Abstract: Laser scanner projection systems that reduce the appearance of speckle in a scanned laser image are provided. The laser projection system includes a visible light source having at least one laser, a scanning element and a system controller. The system controller is programmed to generate a scanned laser image. The system further includes a first lens that focuses a scanned output beam onto an intermediate image and a second lens that projects the intermediate image onto a projection surface. A periodic phase mask having a period that is approximately equal to or greater than the beam waist diameter of the scanned output beam is positioned at the intermediate laser image. The period of the periodic phase mask is such that the projection of the scanned output beam jumps progressively from pixel to pixel, thereby reducing speckle contrast in the scanned laser image.

Abstract: A method for preparing ordered mesoporous silicon carbide (OMSiC) nanocomposites uses an evaporation-induced self-assembly of a precursor composition that preferably includes a phenolic resin, pre-hydrolyzed tetraethyl orthosilicate, a surfactant, and butanol. The precursor mixture is dried, cross-linked and heated to form ordered mesoporous silicon carbide material having discrete domains of ordered, mesoscale pores.

Abstract: An ultracapacitor or hybrid capacitor includes an electrically non-conductive rigid or semi-rigid porous honeycomb separator structure having cells extending along a common direction and supporting current collector structure(s) thereon. The current collector structure may be porous and extend continuously on all inner surfaces of a cell of the honeycomb structure, or may extend along the common direction on separate portions of the inner surfaces of a cell. The material may desirably be an oxide or non-oxide ceramic, such as cordierite, silicon nitride, aluminum titanate, alumina, zircon, glass, or glass-ceramic.

Abstract: Disclosed are mono- or multi-component glass-ceramic articles (10; 20; 30; 40; 50; 60; 70; 80; 90) having at least one weld joint (100), as well as a method of manufacturing such articles (10; 20; 30; 40; 50; 60; 70; 80; 90), which includes the implementation of at least one welding. The present invention is based upon mastery of the welding of glass-ceramic precursor glasses.

Abstract: An ultracapacitor or hybrid capacitor includes an electrically non-conductive rigid or semi-rigid porous honeycomb structure (12) having cells extending along a common direction and having an average density per unit area within in a plane perpendicular to the common direction exceeding 15.5 per square centimeter, desirably formed of a material that is stable at temperatures of 300° or more, such that high temperatures processing can be used to help ensure high purity of the final product. The material may desirably be an oxide or non-oxide ceramic, such as cordierite, silicon nitride, alumina, aluminum titanate, zircon, glass, or glass-ceramic.

Abstract: A method of forming a microbump for micropositioning an optical element comprises providing a base substrate, providing a first optical element to be supported by the base substrate, and providing an alignment element capable of locally expanding when locally heated and adapted to support the first optical element from the base substrate. The method further comprises locally heating the alignment element to cause local expansion of the alignment element so as to create a microbump alignment element, terminating heating of the alignment element so as to fix the microbump and securing the alignment element to the base substrate, thereby supporting the first optical element from the base substrate.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for making glass soot sheet and sintered glass sheet. Glass soot particles are deposited on a curved deposition surface of a rotating drum to form a soot sheet. The soot sheet is then released from the deposition surface. The soot sheet can be sintered into a consolidated glass. The soot sheet and the sintered glass can be sufficiently long and flexible to be reeled into a roll.

Abstract: An electrode structure for a low voltage, high current electrical production device includes a charge transfer member (612). An electrically conductive member (605) having a non-uniform resistance is disposed on the charge transfer member 612 for optimizing current coupling.

Abstract: Disclosed in the present application include: (i) plates, having two approximately parallel main sides, of a glass-ceramic or a glass displaying a certain transparency, with a colored coating fixed to at least one part of the surface of one of said two main sides; (ii) heating plates, particularly cook-tops, consisting of such plates or obtainable from such plates. These heating plates are intended to be fitted above heating elements, their side bearing said coating facing said heating elements; and (iii) the preparation of such plates. The original colored coating proposed is particularly interesting with reference to its color stability.

Abstract: Bi-containing glass-ceramic material, especially those containing ?-quartz and/or ?-spodumene solid solutions as the predominant crystalline phase, and the precursor glass material as well as process of making such glass-ceramic material and articles. The glass-ceramic can be made to have a dark color, and essentially to be free of V2O5, As2O3 and Sb2O3.

Abstract: Microlenses are formed on a substrate having a first absorption within an operational wavelength range, and a second absorption outside the operational wavelength range, wherein the second absorption is greater than the first absorption. One or more waveguides are coupled with a processing light beam having a wavelength outside the operational wavelength range, and the processing light beam is directed through the waveguides to the substrate to locally heat and expand the substrate so as to form microlenses on the substrate surface. The processing light beam is terminated to stop heating of the substrate and fix the microlenses.