Abstract: A process of encapsulating solar cells in which a semiconductor wafer first is processed into an uncut cell. An interconnect strip is secured to the front contact of the cell. A coverglass plate, provided with a suitable coating, is next bonded to the front surface of the cell. Finally, the bonded assembly of cell and coverglass plate is cut to final size as a unit. The interconnect strip preferably is folded onto the back surface of the cell either during or prior to the cutting operation.

Abstract: A condenser and transducer assemblage, within a gas filled protective enclosure, receives and processes a substantial proportion of mid and far infrared radiation from a subject in order to produce selected physiologic responses as a result of radiant cooling.

Abstract: A dehumidifier for converting warm moist air to dry cool air. The dehumidifier includes a fan for delivering warm moist air to a plenum chamber, a dehumidifier chamber mounted adjacent to and communicating with the plenum chamber and provided with a condensing surface, a device for supplying a refrigerant to the dehumidifier chamber, and a structure for supplying short bursts of heat to the condensing surface. The condensing surface can be tapered or straight lengthwise and can be of any cross-sectional shape. Further, the condensing surface can comprise a plurality of air passages, again tapered or straight and of any cross-sectional shape.

Abstract: The present invention provides (1) a sash window assemblage having basic wood construction with selectively milled kerfs and (2) exterior vinyl cladding in the form of vinyl extrusions of particular configuration. These vinyl extrusions, in cross section, feature facing portions that lie snugly against front and edge surfaces of the rails and stiles of a window sash, gripping portions that snap and lock into the kerfs, sealing portions that squeeze tightly against the rigid elements they contact, and spline portions that extend upwardly and downwardly. The spline portions can be cut readily for conformation with an out-of-plumb frame. The facing and gripping portions have sufficiently great cross sectional thickness to impart rigidity. At least sections of the sealing portions have appropriate composition and sufficiently small cross sectional thickness to impart flexibility.

Abstract: A composite target cone for use in an X-ray lithography source tube. The composite target cone is multi-layered, having at least an X-ray generating layer formed of platinum, silver, palladium, rhodium, molybdenum, tungsten, silicon, aluminum or copper, and a water-interface layer. The water-interface layer includes a layer of high thermal conductivity material, covered at one side by a layer of high corrosion resistance material and at the other side by a layer of high-melting point material.

Abstract: A high resolution, rugged fiber optic coupler for use in optical data transmission systems and method of its manufacture. The fiber optic coupler includes a pair of thin silicon wafers having preferentially etched complementary opposed V-grooves. A very thin layer of a deformable hard glass is used as the lining for the V-grooves and also for covering one of the opposed surfaces of the pair of wafers. An optical fiber is held securely within a pair of opposed complementary V-grooves by the deformable hard glass lining. Preferably, the pair of silicon wafers is joined to each other, with the optical fiber held therebetween in the opposed V-grooves, by electrostatic bonding.

Abstract: A system is provided in which oral sounds are converted to instrumental musical notes. The system includes a digital memory adapted to store notes of different instruments and of different timbre. A variable address generator connected to the memory is adapted to retrieve the notes at various addressing rates in order to change the pitch thereof. The system is adapted to generate musical instrument output sounds in response to an oral input over a whole range of notes including pitches between whole and half tone increments in an unbroken frequency spectrum of pitch.

Abstract: A high speed fabric napping apparatus is provided in which the fabric is fed in a straight line overpairs of worker rolls, one of each pair rotating in the direction of the pile of the fabric and the other rotating counter to the pile direction. The speed of each of the worker rolls is individually adjustable to control the tension applied to the cloth. A single cleaning roll is adapted to move back and forth amongst a plurality of worker rolls for removing lint collected by the worker rolls.

Abstract: A night vision goggle system comprising a housing, an optical system accommodated therein and including a pair of eyepiece assemblies, with each assembly slidably mounted for interpupillary adjustment. The assemblies are respectively focusable. The optical system further includes an objective lens assembly, an image intensifier tube provided with concave-faced fiber optics, and a collimator lens assembly, all in axial alignment, and a splitter member. The objective, collimator and eyepiece assemblies feature prescription optics.The goggle system preferably is head mounted via a quick-release connection to a face mask provided with an adjustable strap assembly.

Abstract: A swivel stop for use in lamps of all kinds comprising a lower tube and an upper tube, a member partially secured within the lower tube and partially extending therefrom and formed with a keyway and a stop, and a sleeve secured within the upper tube and provided with a pair of keys.The swivel stop preferably is designed in two versions: an extendable version and a non-extendable version.

Abstract: Printed circuits are produced by an additive technique wherein a metal-loaded resinous ink is first printed on the board, the circuit next being covered with a conductive metal powder while the ink is still wet. The powder is then pressed into the ink and the circuit cured. Next, a solder stratum is alloyed with the powder as by a solder paste printed over the circuit and the board heated to cause the solder to alloy with the ink and powder substrates. A solder resist may then be applied selectively over the circuit and multiple layers of circuits may be built up on the board. The conductive ink is an epoxy resin loaded with a metallic powder, preferably copper, with a catalyst added to the ink. The solder paste is a lead-tin alloy containing antimony suspended in a binder and a flux.The apparatus employed to carry out the procedure includes silk screens and a roller arrangement for pressing the metallic powder into the ink. The press includes a plurality of progressively harder rollers.

Abstract: A measurement system is provided in which a work-engaging transducer is connected by means of a cable to a remotely located display unit which is adapted to provide quasi-analog and/or digital display of measurement made by the transducer. The transducer includes an oscillator the output of which is a function of a measurement being made. The display unit presents the measurement made in quasi-analog and/or digital form either in a conventional format such as a circular dial face, in linear form such as a column 82 or in other selected formats of various geometrical configurations and/or in various mathematical progressions to suit particular applications.

Abstract: Method and apparatus for the front surface metallization and encapsulation of solar cells of the type comprising p and n semiconductor strata separated by a barrier junction, and front and rear conducting strata constituting electrical contacts, wherein the front conducting stratum is a novel metallic grid permitting transmission of solar radiation to the semiconductor strata. This metallic grid is in the form of a mesh of wires of sufficiently high tensile strength to be self-supporting while being drawn from spools or the like into contact with one or more components of the solar cell before completion of the cell's fabrication.The method is characterized in that the metallic grid, in the form of the mesh of wires, is encapsulated between a transparent cover plate and the exposed front surface of the semiconductor strata, the mesh forming an electrical contact with the front surface of the semiconductor strata simultaneously that the plate is electrostatically bonded thereto.

Abstract: A plasma ion deposition process of large-grain, thin semiconductor films directly on low-cost amorphous substrates comprising ionizing a semiconductor-based gaseous compound in a chamber by an electron-supported large volume, low pressure, high temperature plasma. The semiconductor ions are extracted from the compound and are deposited on the substrate. Preferably, the deposition is effected first at a slow deposition rate, followed by a higher deposition rate. The deposited ions are permitted to coalesce into lattice clusters, which clusters are grown, by further deposition, into a large-grain, thin semiconductor film on the substrate. Preferably, the semiconductor-based gaseous compound includes silane gas with dopant atom source gases.

Abstract: Apparatus for use in blanching edible nuts, particularly peanuts. Two generally vertical plates are disposed in spaced parallel relation to one another and connected to a drive mechanism for producing lengthwise oscillations of the two plates, both of which are covered with abrasive inner surfaces. Unblanched peanuts are fed into a gap at the top of the two plates, which are set apart by a distance generally corresponding to the average thickness of the peanuts being processed. As the peanuts move down between the plates, the oscillating action of the plates blanches the peanuts which drop out through the bottom and are carried away for further processing, packaging, inspection or the like. Vertical grooves are formed in the inner face of each plate near each end thereof to prevent the nuts from falling out of the open ends between the plates.

Abstract: Circuitry for the generation and synchronous detection of optical pulsed signals contaminated by additive background noise characterized by a high signal-to-noise ratio. The circuitry comprises a source for generating optical pulsed signals, a detector for generating detector signals in response to the optical pulsed signals, and a signal processor for processing the detector signals in synchronism with the optical pulsed signals. The signal processor for processing the detector signals includes a high pass filter, an integrator and at least one switch synchronized with the optical pulsed signals for driving the integrator. The circuitry is preferably under computer control.

Abstract: A coating apparatus and method for coating industrial cutting and turning tools of any desired shape and configuration and the like significantly to improve the tools' working properties. The coating is formed of cubic boron nitride, with a preferred thickness not exceeding ten microns. The coating apparatus includes an rf excited plasma source chamber having a gas feed ring for ionizing a gas admitted into the chamber via the ring. The preferred feed gas is a borazine and benzene vapor mixture. A coating chamber is mounted adjacent to and contiguous with the plasma source chamber via a neck portion. The coating chamber includes a vacuum interlock to permit the entry and removal of a tool transport. At least one vacuum pump is operatively connected to the chamber. Preferably, a plurality of permanent magnets and electron supply filaments are arranged circumferentially about the plasma source chamber. Preferably, the tool transport is rotatable during coating.

Abstract: A bracket is provided for carrying and/or storing a large U-shaped lock used to secure a motorcycle or the like by passing the U-shaped shackle through the wheel of the bike and closing the ends of the shackle by means of a cross bar locked thereto. The bracket is comprised of a flat body portion along at least one edge of which is formed a tubular or semi-tubular receptacle adapted to receive a leg of the U-shaped lock shackle. Mounted to the body portion is a fastening device for engaging the cross bar of the lock to prevent longitudinal movement thereof with respect to the bracket. The bracket when used on a motorcycle preferably is mounted against the shock absorber for the rear wheel thereof.

Abstract: A fluorescence spectrometer for multielement analysis including a source for atomizing a dispersed sample along an axis and a plurality of energizers and detectors preferably arranged in pairs about the source, with each of the pairs designed for analyzing one element. Preferably, the source is an inductively coupled plasma.Means is provided for each of the pairs to view a different segment of the source along its axis, depending on the element to be analyzed. Preferably, such means includes: a source movable along its axis; fiber optics interposed between the energizers and the source and between the source and the detectors; and a movable optical element interposed between the energizers and the source and between the source and the detectors.The spectrometer further features a polychromator for use in lieu of matched optical filters in the detectors and demountable hollow cathode lamps as energizers.