Abstract: A system and data network for a fluid register system used for the delivery of fluid commodities to customers at various delivery sites features a portable data capsule containing pricing information; an electrical fluid delivery volume measurement device; and a vehicular mounted calculator for retrieving the pricing data from said data capsule and calculating a billing amount for each fluid delivery with respect to a fluid delivery volume measurement.

Abstract: The invention is directed to a hydrogenated amorphous silicon PIN semiconductor device of hybrid glow discharge/reactive sputtering fabrication. The hybrid fabrication method is of advantage in providing an ability to control the optical band gap of the P and N layers, resulting in increased photogeneration of charge carriers and device output.

Abstract: A high photo-conversion efficiency indium oxide/n-silicon heterojunction solar cell is spray deposited from a solution containing indium trichloride. The solar cell exhibits an Air Mass One solar conversion efficiency in excess of about 10%.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for fluid jet printing features a triode structured charge injection system. The ink jet system is not dependent upon the conductivity of the ink fluid to form and target the ink fluid. Two electrodes are in contact with the ink liquid and they are submerged in the fluid. One electrode is an emitter and serves to field emit charge into the liquid in response to a voltage between it and the other electrode. Depending upon the electrical mobility of the ink fluid, the injected charge will be trapped in the liquid. The liquid is then forced from an orifice and can be made to undergo break-up into droplets similar to inductively charged inks. The paper or target upon which the droplets impinge functions as a third electrode, returning the charge and completing the circuit. The ink may also be propelled as a charged column, which column can be directed by an extraneous electrical field for targeting upon the printing paper.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device having characteristics of a high efficiency solar cell comprising a Cu.sub.x O/n-Si heterojunction. The Cu.sub.x O layer is formed by heating a deposited copper layer in an oxygen containing ambient.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a method for applying an anti-reflection coating to solar cells whereby the coating is interdispersed among the cell's electrodes on the cell's junction surface. The method includes coating the solar cell's surface with an anti-reflection layer, selectively etching a pattern through the anti-reflection layer, which corresponds to the desired electrode pattern and electrolessly plating a layer of nickel onto the cell's surface.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for use in photovoltaic charging of storage batteries includes a temperature compensated reference voltage. The circuitry of the invention permits fixed temperature coefficient and variable temperature coefficient temperature compensated regulation.The voltage regulator comprises an operational amplifier including a linearly temperature dependent current source coupled to an input terminal of said operational amplifier and a voltage source having a selectable voltage which is connected to another input of said operational amplifier, said reference voltage circuit being operable to provide a reference voltage about equal to a maximum charging voltage for said batteries;a comparator for comparing said reference voltage with an output voltage of said photovoltaic array; anda switch responsive to said comparator to inhibit charging whenever said array output exceeds said reference voltage.

Abstract: A transient suppression circuit is provided for starting up or turning off a light emitting diode, such as a diode laser. The circuit minimizes the possibility of turn-on or turn-off transients or overshoot, employing a time delayed voltage. A diode circuit is used which generates an output voltage equal to the higher of two voltages at its two inputs, one input being the time delayed voltage and the second being derived from photodetector which detects electromagnetic radiation emitted by the light emitting diode. The circuit also utilizes a three terminal voltage regulator which maintains a constant voltage between its sense terminal (output from the diode circuit) and its output terminal.

Abstract: A digital modulator provides high speed modulation of a semiconductor diode laser or light emitting diode. The circuit is compatible with standard TTL and ECL integrated logic circuits and operates with a positive ground for convenient heat sinking.

Abstract: The present invention teaches a process for depositing layers of cadmium sulfide. The process includes depositing a layer of cadmium oxide by spray pyrolysis of a cadmium salt in an aqueous or organic solvent. The oxide film is then converted into cadmium sulfide by thermal ion exchange of the O.sup.-2 for S.sup.-2 by annealing the oxide layer in gaseous sulfur at elevated temperatures.

Abstract: A voltage regulator for controlling the photovoltaic charging of storage batteries selectively includes or sheds portions of the photovoltaic array into or from the charging system.

Abstract: Invention teaches a combined chemical vapor deposition/thermal ion exchange method for producing photoconductive thin films of zinc tin phosphide. A layer of tin oxide is converted to zinc tin phosphide by annealing in the presence of gaseous phosphine and zinc metal vapor or zinc chloride vapor. The thin film zinc tin phosphide taught by the present invention is amenable to use in large area applications such as solar cells and the like.

Abstract: The invention teaches an improved bus for current collection in photovoltaic solar cells. The bus is prefabricated from a highly conductive metal and is corrugated to compensate for differences in thermal coefficients of expansion between the bus and the solar cell body.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an amorphous silicon MIS device having an insulating oxide formed by the chemical oxidation of the silicon surface. A process comprising etching the silicon surface followed by a treatment of the etched surface in a sulfur based oxidant forms a controlled thickness oxide layer, useful in modifying the junction forming characteristics of the semiconductor and additionally stabilizing the semiconductor properties of the photoconductive amorphous silicon.

Abstract: The invention teaches an electrochemical process for electrolysis growth of an oxide layer on hydrogenated amorphous silicon. Embodied in a photovoltaic device, the oxide layer increases the open circuit voltage of the device and enhances the longevity of the photovoltaic characteristics of the device.

Abstract: Amorphous silicon is selectively etched by concurrently exposing the silicon to a ionized plasma containing hydrogen and heating the silicon to a temperature of between about 150.degree. C. to about 350.degree. C. In one embodiment the selective etching technique is utilized to texture the surface of the amorphous silicon reducing the reflectivity thereof to less then about 5%.

Abstract: A circuit for suppressing surge or transient currents between a DC power supply and a capacitive load includes a suppression impedance of relatively high impedance connected in series with the load between the DC supply and load, a transistorized control circuit for sensing the voltage across the load, and producing a firing signal when the level of voltage exceeds a predetermined level, and an SCR having its main current path connected in parallel with the suppression impedance, and its gate electrode receptive of the firing signal for turning on the SCR to by-pass the suppression impedance subsequent to application of power to the load.

Abstract: Apparatus for optical switching which uses a fluid medium whose refractive index is matched to that of a highly dispersed optical scattering layer to provide optical transparency of said scatterer when immersed in the fluid media and optical reflection in the absence thereof. The fluid optical switch is embodied in a solar energy collector to provide overtemperature protection to collector components and further to provide a convenient means for turning off the collector during periods of nonuse.

Abstract: Low reflectivity surfaces are formed by particle track etching of a dielectric material such that the horizontal scale of surface texture is less than the wavelength of incident radiation and the depth of texture is equal to or greater than said wavelength. As a consequence, the reflection coefficient is thereby reduced by a factor of at least two, and light is more efficiently transmitted into the material. For solar cells encapsulated in transparent material, efficiency of absorption of solar radiation may be improved by at least about two times per etched surface, or to less than about 2% for the air/transparent material interface and to less than about 15% for the transparent material/solar cell interface.

Abstract: An amorphous silicon photovoltaic device having enhanced photovoltage and increased longevity is produced by treatment of a barrier forming region of the amorphous silicon in the presence of a partial pressure of sulfur dioxide.