Abstract: System and method for improved solvent recovery in a dry cleaning device includes a washer drum, a cleaning basket disposed in the washer drum and configured to receive articles and a solvent based cleaning fluid, a working tank configured to receive the solvent based cleaning fluid used in the washer drum and cleaning basket, an air management mechanism configured to drain cleaning fluid condensate produced from the washer drum and cleaning basket directly into the working tank, and a low mixing pump configured to pump the solvent based cleaning fluid from the cleaning basket to the working tank, the low mixing pump characterized by a Reynolds number of about 15,000 or less, wherein the Reynolds number is determined as a function of one or more properties associated with an impeller of the low mixing pump.

Abstract: A system for production of hydrogen comprises at least one steam reforming zone configured to receive a first fuel and steam to produce a first reformate gas stream comprising hydrogen using a steam reforming process. The system further comprises a mixed reforming zone configured to receive an oxidant to produce a second reformate gas stream comprising hydrogen, wherein the first reformate gas stream is sent to the mixed reforming zone to complete the reforming process.

Abstract: A low cost and easy to assemble communicating utility meter provides selectable measurement, calibration, display, and communications means so as to be re-configurable based on several factors including; harmonic content of the power signal measured, LCD display alternatives, time of use measurements, bandpass filter settings, power quality measurements, PLC communications. alternatives, radio frequency communications alternatives, optical communications alternatives, and hard wire communications alternatives.

Abstract: Gallium oxide films for sensing gas comprise Ga2O3 and have a porosity of at least about 30%. Such films can be formed by coating a substrate with a solution comprising: a gallium salt and a porogen comprising an organic compound comprising a hydrophilic chain and a hydrophobic chain; and heating the substrate to a temperature in the range from about 400° C. to about 600° C. while exposing the substrate to an oxygen-containing source to convert the gallium salt to a gallium oxide.

Abstract: A membrane structure is provided. The membrane structure includes a polymer layer having a plurality of pores; and a ceramic layer disposed on the polymer layer. The ceramic layer has a plurality of substantially unconnected pores. Each of the substantially unconnected pores is in fluid communication with at least one of the pores of the polymer layer. A method of manufacturing a membrane structure is provided. The method includes the steps of providing a polymer layer having a plurality of pores; and disposing a ceramic layer on the polymer layer. Disposing a ceramic layer includes depositing a metal layer on the polymer layer; and anodizing the metal layer to convert the metal layer into a porous layer. At least one of the depositing step and the anodizing step is performed as a continuous process. Alternatively, at least one of the depositing and the anodizing step is performed as a batch process.

Abstract: There is disclosed a pre-sintering process for reducing non-uniformities in the density of a sintered material comprising (a) providing a mixture of (i) a first sinterable material containing a contaminant the presence of which during sintering of the first sinterable material results in a higher vapor pressure than would occur during sintering of pure first sinterable material and (ii) a second material having a higher affinity for the contaminant than does the first sinterable material; and (b) heating the mixture at a temperature and for a time sufficient to allow the second material to at least partly mitigate the propensity of the contaminant to raise the vapor pressure during the sintering of the first sinterable material. Other embodiments are also disclosed.

Abstract: A motor starter is provided. The motor starter includes micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry. The system may further include solid state switching circuitry coupled in a parallel circuit with the electromechanical switching circuitry, and a controller coupled to the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry. The controller may be configured to perform selective switching of a load current from a motor connected to the motor starter. The switching may be performed between the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry in response to a load current condition appropriate to an operational capability of a respective one of the switching circuitries.

Abstract: A method and associated structure for forming a free-standing electrostatically-doped carbon nanotube device is described. The method includes providing a carbon nanotube on a substrate in such a way as to have a free-standing portion. One way of forming a free-standing portion of the carbon nanotube is to remove a portion of the substrate. Another described way of forming a free-standing portion of the carbon nanotube is to dispose a pair of metal electrodes on a first substrate portion, removing portions of the first substrate portion adjacent to the metal electrodes, and conformally disposing a second substrate portion on the first substrate portion to form a trench.

Abstract: In a field emitter (100) including a substrate (110), the substrate (110) has a substantially non-conductive top substrate surface (112). A conductive cathode member (130) is disposed on the top substrate surface (112) and has a top cathode surface (132). A conductive gate member (120) is disposed on the top substrate surface (112) and is substantially coplanar with the cathode member (130). An emitter structure (140) extends away from the top cathode surface (132). The gate member (120) is spaced apart from the cathode member (130) at a distance so that when a predetermined potential is applied between the cathode member (130) and gate member (120), the emitter structure (140) will emit electrons.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical system current and magnetic field sensor is presented. The micro-electromechanical system current and magnetic field sensor is configured to sense a magnetic field produced by a current carrying conductor. The sensor includes a structural component comprising a substrate and a compliant layer, a magnetic-to-mechanical converter coupled to the structural component to provide a mechanical indication of the magnetic field. The sensor further includes a strain responsive component coupled to the structural component to sense the mechanical indication and to provide an indication of the current in the current carrying conductor in response thereto.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) current sensor is described as including a first conductor, a magnetic field shaping component for shaping a magnetic field produced by a current in the first conductor, and a MEMS-based magnetic field sensing component including a magneto-MEMS component for sensing the shaped magnetic field and, in response thereto, providing an indication of the current in the first conductor. A method for sensing a current using MEMS is also described as including shaping a magnetic field produced with a current in a first conductor, sensing the shaped magnetic field with a MEMS-based magnetic field sensing component having a magneto-MEMS component magnetic field sensing circuit, and providing an indication of the current in the first conductor.

Abstract: An alloy, an article comprising the alloy, and methods for manufacturing and repairing an article that employ the alloy are presented. The alloy comprises, in atom percent, at least about 50% rhodium, up to about 49% of a first material, from about 1% to about 15% of a second material, and up to about 10% of a third material. The first material comprises at least one of palladium, platinum, iridium, and combinations thereof. The second material comprises at least one of tungsten, rhenium, and combinations thereof. The third material comprises at least one of ruthenium, chromium, and combinations thereof. The alloy comprises an A1-structured phase at temperatures greater than about 1000° C., in an amount of at least about 90% by volume.

Abstract: An electrically conducting cermet comprises at least one transition metal element dispersed in a matrix of at least one refractory oxide selected from the group consisting of yttria, alumina, garnet, magnesium aluminum oxide, and combinations; wherein an amount of the at least one transition metal element is less than 15 volume percent of the total volume of the cermet. A device comprises the aforementioned electrically conducting cermet.

Abstract: An in-situ method for repairing a thermal barrier coating deposited on a component that has suffered localized spallation including depositing a ceramic paste on a surface area of the component exposed by the localized spallation, the ceramic paste including a ceramic material in a binder material, the ceramic material including solid zirconia particles, the binder material including a silicone compound. The method also including heating the binder material to yield a repair coating that covers the surface area of the component, the silicone compound promoting the bonding of the solid zirconia particles.

Abstract: A method for forming a nanocomposite material and articles made with the nanocomposite material are presented.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) current sensor is described as including a first conductor, a magnetic field shaping component for shaping a magnetic field produced by a current in the first conductor, and a MEMS-based magnetic field sensing component including a magneto-MEMS component for sensing the shaped magnetic field and, in response thereto, providing an indication of the current in the first conductor. A method for sensing a current using MEMS is also described as including shaping a magnetic field produced with a current in a first conductor, sensing the shaped magnetic field with a MEMS-based magnetic field sensing component having a magneto-MEMS component magnetic field sensing circuit, and providing an indication of the current in the first conductor.

Abstract: An ignition circuit and method, as may be used for igniting a gas discharge lamp, are provided. The circuit includes a voltage multiplier circuit connected to receive a signal corresponding to a DC bus voltage level from a rectifier circuit. The voltage multiplier circuit includes first and second voltage storing circuits configured to each respectively store a voltage level corresponding to a first multiple of the DC bus voltage level (e.g., at least twice the DC bus voltage level). The voltage multiplier circuit further includes a peak voltage holding circuit connected to the first and second voltage storing circuits to accumulate a voltage level corresponding to a second multiple of the DC bus voltage level (e.g., at least four times the DC bus voltage level).

Abstract: A circuit such as may be used for igniting and operating a gas discharge lamp is provided. The circuit includes a resonant circuit connected to receive a variable voltage output signal from an inverter. The resonant circuit includes a first circuit stage and a second circuit stage. The second circuit stage includes a resonant tank circuit configured to generate a resonant output voltage when a switching frequency of the inverter matches a resonant frequency of the resonant circuit. The first circuit stage includes at least one current-suppressing element for reducing an effect of a resonant current that flows in the resonant circuit on a switching current that flows in the inverter.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) current and magnetic field sensor for sensing a magnetic field produced by a conductor includes a magneto-MEMS component for sensing the magnetic field and an interference-MEMS component for sensing an interference, wherein the magneto-MEMS component and the interference MEMS component are used to provide an indication of the current in the conductor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to gated nanorod field emission devices, wherein such devices have relatively small emitter tip-to-gate distances, thereby providing a relatively high emitter tip density and low turn on voltage. Such methods employ a combination of traditional device processing techniques (lithography, etching, etc.) with electrochemical deposition of nanorods. These methods are relatively simple, cost-effective, and efficient; and they provide field emission devices that are suitable for use in x-ray imaging applications, lighting applications, flat panel field emission display (FED) applications, etc.