A disclosed screening apparatus includes a subgrid, and a screen element attached to the subgrid via laser welding at a plurality of attachment positions such that, under vibrational excitation, the screen element has a pre-determined profile of vibrational motion relative to the subgrid. The screen element may be attached at a maximal number of attachment locations to the subgrid to minimize relative motion of the screen element and the subgrid under vibrational excitation, or the screen element may be attached a sub-set of the maximal number of attachment locations to allow vibrational motion of the screen element relative to the subgrid. A disclosed method may include attaching a plurality of screen elements to a respective plurality of subgrids, attaching the plurality of subgrids to one another to form a screening pre-assembly, and cutting edges of the screening pre-assembly to form the screen assembly having a perimeter with a pre-determined shape.

This specification discloses an article of manufacture. The article of manufacture has at least one structural blank and at least one guide. The structural blank has a plurality of oriented fiber plies in a thermoplastic matrix. The guide has a plurality of random dispersed fibers in a thermoplastic matrix. The guide is affixed to the structural blank by injection molding and over molding the guide onto the structural blank. The article of manufacture can take a number of forms for use in industries such as aircraft, automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, trains or watercraft.

This specification discloses an article of manufacture. The article of manufacture has at least one structural blank and at least one guide. The structural blank has a plurality of oriented fiber plies in a thermoplastic matrix. The guide has a plurality of random dispersed fibers in a thermoplastic matrix. The guide is affixed to the structural blank by injection molding and over molding the guide onto the structural blank. The article of manufacture can take a number of forms for use in industries such as aircraft, automobiles, motorcycles, bicycles, trains or watercraft.

A first structure made of a first polymer is joined to a second structure made of an incompatible second polymer by the steps of welding small bands of compatible tubing or material to the first structure to create raised structures or ribs, and mechanically linking the second structure with the ribs or raised structures at the desired attachment point. The mechanical linkage may be accomplished by using heat shrinking or mechanical compression (such as crimping) to force the incompatible second polymer around the ribs or raised structures or, in the case of raised structures formed as threads or nubs, by inter-engagement between the threads or nubs on the first structure and corresponding structures, such as internal threading, nub-receiving slots, or internal surfaces, of the second structure. The option of using the welded raised structures as threads or nubs for a threaded, bayonet, pin-and-slot, snap-fit, or similar connection enables the second structure to be removed from the first structure and replaced whenever the second structure becomes worn during use. The first structure may be an surgical laser fiber with an ETFE buffer layer, and the second structure is a protective structure may be made of PTFE, PET, FEP or PFA.

An endoscope control system for performing a bending operation in a disposable insertion endoscope, the endoscope control system including a control wheel connected to a wire drum for connection to a steering wire of the endoscope, whereby rotation of the control wheel controls the bending operation, and a multi-disc brake including a stack of at least three brake discs, wherein activation of the multi-disc brake changes the multi-disc brake from a released state to a braking state, a brake torque generated by the multi-disc brake in the braking state braking rotation of the control wheel, the brake torque in the released state being at least partially released.

An endoscope control system for performing a bending operation in a disposable insertion endoscope, the endoscope control system including a control wheel connected to a wire drum for connection to a steering wire of the endoscope, whereby rotation of the control wheel controls the bending operation, and a multi-disc brake including a stack of at least three brake discs, wherein activation of the multi-disc brake changes the multi-disc brake from a released state to a braking state, a brake torque generated by the multi-disc brake in the braking state braking rotation of the control wheel, the brake torque in the released state being at least partially released.

An endoscope control system for performing a bending operation in a disposable insertion endoscope, the endoscope control system including a control wheel connected to a wire drum for connection to a steering wire of the endoscope, whereby rotation of the control wheel controls the bending operation, and a multi-disc brake including a stack of at least three brake discs, wherein activation of the multi-disc brake changes the multi-disc brake from a released state to a braking state, a brake torque generated by the multi-disc brake in the braking state braking rotation of the control wheel, the brake torque in the released state being at least partially released.

A disclosed screening apparatus includes a subgrid, and a screen element attached to the subgrid via laser welding at a plurality of attachment positions such that, under vibrational excitation, the screen element has a pre-determined profile of vibrational motion relative to the subgrid. The screen element may be attached at a maximal number of attachment locations to the subgrid to minimize relative motion of the screen element and the subgrid under vibrational excitation, or the screen element may be attached a sub-set of the maximal number of attachment locations to allow vibrational motion of the screen element relative to the subgrid. A disclosed method may include attaching a plurality of screen elements to a respective plurality of subgrids, attaching the plurality of subgrids to one another to form a screening pre-assembly, and cutting edges of the screening pre-assembly to form the screen assembly having a perimeter with a pre-determined shape.

A disclosed screening apparatus includes a subgrid, and a screen element attached to the subgrid via laser welding at a plurality of attachment positions such that, under vibrational excitation, the screen element has a pre-determined profile of vibrational motion relative to the subgrid. The screen element may be attached at a maximal number of attachment locations to the subgrid to minimize relative motion of the screen element and the subgrid under vibrational excitation, or the screen element may be attached a sub-set of the maximal number of attachment locations to allow vibrational motion of the screen element relative to the subgrid. A disclosed method may include attaching a plurality of screen elements to a respective plurality of subgrids, attaching the plurality of subgrids to one another to form a screening pre-assembly, and cutting edges of the screening pre-assembly to form the screen assembly having a perimeter with a pre-determined shape.

A technique for handling an integrated circuit tape assembly having a plurality of integrated circuits supported by underlying dicing tape involves placing the integrated circuit tape assembly on a film frame carrier (FFC) frame, stretching the dicing tape while on the FFC frame, and securing the stretched dicing tape by engaging a spring ring with the dicing tape and FFC frame. Adjacent integrated circuits are thereby inhibited from colliding during shipment or storage for subsequent processing.