Abstract: A new and improved thermoelectric device of the type which provides electrical energy in response to a temperature gradient applied across the device exhibits both structural integrity and improved efficiency. The new thermoelectric device includes a plurality of thermoelectric elements, coupling means on opposite respective sides of the thermoelectric elements for interconnecting the elements electrically in accordance with a predetermined pattern, and encapsulant means including an encapsulant material covering the exposed surfaces of the thermoelectric elements. The encapsulant forms void spaces between the elements for providing effective thermal insulation between the elements and confining substantially all of the heat flow from the temperature gradient to through the elements. The coupling means includes electrically conductive plate segments for electrically interconnecting the thermoelectric elements.

Abstract: A reduced capacitance electrode assembly for use in an alternating current plasma system provides reduced input capacitance to an associated tuning network. The assembly includes an electrode adapted to receive alternating current power for maintaining a plasma region and a plurality of electrically conductive plates. The plates are closely spaced apart by less than a predetermined distance on one side of the electrode for precluding the formation of a plasma region on the one side of the electrode and for providing a plurality of series capacitances to present a substantially reduced capacitance to the alternating current power.The reduced capacitance electrode assembly is particularly useful in a system for making photovoltaic devices wherein a plurality of amorphous semiconductor materials is deposited onto a continuous conductive substrate moving through a corresponding plurality of deposition chambers.

Abstract: Imaging films and film-forming compositions are provided which include a reducible tellurium compound, a reductant precursor, a source of labile hydrogen incorporated in a matrix. The reductant precursors are of the formulae ##STR1## where Y.sub.1 is alkoxy, Y.sub.2 is chloro or alkoxy and Y.sub.3 is hydrogen, chloro or alkoxy.Methods are provided for synthesizing the reductant precursors.

Abstract: A thermoelectric device includes first and second sets of spaced apart copper plate segments. Thermoelectric elements which generate electricity are disposed between the sets of copper plate segments. The elements are electrically and thermally fastened thereto by a solder paste screen printed on the inner surfaces of the sets of copper plate segments. A ceramic potting compound which absorbs thermal expansion of the device fills the voids between the thermoelectric elements and the copper plate segments and a thick film ceramic insulator coats the outer surfaces of the sets of copper plate segments.Also disclosed is a method for manufacturing the device of the present invention.

Abstract: Apparatus for producing microform records from various image sources, such as hard copy or cathode ray tube images fed from various data sources, includes an image-reducing projection system into which is selectively directed light reflected from hard copy or light preferably from the face of a cathode ray tube to which white background CRT image-forming signals are fed from any one of a number of selectable data sources. The reduced image involved is preferably applied first to a non-archival heat developable mask-forming film, like a dry silver film, and then the image on this film is transferred preferably to an archival film capable of later receiving additional data on unused portions thereof and most advantageously arranged as a microfiche card. The cathode ray tube face is preferably positioned immediately below a platform-containing or receiving image field area. The platform normally is adapted to receive hard copy thereupon.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting and eliminating short circuit current paths through photovoltaic devices of the type including at least one semiconductor region overlying a substrate and a layer of conductive light transmissive material overlying the at least one semiconductor region are disclosed. The short circuit current paths which are eliminated extend through the at least one semiconductor region from the substrate to the layer of conductive light transmissive material. The resistivity of the short circuit current path is increased substantially at the interface between the conductive light transmissive material and the semiconductor region by isolating electrically the conductive light transmissive material from the short circuit current path.The isolation can be provided by removing the transparent conductive material from electrical contact or connection with the short circuit current path.

Abstract: Imaging compositions employing a tellurium compound, a reductant precursor, a masked reducing agent and a source of labile hydrogen are improved by the inclusion of a base which may be inorganic or organic. Suitable inorganic bases include alkali metal hydroxides, alkaline earth metal hydroxides and ammonium hydroxide. Suitable organic bases include amines and heterocyclic nitrogen atom containing compounds.

Abstract: The present invention provides a low cost, compact, efficient thermoelectric system which has no moving parts for converting waste heat into electrical energy. The system includes a plurality of heat pipes having at least one substantially planar sidewall and integral heat collecting fins. The planar sidewalls on the heat pipes enable broad surface thermal contact with thermoelectric devices. The heat pipes and integral heat collecting fins provide for the efficient collection and transmission of waste heat to the side of the thermoelectric devices contacting the heat pipes at a location outside of the flow of waste heat. The other side of each thermoelectric device is either water or air cooled to establish a temperature differential thereacross for the generation of electrical energy. The heat pipes are preferably generally rectangular in cross section to provide opposed substantially planar surfaces for making efficient, low heat loss, broad surface thermal contact with the thermoelectric devices.

Abstract: Improved imaging film-forming compositions and improved organo tellurium imaging films are provided. The improvement is the inclusion of water in the film-forming compositions. Imaging films made from such compositions exhibit improved speed.

Abstract: There is disclosed new and improved multiphase thermoelectric alloys and a method for making the same. The alloys are disordered materials having a multiplicity of matrix crystallites separated by generally disordered grain boundaries containing transitional phases and grain boundary regions of various phases including electrically conductive phases having at least one phase having high electrical conductivity.The alloys are formed from a mixture of at least two separately prepared multiple element compounds preferably a first compound Bi.sub.10 Sb.sub.30 Te.sub.60 or Bi.sub.40 Te.sub.48 Se.sub.12 and a second compound Ag.sub.25 Sb.sub.25 Te.sub.50. These compounds while crystalline, have different crystalline structures. They themselves are polycrystalline and do not represent the most stable crystalline structure. The first compound has a rhombohedral crystalline structure and the second compound has a face centered cubic crystalline structure.

Abstract: Improved tellurium imaging films are provided. The improved films are made from a composition that contains a tellurium compound which is reactible with a diol and an alcohol to form an image forming tellurium compound, a reductant precursor, a source of labile hydrogen and a suitable diol and alcohol reactible with the tellurium compound. The improved films exhibit increased speed or other advantages. The preferred alcohol is n-butanol.

Abstract: The production of improved photoresponsive amorphous alloys and devices, such as photovoltaic, photoreceptive devices and the like; having improved wavelength threshold characteristics is made possible by adding one or more band gap increasing elements to the alloys and devices. The increasing element or elements are added at least to a portion of the active photoresponsive regions of amorphous silicon devices. One increasing element is carbon which increases the band gap from that of the materials without the increasing element incorporated therein. Other increasing elements can be used such as nitrogen. The silicon and increasing elements are concurrently combined and deposited as amorphous alloys by vapor deposition, sputtering or glow discharge decomposition. A density of states reducing element allows the band gap increasing element(s) to be added to the alloy to adjust the band gap without reducing the electronic qualities of the alloy.

Abstract: A process and apparatus for depositing a film from a gas involves introducing the gas to a deposition environment containing a substrate, heating the substrate, and irradiating the gas with radiation having a preselected energy spectrum, such that a film is deposited onto the substrate. In a preferred embodiment, the energy spectrum of the radiation is below or approximately equal to that required to photochemically decompose the gas. In another embodiment, the gas is irradiated through a transparent member exposed at a first surface thereof to the deposition environment, and a flow of substantially inert gaseous material is passed along the first surface to minimize deposition thereon.

Abstract: A material for reversibly storing hydrogen is formed from a lightweight matrix which is chemically and structurally modified to improve its hydrogen storage properties. The utilization of a material which can be any of a number of different disordered structures makes possible the modification of local order chemical environments of the material to increase hydrogen storage capacity and/or improve absorption and desorption properties. Lightweight modifier elements structurally modify the local chemical environments of the matrix to provide a material having an increased density of storage sites to increase hydrogen storage capacity. Transition and rare earth modifier elements structurally modify the local chemical environments to provide a material with an increased density of catalytically active sites for dissociating hydrogen molecules to increase the rate at which hydrogen absorption and desorption can be accomplished.

Abstract: A cathode for oxygen reduction in a fuel cell is formed from a host matrix including at least one transition metal element which is structurally modified by the incorporation of at least one modifier element to enhance its catalytic properties. The catalytic body is based on a disordered non-equilibrium material designed to have a high density of catalytically active sites, resistance to poisoning and long operating life. Modifier elements, such as La, Al, K, Cs, Na, Li, C, and O structurally modify the local chemical environments of a host matrix including one or more transition elements such as Mn, Co and Ni to form the catalytic materials of the cathode. The improved, low overvoltage, catalytic materials of the cathode of the present invention increase operating efficiencies of fuel cells employing such cathodes. The catalytic materials can be deposited as a layer on the surface of a porous electrode substrate to form a gas diffusion cathode or can be formed as a gas diffusion electrode.

Abstract: There is disclosed new and improved photovoltaic devices which provide increased short circuit currents and efficiencies over that previously obtainable from prior devices. The disclosed devices include incident radiation directing means for directing at least a portion of the incident light through the active region or regions thereof at angles sufficient to substantially confine the directed radiation in the devices. This allows substantially total utilization of photogenerated electron-hole pairs. Further, because the light is directed through the active region or regions at such angles, the active regions can be made thinner to also increase collection efficiencies.The incident radiation directors can be random surface or bulk reflectors to provide random scattering of the light, or periodic surface or bulk reflector to provide selective scattering of the light.

Abstract: An intermediate film strip cassette and associated drive apparatus provide a film dispensing system for positioning of intermediate images carried on the filmstrip as it is moved from an exposure station to a final station for image transfer to an archival microfiche film under conditions where bowing stresses are applied to the intermediate film at one or more of the processing stations. The cassette performs both supply and takeup functions, and requires no threading by the operator during film replacement. A combination of external locking drive motors engaging the cassette elements and a compliantly loaded takeup idler within the cassette provides a compliant tension to the film element extended into an imaging area, and suppresses erratic film shifts at the various stations while allowing adequate protection against film breakage arising from said bowing.

Abstract: An amorphous semiconductor body, most advantageously a glow discharge deposited silicon-containing host matrix film, is provided containing at least fluorine as a compensating or altering agent, and most preferably at least one complementary compensating or altering agent, such as hydrogen, both of which reduce the localized defect states in the energy gap of the amorphous semiconductor material to a degree which either one alone could not achieve. The silicon and/or other elements of the host matrix film are deposited by the glow discharge decomposition of gaseous compounds preferably with fluorine as one element of a compound, the hydrogen and other compensating and altering material being preferably a molecular gas or an element of a compound of silicon or other host matrix element.

Abstract: The recording of surface topology is obtained by first bringing the surface into contact with the imaging material-coated side of a dry process dispersion type recording film comprising a transparent substrate on which is coated a very thin, high optical density, opaque body of imaging material, preferably coated with a thin abrasion-resistant protective layer. Radiant energy is then momentarily directed to the imaging material through the transparent substrate. When the heat generated by the absorbed radiant energy is above a given threshold value at a particular location of the imaging material, the material deforms and disperses thereat to form connected or unconnected globules with spaces therebetween. Upon termination of the radiant energy, the dispersed material becomes frozen in place.

Abstract: An improved photographic filmstrip having localized transmission barriers for inhibiting propagation of light into still unimaged transparent portions of microfiche recording system intermediate filmstrips by light-piping action is described. The barriers serve to optically isolate the subsequently-to-be-imaged still unexposed portion of the filmstrip in a dispensing film head from the illumination used to transfer the previously developed image on the exposed portion of the strip onto a permanent recording medium, such as a microfiche film card. The barriers consist of arrays of holes spanning the width of the filmstrip. Multiple scattering and direct escape paths produced by the holes cause significant reduction in the undesired propagation. Additional propagation reduction is achieved by a fiber bearing element pressed over the hole arrays so as to insert fiber clusters into the holes. Use of the arrays for sprocket engagement to facilitate film transport is described.