Abstract: A system and method to connect a cryocooler (refrigerator) to a superconducting magnet or cooled object allows for replacement without the need to break the cryostat vacuum or the need to warm up the superconducting magnet or other cooled object. A pneumatic or other type of actuator establishes a thermo-mechanical coupling. The mechanical closing forces are directed perpendicular (cross-axially) to the cryocooler axis and are not applied to the thin wall cryocooler body or to the thin cryostat walls or to the cooled object or to its shield. It is also possible that some of the compressive force be transferred to the cryocooler body. In that case, the extensions are designed so that the forces transferred to the cryocooler thermal stages do not exceed allowable stresses in the cryocooler stage.

Abstract: A pressure differential is applied across a mold sheet and a semiconductor (e.g. silicon) wafer (e.g. for solar cell) is formed thereon. Relaxation of the pressure differential allows release of the wafer. The mold sheet may be cooler than the melt. Heat is extracted almost exclusively through the thickness of the forming wafer. The liquid and solid interface is substantially parallel to the mold sheet. The temperature of the solidifying body is substantially uniform across its width, resulting in low stresses and dislocation density and higher crystallographic quality. The mold sheet must allow flow of gas through it. The melt can be introduced to the sheet by: full area contact with the top of a melt; traversing a partial area contact of melt with the mold sheet, whether horizontal or vertical, or in between; and by dipping the mold into a melt. The grain size can be controlled by many means.

Abstract: Semiconductor photovoltaic cells have surfaces that are textured for processing and photovoltaic reasons. The absorbing regions may have parallel grooves that reduce loss of solar energy that would otherwise be lost by reflection. One form of texturing has parallel grooves and ridges. The cell also includes regions of metallization for collecting the generated electrical carriers and conducting them away, which may be channels. The topography is considered during production, using a process that takes advantage of the topography to govern what locations upon will receive a specific processing, and which locations will not receive such a processing. Liquids are treated directly into zones of the cell. They migrate throughout a zone and act upon the locations contacted. They do not migrate to other zones, due to impediments to fluid flow that are features of the surface texture, such as edges, walls and ridges.

Abstract: A squeeze-stretch (also called, herein push-pull) loudspeaker or driver, such as an electret, can operate in an active noise reduction (ANR) earplug application. Other embodiments of a squeeze-stretch loudspeaker, such as piezoelectric bimorph and balanced armature, operate in a similar way, although they will differ in detail. Other applications, such as earphones for communication and entertainment, will benefit from the compact arrangement of components in a squeeze-stretch design. The advantages are a greater sound output from a smaller package, a smooth frequency response, and because of the diaphragm arrangement, less sensitivity to vibration.

Abstract: A novel thermal coupler apparatus and method to couple a cryocooler or another cooling device to a superconducting magnet or cooled object allows for replacement without a need to break the cryostat vacuum or to warm up the superconducting magnet or other cooled object. A method uses a pneumatic actuator for coupling, and a retractable mechanical actuator for uncoupling. Mechanical closing forces are balanced between the intermediate temperature and low temperature cooling surfaces and do not transfer to the cooled object. The pneumatic actuator provides permanent control under mechanical closing forces in the thermal coupling.

Abstract: Processes and apparati for shaping sheet glass or thermoplastic materials use force from a layer of a flowing fluid, such as air, between the sheet and a mandrel at close to the softening temperature of the thermoplastic. The shape is preserved by cooling. The shape of the air bearing mandrel and the pressure distribution of the fluid contribute to the final shape. A process can be conducted on one or two surfaces such that the force from the air layer is on one or two surfaces of the sheet. The gap size between the sheet and mandrel determines the pressure profile in the gap, which also determines the final sheet shape. In general, smaller gaps lead to larger viscous forces. The pressure profile depends on the shape of the mandrel, the size of the fluid gap and the sheet and the fluid supply pressure.

Abstract: Chromium plating from the trivalent state is relatively environmentally friendly as compared to a hexavalent chromium bath. Incorporation of non-metallic and metalloid elements into the coating should lead to enhanced properties. The relationship between composition, structure, and properties of annealed Cr—C—P layers electrodeposited from chromium-based trivalent baths is discussed. These coatings are amorphous in the as-deposited state, but upon thermal treatments, chromium nanocrystallization, as well as precipitation of carbides and phosphides occurs. Incorporation of phosphorous strongly influences the structural evolution and mechanical properties. Electroplated Cr—C alloy coatings exhibit significant increases in hardness and strength, when exposed to temperatures up to about 600° C., owing to the evolution of their nanostructure. This evolution can be shifted to higher temperatures (approaching 850° C.), through a ternary addition of phosphorous.

Abstract: Compliant mechanisms whose dominant modes of vibration match the desired kinematics for locomotion in a given environment are used to mimic motions of a living animal. Mechanisms are simple and mechanically robust. They may have as few as one actuator, which excites the compliant portion to vibrate in a natural mode that results in motion that mimics a living animal. Additional actuators may drive directional elements such as flippers. Models for compliant mechanism bodies were derived and used to identify actuator, material, and geometrical properties of the required mechanisms. The design and fabrication techniques of mechanisms implementing these ideas is also presented. Experiments found that important features of fish-swimming kinematics can be captured qualitatively by compliant mechanisms. The resulting mechanism swimming performance was ? of the real fish performance, comparable to current robotic fish.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing an article use three-dimensional printing for a portion of the manufacturing. Three-dimensionally printing is conducted onto a powder bed which contains both organic-solvent-soluble, water-insoluble particles and water soluble, organic-solvent-insoluble particles. The water-soluble particles which may be selected for properties such as size and may include more than one substance. The organic-solvent-insoluble particles may further include at least one substantially insoluble substance such as a member of the calcium phosphate family. Printing may be done using an aqueous binder liquid. After removal of unbound powder, the preform may be exposed to the vapor of an organic solvent which causes the particles of organic-soluble-polymer to fuse to each other. This may further be followed by dissolving out the water-soluble particles, if such particles were present in the powder.

Abstract: A transducer senses sounds produced by a talker or other source and measures acceleration of air. Enhancement of acceleration is accompanied by reduction of the portion of the sound energy that escapes from the regions around the transducer. The result is a high sensitivity transducer, with increased privacy for use in communication systems, especially cell phones and in a multi-person environment. A pressure sensor array with a weighted output is sensitive to sound from a source talker only, and not to acoustic background noise, and not to a local loudspeaker. The weighted signal is a source sum pressure signal. The array produces a signal (using a different weighting) that corresponds to an estimate of a derivative of pressure. The derivative signal is proportional to the volume velocity fluctuations produced by the source. This signal is enhanced, rather than reduced. A local loudspeaker is driven to make the source sum pressure signal as small as desired.

Abstract: Bipolar wave current, with both positive and negative current portions, is used to electrodeposit a nanocrystalline grain size deposit. Polarity Ratio is the ratio of the absolute value of the time integrated amplitude of negative polarity current and positive polarity current. Grain size can be precisely controlled in alloys of two or more chemical components, at least one of which is a metal, and at least one of which is most electro-active. Typically, although not always, the amount of the more electro-active material is preferentially lessened in the deposit during times of negative current. The deposit also exhibits superior macroscopic quality, being relatively crack and void free.

Abstract: An animal water bowl assembly is maintained clean by allowing a bowl to dry out after a use period, before refilling. Uses include: birdbath and pet and farm animal watering. Two bowls can be coordinated so that one is in use with water while one is drying out. A two-faced assembly with oppositely facing bowls can automatically coordinate the steps for the two bowls. The process of filling a bowl, allowing it to be used, emptying it, filling another, allowing it to be used while the first dries out, can be automated with an actuator and a controller. An animal water bowl assembly has at least two bowls, with means for coordinating the filling and use and drying steps. As an example, a two faced bowl is rotatable around an axis. An electronic controller opens a valve to provide power to a hydraulic actuator, which flips the two faced bowl to empty the first and present the second for filling. Filling with water occurs automatically, also using water from the hydraulic source.

Abstract: Micron scale dielectric items are manipulated by methods and apparatus taking advantage of spatially non-uniform field. Such fields give rise to a force on dielectric items, directing them generally toward regions of more concentrated field. The electrode may be elongated, either unitary, with a generally planar counter electrode, or dual, such as parallel pins, loops or plates. If dual, particles are generally attracted to regions of high field concentration, including tips, edges and spaces between electrode conductors. Items can be granular, threadlike, or sheets, and microelectronic parts and other shapes. Items can also be collected directly into a recess of a pharmaceutical material delivery microchip, with a conductive membrane of the microchip acting as a manipulating electrode. Items are attracted without regard to their surface charge, or the polarity of the field, which can be AC or DC. Charging, or knowing the charge of items to be manipulated is not necessary.

Abstract: A steel powder metal skeleton is infiltrated with an infiltrant composition similar to the skeleton, with an additional agent that depresses the melting point of the infiltrant relative to the skeleton. Infiltration is driven primarily by capillary pressure. The powder and infiltrant compositions differ primarily only in a higher concentration of a melting point depressant agent “MPD” in the infiltrant. Carbon (C) and silicon (Si) and several other elements can be elements in an MPD, either alone or in combination. Certain steel target compositions are such that a complementary infiltrant, and skeleton can be chosen such that a skeleton will remain solid at an infiltration temperature at which the infiltrant can be melted and fully infiltrated, and further where there is a persistent two phase field, with a liquid phase that is large enough (greater than 7% vol, and typically between 20 and 40 vol %) so that flow can be maintained without choke off from diffusional solidification.

Abstract: An animal water bowl assembly is maintained clean by allowing a bowl to dry out after a use period, before refilling. Uses include: birdbath and pet and farm animal watering. Two bowls can be coordinated so that one is in use with water while one is drying out. A two-faced assembly with oppositely facing bowls can automatically coordinate the steps for the two bowls. The process of filling a bowl, allowing it to be used, emptying it, filling another, allowing it to be used while the first dries out, can be automated with an actuator and a controller. An animal water bowl assembly has at least two bowls, with means for coordinating the filling and use and drying steps. As an example, a two faced bowl is rotatable around an axis. An electronic controller opens a valve to provide power to a hydraulic actuator, which flips the two faced bowl to empty the first and present the second for filling. Filling with water occurs automatically, also using water from the hydraulic source.

Abstract: A controller f or multi-DOF active vibration isolation accounts for plant uncertainties and payload disturbances using dynamic frequency-shaped sliding control. Modal decomposition rewrites a multi-DOF vibration control problem as a combination of modal problems. Modal parameters can be extracted. Target frequency-domain performance, e.g., a skyhook, is recast as a frequency-shaped sliding surface. Boundary layer approximation is examined. Skyhook can be robustly achieved. The manifold is also extends to adaptive vibration isolation without model reference. Nonlinear target dynamics of the same order as the plant can be attained. Control can be achieved without measuring excitation or knowing mass, stiffness and damping matrices. Control for plants subject to disturbances other than vibration can be achieved for any that can be described by equations the same character as those that describe mechanical dynamic systems. The target dynamics can be any, even non-linear.

Abstract: A multi-leg equipment stand has a unitary user interface. All legs can be adjusted simultaneously, or, an individual leg can be adjusted, by distinct motions of the interface. A collar is near to an equipment support shoulder. Rotation around a vertical axis releases all legs. For a tripod, tilting the collar in one direction releases only one of three legs. The tilt may be toward the leg to be moved. The legs have adjacent, telescoping components. A control rod extends from the collar, through the hollow interior of the upper component, to a jam-plate, at the lower end of the upper component. The plate jams between an inside of the lower component, and an inside of the upper component. The rod passes through the jam-plate. Pushing the rod tilts the jam-plate, freeing it from jamming. A spring returns it to jamming if released. For each leg, the collar underside has a two level cam recess. The rods each have a cam follower surface at their shoulder end.

Abstract: The present invention provides a metal slurry for electrode formation which slurry is high in dispersion property and enables formation of high density electrode films. The metal slurry for electrode formation is composed of a spherical metal powder of 0.1 to 2.0 ?m in mean particle size and a dispersion medium. By making the spherical metal powder have a mean particle size falling within the range from 0.1 to 2.0 ?m, there can be obtained a metal slurry for electrode formation which slurry can be coated through a nozzle and is high in dispersion property, without using expensive nanoparticles. In addition, as the dispersion medium, water or lower molecular weight alcohols can be used. Furthermore, the dispersion property can be improved by further adding a dispersant of 10 wt % or below (exclusive of zero) in relation to the metal powder.

Abstract: A drop on demand printer has a nozzle with an orifice and a surrounding annular land. Surrounding the land is an edge, which is surrounded by a perimetrical surface that is inclined to the land at an angle ?. A pressure controller maintains a positive overpressure on liquid to be printed such that a cap of liquid is substantially always present covering the orifice and the land. The edge between the land and the perimetrical surface prevents liquid from overflowing, and maintains the cap, if the pressure is maintained between lower and upper limits disclosed. The liquid to be printed preferably wets the orifice land, which may be alumina, glass, ceramic, and others. Liquids with very small, even zero, wetting angles relative to the land may be used, such as water and organic solvents, including, isopropyl and ethyl alcohol and chloroform. The liquid can be loaded with dissolved polymers, or particles, such as of polymer or ceramic.

Abstract: An infiltrant is used to fill a metal powder skeleton. The infiltrant is similar in composition to the base powder, but contains a melting point depressant. The infiltrant will quickly fill the powder skeleton, then as the melting point depressant diffuses into the base powder, the liquid will undergo solidification and the material will eventually homogenize. This process allows more accurate control of dimensions in large parts with uniform or homogeneous microstructure or bulk properties.