Abstract: A fuel cell system anode tail gas oxidizer (ATO) includes an inner ATO wall, an outer ATO wall, and a first catalyst ring disposed in a chamber formed between the inner ATO wall and the outer ATO wall. The first catalyst ring includes an inner wall, an outer wall, and a matrix disposed between the inner wall and the outer wall and loaded with an oxidation catalyst.

Abstract: A method of temperature control for a chemical mechanical polishing system includes directing a gas that includes steam from an orifice onto the component in the polishing system while the component is spaced away from a polishing pad of the polishing system to raise a temperature of the component to an elevated temperature, and before the component returns to an ambient temperature, moving the component into contact with the polishing pad.

Abstract: A method of cleaning for a chemical mechanical polishing system includes directing a gas that includes steam from an orifice onto a component in the polishing system while the component is spaced away from a polishing pad of the polishing system to clean the component, and moving the component into contact with the polishing pad.

Abstract: In some cases, a wound dressing and a method for coating a wound dressing is provided. A first coating may be applied on a first side of a substantially flexible substrate of the wound dressing. The first side of the substrate may support a plurality of electronic components, electronic tracks, and a plurality of connectors between the electronic components and electronic tracks. The first coating may be applied to at least one connector of the plurality of connectors or to at least one electronic components of the plurality of electronic components to reinforce the at least one connector or the at least one electronic components.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nozzle, which has a main valve arranged in a channel, a coupling device (30) for producing a connection between the nozzle and the connecting piece (15), and an actuating apparatus (17) for actuating the coupling device and the main valve. The actuating apparatus comprises a manual lever (11), which is movable between a closed position and an open position. The actuating apparatus is designed to convert a movement of the manual lever in a region between the closed position and the open position to a temporally offset actuation of the coupling device and of the main valve. A coupling joint (20) connected to the manual lever is connected via operative connections to the coupling device having the main valve.

Abstract: Porous implantable devices for housing one or more therapeutic agents are disclosed herein. The implantable devices include a porous outer wall defining an interia or void. The interior void houses a carrier material carrying a first therapeutic agent. The implantable devices are made by patterning at least a portion of a polymerizable substrate into a polymerized three-dimensional porous outer wall surrounding an interior void. This can be achieved by two-photon polymerization techniques. A first therapeutic agent is then added to the interior void, which is then sealed. Methods of treating diseases using the implantable devices are disclosed herein. The methods include implanting the implantable device at a target area and locally releasing a therapeutically effective dosage of a first therapeutic agent from the interior void. The implantable devices can also be used in methods of screening potentially therapeutic agents for desired biological responses.

Abstract: An apparatus for chemical mechanical polishing includes a rotatable platen having a surface to support a polishing pad, a carrier head to hold a substrate in contact with the polishing pad, and a polishing liquid distribution system. The polishing liquid distribution system includes a dispenser positioned to deliver a polishing liquid to a portion of a polishing surface of the polishing pad, and a curved barrier positioned after the dispenser to spread fresh polishing liquid from the dispenser.

Abstract: An apparatus for steam treatment of a conditioner head and/or conditioner disk in a chemical mechanical polishing system includes a conditioner cleaning cup, a boiler to generate steam, one or more nozzles positioned to direct steam inwardly into a cavity defined by the load cup, and a supply line running from the boiler to the one or more nozzles to supply steam to the one or more nozzles.

Abstract: A manually operated pump exhibiting numerous improvement over existing such pumps is described. The pump can include a cylinder that is removeably mounted to a molded valve box of unitary construction. The valve box can feature a valve plate covering a valve chamber and housing an inlet valve and an outlet valve. In some instances, the pump includes a molded piston of unitary construction to which a pair of opposing piston cups is mounted. In some cases, the pump includes a filler cap forming an inlet adapted to deliver a priming fluid into the cylinder. In some cases, the pump includes a stopper cap adapted to prevent a pump shaft from being fully pulled out of the cylinder.

Abstract: A chemical mechanical polishing system includes a platen to support a polishing pad, a carrier head, a motor to generate relative motion between the platen and the carrier head, a steam generator including a vessel having a water inlet and one or more steam outlets and a heating element configured to apply heat to a portion of lower chamber to generate steam, a nozzle oriented to deliver steam from the steam generator onto the polishing pad, a tank to hold a cleaning fluid, a first valve in a first fluid line between the vessel and the nozzle to controllably connect and disconnect the vessel and the nozzle, a second valve in a second fluid line between the vessel and the tank to controllably connect and disconnect the vessel and the tank such that steam from the vessel heats fluid in the tank.

Abstract: A method of processing a substrate includes selectively dispensing a treatment fluid on a die-by-die basis to onto a substrate, and chemical mechanical polishing the substrate after dispensing the treatment fluid. The treatment fluid modifies a polishing rate of the chemical mechanical polishing at one or more selected die(s) to which the treatment fluid is applied in comparison to one or more remaining die(s) to which the treatment fluid is not applied.

Abstract: A fuel cell system includes at least one of plural electrochemical pump separators to separate carbon dioxide from a fuel exhaust stream or a combination of a gas separator and a fuel exhaust cooler located outside a hotbox.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and method for using a peak shaving gas, the system including: a fuel inlet configured to receive fuel from a fuel source; a catalytic partial oxidation (CPOx) reactor configured to at least partially oxidize the fuel during startup of the system; a blower configured to provide air to the CPOx reactor; a gas analyzer configured to determine a composition of fuel provided to the CPOx reactor from the fuel inlet; an oxidation catalyst configured to reduce an O2 content of fuel received from the CPOx reactor; a reforming catalyst configured to partially reform fuel received from the oxidation catalyst; and a stack of fuel cells configured to generate electricity using fuel received from the reforming catalyst.

Abstract: Improved systems and methods for cleaning a filter are described, including apparatuses that include a built-in mechanism for cleaning a filter screen. The system can include a brush mounted in contact with a filter screen, adapted so that the brush can be moved to clean the filter screen. In some versions, the brush rotates with an axis of rotation perpendicular to a plane defined by a substantially planar filter screen. In other versions, the brush is adapted to be moved by a gravitational force along a surface of a filter screen upon removal of a pump housing from a pump well. In still other versions, a substantially cylindrical brush is mounted nested with a substantially semi-cylindrical filter screen, and the brush can be rotated while in contact with the filter screen and with an axis of rotation aligned with a longitudinal axis of the filter screen.

Abstract: An apparatus for steam treatment of a carrier head or a substrate in a chemical mechanical polishing system includes a load cup, a pedestal in a cavity defined by the load cup, the pedestal configured to receive a substrate from or supply a substrate to a carrier head, a boiler to generate steam, one or more nozzles positioned to direct steam inwardly into the cavity defined by the load cup, and a supply line running from the boiler to the one or more nozzles to supply steam to the one or more nozzles.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to LED lighting fixtures and provides apparatuses and methods for determining the forward voltage of a light emitting diode or light emitting diode array in a light fixture. An example apparatus comprises a boost converter with a user-variable forward bias current, that measures and displays the characteristics of an arbitrary LED load. Example methods according to the invention use a configurable boost converter apparatus in the field to determine the LED characteristics of an arbitrary LED module in a lighting fixture and subsequently display the results to the user. The apparatus can be part of a system that includes a link to a mobile device to transmit operating characteristics of the LED load and retrieve pertinent commercial data.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to LED lighting fixtures and provides apparatuses and methods for determining the forward voltage of a light emitting diode or light emitting diode array in a light fixture. An example apparatus comprises a boost converter with a user-variable forward bias current, that measures and displays the characteristics of an arbitrary LED load. Example methods according to the invention use a configurable boost converter apparatus in the field to determine the LED characteristics of an arbitrary LED module in a lighting fixture and subsequently display the results to the user. The apparatus can be part of a system that includes a link to a mobile device to transmit operating characteristics of the LED load and retrieve pertinent commercial data.

Abstract: The invention relates to a nozzle, which has a main valve arranged in a channel, a coupling device (30) for producing a connection between the nozzle and the connecting piece (15), and an actuating apparatus (17) for actuating the coupling device and the main valve. The actuating apparatus comprises a manual lever (11), which is movable between a closed position and an open position. The actuating apparatus is designed to convert a movement of the manual lever in a region between the closed position and the open position to a temporally offset actuation of the coupling device and of the main valve. A coupling joint (20) connected to the manual lever is connected via operative connections to the coupling device having the main valve.

Abstract: A fuel cell system and method for using a peak shaving gas, the system including: a fuel inlet configured to receive fuel from a fuel source; a catalytic partial oxidation (CPOx) reactor configured to at least partially oxidize the fuel during startup of the system; a blower configured to provide air to the CPOx reactor; a gas analyzer configured to determine a composition of fuel provided to the CPOx reactor from the fuel inlet; an oxidation catalyst configured to reduce an O2 content of fuel received from the CPOx reactor; a reforming catalyst configured to partially reform fuel received from the oxidation catalyst; and a stack of fuel cells configured to generate electricity using fuel received from the reforming catalyst.

Abstract: A disinfection device including a pipe with a taper, inlet, and outlet; an ultraviolet laser; a beam steering device and a transparent layer. The laser, located at a smaller diameter end of the pipe, projects a laser beam towards a larger diameter end of the pipe. The laser beam projects through and/or off the beam steering device and through the transparent layer at a plurality of angles in a cycle. The beam steering device reflects, refracts and/or deflects the laser beam at angles such that a laser beam profile projects through part or all of an inner profile of any point along the taper in the cycle. The pipe receives a fluid that passes through the pipe. One of the inlet or the outlet is located at the smaller diameter pipe end and the other of the inlet or the outlet is located at the larger diameter pipe end.