Propagating brush discharge testing systems include an initiation electrode, a high-voltage switch, a sensor, and a controller. The initiation electrode has an exposed tip positioned adjacent to a surface of a test article. The high-voltage switch is configured to selectively isolate the initiation electrode from ground potential. The sensor is positioned and configured to detect a propagating brush discharge between the initiation electrode and the test article. The controller is programmed to operate the high-voltage switch to ground the initiation electrode.

A diagnostic apparatus monitors a lithographic manufacturing system. First measurement data representing local deviations of some characteristic across a substrate is obtained using sensors within a lithographic apparatus, and/or a separate metrology tool. Other inspection tools perform substrate backside inspection to produce second measurement data. A high-resolution backside defect image is processed into a form in which it can be compared with lower resolution information from the first measurement data. Cross-correlation is performed to identify which of the observed defects are correlated spatially with the deviations represented in the first measurement data. A correlation map is used to identify potentially relevant clusters of defects in the more detailed original defect map. The responsible apparatus can be identified by pattern recognition as part of an automated root cause analysis. Alternatively, reticle inspection data may be used as second measurement data.

A method of controlling a paper product converting line. The method includes unwinding a paper web from a parent roll on a converting line, the converting line having a plurality of operational parameters, the paper web including a plurality of sections in a sequence, and a plurality of marks, each mark being associated with an action score, at least one action score having an action value, reading at least one of the marks, obtaining the action score associated with a second one of the marks, the second of the marks being a next mark with an action value after the one read mark, calculating a distance between the at least one read mark and the second one, changing at least one operational parameter of the converting line based upon the action score, and converting the paper web into a paper product.

A method of controlling a paper product converting line. The method includes unwinding a paper web from a parent roll on a converting line, the converting line having a plurality of operational parameters, the paper web including a plurality of sections in a sequence, and a plurality of marks, each mark being associated with an action score, at least one action score having an action value, reading at least one of the marks, obtaining the action score associated with a second one of the marks, the second of the marks being a next mark with an action value after the one read mark, calculating a distance between the at least one read mark and the second one, changing at least one operational parameter of the converting line based upon the action score, and converting the paper web into a paper product.

A method of manufacturing an electrochemical sensing system is provided. The method includes forming a sensor with a first sensing element disposed on a sensor, the first sensing element configured to detect a target gas, disposing a second sensing element on the sensor, the second sensing element configured to detect the target gas, and coupling a protective feature to the second sensing element, the protective feature configured to prevent non-target gases from contacting the second sensing element. The sensor is configured such that if the first sensing element generates a current exceeding a first threshold current value and the second sensing element does not exceed a second threshold current value it is determined that the first sensing element is contaminated and a restoration protocol is performed on the first sensing element.

Propagating brush discharge testing systems include an initiation electrode, a high-voltage switch, a sensor, and a controller. The initiation electrode has an exposed tip positioned adjacent to a surface of a test article. The high-voltage switch is configured to selectively isolate the initiation electrode from ground potential. The sensor is positioned and configured to detect a propagating brush discharge between the initiation electrode and the test article. The controller is programmed to operate the high-voltage switch to ground the initiation electrode.

Propagating brush discharge testing systems include an initiation electrode, a high-voltage switch, a sensor, and a controller. The initiation electrode has an exposed tip positioned adjacent to a surface of a test article. The high-voltage switch is configured to selectively isolate the initiation electrode from ground potential. The sensor is positioned and configured to detect a propagating brush discharge between the initiation electrode and the test article. The controller is programmed to operate the high-voltage switch to ground the initiation electrode.

A method and a device for testing for the presence of micro-holes or microcracks in a bottom surface of test objects includes an upper electrode arranged above a transport level and a lower electrode arranged below the transport level. The magnitude of a test voltage generated by two voltage sources connected in series is controlled at the electrodes so that the test voltage is greater than or equal to the breakdown voltage between the electrodes in air, and smaller than the breakdown voltage through a test object without holes or cracks. The test voltage is controlled temporally and synchronously with the movement of the test objects, so that the test voltage is only applied when one of the test objects is located between the electrodes. A hole or crack is recognized by a breakdown to the discharge path between the electrodes.

A method and a device for testing for the presence of micro-holes or microcracks in a bottom surface of test objects includes an upper electrode arranged above a transport level and a lower electrode arranged below the transport level. The magnitude of a test voltage generated by two voltage sources connected in series is controlled at the electrodes so that the test voltage is greater than or equal to the breakdown voltage between the electrodes in air, and smaller than the breakdown voltage through a test object without holes or cracks. The test voltage is controlled temporally and synchronously with the movement of the test objects, so that the test voltage is only applied when one of the test objects is located between the electrodes. A hole or crack is recognized by a breakdown to the discharge path between the electrodes.

A method of producing a paper product by forming a paper web on a paper machine, the web including a plurality of sections, analyzing the web, marking the web, winding the web to form a parent roll after the web has been inspected and marked, assigning an action score to each section of the web, at least one action score having an action value, unwinding a web from a parent roll, reading at least one of a plurality of marks with a mark reading unit, obtaining the action score associated with a second one of the marks, calculating a distance between a mark read by the reading unit and the second one of the marks, changing at least one operational parameter of a converting line based upon the action score of the second of the marks when the distance is less than a threshold, and converting the paper web.