the one or more estimated locations that are below the minimum moisture concentration level to increase the moisture concentration thereof.

A gouging machine for cane includes: (a) a base; (b) a cane bed, having a trough disposed parallel to a bottom surface of the cane bed, and having grooves on opposing sides thereof that slope at a groove angle with respect to the bottom surface of the cane bed, the cane bed being affixed to the base so that the trough is parallel to a top surface of the base and to a predetermined line; and (c) clamps, disposed on the opposing sides of the cane bed, each clamp having a tongue that slopes at the groove angle with respect to a clamping surface thereof, which clamping surface is adapted to grip edges of cane placed in the trough of the cane bed, and wherein the tongues of the clamps slidably engage the grooves of the cane bed so that the clamping surface of the clamps are parallel to a bottom of the trough.

An automated lumber handling system laser-scans the top profile of multiple stacks of lumber, each of which contain boards of a unique size. Based on the scanned profiles, the system determines the order in which individual boards from a chosen stack should be transferred to a numerically controlled saw. The saw cuts the boards to proper size, and in the proper sequence to facilitate orderly assembly of a roof truss or prefabricated wall. In some examples, the system lifts individual boards by driving two retractable screws, or some other piercing tool, down into the upward facing surface of the board. A track mounted cantilever, holding the screws and a laser unit, translates over the lumber stacks to retrieve and deliver individual boards and, while doing so, the laser repeatedly scans the stacked lumber profiles on-the-fly to continuously update the profiles. The open cantilever design facilitates replenishing the stacks of lumber.

A method for detecting the three-dimensional structure of a log comprises the operating steps of: making the log (2) rotate axially, leaving it free to translate during the rotation;during said rotation repeating the step of detecting the relative surface structure of the log (2) at least at one log surface portion (13), so that the relative surface structure of substantially all of the points of at least the log (2) lateral surface is detected at least once; andcombining the relative surface structures detected to reconstruct an overall surface structure for at least the log (2) lateral surface,the detection steps being carried out in such a way that each detection step result shares at least several points with at least one other detection step result, while the step of combining the relative surface structures is carried out in such a way that the shared points are made to coincide with each other.

A method of assembling a structure of timber lengths, e.g. roof trusses, includes a number of upper and lower structure lengths or pieces, as well as a number of diagonals or braces etc., in which the timber lengths are laid out and fixed to one another. The structure formed from the timber lengths fixed to one another is observed by a first camera for positional determination of the structure and comparison of observation data with structure data and for controlling at least a second camera. The structure is fed into a unit for pressing in place of jointing pieces, e.g. corrugated fasteners, over the joints between the timber lengths by at least one positionable press unit, and the second camera observes the infed structure and positions the press unit at the correct position over a joint for pressing in place of a jointing piece.

Methods are described for mechanically scraping surfaces of boards, such as flooring boards, to impart random-looking scraped profiles therein. An apparatus for mechanically scraping boards to form the scraped board products also is described. A board, such as a flooring board, having a random-looking scraped appearance that includes overlapping multiple scrape patterns is described. Boards, such as flooring boards, having a simulated rustic or distressed appearance made with the methods and apparatus also are described.

An apparatus and method for spooling wire or cable from a reel assembly. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly. The inner flange assembly is capable of freely rotating relative to the outer flange assembly for spooling wire from any surface. In another embodiment, wire is spooled from a reel assembly comprising an inner flange assembly and an outer flange assembly.

One aspect of the disclosed subject matter is seen in a wire access line drum assembly, comprising a tubular drum, first and second end portions, and a shaft. The tubular drum includes a first end, a second end, and an inner diameter of a first preselected size. The first and second end portions are coupled to the first and second ends of the tubular drum, and the shaft extends at least partially within the tubular drum. The shaft has an outer diameter of a second preselected size substantially similar to the first preselected size. Another aspect of the disclosed subject matter is seen in a drum storage system. The drum storage system is comprised of a plurality of wire access line drums and a rack. The plurality of wire access line drums each have a wire access line pre-spooled thereon, and the rack is designed to receive the plurality of wire access line drums in a configuration to permit one or more of the wire access lines to be retrieved from the rack and transported to a job site.

A fishing reel has a reel body and an adjusting device. The reel body has a spool that is made of metal. The adjusting device has an adjusting button, an adjusting base and a magnetic set. The adjusting button has an adjusting structure being spiral, facing the spool and forming a step between a highest part and a lowest part of the adjusting structure. The adjusting base has a coordinating portion being spiral, facing the adjusting structure and forming a step between a highest part and a lowest part of the coordinating portion. The magnet set is mounted on the adjusting base and faces the spool.

A belt retractor has a frame (10), a belt spool (12) that is rotatably mounted in the frame (10), and a force limiter (22) that is adapted to reach a force limiting position. A guide-in mechanism (26) is provided which causes the force limiter (22) to reach the force limiting position as a function of the length of belt webbing withdrawn.

A wire electric discharge machining apparatus according to embodiments includes a wire electrode, a wire supplying unit that supplies the wire electrode, a collecting motor that collects the wire electrode at a predetermined speed, a tension motor that controls a tension of the wire electrode between the wire supplying unit and the collecting motor, a speed calculating unit that calculates a traveling speed of the wire electrode at a predetermined time interval, a speed storing unit that stores the traveling speed calculated by the speed calculating unit, a differential speed calculating unit that calculates a differential speed between a current traveling speed output from the speed calculating unit and a past traveling speed stored in the speed storing unit, and a breakage detecting unit that detects breakage of the wire electrode by comparing the differential speed with a predetermined threshold.

A paper transport system for transporting a web in a printing system includes a stationary bar positioned such that the web slides over a portion of an exterior surface of the bar, a rotatable source roller for supplying unused cover material, and a rotatable take-up roller for receiving used cover material. Cover material extends between the source roller and the take-up roller and is disposed over the portion of the exterior surface of the bar that the web slides over. A locking mechanism can be used to maintain tension in the cover material.

A retractable cord winder device, which has a front cover with center shaft, a spiral spring, a spool with a spool divider with flanged hook dividing the spool chamber into equal halves for efficient and minimal noise cable coiling, oval sliding positioning sliding disc, and a rear cover with concave recess to hold the oval positioning sliding disc with positioning stopper. The front cover is mounted with the rear cover through the center shaft via a center hole of the rear cover where there are symmetrical openings on both ends for cords folded in half to be attached to the flanged hook and retracted upon pulling down.

A locking retractor is disclosed, as are stretchers and cots using the retractor to secure a patient. The retractor includes structure for locking the retractor spool to prevent rotation in both directions. However, a cam is coupled to the shaft and is arranged relative to the locking structure to prevent the spool from locking during an initial portion of the spool's rotation, until a first locking point is reached. Once the first locking point has been reached, a clutch prevents the locking structure from engaging while the spool is still rotating, but the locking structure will engage to lock the spool in both directions once active rotation stops. A user-actuatable lever is provided externally that disengages the locking structure when actuated to allow the spool to extend and retract freely.

A hose deployment and retrieval system is described that includes a modular reel assembly. The modular reel assembly includes a reel having a hub around which a hose may be wound and a wheel assembly on either side of the hub and spaced to accept the hose there between. The reel assembly also includes an axle in the center of the hub around which the hub can spin and a base holding the axle. A deployment fork assembly includes a reel assembly mount for engaging with the modular reel assembly and a drive mechanism to spin the reel when the deployment fork assembly is engaged with the modular reel assembly, wherein the deployment fork assembly is adapted to mount to a vehicle.

A system for storing, rotating and feeding a high pressure hose. A first portion of the hose is disposable about the drum and a guide arm engages a second portion of the hose. An actuator assembly rotates a cage and the guide arm so that the guide arm rotates relative to the cage such that the hose is rotated. Relative rotation in one direction causes the first portion of the hose to uncoil from the drum and displace along the guide arm and causes a third portion of the high pressure hose in an output port to displace out of the output port away from the guide arm. Relative rotation in an opposite direction causes the second portion of the high pressure hose to coil about the drum and causes the third portion of the high pressure hose to displace into the housing.

A fishing line reeling apparatus for loading a spool of fishing line about a reel of a fishing pole includes a clamp capable of being anchored to a ledge of an existing support surface, and a bracket attached to the clamp wherein the bracket has a dowel capable of rotatably receiving and suspending the existing spool of fishing line above the existing support surface. An arm is located subjacent to the dowel and statically mated to the bracket. The arm has an eyelet attached to a distal end thereof such the fishing line is downwardly guided from the spool and urged along a longitudinal length of the arm prior to passing through the eyelet.

A device is provided that is adapted for mounting on a vertical support, such as a stud at a construction job site, to hold a spool of wire off the floor, allowing the wire to be dispensed easily, yet providing sufficient drag on the reel to avoid excess unspooling of the wire. The device is adapted for mounting on a stud or comparable vertical support without the use of tools or fasteners so it can be moved quickly from location to location. The device is conveniently disassembled into two smaller assemblies for storage and transport to the job site.

The present invention provides a technique which can disassemble a mandrel having a substantially cylindrical shape and being dividable into a plurality of segments, easily and efficiently. The disassembling method comprises, in the mandrel adhesively attached with a composite material structure on an outer peripheral surface thereof, a rotation step of rotating the pair of support rings along with the mandrel to position a segment which is a detached target to an uppermost portion; and a segment detaching step of detaching the segment which is the detached target positioned at the uppermost portion, from the pair of support rings; wherein in the segment detaching step, the segment which is the detached target is moved in a vertically downward direction to a position inside of the mandrel, between the pair of support rings, and is carried out from between the pair of support rings.

In a webbing retractor, the center of a rack and rack-teeth in an axial direction of a pinion is placed on the opposite side of a leg plate side with respect to the central axis of a cylinder. The piston is acted upon by a tilting-force toward the leg plate side from the pinion. A stop portion of an upper stay is placed on another leg plate side of the leg plate. Even when the piston is acted upon by the tilting force toward the leg plate side from the pinion, the stop portion can stop the movement of the leg plate toward the other leg plate side, and tilting of the piston and the cylinder toward the leg plate side can be suppressed. Moreover, the need to increase the strength of a frame and so forth can be eliminated, so the webbing retractor can be made compact and lightweight.

A web rewinding apparatus having a mandrel cupping assembly for releaseably engaging unsupported ends of a plurality of mandrels is disclosed. Each of the plurality of mandrels extends generally parallel to the web winding turret assembly axis. Each of the mandrels is driven in a closed mandrel path about the web winding turret assembly axis. The mandrel cupping assembly comprises a cupping arm turret having a cupping arm turret central axis, a mandrel cup cooperatively associated with each mandrel of the plurality of mandrels, at least three motion limiting devices disposed upon the cupping arms, and a first actuator.

The wire winding apparatus includes: a wire feeding member provided to a supporting member so as to be operable, for feeding a wire; a lock mechanism capable of inhibiting an operation of the wire feeding member; a winding mechanism for rotating a core about an axis thereof to wind the wire fed from the wire feeding member around the outer circumference of the core; a feed mechanism for moving the supporting member in an axial direction of the core in synchronization with the winding performed by the winding mechanism; a proximity sensor for detecting a movement amount of the wire feeding member with respect to the supporting member; and a control section for controlling an operation of the feed mechanism to adjust a movement amount of the supporting member moved by the feed mechanism based on a detection output from the proximity sensor.

A fly reel comprises a housing having a back plate, a spindle extending from the back plate, a spool rotatably mounted on the spindle, an adjustable drag assembly fixed to the spool and rotatably mounted with the spool, the adjustable drag assembly is adapted to provide controlled friction against the spool during rotation of the spool, a crank member for rotating the spool in a first direction, and a one way clutch operatively associated with the spindle for permitting rotation of the crank member in the first direction only whereby the spool is adapted to rotate independent of the crank in a second direction that is opposite the first direction. In addition, the drag adjustment knob of the reel is disposed on the same side as the reel crank handle and the drag components may be sealed within a cartridge.

The present invention relates to a small lightweight hand held cable reel comprising a spool configured to rotate around a central ergonomic handle, wherein the spool comprises of two winder knobs for rotating the spool around the central ergonomic handle; smaller, larger locator holes and larger elongated slotted holes on the outer spool face for attaching a cable. The hand held cable reel further comprises elongated slotted holes on inner spool face for attaching to a webbing strap of clothing or equipment.

Agricultural devices, row unit adjustment systems, and methods of adjusting a depth of a furrow are provided. In some aspects, an agricultural device is adapted to plant seeds and includes a frame, a furrow opener coupled to the frame and adapted to cut a furrow including a depth, a sensor adapted to sense a characteristic associated with planting seeds and generate a signal associated with the sensed characteristic, and a processing unit receiving the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. The depth of the furrow is adjustable based on the signal associated with the sensed characteristic. Such characteristic may be a characteristic of the soil, a force applied to the agricultural device, or a position of a portion of the agricultural device.

An agricultural side dressing fertilizer coulter row unit includes a first attachment member adapted to be rigidly connected to a towing frame, and a second attachment member pivotably coupled to the first attachment member for pivoting movement about a substantially vertical axis. A linkage is pivotably coupled to the second attachment member for pivoting movement of the trailing end of the linkage relative to the second attachment member, and a tool-carrying stem pivotably coupled to the trailing end of the linkage carries a rotatably mounted coulter wheel for forming a slit in the soil, a liquid fertilizer dispenser for dispensing fertilizer, and a rotatably mounted closing wheel for closing the slit. A biasing element is pivotably attached to the linkage and coupled to the second attachment member for urging the stem downwardly with a controllable force.

A metering system for a seeding machine is provided. The metering system includes selectively powered metering sections operable to individually allow or restrict seed dispensation. A damper arrangement is also provided so that pneumatic conveying of the particulate within the machine is consistently maintained when particulate flow is varied between the metering sections.

A wireless communication system for agricultural vehicles, in which each vehicle has a global positioning system (GPS), a multi-channel transmitter/receiver module having a limited communication range, and a signal processor connected to the transmitter/receiver module. The transmitter is controlled by the signal processor to transmit on a predetermined communication channel a signal comprising a unique vehicle identifier and a signal indicating the current positional coordinates of the vehicle. The signal processor also analyzes the signals received from other vehicles within the communication range and determines from the identifier and the positional coordinates data when another vehicle is ready to perform a joint operation with the vehicle. Prior to initiation of a joint operation, the communication system is switched to a different communication channel.

A seeding machine, such as a row crop planter, is described which is adapted to switch between two or more seed varieties as the machine traverses a field. The control system uses a programmed quantity of seed representing a number of seeds in the seed meter that need to be substantially consumed once the flow of a first seed variety is stopped before introducing a second seed variety to minimize seed mixing. The seed quantity can be determined by a calibration process or published from the manufacturer or third parties. The seed quantity can also be part of a seeding prescription that includes assignment of where each seed variety is to be planted in a field. The seed quantity and the distance traveled to empty the meter can be used to optimize the planting operation including the machine direction which can also be part of the prescription.

A seed research plot planter includes a rotating seed plate for picking up and transporting seeds from a seed chamber to a release point, and a sensor that detects the rotational position of the seed plate. A distance measuring device measures a distance traveled by the planter. A controller uses a first signal from the sensor and a second signal from the distance measuring device to control a sequence of operations of the planter based on the rotational position of the seed plate and the location of the planter within the field. A field layout system is provided for creating a plot field layout having a desired number of ranges, a desired number of planter passes, and desired parameters for each plot within the field. The field layout system allows different plot lengths and seed populations to be input for individual plots within the same planter pass through the field.

An emissions recycling system is used on a vehicle towing an agricultural implement to enrich the fertility of the soil. The system includes an exhaust collector for collecting exhaust emissions from the internal combustion engine of the towing vehicle and an exhaust distribution system for injecting at least a portion of the exhaust emissions collected by the exhaust collector into the ground worked by the ground working tools of the agricultural implement. Fertility of the soil is enriched by bioactivity within the soil's micro flora which consumes the greenhouse gas and emissions.

A no-till apparatus for application of herbicide and fertilizer, soil preparation, and seeding of a cover crop in a standing crop has inter-row assemblies configured to pass along inter-row areas between adjacent row lines of standing crop plants. Each assembly includes a fertilizer applicator, a no-till soil preparation element, a cover crop seed applicator, and a post-seeding element.

A paired row opener has a furrowing tip arranged to be selectively supported on a body of the opener. The furrowing tip includes a knife portion and a pair of wing portions extending rearwardly and outwardly therefrom where are separable together from the opener body. A pair of deflector wings are integrally formed on the opener body above inner edges of the respective wing portions which are abutted with the opener body so as to deflect disturbed soil away from a seam between the inner edge of the wing portions and the opener body. An insulated mounting block is fastened onto a rear bracket of the opener body which receives an anhydrous ammonia delivery tube therethrough so permit optional delivery of anhydrous ammonia at a location which is insulated and spaced rearwardly from the opener body.

An aqueous fluid treatment method and system is provided which preferably uses a 3 step electro-chemical oxidation process to remove organic contaminates from water. A high surface area electro-chemical reaction cell can be employed to remove organic particles and precipitate hardness salts from the aqueous solution. Several 3-phase spark arcs generated mixed oxidants and acoustic cavitations to remove dissolved organic compounds and oxidize organic metal compounds in the next step. Finally, a dielectric discharge in aqueous foam is used to eliminate recalcitrant organic compounds such as, but not limited to, polychlorinated aromatics, disinfectants, pesticides, and pharmaceuticals before release to environment or recycled.

This technology is a method and apparatus for the semi-continuous measurement of the concentration of constituents of airborne particles which couples a laminar flow, water condensation particle collector to a microfluidic device for assay of particle chemical composition by electrophoresis. The technology has been used for the assay of sulfates, nitrates, chlorides, and organic acids contained in fine and submicrometer atmospheric particles. For these compounds the apparatus and method described is capable of one-minute time resolution at concentrations at the level of micrograms of analyte species per cubic meter of air. Extension to other analytes is possible.

Biosensor apparatus and associated method for detecting a target material using a vibrating resonator having a surface that operably interacts with the target material. A detector is in electrical communication with a sensor, the sensor comprising a first paddle assembly connected to a second paddle assembly, the first paddle assembly having at least one microbalance sensing resonator proximate a proximal end and at least one sensing electrical contact proximate a distal end in electrical communication with the sensing resonator. The at least one sensing resonator has a target coating for operably interacting with the target material, and the second paddle assembly has a microbalance reference resonator proximate the proximal end and at least one reference electrical contact proximate the distal end in electrical communication with the reference resonator.

A hard bias (HB) structure for longitudinally biasing a free layer in a MR sensor is disclosed that includes a mildly etched seed layer and a hard bias (HB) layer on the etched seed layer. The HB layer may contain one or more HB sub-layers stacked on a lower sub-layer which contacts the etched seed layer. Each HB sub-layer is mildly etched before depositing another HB sub-layer thereon. The etch may be performed in an IBD chamber and creates a higher concentration of nucleation sites on the etched surface thereby promoting a smaller HB average grain size than would be realized with no etch treatments. A smaller HB average grain size is responsible for increasing Hcr in a CoPt HB layer to as high as 2500 to 3000 Oe. Higher Hcr is achieved without changing the seed layer or HB material and without changing the thickness of the aforementioned layers.

A reactive sputtering apparatus includes a chamber, a substrate holder provided in the chamber, a target holder which is provided in the chamber and configured to hold a target, a deposition shield plate which is provided in the chamber so as to form a sputtering space between the target holder and the substrate holder, and prevents a sputter particle from adhering to an inner wall of the chamber, a reactive gas introduction pipe configured to introduce a reactive gas into the sputtering space, an inert gas introduction port which introduces an inert gas into a space that falls outside the sputtering space and within the chamber, and a shielding member which prevents a sputter particle from the target mounted on the target holder from adhering to an introduction port of the reactive gas introduction pipe upon sputtering.

An apparatus and associated method for reorienting the magnetic anisotropy of magnetic recording discs. A pallet that is moveable along a path of travel is also sized to selectively hold either a first magnetic recording disc of a first size or a second magnetic recording disc of a second size different than the first size. A first processing chamber in the path of travel is adapted for forming a soft underlayer (SUL) of magnetic material with non-radially oriented magnetic anisotropy on a substrate corresponding to one of the first and second magnetic recording discs. A second processing chamber in the path of travel downstream of the first processing chamber is adapted for selectively re-orienting the SUL's magnetic anisotropy via a magnetic source emanating a first magnetic field if the substrate corresponds to the first magnetic recording disc and emanating a different second magnetic field if the substrate corresponds to the second magnetic recording disc.

Methods and systems for measuring the oxidation-reduction potential of a fluid sample are provided. The system includes a test strip with a sample chamber adapted to receive a fluid sample. The sample chamber can be associated with a filter membrane. The test strip also includes a reference cell. The oxidation-reduction potential of a fluid sample placed in the sample chamber can be read by a readout device interconnected to a test lead that is in electrical contact with the sample chamber, and a reference lead that is in electrical contact with the reference cell. Electrical contact between a fluid sample placed in the sample chamber and the reference cell can be established by a bridge. The oxidation-reduction potential may be read as an electrical potential between the test lead and the reference lead of the test strip.

A sensor system, device, and methods for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample is described. Input signals including multiple duty cycles of sequential excitation pulses and relaxations are input to the sample. One or more signals output from the sample within 300 ms of the input of an excitation pulse may be correlated with the analyte concentration of the sample to improve the accuracy and/or precision of the analysis. Determining the analyte concentration of the sample from these rapidly measured output values may reduce analysis errors arising from the hematocrit effect, mediator background, and other error sources.

An electrode assembly for capillary electrophoresis (CE) comprises a manifold (310), a connector (305) a sheath (300), and a seal (325). A capillary tube (100) passes through the manifold, the connector, the sheath, and the seal, stopping just beyond the end of the sheath. The sheath is fillable with water (330) or another fluid that cools the capillary tube in the vicinity of the electrode, thereby preventing degradation of a sample due to heat. The sheath may be metal or plastic with a metal sleeve electrode on its exterior. The sheath is sufficiently strong to penetrate a rubber or other pierceable cap on a vial. The manifold and connector incorporate an air path (605, 312, 307) so that when the electrode is fully inserted into a vial, the contents (650) of the vial are at atmospheric pressure (or another applied pressure or vacuum).

Interconnect structures and methods of fabricating the same are provided. The interconnect structures provide highly reliable copper interconnect structures for improving current carrying capabilities (e.g., current spreading). The structure includes an under bump metallurgy formed in a trench. The under bump metallurgy includes at least: an adhesion layer; a plated barrier layer; and a plated conductive metal layer provided between the adhesion layer and the plated barrier layer. The structure further includes a solder bump formed on the under bump metallurgy.

Methods and apparatus for applying pulsed DC power to a plasma processing chamber are disclosed. In some implementations, frequency of the applied power is varied to achieve desired processing effects such as deposition rate, arc rate, and film characteristics. In addition, a method and apparatus are disclosed that utilize a relatively high potential during a reverse-potential portion of a particular cycle to mitigate possible nodule formation on the target. The relative durations of the reverse-potential portion, a sputtering portion, and a recovery portion of the cycle are adjustable to effectuate desired processing effects.

A method for producing a transparent and conductive metal oxide layer on a substrate, includes atomizing at least one component of the metal oxide layer by highly ionized, high power pulsed magnetron sputtering to condense on the substrate. The pulses of the magnetron have a peak power density of more than 1.5 kW/cm2, the pulses of the magnetron have a duration of ≦200 μs, and the average increase in current density during ignition of the plasma within an interval, which is ≦0.025 ms, is at least 106 A/(ms cm2).