Abstract: Some embodiments of the present invention are directed toward nanocrystalline oxide-based phosphor materials, and methods for making same. Typically, such methods comprise a steric entrapment route for converting precursors into such phosphor material. In some embodiments, the nanocrystalline oxide-based phosphor materials are quantum splitting phosphors. In some or other embodiments, such nanocrystalline oxide based phosphor materials provide reduced scattering, leading to greater efficiency, when used in lighting applications.

Abstract: A scintillator pack comprises an array of scintillator pixels and an x-ray absorbing layer disposed in inter-scintillator regions between the scintillator pixels. The x-ray absorbing layer acts to absorb x-rays and protect underlying regions of the inter-scintillator regions. The x-ray absorbing layer may be formed by a number of methods including casting and melt infiltration.

Abstract: The present invention provides an article cleaning apparatus comprising an air management mechanism, a cleaning basket assembly, a fluid regeneration device, a working fluid device, a clean fluid device, and a controller. The working fluid device is coupled to the fluid regeneration device, the cleaning basket assembly, and the air management mechanism. The clean fluid device is coupled to the cleaning basket assembly and the fluid regeneration device. The controller is coupled to the air management mechanism, the cleaning basket assembly, the working fluid device, the regeneration device, and the clean fluid device. The controller is configured to control a cleaning process. The present invention also provides a method for performing the cleaning process.

Abstract: A ceramic discharge chamber for a lamp, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, comprises a first member which includes a leg portion and a transition portion, wherein the leg portion and the transition portion are integrally formed as one piece from a ceramic material, and a second member which includes a body portion, wherein the body portion is bonded to the transition portion of the first member. The ceramic discharge chamber can be formed by injection molding a ceramic material to form the first member, the first member forming a first portion of the ceramic discharge chamber; and bonding the first member to a second member which forms a second portion of the ceramic discharge chamber.

Abstract: A radiation source with an ionizable mercury-free composition. The ionizable composition including at least zinc or at least one zinc compound or both.

Abstract: A micro-electromechanical system (MEMS) based current & magnetic field sensor includes a MEMS-based magnetic field sensing component a structural component comprising a silicon substrate and a compliant layer comprising a material selected from the group consisting of silicon dioxide and silicon nitride, a magnetic-to-mechanical converter coupled to the structural component to provide a mechanical indication of the magnetic field, and 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: In an aspect of the invention, an apparatus for providing chilling in a localized area comprises a chiller compartment and an independent cooling source thermally coupled to the chiller compartment by a thermally conductive interface. The cooling source provides a separate controllable temperature to the chiller compartment, which is adapted to be removably positioned in a selected temperature controlled environment. In another aspect a refrigerator comprises a freezer unit, a fresh food unit and a chiller compartment adapted to be removably positioned in either the freezer unit or the fresh food unit as a secondary chilling compartment. In another aspect a method of chilling comprises cooling a modular chiller compartment using an independent cooling source, chiller compartment being removably positioned within a temperature controlled environment and the cooling source and the chiller compartment being thermally coupled.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for recovering and purifying a solvent used in an article cleaning appliance are provided. The method allows passing solvent-based cleaning fluid from a wash basket through a coarse filter configured to remove relatively large particulates from the cleaning fluid. The method further allows passing cleaning fluid from the coarse filter through a particulate filter configured to remove relatively fine particulates from the cleaning fluid. An aqueous phase that may be present in the cleaning fluid is separated by decanting and coalescing through a separator/filter assembly. The cleaning fluid may then be passed through a regeneration cartridge for removing any water that may remain in the cleaning fluid, and for adsorbing organic contaminants that may be present in the cleaning fluid. Recovered solvent may be stored in a tank for subsequent use in a cleaning process performed by the appliance.

Abstract: A quantum-splitting phosphor has a formula of ADF5:Pr3+, wherein A is at least one alkaline-earth metal and D is at least one Group-IIIB metal. The phosphor is made in a solid-state method without using hazardous HF gas. The phosphor can be used alone or in conjunction with other phosphors in light sources and displays wherein it can be excited by VUV radiation, and increase the efficiency of these devices.

Abstract: A phosphor comprises an oxide that comprises: (a) at least an element selected from the group consisting of phosphorus and boron; (b) at least a metal selected from the group consisting of elements of Group IIIA, elements of Group IVA, and elements of the lanthanide series; which oxide is co-activated with Ce3+ and Tb3+. In one embodiment, a phosphor comprises lanthanum and gadolinium phosphate and/or borate co-activated with cerium and terbium. A phosphor of the present invention has low emission of UV radiation having wavelengths longer than about 250 nm, thus efficiently uses exciting UV having shorter wavelengths. The phosphor is used in light source that comprises a UV radiation source to convert efficiently UV radiation to visible light.

Abstract: A method for driving a DC motor includes generating a first voltage pulse, based on a pre-determined speed input and duty cycle, and configured to generate motor current of reference current value sufficient to achieve a desired speed according to the speed input. Subsequent pulses of the voltage are generated to maintain the current substantially within a range of the reference current. Another method includes sensing and comparing motor current to reference current value and generating an error signal therebetween, which is integrated over time to generate an integrated current error, which is compared with a reference pulse. Thereafter generating applied voltage pulses configured to: switch at each instance of the integrated current error exceeding or becoming less than the reference pulse value; generate a motor current sufficient to achieve a desired speed according to a pre-determined speed input; and having substantially zero average variation from the reference current.

Abstract: Epoxy resin compositions are disclosed which comprise (A) at least one silicone epoxy resin, (B) at least one hydroxyl-containing compound, (C) at least one anhydride curing agent, (D) at least one ancillary curing catalyst, and optionally at least one of thermal stabilizers, UV stabilizers, cure modifiers, coupling agents, or refractive index modifiers. Also disclosed are packaged solid state devices comprising a package, a chip (4), and an encapsulant (11) comprising an epoxy resin composition of the invention. A method of encapsulating a solid state device is also provided.

Abstract: System and method for purifying and recycling spent brine in a water softener are provided. The system may be made up of a cation exchange resin tank fluidly coupled for passing spent brine comprising monovalent and divalent ions. A fluid mixer valve is coupled to the resin tank and to a water tank to dilute the spent brine to a desired concentration of a regenerant salt, e.g., NaCl. An ion-separation device is fluidly coupled to the fluid mixer valve to receive the diluted spent brine and separate the diluted spent brine into first and second streams. The first of the streams comprises monovalent ions and the second of the streams comprises divalent ions.

Abstract: A phosphor comprises a borate of terbium, at least an alkaline-earth metal, and at least a Group-3 metal. In one embodiment, the phosphor has a formula of A3(D1-xTbx)3(BO3)5; wherein A is at least an alkaline-earth metal selected from the group consisting of calcium, barium, strontium, and magnesium; D is at least a Group-3 metal selected from the group consisting of lanthanum, scandium, and yttrium; and 0<x<0.5. The phosphor can be used in light sources such as those based on mercury discharge or light-emitting diodes and in displays.

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: A high density electrical interconnecting system of the present invention has at least one substrate piece and a flexible wrap-around interconnect assembly extending from a first surface of the substrate piece to a second surface of the substrate piece wherein the flexible wrap-around interconnect is disposed around an outer surface of the substrate piece.

Abstract: A method and system for canceling noise and compressing data from a motor phase angle sensor. In this invention, phase angle data is sampled at a first sampling rate to generate a sampled phase angle. The sampled phase angle signal is sub-sampled at a second sampling rate to generate a sub-sampled phase angle signal which is transformed by subtracting each of the sub-sampled data points of the sub-sampled signal from 90 degrees to generate a transformed signal. The transformed phase angle signal is then convoluted with a wavelet signal to generate a convoluted phase angle signal. Next, a phase angle range signal is generated by calculating the range between the largest and smallest convoluted data points within each of a plurality of segments of the convoluted signal. A moving average calculation is performed on the phase angle range signal to generate a moving average signal.

Abstract: A light-emitting device comprises a light-emitting member, which comprises two electrodes, at least two organic electroluminescent (“EL”) materials disposed between the electrodes, a charge blocking material disposed between the electrodes, and at least one photoluminescent (“PL”) material. The light-emitting member emits electromagnetic (“EM”) radiation having a first spectrum in response to a voltage applied across the two electrodes. The PL material absorbs a portion of the EM radiation emitted by the light-emitting member and emits EM radiation having second spectrum different than the first spectrum. Each of the organic EL materials emits EM radiation having a wavelength range selected from the group consisting of blue and red wavelength ranges.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for generating x-ray beams are described. In one embodiment, the method includes operating a cathode to operating a cathode to generate an electron beam, directing the electron beam from the cathode through a selectable shaped aperture in an accelerating electrode, and impinging the electron beam at a low angle on an anode surface to form a focal spot on the anode surface.

Abstract: Europium-activated phosphors comprise oxides of at least a rare-earth metal selected from the group consisting of gadolinium, yttrium, lanthanum, and combinations thereof and at least a Group-IIIB metal selected from the group consisting of aluminum, gallium, indium, and combinations thereof. A method for making such phosphors comprises adding at least a halide of at least one of the selected Group-IIIB metals in a starting mixture. The method further comprises firing the starting mixture in an oxygen-containing atmosphere. The phosphors produced by such a method exhibit improved absorption in the UV wavelength range and improved quantum efficiency.