Solid-state deformation processing of crosslinked high molecular weight polymers such as UHMWPE, for example by extrusion below the melt transition, produces materials with a combination of high tensile strength and high oxidative stability. The materials are especially suitable for use as bearing components in artificial hip and other implants. Treated bulk materials are anisotropic, with enhanced strength oriented along the axial direction. The material is oxidatively stable even after four weeks of accelerated aging in a pressure vessel containing five atmospheres of oxygen (ASTM F2003). Because of its oxidative stability, the deformation processed material is a suitable candidate for air-permeable packaging and gas sterilization, which has thus far been reserved for remelted crosslinked UHMWPE.

A gasification-liquefaction disposal method, system and equipment for MSW are disclosed. The method involves the MSW pretreatment of dehydrating and separating, thus reducing water and inorganic substance content of the waste. Then, the MSW is introduced into a plasma gasifier (23) by a carbon dioxide air-sealed feeding device (13) and gasified therein to obtain hydrogen-rich syngas. The hydrogen-rich syngas is then cooled, deacidified, dedusted and separated to obtain carbon dioxide. Then, the hydrogen-rich syngas is catalyzed to produce methanol product in a methanol synthesis reactor (52). The separated carbon dioxide is sent back to a carbonation reaction chamber (2007) of a gasification system to perform carbonation reaction with calcium oxide, thereby releasing heat to provide assistant heat energy for gasification and avoiding greenhouse gas from being discharged into environment. Exhaust gas is returned to the plasma gasifier (23) for remelting treatment, thus forming a closed-loop circulation production system and realizing the disposal of the MSW with zero discharge and no pollution, thereby avoiding dioxin pollution and converting the MSW to chemical raw materials and fuel needed by mankind. The method, system and equipment are suitable for harmless and recycling disposal of MSW, industrial high polymer waste, composting waste and waste in waste sorting sites.

The disclosure provides an apparatus and method utilizing fuel reactor comprised of a fuel section, an oxygen carrier section, and a porous divider separating the fuel section and the oxygen carrier section. The porous divider allows fluid communication between the fuel section and the oxygen carrier section while preventing the migration of solids of a particular size. Maintaining particle segregation between the oxygen carrier section and the fuel section during solid fuel gasification and combustion processes allows gases generated in either section to participate in necessary reactions while greatly mitigating issues associated with mixture of the oxygen carrier with char or ash products. The apparatus and method may be utilized with an oxygen uncoupling oxygen carrier such as CuO, Mn3O4, or Co3O4, or utilized with a CO/H2 reducing oxygen carrier such as Fe2O3.

A sliding Capo for a musical instrument of the lute family which rides in a track in the neck of the instrument. The Capo includes a rigid cross piece holding elongated flanges which ride in the track. A cylindrical elastomeric roller runs in bearings carried by the cross piece, and adjustment means are provided for adjusting the height of the roller above the fingerboard. In the case of curved fingerboards, the shaft on which the roller runs is flexible and springy, so that it can bend and the cylindrical roller can press all strings to the fingerboard.

Disclosed are solid forms of 8-chloro-N-[(2-chloro-5-methoxyphenyl)sulfonyl]-6-(trifluoromethyl)-imidazo[1,2-a]pyridine-2-carboxamide (Compound 1). Methods for the preparation of solid forms of Compound 1 and for the conversion of one solid form of Compound 1 into another are disclosed. Disclosed are nematocidal compositions comprising a nematocidally effective amount of a solid form of Compound 1 and at least one additional component selected from the group consisting of surfactants, solid diluents and liquid carriers. Compositions comprising a mixture of a solid form of Compound 1 and at least one other nematicide, insecticide and/or fungicide are also disclosed.Also disclosed are methods for protecting a plant from nematodes comprising applying to the plant, or portion, or seed thereof, or to the growing medium of the plant, a nematocidally effective amount of Compound 1 comprising the polymorph Form A.

The invention provides novel inhibitors of IAP that are useful as therapeutic agents for treating malignancies where the compounds have the general formula I: wherein A, Q, X1, X2, Y, R1, R2, R3, R4, R4', R5, R6 and R6' are as described herein.

[Task] In a sliding member comprising a substrate and a coating layer provided thereon, the coating layer has a sliding surface and is formed of a resin-based coating and particles of a solid lubricant dispersed therein. The orientation ratio of (001) plane of the solid lubricant is enhanced.[Means for Solution]The coating layer of a sliding layer has an average thickness of 3 μm or less. The particles of the solid lubricant have 2 μm or more of an average particle diameter as measured by the laser diffraction method. The solid lubricant dispersed has 90% or more of relative C-axis intensity ratio.

The invention relates to a lubricant in the form of grease or thick lubricating gel or transmission oil, as well as motor or universal oils with a myriad of applications. As a result of its contents presented in the patent application is characteristic of low coefficient of friction ranging from 0.055 to 0.062. As the main component, the contents of the discussed lubricant includes three or four stearates of metals or hydroxistearates of metals, which interact and cause a noticeable reduction of friction drag on the lubricated surfaces. Additionally, these substances may include a number of other solid or liquid elements, which maintain low friction drags and, furthermore, improve the lubricant through increasing its load capacity, antirust characteristics, shear strength, etc. The lubricant made according to the invention underwent comparative tests against other greases and greasing oils, the accounts of which are included in the application as diagrams, descriptions of research tests and examples of the contents of the lubricant products.

Provided are a lubricant composition capable of reducing friction between sliding parts at least one of which contains an aluminum-based material in a lubrication section, and a method for lubricating an aluminum-based member with the composition. The lubricant composition is for use in a lubrication section having sliding parts at least one of which contains an aluminum-based material, and contains a lubricant base oil and at least one of a phosphorus-containing carboxylic compound and a metal salt thereof (component (A)) at 0.001 to 1 mass % of the composition in terms of phosphorus. The composition may suitably be used as lubricant such as drive train lubricant for automatic or manual transmissions, grease, wet brake oil, hydraulic actuation oil, turbine oil, compressor oil, bearing oil, refrigerant oil, and the like used in apparatus having the sliding parts.

The present invention includes a device comprising a lid and a vessel forming an interface that allows transfer of waste from a purification chamber to a waste chamber and method for purification of an analyte are disclosed wherein a supernatant is separated from a solid phase to which an analyte is bound by centrifugation via the lid of the device. The present invention also includes methods for use of the device.

The present invention pertains to systems and methods for the capture of information regarding scenes using single or multiple three-dimensional LADAR systems. Where multiple systems are included, those systems can be placed in different positions about the imaged scene such that each LADAR system provides different viewing perspectives and/or angles. In accordance with further embodiments, the single or multiple LADAR systems can include two-dimensional focal plane arrays, in addition to three-dimensional focal plane arrays, and associated light sources for obtaining three-dimensional information about a scene, including information regarding the contours of the objects within the scene. Processing of captured image information can be performed in real time, and processed scene information can include data frames that comprise three-dimensional and two-dimensional image data.

Within machine vision, object movement is often estimated by applying image evaluation techniques to visible light images, utilizing techniques such as perspective and parallax. However, the precision of such techniques may be limited due to visual distortions in the images, such as glare and shadows. Instead, lidar data may be available (e.g., for object avoidance in automated navigation), and may serve as a high-precision data source for such determinations. Respective lidar points of a lidar point cloud may be mapped to voxels of a three-dimensional voxel space, and voxel clusters may be identified as objects. The movement of the lidar points may be classified over time, and the respective objects may be classified as moving or stationary based on the classification of the lidar points associated with the object. This classification may yield precise results, because voxels in three-dimensional voxel space present clearly differentiable statuses when evaluated over time.

In a heat-assisted magnetic recording (HAMR) hard disk drive, a heat-dissipating head slider assembly is described in which the slider is stepped on the disk-opposing side and a HAMR laser module is mounted on the lower surface to assist with dissipation of heat from the laser. The lower surface is a surface of the main body of the slider and is composed primarily of a first material, and the slider may include a heat-dissipating plate that forms the higher stepped surface, where the plate is composed of a second material that has a higher thermal conductivity than the first material, such as silicon.

An apparatus includes a near-field transducer at or near an air bearing surface of the apparatus. A write pole is disposed at or near the air bearing surface and proximate the near-field transducer, respectively. A thermal sensor is disposed at the air bearing surface and within a protrusion region of the air bearing surface defined relative to at least one of the near-field transducer and the write pole. The thermal sensor is configured to produce a signal indicative of a temperature at the protrusion region.

In one aspect, the invention is directed to a decoupler assembly for between an endless drive element and a shaft. The endless drive element may be, for example, an accessory drive belt from a vehicular engine. The shaft may be, for example, the input shaft of a belt-driven accessory, such as an alternator or a compressor. The decoupler assembly includes a hub that mounts to the shaft, a pulley that is rotatable with respect to the hub, a dampening spring and a clutch member. A part of the pulley is supported on a pulley support surface on the hub. There is a gap between the pulley and the pulley support surface. The gap has lubricant therein to facilitate sliding between the pulley and the pulley support surface. By eliminating the use of a polymeric bushing between pulley and the hub, there are several advantages that are provided.

The present invention relates to lithium salt-containing rare earth halide solutions in aprotic solvents, processes for production thereof and also use thereof.

A data storage media may have at least a multi-layer recording lamination with a predetermined coercivity. The multi-layer recording lamination can be configured to record at least one servo format mark for a plurality of data tracks with a solid immersion mirror and program a data bit on the multi-layer recording lamination with a near field transducer.

A combine side-shaking control system that includes a sieve for separating crop material from other material, located in a plane having an X dimension and a Y dimension and configured to move in a fore-aft direction in the X dimension, in a side-to-side direction in the Y dimension and in an up-down direction in a Z dimension. The system also includes a side-shaking assembly configured to move the sieve in the side-to-side direction in the Y dimension. The fixed arm is attached to the sieve and configured to move with the sieve in (i) the fore-aft direction in the X dimension, (ii) the side-to-side direction in the Y dimension and (iii) the up-down direction in the Z dimension. The side-shaking coupling portion comprises a moving portion configured to move in a diagonal direction having a fore-aft component in the X dimension and an up-down component in the Z dimension.

Provided is a method for shutting down an indirect internal reforming SOFC, in which a hydrocarbon-based fuel is reliably reformed, and the oxidative degradation of the anode can be prevented by a reformed gas. A method for shutting down an indirect internal reforming SOFC including a reformer; an SOFC; a combustion region for combusting the anode off-gas of the SOFC; and an enclosure for housing the reformer, the SOFC, and the combustion region, wherein the method includes causing the flow rate of a fuel supplied to the reformer to become FE from FS; and stopping the supply of the fuel to the reformer when an anode temperature becomes lower than the oxidative degradation temperature, where FE represents a flow rate of the fuel supplied to the reformer in a state in which the anode temperature is steady and lower than the oxidative degradation temperature, in which in the reformer the fuel is reformed and a reformed gas with a composition suitable to be supplied to an anode is produced, and in which an amount of the reformed gas produced is equal to or more than the requisite minimum flow rate for preventing the oxidative degradation of the anode when the anode temperature is a temperature equal to or higher than the oxidative degradation temperature, and FS represents a flow rate of the fuel supplied to the reformer at the start of the shutdown method. Also provided is an indirect internal reforming SOFC appropriate for this method.

A slider includes a substrate having a trailing edge, a leading edge opposite the trailing edge, and an air bearing surface connecting the trailing edge with the leading edge; a read/write transducer formed at the trailing edge; and a coat layer attached on the trailing edge and covering on the read/write transducer. The slider further includes a protection layer for shielding the read/write transducer thereby preventing the read/write transducer from damaging during a laser soldering process. The present invention can prevent the read/write transducer from damaging during the laser bonding process and, in turn improve the reading and writing performance of the slider. The invention also discloses an HGA and a disk drive unit.

A slider and microactuator elements are disposed on a gimbal portion of a flexure. A tongue of the gimbal portion has a first tongue portion, a second tongue portion, and a hinge portion. A leading-side portion of the slider is movably disposed on the first tongue portion. A trailing-side portion of the slider is secured to the second tongue portion. The hinge portion is formed between the first tongue portion and the second tongue portion. The gimbal portion is provided with a damper member includes a viscoelastic material layer and a constrained plate. The damper member comprises a first damper and a second damper. The hinge portion is exposed between the first damper and the second damper. A dimple on a load beam contacts the hinge portion at a point of contact.

An arrangement to control the clearance of a sliding bearing is disclosed. A sliding bearing arrangement, of a direct driven wind turbine, comprises a bearing. The bearing comprises a first bearing shell and a second bearing shell, whereby the first bearing shell and the second bearing shell are arranged rotatable in respect to each other. A certain predetermined clearance is present between the first bearing shell and the second bearing shell, while the bearing is in rotation. A first circuit comprises a first fluid, while the first circuit is in thermal contact with the first bearing shell. A second circuit comprises a second fluid, while the second circuit is in thermal contact with the second bearing shell. The first circuit and the second circuit are coupled in a way that a difference in the temperature between the first bearing shell and the second bearing shell is compensated via the first and the second fluid, thus the clearance is kept within a predetermined range.

The invention relates to a vehicle seat comprising a seat part, comprising a back rest part and comprising a linear guide device for translational adjustment of the vehicle seat, in which the linear guide device comprises a guide rail means and a slide rail means which is displaceable with respect thereto, in which a bearing means interacts between the slide rail means and the guide rail means and at least comprises slide rod elements so as to mount the slide rail means with respect to the guide rail means, and in which the slide rod element comprises an elongate undulating base body, the slide rod element having an effective external diameter which is greater, at least when the slide rod element is radially unloaded, than a core external diameter of the elongate undulating base body.

A thrust sliding bearing includes a synthetic resin-made bearing body having a hollow cylindrical portion, an annular collar portion, an annular protruding portion, a tubular projecting portion, an engaging projecting portion, and an annular projecting portion; an annular cover having a disk portion, a tubular portion, and an engaging projecting portion; an annular metal plate having an outer disk portion and an inner disk portion; and a thrust sliding bearing which is interposed between the bearing body and an annular lower surface of the outer disk portion of the annular metal plate and renders the annular metal plate rotatable with respect to the bearing body in a direction about an axis of the bearing body.

A synthetic resin-made thrust sliding bearing 1 includes a synthetic resin-made upper casing 2 which is fixed to a vehicle body side via a mounting member; a synthetic resin-made lower casing 3 which is superposed on the upper casing 2 so as to be rotatable about an axis O in a circumferential direction R relative to the upper casing 2; and a synthetic resin-made sliding bearing piece 5 disposed in a space 4 between the upper casing 2 and the lower casing 3.

Provided are a solid catalyst for propylene polymerization and a method for preparing the same, specifically a solid catalyst for propylene polymerization which does not contain any environmentally harmful material and can produce a polypropylene having excellent stereoregularity with a high production yield, and a method for preparing the catalyst.

Process for the preparation of etherified melamine/formaldehyde condensates, in which first a methylolation of melamine with a formaldehyde component in the molar ratio of from 1:6 to 1:15, preferably at a pH of >7, is carried out. This is followed by an etherification of the resulting hydroxymethylation intermediate in the presence of a C1-C20-alkyl, preferably of a C1-C6-alcohol, particularly preferably of a C1-C4-alcohol, at a pH of 9.5 being established before, during and/or after the distillation. According to the invention, a plurality of hydroxymethylation, etherification and distillation steps follow in order to achieve an etherified melamine/formaldehyde condensate which is distinguished by a high degree of hydroxymethylation, a high solids content and a low viscosity.

A method for repairing an aged or damaged asphalt pavement is provided. The method involves preparing a surface of the aged or damaged asphalt pavement by filling in deviations from a uniform surface plane with dry aggregate and compacting the dry aggregate; applying a reactive asphalt emulsion to the prepared surface; and passing an emitter over the prepared pavement, wherein the emitter generates electromagnetic radiation having a wavelength of from 2-5 mm that penetrates into the pavement to a depth of at least 2 inches. The asphalt pavement is repaired by disturbing voids and interstices in the damaged pavement without dehydrogenation of the asphalt, such that oligomers present in the aged asphalt are linked together into longer polymer chains to improve ductility of the aged asphalt.

A lid for a beverage container or travel mug is provided that has one or more visual indicators to identify the location of the pour spout opening of the container or mug in low light conditions.

A liquid container includes a brim forming a mouth opening into a product receiving chamber formed in a cup. A lid is coupled to the rim to close the mouth of the cup.

There is provided solid imaging methods and apparatus for making three-dimensional objects from solid imaging material. A tray with a film bottom is provided to hold solid imaging material that is selectively cured into cross-sections of the three-dimensional object being built. A coater bar is moved back and forth over the film to remove any uncured solid imaging material from a previous layer and to apply a new layer of solid imaging material. A sensor is provided to measure the amount of resin in the tray to determine the appropriate amount of solid imaging material to be added, from a cartridge, for the next layer. A shuttle, which covers the tray when the exterior door to the solid imaging apparatus is opened for setting up a build or removing a three-dimensional object, can also be used to move the coater bar and to selectively open one or more valves on the cartridge to dispense the desired amount of solid imaging material.

A solid step drill, including a front tip and a rear end between which a center axis extends and around which the drill is rotatable in a predetermined direction. At least two cylindrical sections are concentric with the center axis, a first section extending rearward from the front tip and having a first diameter, and a second section extending behind the first section and having a second diameter that is greater than the first diameter, the first section transforming into the second section via a step. The tip includes two primary cutting edges, which individually co-operate with a respective chip flute that is delimited by a concave surface and countersunk in the first section and in the second section, the respective chip flute intersecting the step while forming a secondary cutting edge. Adjacent to the secondary cutting edge, a chip breaking recess is formed between a cutting edge line of the cutting edge and the concave surface.

The invention relates to a multi-blade solid carbide drill for cutting high-strength sandwich materials. The tool comprises a shaft section and an adjoining cutting part, into which a number of chip flutes that corresponds to the number of main blades is incorporated. In order to reinforce the curvature of the resulting chip, the chip flute of the drill comprises a chip flute rib in the region of the chip formation zone, said rib protruding from the chip flute surface and having a substantially wave-shaped cross-section (28), and said rib dividing the chip flute into two sections, a first chip flute section (30) forming the cutting rake and a second chip flute (32) forming the chip flute runout.

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.

A mounting apparatus for a solid state disk includes a bracket and a latching module. The bracket includes a connecting pole and a supporting member mounted to the connecting pole. The latching module is installed to the supporting member, and comprises a latching member. The supporting member includes a position pole mounted to the connecting pole and a supporting bar perpendicularly extending out from the position pole. The position pole defines a latching slot facing the supporting bar for positioning an end of the solid state disk. The supporting bar defines a guiding slot facing the latching slot for receiving a side of the solid state disk. The latching member is to latch onto the solid state disk.

A mounting structure of a flexible printed circuit board and a sliding-type electronic device is provided by which a too large increase in thickness of devices can be avoided and a pair of housings can be slid relatively in a bending and slanting direction. In the mounting structure, an upper housing 12 and a lower housing 22 coupled in a freely slidable manner are electrically connected to each other by a flexible printed circuit board folded back to be routed between slide facing surfaces 12b and 22a of both the housings and the height of a side wall surface 12c and 22c of the upper housing and lower housing changes in a bending manner along the direction of freely sliding and, in the slide facing surfaces of the upper housing and lower housing, concave space portions 15 and 25 to accommodate the change in curvature and in position of a folding-back portion 31a caused by sliding motion between the upper housing and lower housing are disposed.

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.

A testing cartridge for metering of a sample to be tested. The testing cartridge includes a casing defining a casing opening and a sliding member defining a sliding member opening. The casing opening or the sliding member opening can define a specified volume, wherein the casing opening and the sliding member opening collectively define a sample application region dimensioned to accommodate receiving an amount of sample exceeding the specified volume. The sliding member is movable transversely to the casing opening by having the sliding member and the casing traverse across each other's respective openings to remove excess sample from the received amount of sample and retain the specified volume from the received amount of sample.

The present invention provides methods for preventing clumping of cells in microfluidic devices by addition of diazolidinyl urea (DU). DU can be added to samples at the time of collection or can be added to samples post-collection. DU can also be pre-added to sample collection devices.

A surgical stapling device and method for joining tissue portions are provided including a handle assembly, an elongate body extending from the handle assembly, a cartridge assembly supported on a distal end of the elongate body, and an anvil assembly at a distal end of the surgical stapling device. The anvil assembly includes a shaft for removably coupling the anvil assembly to the cartridge assembly and a head pivotally mounted to a distal end of the shaft. A sleeve member is slidably disposed about the shaft of the anvil assembly and is transitionable between a first position, where the sleeve member engages the head of the anvil assembly to secure the head in an un-tilted condition, and a second position, where the sleeve member is disengaged from the head of the anvil assembly to allow the head to tilt.

Sliding element for seals includes 25 to 75 weight % carbonaceous impalpable powdery aggregate of non-graphitizing carbon and/or graphitizing carbon and 20 to 50 weight % synthetic resin as binder. The sliding element is blended with the range of 5 to 25 weight % carbonaceous carbon fibers without surface treatment and inside the carbon matrix, the carbon fibers are randomly scattered.

This invention provides a process for reducing the amount of soluble halide in a solution comprising a liquid organic medium, at least one viscosity reducing agent, at least one dihydrocarbylmagnesium compound, and an initial amount of soluble halide. The process comprises mixing at least one alkali metal with the solution at a mole ratio of alkali metal to magnesium of less than about 1:2.5, thereby forming precipitated soluble halides. Also provided by this invention is a process for reducing the amount of soluble halide in a slurry comprising a liquid organic medium, at least one viscosity reducing agent, at least one dihydrocarbylmagnesium compound, solids from the formation of said dihydrocarbylmagnesium compound, and an initial amount of soluble halide. This process comprises mixing at least one alkali metal with the slurry at a mole ratio of alkali metal to magnesium of less than about 1:1.25, thereby forming precipitated soluble halides.

A sequential punch press includes an upper die (10), a lower die (90), and an adjusting device (60) in the upper die. The upper die sequentially includes a punch set (20), a punch pad (30), a punch holder (40), and a stripper (50). A punch (70) is vertically and movably secured in the punch holder and received in the stripper. The adjusting device includes first and second sliding plates (64, 66) respectively having protrusions (65b, 67b), a piston cylinder (68) having a piston rod (682) fixedly connected with the first sliding plate, and a programmable controller for causing the piston rod to slidingly move the first sliding plate. When the first protrusions opposingly abut the second protrusions, the punch can extend beyond the stripper to punch a workpiece. When the first protrusions do not opposingly abut the second protrusions, the punch cannot extend beyond the stripper to punch the workpiece.

A method of preparing soybean mixed powder comprising a soybean powder having properties wherein formation of agglomerate is small when the powder is added to water and then heated with stirring to dissolve the powder.

Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods and systems that distribute an additive in solid carbon dioxide in an interior of food processing equipment. The additive may be injected into a flow of liquid carbon dioxide upstream of an expander at or adjacent to the interior. Injection of the additive into the interior may be alternated with directing a flow of expanded carbon dioxide into the interior. In some embodiments, the freezing point of the additive with or without a diluent composition and/or additive(s) is lower than a temperature of the liquid carbon dioxide.

An image photographing apparatus capable of maintaining the size of a sensor plate even in a case when the size of a shutter assembly is increased, the image photographing apparatus including a shutter assembly configured to control an amount of light entered, an image sensor disposed at a rear of the shutter assembly to change the light to an electrical signal, a sensor plate configured to support the image sensor, and a main frame configured such that the shutter assembly and the sensor plate are be mounted thereon, wherein the main frame includes a frame base, and a shutter mounting portion protrudedly formed from the frame base such that the shutter assembly is mounted in a sliding manner on the shutter mounting portion.

In some embodiments, a kit includes a slide device and an action figure coupled to the slide device. The kit also includes a tool configured to modify a shape of a base material such that a path that has a non-zero height is defined within the base material. The action figure and the slide device can collectively slide down at least a portion of the path when disposed on the path. The base material can be, for example, snow or sand. In some embodiments, the tool can include tool body having a length dimension, a width dimension and a height dimension. The length dimension can be greater than the width dimension and the height dimension can be greater than at least half a height dimension of the slide device and the action figure collectively. A handle can be coupled to the tool body.

An exemplary illumination source for an inspection system includes a pulsed seed laser having a wavelength of approximately 1104 nm and a continuous wave, Raman seed laser having a wavelength of approximately 1160 nm. An optical coupler can combine outputs of the pulsed seed laser and the continuous wave, Raman seed laser. Pre-amplification stages can receive an output of the optical coupler. A power amplifier can receive an output of the pre-amplification stages. A sixth harmonic can be generated using the amplified, combined wavelength. Systems for inspecting a specimen such as a reticle, photomask or wafer can include one of the illumination sources described herein.

A scanning circuit, comprising first signal lines, second signal lines, third signal lines, a drive unit configured to drive the first signal lines, first buffers configured to drive the second signal lines in accordance with signals of the first signal lines, second buffers configured to drive the third signal lines in accordance with the signals of the first signal lines, and a shift register having a first part to be driven by signals of the second signal lines and a second part to be driven by signals of the third signal lines, wherein the first to third signal lines include two signal lines arranged in parallel to each other and configured to transmit the in-phase signals.

A counter configured to perform counting at both edges of an input clock to output an additional value or a subtraction value for a previous count value and a next count value includes a first latch circuit that latches the input clock, a second latch circuit that latches an output from the first latch circuit, a holding section that holds data of the 0th bit of a count value, and a correction section that performs count correction on data of the first and subsequent bits of the count value on the basis of an output of the second latch circuit.