Abstract: A system and method for enhancing the conversion efficiency of thin film photovoltaics. The thin film structure includes a photovoltaic absorbent layer covered by a confinement layer. A laser beam passes through the confinement layer and hits the photovoltaic absorbent layer. The laser can be pulsed to create localized rapid heating and cooling of the photovoltaic absorbent layer. The confinement layer confines the laser induced plasma plume creating a localized high-pressure condition for the photovoltaic absorbent layer. The laser beam can be scanned across specific regions of the thin film structure. The laser beam can be pulsed as a series of short pulses. The photovoltaic absorbent layer can be made of various materials including copper indium diselenide, gallium arsenide, and cadmium telluride. The photovoltaic absorbent layer can be sandwiched between a substrate and the confinement layer, and a molybdenum layer can be between the substrate and the photovoltaic absorbent layer.

Abstract: A solar energy collecting system and method suitable for hot water generation using solar energy. The system includes multiport tubes between inlet and outlet manifolds. The tubes are formed of a metallic material, each tube has oppositely-disposed first and second flat surfaces between lateral edges thereof, longitudinally-opposed first and second ends, and multiple fluid channels between the first and second ends that are in fluidic parallel to each other. The inlet and outlet manifolds are coupled to the first and second ends of the tubes so that chambers within the inlet and outlet manifolds are fluidically connected to the fluid channels of the multiport tubes. During operation of the system, a fluid flowing through the fluid channels of the tubes is heated by direct solar radiation impinging the first flat surfaces of the tubes and optionally by reflected solar radiation impinging the second flat surfaces of the tubes.

Abstract: An anchor for an implantable sensing device, a sensor unit formed by the anchor and sensing device, and a surgical procedure for implanting the sensor unit for monitoring a physiological parameter within a cavity of a living body, such as an intracranial physiological property. The anchor includes a shank portion and a head portion. The shank portion defines a distal end of the anchor and has a bore defining an opening at the distal end. The head portion defines a proximal end of the anchor and has a larger cross-sectional dimension than the shank portion. The sensor unit comprises the anchor and the sensing device placed and secured within the bore of the anchor so that a sensing element of the sensing device is exposed for sensing the physiological parameter within the cavity.

Abstract: Low cost construction of a steering apparatus is provided that is capable of protecting an operator's knees 28 during an automobile collision. A tilted plate 30 is arranged below and behind a bottom end section of a housing 21 which is a component of an electric power assist mechanism 20 connected to a front end section of a steering column 9. In case that the automobile is in a collision, automobile equipment 29 that moves forward under pressure from the driver's knees hits against a bottom surface of the tilted plate. This allows the impact energy to be absorbed by the elasticity or deformation of the tilted plate 30 during impact, and after impact as well, the automobile equipment 29 to move in a direction along the bottom surface of the tilted plate.

Abstract: A nonvolatile memory device and method using phase changes in a substrate to alter optical properties of the substrate for the purpose of data storage. The memory device includes a substrate containing a phase change material having phases comprising amorphous and crystalline phases. The phase change material has optical properties that change depending on whether the phase change material is in the amorphous phase or the crystalline phase. The memory device is further equipped with one or more devices that generate light and transmit the light into the substrate, and one or more devices that cause the phase change material to change between the amorphous and crystalline phases thereof. At least one optical sensing device detects light that passes into the phase change material to the optical sensing device and generates electrical signals based thereon, which are converted into bit values if they exceed a threshold.

Abstract: A liquid storage tank includes a vessel comprising sidewalls, end walls, a floor and a roof that define a closed interior cavity within the vessel, with at least a first of the sidewalls of the vessel having a multi-walled construction comprising an interior wall and an interior wall. The tank further comprises a manway assembly in the first sidewall. The manway assembly comprises exterior and interior openings and exterior and interior doors for closing the exterior and interior openings, respectively. The exterior and interior openings and the exterior and interior doors are arranged relative to each other and the interior door is sufficiently small so that while the exterior door is open the interior door can be opened by pivoting the interior door into the exterior opening.

Abstract: A nonvolatile storage device adapted for use with computers, workstations and other processing apparatuses. The storage device includes a printed circuit board, a nonvolatile memory array comprising at least two sub-arrays that contain nonvolatile solid-state memory devices, and control circuitry for interfacing with the processing apparatus. The control circuitry includes an abstraction layer and at least two memory control units configured to communicate data, address and control signals with the sub-arrays of the memory devices. A bus connects each memory control unit to a corresponding one of the sub-arrays. The control circuitry further includes a crossbar switch that functionally connects each memory control unit to the abstraction layer. The storage device is capable of overcoming limitations of current SSD designs by enabling independent read and write transfers (accesses) to the memory devices of the storage device, including concurrent read and write accesses.

Abstract: A minimally-invasive surgical procedure for monitoring a physiological parameter within an internal organ of a living body. The procedure entails making a first incision in the body to enable access to the organ. An endoscopic instrument is then inserted through the first incision and a second incision is made therewith through an external wall of the organ and into the internal cavity thereof. A sensing unit is placed in the second incision such that the second incision is occluded by the unit and a proximal end of the unit is outside the organ. The unit includes a sensing device having a sensing element adapted to sense the physiological parameter within the organ, and an anchor to which the sensing device is secured. The first incision is closed, after which a readout device outside the body telemetrically communicates with the sensing device to obtain a reading of the physiological parameter.

Abstract: A method of measuring biaxial stress in an object of a ferromagnetic material in which material in a region (10) in the vicinity of a surface of the object is subjected to a conditioning method by application of a conditioning magnetic field that is at least initially at a high field strength. Values of biaxial stress within the said region are measured with an electromagnetic measuring probe (14) in at least two different orientations, the electromagnetic measuring probe (14) using an alternating measuring magnetic field that is at a field strength well below saturation. The conditioning may subject the region (10) to a low frequency alternating magnetic field (38, 58) initially at a high field strength, and gradually reducing the strength to zero over a decay time period at least equal to the time for many cycles of the low frequency magnetic field. Conditioning the material enables the stress to then be measured more accurately, and enables ambiguities in biaxial stress to be resolved.

Abstract: A method for altering and preferably optimizing the performance of system memory of a computer system. The method includes identifying the motherboard and the memory module of the computer system, and then searching multiple SPD update files associated with multiple motherboards and containing data corresponding to physical and operational characteristics of multiple memory modules. From these SPD update files, a compatible SPD update file is identified that is compatible with the motherboard and contains data corresponding to physical and operational characteristics of the memory module. Thereafter, a software utility is used to erase pre-existing SPD data stored on the SPD circuit device and then write and verify installation of the data of the compatible SPD update file on the SPD circuit device. New SPD settings for the memory module are then enabled based on the data of the compatible SPD update file.

Abstract: A method and mass storage device that combine multiple solid state drives (SSDs) to a single volume. The device includes a carrier board and at least two solid state drives having power and data connections to the carrier board. The carrier board includes a circuit board functionally connected to a control logic and at least two secondary connectors that are disposed at different edges of the circuit board and functionally connected to the control logic. The solid state drives are connected to the carrier board through the secondary connectors, and each solid state drive has a power and data connector directly connected to one of the secondary connectors of the carrier board. The solid state drives are oriented substantially parallel to the carrier board and to each other.

Abstract: A porous valve metal thin film, a method for the production thereof, and a thin film capacitor utilizing the thin film as an anode. The porous valve metal thin film has an integral continuous structure that includes the valve metal, an outside surface, and micropores connected to the outside surface. The thin film has a surface area that is at least double a surface area of the outside surface if the outside surface of the thin film were flat. The valve metal is niobium, tantalum, a niobium alloy or a tantalum alloy and has a particle diameter within a range of 10 nm to 1 ?m. The micropores have pore diameters within a range of 10 nm to 1 ?m.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a heat exchanger having a brazed core with parallel tubes separated by and contacting centers that extend parallel to the tubes. The method utilizes a brazing fixture that enables the core to expand during brazing due to thermal expansion of the tubes and centers and maintains tube to center contact as the core shrinks due to melting of the braze alloy. The resulting brazed core has a post-brazed tube spacing pattern that facilitates assembly of the brazed core with headers of the heat exchanger.

Abstract: A gaming headset adapted for precise delivery of chemical substances capable of olfactory stimulation, such as odorants, fragrances, pheromones, etc. The headset includes at least one earpiece containing a speaker, a feature for securing the earpiece to the person's head while positioning the speaker over one of the person's ears when the headset is worn, an armature disposed relative to the earpiece so as to extend toward the person's mouth, a microphone located on the armature so as to be located in front of the person's mouth, and a feature supported by and extending along the armature for delivering at least one chemical substance to the person's nostril's when the headset is worn.

Abstract: Drain clean-out assemblies that can be used to drain the contents of a drain line prior to removing a clean-out plug mounted to the assembly or to which the assembly is mounted. The drain clean-out assembly includes clean-out plug and a device for selectively preventing and permitting drainage of a fluid through the assembly. The assembly may include a housing having oppositely-disposed first and second ends and a drain between the first and second ends and in fluidic communication with an interior of the housing, wherein the first end of the housing is configured to attach to a drain line, the preventing and permitting device is within the housing, and the clean-out plug is removably attached to the housing. Alternatively, the preventing and permitting device may be permanently mounted to the clean-out plug.

Abstract: Power split drive (PSD) transmissions capable of energy recovery and suitable for use in automotive applications. Each PSD transmission includes a mechanical transmission system for mechanically transmitting mechanical power between a rotatable input shaft and a rotatable output shaft, and a hydraulic transmission system containing a fluid for hydraulically transmitting hydraulic power between the input shaft and the output shaft, and at least a third shaft operatively interconnected to one of the mechanical and hydraulic transmission systems. The hydraulic transmission system is operatively coupled by at least a first planetary gear train to the mechanical transmission system. According to the invention, the PSD further comprises means operatively associated with at least one of the mechanical and hydraulic transmission systems for storing and releasing energy within the PSD transmission, the energy storing and releasing means comprising a flywheel or an accumulator or a combination thereof.

Abstract: A tube mill apparatus and process for continuously forming and coating a tube with a braze alloy. The apparatus and process produce a continuously moving welded tube by continuously forming and welding a tubing material, after which the welded tube is passed through a sizing station to establish a desired outer shape and desired outer dimensions for the welded tube. The braze alloy is then deposited on a roughened surface of the welded tube that is clean and free of oils and coolants. The braze alloy is deposited with a wire arc spray gun that heats a wire of a metallic material and causes the heated metallic material to travel in a direction transverse to the direction of tube travel and deposit on the roughened surface of the tube to form an adherent layer of the braze alloy. Finally, any bow in the welded tube is removed as the tube travels away from the spray gun.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device and a method for operating the device to determine at least one property of a fluid. The device includes a base on a substrate and a tube structure extending from the base and spaced apart from a surface of the substrate. The tube structure includes at least one tube portion and more preferably at least a pair of parallel tube portions substantially lying in a plane, at least one continuous internal passage defined at least in part within the parallel tube portions, and an inlet and outlet of the internal passage fluidically connected to the base. A drive element is operable to induce vibrational movement in the tube structure in a plane of the tube structure and induce resonant vibrational movements in the tube portions. A sensing element senses the deflections of the tube portions when the tube structure is vibrated with the drive element.

Abstract: A handle attachment for mounting to a standardized valve mounting cup of a spray can and operating a push-type dispenser valve. The handle attachment includes a housing that defines a grip and a cap configured to couple with an outer diameter of the valve mounting cup. An actuation device is pivotally mounted to the housing and includes a trigger portion disposed adjacent the grip and a finger portion disposed within the cap for actuating the push-type dispenser valve. A C-shaped rim is disposed on the cap and defines a central opening sized to accommodate the valve mounting cup, a base located on the axis of symmetry of the rim, a circumferential gap located on the axis of symmetry diametrically opposite the base and separating two ends of the rim, and at least one slot disposed between the base and a diametrical chord perpendicular to the axis of symmetry.

Abstract: A system and surgical procedure for monitoring physiological parameters within an internal organ of a living body. The procedure entails making a first incision to expose the organ and a second incision through an external wall of the organ and into an internal cavity. A sensing unit is placed in the second incision such that a proximal end thereof remains outside the organ. The unit includes a sensing device having a sensing element for sensing the physiological parameter within the organ, and an anchor to which the sensing device is secured. The unit occludes the second incision and a distal end of the unit does not extend more than one centimeter into the cavity. The anchor is then secured to the wall of the organ, after which the first incision is closed and a readout device telemetrically communicates with the sensing device to obtain a reading of the physiological parameter.