Abstract: A method for removing silicone sealant from glass-ceramic surfaces is provided. The method includes heating the sealant to a temperature greater than 325 degrees Celsius so that it thermally degrades and then, mechanically removing the sealant from the glass-ceramic surface. A method of salvaging a glass-ceramic cooking surface from a cooktop including silicone sealant between a cooktop frame and the glass-ceramic cooking surface is also provided. If a defect is detected in the cooktop during manufacturing or distribution, the entire cooktop is heated to a predetermined temperature to allow the silicone sealant to be easily removed without using a knife or other potentially damaging devices. Once the silicone sealant is removed, the glass-ceramic cooking surface may be reused to produce another cooktop assembly.

Abstract: A transparent chromogenic assembly in which color changes are selectively effectable over predefined areas comprises a pair of facing transparent substrates (15, 21, 28) each covered with a conductive layer divided into individual energizeable areas each provided with a set of busbars (187, 188). A passive layer may be superimposed over one of the substrates, its color being chosen so that the color and the transmissivity of the passive layer accommodates the range of color change and transmissivity of the electrochromic layer to maintain the transmitted color of the panel in a warm or neutral shade. Various other chromogenic windows, devices and systems are also disclosed.

Abstract: A fiber optic assembly including an alignment plate having an M×N array of alignment holes formed thereon and an equal number of optical fibers, each bonded to a respective one of the alignment holes. A bondline, preferably an inorganic adhesive having a glass transition temperature of at least about 150° C., is located between each optical fiber and its respective alignment hole. The bondline is preferably less than about 200 nm in thickness. The inorganic adhesive is preferably formed from a colloidal suspension of sodium silicate.

Abstract: A sealant having luminescent properties for use on various industrial and household products is provided. One luminescent sealant includes a sealant, such as RTV sealant, mixed with a thermoluminescent pigment. When applied to a surface, this thermoluminescent sealant emits light in response to a change in the surface's temperature. Preferably, a change in color of the sealant accompanies the emission of light to warn those who may come in contact with a hot surface on which the sealant is applied. Another luminescent sealant is provided mixed with a photoluminescent pigment to produce a photoluminescent effect. This photoluminescent sealant absorbs and emits light energy. The light produced by the sealant is useful to indicate the location of a product in a darkened environment, or to verify whether the sealant has been properly applied on the product.

Abstract: A method for removing silicone sealant from glass-ceramic surfaces is provided. The method includes heating the sealant to a temperature greater than 325 degrees Celsius so that it thermally degrades and then, mechanically removing the sealant from the glass-ceramic surface. A method of salvaging a glass-ceramic cooking surface from a cooktop including silicone sealant between a cooktop frame and the glass-ceramic cooking surface is also provided. If a defect is detected in the cooktop during manufacturing or distribution, the entire cooktop is heated to a predetermined temperature to allow the silicone sealant to be easily removed without using a knife or other potentially damaging devices. Once the silicone sealant is removed, the glass-ceramic cooking surface may be reused to produce another cooktop assembly.

Abstract: A gasket for sealing an appliance door and a method for forming the gasket on an appliance surface are provided. The gasket, formed of gasket material with magnetic properties, is attached to an appliance door shell. The gasket material uses the magnetic properties to releasably engage a mating door jamb when the door shell is in a closed position. Alternatively, the gasket includes a magnetic strip covered by formed-in-place gasket material. A method for forming the gasket in-place is also provided.

Abstract: A glass/metal laminate for an appliance or the like and a method of fabricating the same. The glass/metal laminate includes a glass sheet, a metal sheet, and an adhesive layer bonding the glass and metal sheets together, whereby the metal sheet is visible through the glass sheet. The laminate is preferably installed on the outer surface of a refrigerator, oven, or other appliance to provide a durable and visually appealing finish surface. The laminate may be fabricated in a batch process, using a sealed curing chamber under reduced pressure to remove entrained air bubbles from the adhesive layer. Alternatively, the laminate may be fabricated in a continuous process using a pair of counter-rotating rollers to remove air from the adhesive layer. A UV light source emits radiation which passes through the glass sheet to cure the adhesive layer.

Abstract: Provided is a small-sized less expensive light-intensity measuring apparatus for measuring a xenon excimer lamp that radiates a light beam having a central wavelength of 172 nm for an intensity. The light-intensity measuring apparatus of the present invention comprises a photoelectric converting means 23, preferably a photodiode, having photosensitivity in the range of from 800 to 1,000 nm, an operating means 25 for relatively determining the intensity of a light beam having a central wavelength of 172 nm depending upon an output of the photoelectric converting means 23 and a transmitting means 26 for transmitting the light intensity determined with the operating means 25.

Abstract: An ultraviolet light beam irradiating apparatus of the present invention has a bed for supporting a work in atmosphere, an ultraviolet light irradiation light source for irradiating the surface of the work with an ultraviolet light beam having a wavelength of 175 nm or shorter, and inert gas inflow structure for allowing an inert gas, preferably nitrogen, helium or argon, into a space in the atmosphere above the work surface of the work. The inert gas is allowed to flow into the space, whereby the oxygen concentration between the ultraviolet light irradiation light source and the work surface is decreased, so that the absorption of the ultraviolet light beam is decreased.

Abstract: Disclosed is a dielectric barrier excimer lamp which is easy to handle, less expensive and improved in ultraviolet light beam irradiation efficiency to electric power and ultraviolet light beam irradiation efficiency to a work.

Abstract: An ultraviolet ray irradiation apparatus has a turntable which mounts a substance to be processed, a driving source which rotates and drives the turntable, a filter which adjusts light quantity of an ultraviolet light beam that reaches a surface to be processed of a substance W to be processed in accordance with shapes of an ultraviolet beam passing region. In the filter, the shape of the ultraviolet light beam passing region is symmetrical for a center line for a length direction of the irradiating range of the ultraviolet light beam. At least a portion near a center of the irradiating range of the ultraviolet light beam of each line segment that forms a boundary of the ultraviolet light beam passing region in a width direction of the ultraviolet light beam passing region is substantially expressed by a quadratic curve that a distance r in the length direction of the irradiating range of the ultraviolet light beam on the basis of the center line is variable.

Abstract: An AC ferroresonant transformer includes a core having a closed loop path and a magnetic shunt assembly extending between portions of the core. A primary winding, a secondary winding and a tertiary winding are disposed on the core to link with magnetic flux in the core and the magnetic shunt. The tertiary winding includes terminals that are electrically isolated from the secondary winding. A first aspect of the present invention includes a tank capacitor connected to the tertiary terminals to form two LC circuits wherein a first LC circuit is a resonant circuit and a second LC circuit is a filtering circuit. Another aspect of the present invention is a method of operating an AC ferroresonant transformer proximate a knee of a B-H curve of the core, at minimal line voltage and full load, to reduce the generated harmonics.