Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electronic component including a substrate is provided. The method includes generating a plasma remote from a sputter target, generating sputtered material from the sputter target using the plasma, and depositing the sputtered material on a substrate as a crystalline layer.

Abstract: A liquid heater is described including a chamber for receiving a liquid, a pair of electrodes located within the chamber for applying electric current to the liquid, input terminals for connection to a power supply, a plurality of bi-directional switches for connecting the electrodes to the input terminals, and a control unit for controlling the switches. The power supply supplies an alternating voltage having a frequency no greater than 60 Hz, and the control unit controls the switches such that the electrodes are energised with an alternating voltage having a frequency no less than 150 kHz.

Abstract: There is provided a photocatalytic reactor including a reaction chamber. The reaction chamber includes a first set of fins, a second set of fins, a photo-catalyst disposed upon at least one face of each fin, and a light source arranged to illuminate at least a portion of the photo-catalyst disposed on each fin. Each of the first set of fins is arranged such that a line extending from a base of the fin through a tip of the fin is directed to a first convergence point, and each of the second set of fins is arranged such that a line extending from a base of the fin through a tip of the fin is directed to a second convergence point. The first convergence point is different to the second convergence point, and both the first convergence point and the second convergence point are offset relative to a position of the light source.

Abstract: A headband for a wearable electronic device includes a first end portion, a second end portion, and a central portion disposed between the first and second end portions. The first end portion is connected to the central portion by an extension mechanism for adjusting a length of the headband, and the first end portion includes a battery compartment for receiving a battery.

Abstract: There is provided a photocatalytic reactor including reaction chamber arranged to receive an airflow including one or more airborne contaminants. The reaction chamber includes a first inner surface, a second inner surface, a photo-catalyst for photocatalytic degradation of one or more of the contaminants disposed upon both the first inner surface and the second inner surface, and a light source arranged to illuminate at least a portion of the photo-catalyst disposed on the first inner surface and the second inner surface. The first inner surface and the second inner surface have distinct parabolic arc-shaped profiles and the profile of the first inner surface is a mirror image of the profile of the second inner surface. The first inner surface and the second inner surface may be consecutive.

Abstract: A headgear is described that includes an air purifier, a microphone, and a control unit. The control unit analyses a signal output by the microphone to determine a magnitude of wind. The control unit then controls a flow rate of the air purifier in response to the determined magnitude.

Abstract: There is provided a photocatalytic reactor arranged to receive one or more airborne contaminants. The photocatalytic reactor includes a photo-catalyst for photocatalytic degradation of one or more of the contaminants disposed on a substrate, and a light-emitting diode circuit board comprising a circuit board with one or more first light-emitting diodes mounted to a first side of the circuit board and one or more second light-emitting diodes mounted to a second side of the circuit board. The substrate is arranged to be illuminated by both the one or more first light-emitting diodes and the one or more second light-emitting diodes in order to facilitate photocatalytic degradation.

Abstract: A wearable air purifier includes a headgear, an air purifier assembly, and a nozzle assembly. The air purifier assembly includes a filter and an airflow generator for generating an airflow through the filter. The nozzle assembly includes an inlet aperture configured to receive a filtered airflow from the air purifier assembly, and an air outlet for emitting the filtered airflow from the nozzle assembly. The nozzle assembly includes a first end section connected to the headgear, a second end section connected to the headgear, and a midsection connected to the first end section by a first hinge and connected to the second end section by a second hinge.

Abstract: There is provided a nozzle for a fan assembly. The nozzle comprises an air inlet, a first air outlet for emitting an air flow and a second air outlet for emitting an air flow, the first and second air outlets together defining an aggregate air outlet of the nozzle, a single internal air passageway extending between the air inlet and the first and second air outlets, and a valve for controlling an air flow from the air inlet to the first and second air outlets. The valve comprises one or more valve members that are moveable to adjust the size of the first air outlet relative to the size of the second air outlet while keeping the size of the aggregate air outlet of the nozzle constant, and wherein the air outlets are oriented towards a convergent point.

Abstract: A method is described for controlling an electric motor having a rotor. The method is carried out after a shutdown of the motor has been initiated. The method includes starting a timer in a motor controller, performing regenerative braking to recapture kinetic energy from the rotor as electrical energy, and using the recaptured electrical energy from the regenerative braking to power the motor controller. If the timer in the motor controller exceeds a predetermined timer value, a flag is set in memory in the motor controller to indicate that the motor has stopped.

Abstract: A battery system comprising positive and negative charge-discharge terminals, first and second batteries, first and second unidirectional switches, and a bridging switch. The first battery and the first unidirectional switch are connected in series across the charge-discharge terminals such that the first unidirectional switch provides a conductive path from the positive charge-discharge terminal to a positive terminal of the first battery. The second battery and the second unidirectional switch are connected in series across the charge-discharge terminals such that the second unidirectional switch provides a conductive path from the negative terminal of the second battery to the negative charge-discharge terminal. The batteries and the bridging switch are connected in series across the charge-discharge terminals, with the bridging switch being located between the positive terminal of the first battery and the negative terminal of the second battery.

Abstract: A wearable air purifier includes a headgear, an air purifier assembly and a nozzle assembly. The air purifier assembly includes a filter and an airflow generator for creating an airflow through the filter. The nozzle assembly includes a conduit for receiving a filtered airflow from the air purifier assembly, and an outlet body releasably connected to the conduit. The outlet body defines an air outlet for emitting filtered airflow from the nozzle assembly.

Abstract: A wearable air purifier including a headgear; an air purifier assembly, the air purifier assembly configured to generate a filtered airflow from an outlet aperture thereof; and a nozzle assembly connected to the headgear by a hinge assembly. The nozzle assembly includes an inlet aperture for receiving the filtered airflow from the outlet aperture of the air purifier assembly and an air outlet for emitting the filtered airflow from the nozzle assembly. The hinge assembly is configured such that the nozzle assembly is movable relative to the headgear between first and second configurations, filtered airflow is emitted from the air outlet in the first configuration and filtered airflow is not emitted from the air outlet in the second configuration.

Abstract: A brush is described that includes a plurality of bristles secured to a carrier. Each bristle includes a through-hole into which the carrier projects.

Abstract: A headgear is described that includes a first air purifier, a second air purifier, a first microphone, a second microphone, and a control unit. The control unit analyses a first signal output by the first microphone and a second signal output by the second microphone to determine a direction of wind. The control unit then controls the relative flow rates of the first air purifier and the second air purifier in response to the determined direction of wind.

Abstract: A brush is described that includes a body, a carrier, a plurality of bristles and a frame. Each bristle is secured to the carrier and extends through a respective hole in the frame. The carrier deforms in response to pivoting of each bristle, and is held between the body and the frame at each bristle.

Abstract: A turbomachine having a rotor assembly, a stator assembly and a toroidal inductor. The rotor assembly includes an impeller. The inductor is located between the impeller and the stator assembly, and is exposed to an airflow generated by or acting upon the impeller.

Abstract: Disclosed is a hair care applianceincluding: a housing having a first end and a second end and a fluid inlet which extends around the housing and is proximate the first end of the housing, a fluid outlet, a fluid flow path extending within the housing between the fluid inlet and the fluid outlet. The fluid inlet is provided with a filtering system including a removable portion and a fixed portion. The removable portion includes a first part and a second part which are separable and wherein the first part can only be secured to the housing when the second part is attached to the first part. The first part may be a sleeve capable of sliding over the second part. The second part may include a tubular portion and base portion extending radially out from the tubular portion at one end of the tubular portion.

Abstract: A handheld appliance having a body and an attachment, the body includes an attachment mechanism having a slot and an actuator, the attachment including a protrusion adapted to engage with the slot wherein the actuator has a first position and a second position and the actuator is moved from the first position towards the second position as the protrusion engages with the slot. In the first position the actuator may at least partially obscures the slot. The actuator includes a surface which may interact with the protrusion when the protrusion engages with the slot. The surface may be adapted to at least partially define the slot at or near the second position. When the protrusion is at a pre-determined position within the slot, the actuator may return towards the first position. The actuator may be biased into the first position.