Abstract: The present invention relates to a method for metallizing semiconductor components in which aluminium is used. In particular in the case of products in which the process costs play a big part, such as e.g. solar cells based on silicon, a cost advantage can be achieved with the invention. In addition, the present invention relates to the use of the method, for example in the production of solar cells.

Abstract: An image search system includes a first calculation section that calculates a first similarity score of each registered image with respect to an input image on the basis of image features of the registered and the input image, a second calculation section that calculates a second similarity score of each registered image with respect to the input image on the basis of text features of the registered and the input image, a candidate extraction section that extracts one or more candidate images on the basis of the first and the second similarity scores of each registered image, a third calculation section that calculates a third similarity score of each candidate image on the basis of projection waveforms of the input image and the candidate image, and a search section that determines one or more registered images similar to the input image on the basis of the third similarity score.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for detecting a voltage potential from a tissue membrane. The device includes an input circuit, an output circuit and a digital signal processor. The input circuit receives a membrane voltage potential from an electrode. The output circuit receives an output command signal and provides a current output signal to the electrode. The digital signal processor is coupled to the input circuit and the output circuit. The digital signal processor provides the output command signal, and waits a delay period prior to receiving the membrane voltage signal from the input circuit.

Abstract: A method is disclosed of detecting a bioelectrical signal from a subject. The method includes the steps of applying a composite material to a subject wherein the composite material includes a polymeric material and a polar material that is substantially dispersed within the polymeric material; coupling monitoring equipment to the second side of the composite material; permitting the polar material within the polymeric material to respond to the bioelectrical signal within the subject; and detecting a responsive electrical signal from the composite material that is representative of the bioelectrical signal. The polar material exhibits molecular compatibility with the polymeric material such that the polar material neither blooms to a surface of the polymeric material nor crystallizes within the polymeric material, and the composite material has a first side for contacting the subject and a second side.

Abstract: A magneto-optical structure is provided. The magneto-optical structure includes a substrate. A waveguide layer is formed on the substrate for guiding electromagnetic radiation received by the magneto-optical structure. The waveguide layer includes magnetic oxide material that comprises ABO3 perovskite doped with transition metal ions on the B site, or transition metal ions doped SnO2, or transition metal ions doped CeO2.

Abstract: A neutron source includes a low atomic number element target that is bombarded by incident energetic particles to provide a neutron flux. The source receives a controlled flow of liquid gallium that cools the target. The energetic particles may be for example protons or deuterons and the target is housed in a moderator/reflector assembly. Advantageously, the liquid gallium provides improved heat transfer, smaller flow rates and reduced stress on the target in comparison to prior art liquid coolants.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a photovoltaic module, comprising at least two component cell groups (SCA) which are connected to each other and disposed on an electrically insulating basic body, which groups comprise respectively one solar cell which is applied on a thermally and electrically conductive carrier and a bypass diode which is applied at a spacing thereto, and which are contacted with each other via an electrical conductor, the bypass diode having a polarity which is inverse to the solar cell and the solar cell and the bypass diode being applied on the conductive carrier via a conductive connecting layer.

Abstract: The invention relates to an apparatus and to a method for controlling or regulating the deflection of micromechanically manufactured deflectable elements which, driven electrostatically, are deflected in an oscillating manner. It is the object of the invention to provide a possibility with which a much larger deflection range can be utilized and in so doing the required voltage potential difference for the electrostatic drive of a deflection can be kept small and the occurrence of the pull-in effect can be avoided. In accordance with the invention, a deflectable element is present which is held at a frame element by at least one spring element and which can be deflected using an electrostatic drive. The deflection can be achieved by means of at least one counter-electrode and the deflectable element usable as an electrode.

Abstract: This invention concerns a system (1) for electronically aligning the polarisation of an antenna (2;2b) with the polarisation of a signal received therein or transmitted therefrom, said signal having two mutually orthogonal components, namely a vertical component (Cv) and a horizontal component (Co).

Abstract: A cache memory processing system is disclosed that is coupled to a main memory and a processing unit. The cache memory processing system includes an input, a low order bit data path, a high order bit data path and an output. The input is for receiving input data that includes at least one low order input bit and at least one high order input bit. The low order bit data path is for processing the at least one low order input bit and providing at least one low order output bit. The high order bit data path for processing the at least one high order input bit and providing at least one high order output bit. The high order bit data path includes at least one exclusive or gate. The output is for providing the at least one low order output bit and the at least one high order output bit.

Abstract: A system includes a first device and one or more second devices that each provides a user with usage information for using target information, based on control information, wherein the first device has a memory that stores the control information which contains device information and condition information, so as to be associated with the target information, a receiving unit that receives from a requester a request, an inquiry unit that inquires of the second device, when the requester is not managed by its own device, about whether the requester is managed by the device, and a providing unit that provides the requester, when, based on a response to the inquiry and the memory, the requester is managed by the second device designated by the device information, with the usage information, based on the condition information, and the second device has a response unit that sends the response to the inquiry.

Abstract: There is provided a computer readable medium storing a subprogram causing a computer to execute a subprocess that includes a predetermined process performed in response to a call from a caller program and a return process to return the result of the predetermined process to the caller program. The subprocess includes: an address acquisition process that acquires an access destination address to be accessed by the subprogram before executing the return process, the access destination address being assigned to the memory area of the caller program; a determination process that determines whether or not the caller program is a legitimate caller program based on the acquired access destination address; and a termination process that, if it is determined that the caller program is not a legitimate caller program as a result of the determination, terminates execution of the subprocess before executing the return process.

Abstract: A method of generating an electrical pulse to an output load is disclosed. The method includes the steps of establishing a first voltage on a first electrical conductor throughout an electrical length of the first electrical conductor, initiating the propagation of a voltage step at a first end of a second conductor having an electrical length that is substantially the same as the electrical length of the first electrical conductor, reversing a polarity of the voltage step and shifting the first voltage on the first electrical conductor when the voltage step reaches the second end of the second electrical conductor, and maintaining a shifted first voltage on the first electrical conductor when the voltage step on the second conductor returns to the first end of the second conductor.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved apparatus (1) for drying food-stuffs, comprising at least a centrifugation basket (5) for drying said product by its rotation, the lateral surface of said basket (5) being holed; a pin (13) rotating coupled with said at least a centrifugation basket (5); and a motor (12), mechanically coupled with said rotation pin (13); said apparatus (1) being characterised in that said motor (12) is a synchronous three-phase electric motor (12) and in that it comprises means (16) for controlling rotation of said motor (12) for adjusting the torque output by said motor (12) with respect to its rotation speed.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a process for washing and sterilizing food products, particularly vegetables. The process comprises the following steps: (a) treatment of the food products by ultrasounds, ultraviolet rays and micro filtering; (b) treatment of the food products under ozone atmosphere, ultraviolet rays and micro filtering; (c) treatment of the food products by ultraviolet rays; and (d) dewatering and drying the food products under controlled atmosphere. The present invention further relates to an apparatus for carrying out the above process.

Abstract: A wafer having heterostructure therein is formed using a substrate with recesses formed within a dielectric layer. A magnetized magnetic layer or a polarized electret material is formed at the bottom of each recess. The magnetized magnetic layer or a polarized electret material provides a predetermined magnetic or electrical field pattern. A plurality of heterostructures is formed from on an epitaxial wafer wherein each heterostructure has formed thereon a non-magnetized magnetic layer that is attracted to the magnetized magnetic layer formed at the bottom of each recess or dielectric layer that is attracted to the polarized electret material formed at the bottom of each recess. The plurality of heterostructures is etched from the epitaxial wafer to form a plurality of heterostructure pills.

Abstract: A scanned image disclosure apparatus has a disclosure unit that encrypts and discloses to a disclosure destination a scanned image by using a public key or a private key relating to a public key certificate that has been verified to be valid, a re-verification unit that judges whether or not re-verification of the validity of the public key certificate is necessary during execution for the disclosure unit and performs re-verification if it is judged to be necessary, a termination unit that terminates the execution for the disclosure unit if the public key certificate was judged to be invalid by the re-verification unit.

Abstract: An x-ray system is disclosed that includes a bipolar x-ray tube. The bipolar x-ray tube includes two insulators that are separated by an intermediate electrode in an embodiment, wherein each insulator forms a portion of an outer wall of a vacuum envelope of the bipolar x-ray tube surrounding at least a portion of a path of an electron beam within the vacuum envelope. In further embodiments, the bipolar x-ray tube includes a first electrode at a positive high voltage potential with respect to a reference potential, a second electrode at a negative high voltage potential with respect to the reference potential, and an x-ray transmissive window that is at the positive high voltage potential.

Abstract: A wire deck for supporting a load between two spaced parallel supports comprises a parallel array of first wires dimensioned to extend between the supports, and a parallel array of second wires extending across and joined to the first wires. The second wires have intermediate shaped sections projecting downwardly from an adjacent pair of first wires. The shaped sections define a channel-shaped path parallel to the first wires, with one of the first wires located at the base of that path.

Abstract: The invention relates to an improved system for transformation of rectilinear motion into curvilinear motion, or vice versa, in an internal combustion engine. The system comprising a rotor element and a stator element, one of said the rotor element and stator element having a closed spiral profile. The spiral profile having a continuous curvilinear portion for at least 270°, and a ramp portion joining the ends of the continuous curvilinear portion.