Abstract: A display is constructed having a flat screen consisting of pixels which may be individually excited to create an image. The pixels are excitable between a light reflective and a transparent state in which they are visible in the reflective state and dark in the transparent state. A solar panel is mounted behind the flat screen to receive light transmitted by the transparent pixels. The solar panel converts the light to electric power to supplement the battery operation of the device.

Abstract: A portable power supply that includes at least one solar panel assembly that is capable of producing an electrical output through the conversion of solar energy to electrical energy. The power supply further includes power transmission means which is typically an electrical cable that will supply the power output of the solar panel to an electrical energy consuming device such as a portable computer or a battery for use therewith. The portable power supply further includes a case having at least two opposing side panels and includes solar panel assembly attachment means permitting the mounting of a solar panel assembly. The solar panel assembly typically comprises a photovoltaic panel attached to a backing panel. Backing panels utilized in the solar panel assembly may also be foldable, thus protecting the attached photovoltaic panel within the folded sections of the backing panel.

Abstract: A low concentration solar array for spacecraft and other uses which has a series of solar panels which can be deployed from a folded stowed configuration to a planar configuration. When the solar panels are stowed, the padding of reflector panels cushions and protects the solar panels from the stresses and vibrations of launch and space flight. Once the solar panels are extended into a deployed planar configuration, the reflector panels are raised to concentrate sunlight upon the solar panels. These reflector panels are constructed from rigid honeycomb substrates and therefore are the active structural members of the solar array, providing the structural rigidity for the solar array.

Abstract: A shield in a PVD vacuum processing chamber having a configuration which minimizes or eliminates particulates originating from flaking or peeling off from the shield and from arcing between the biased target and surrounding grounded pieces is disclosed. The shield has an "h" cross section with the lower arch of the "h" facing a heater assembly which heats the shield to a temperature approximately equivalent to the temperature of the sputter deposited material. The surface of the shield is polished to promote the release of H.sub.2 O molecules from its surface during the time when a vacuum is initially being pumped. The inside surface of the shield (facing a heater assembly) is treated to have a higher coefficient of surface emissivity than the outer surface to retain more energy and provide more efficient heating.

Abstract: A plating apparatus used in a diamond plating process in which a first electrode having a surface from which plating material is released is located in connection with a firing electrode to generate a first arc, the first arc being used to start a second arc between the first electrode and a second electrode, and in which apparatus a plasma spray formed from plating material released from the first electrode is directed toward a substrate to be plated includes a grinding element in contact with the surface of the first electrode and a mechanism for rotating the surface of the first electrode. The grinding element may be a firing electrode or an abrading tool. A method of operating the plating apparatus includes abrading the surface of the first electrode from which plating material is released.

Abstract: This invention discloses a solar energy system wherein some of the waste heat of a thermophotovoltaic system is made to operate a thermionic power generator. The waste heat of the thermionic power generator is then made to operate an alkali-metal thermal electric converter, and the waste heat from the alkali-metal thermal electric converter as well as the rest of the waste heat of the thermophotovoltaic system is made to operate a methane reformation system. Stored heat from the methane reformation system is made to operate the invention at night. The overall efficiency of the example of the invention shown in the Summary is 42.6%.

Abstract: A cathodic arc coating apparatus for applying a coating to an object is provided. The apparatus includes: an enclosure; means for evacuating the enclosure; an anode within the enclosure, wherein the anode comprises an open array of a metal defining a central axis and a deposition space for positioning the object; a cathode assembly positioned within the deposition space, wherein the cathode assembly comprises a first consumable cathode having a central axis and an evaporation surface; means for generating a plasma stream comprising charged particles, wherein the plasma stream is projected from the evaporation surface of the first consumable cathode toward the anode array; and a magnetic system for diverting the charged particles of the plasma stream away from the anode array and toward the object being coated; wherein the diverted charged particles are deposited on the object to form a coating thereon.

Abstract: Multiple thin-film photoelectric conversion elements formed on a flexible insulating substrate are organized as a single photoelectric conversion module via a manufacturing process that substantially eliminates the probability of damaging the light-receiving surface of the photoelectric conversion elements during the manufacturing process. Each photoelectric conversion element includes a rear electrode layer, a photoelectric conversion layer, and a transparent electrode layer laminated on one side of a substrate, and an auxiliary connecting electrode layer formed on the other side of the substrate. The manufacturing process for the conversion module involves utilizing an apparatus which includes two perpendicularly overlapping belt systems and a cutting/heating unit. The first belt system applies a thermally adhesive resin film to the light-receiving surface of the conversion elements mounted on a substrate. The cutting/heating unit identifies and cuts out non-defective conversion elements.

Abstract: A dual discharge photovoltaic module responsive to high and low loads. The module includes a first plurality of series connected, high short circuit current cells, and a second plurality of series connected, low short circuit current cells connected in series with the first plurality. A diode is connected in parallel with the second plurality of cells such that current flow through the module when the module is under low load reverse biases the diode so that the module discharges at a low current. When the module is under high load, current flow through the module forward biases the diode and bypasses the second plurality of cells so that the module discharges at a high rate. The module is particularly useful for starting and running an electric motor.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an apparatus for simultaneous plating with which arc ion plating and hollow cathode discharge (HCD) ion plating can be concurrently carried out in one chamber, and sputtering plating can also be performed in the other chamber while the former two types of platings are being performed. Since only one type of plating can be performed in one chamber with a conventional apparatus, there have been problems such as excessive installation cost and inferior plating quality. According to the present invention, simultaneous arc ion plating and HCD ion plating in one chamber and sputtering plating in the other one is possible, which may lower the installation cost and improve the plating quality.

Abstract: A magnetron sputtering electrode assembly which is used in a sputtering system having a rectangular flat-plate target, includes permanent magnets arranged along the longitudinal edges of the target to pass lines of magnetic forces in parallel to the surface of the rectangular flat-plate target, and a driving device for reversing polarity of the magnets to change by 180 degrees the direction of the lines of magnetic force caused by the permanent magnets passing in parallel to the surface of the rectangular flat-plate target.

Abstract: A thermophotovoltaic (TPV) system converts thermal or radiant heat into electricity for use in a variety of applications. The TPV system and method efficiently generate electric power through the combustion of fossil fuels with little or no nitrogen oxides or other undesirable combustion by-products. Combustion temperatures are kept at about 1,700.degree. C. or lower while burning a reactant mixture having an air/fuel ratio of greater than about 3:1. Heat from combustion products can be recycled and recuperated without concern for excessive increases in combustion temperature and subsequent combustor/emitter degradation.

Abstract: This invention relates to a method and apparatus for converting energy to hydrogen gas using an electrolyzer and a metal alloy hydride tank for hydrogen storage, wherein a passive load matching device between the energy source and the electrolyzer maximizes hydrogen output, and the electrolyzer and the metal alloy hydride tank operate at mutually low pressure, near ambient, such that pressurization of the system is not required.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a thin-layer component having a thin layer of (100)-oriented platinum or the other metals in Group VIII, which is formed on amorphous silicon dioxide, and further relates to a thin-layer producing system for producing such thin-layer components, the thin-layer producing system being a sputtering system wherein an auxiliary electrode is provided between two electrodes.

Abstract: Electric power generator has linear arrays of thermophotovoltaic cells spaced outwardly from a tubular IR emitter. Hot combustion products flow downward from a combustion zone between a central pillar and the IR emitter, and then upward between the emitter and a tubular IR transparent window. The cell arrays are spaced outward from a convection barrier tube and a short pass filter. A burner assembly at the top of the pillar has an alternating arrangement of accelerating air channels with large openings to the air supply and slowing mixing channels with small openings to the air supply. Radial fuel channels connect the central fuel supply with the peripheral mixing channels. Release of accelerated air creates turbulence in the combustion zone where the air and fuel further mix and are ignited. A cavity in the pillar supplies liquid fuels which are atomized by ultrasonic energy from a central rod. The atomized liquids are released through small holes into the combustion zone.

Abstract: Low frequency alternating current sputtering is provided by connecting a low frequency alternating current source to a high voltage transformer having outer taps and a center tap for stepping up the voltage of the alternating current. The center tap of the transformer is connected to a vacuum vessel containing argon or helium gas. Target electrodes, in close proximity to each other, and containing material with which the substrates will be coated, are connected to the outer taps of the transformer. With an applied potential, the gas will ionize and sputtering from the target electrodes onto the substrate will then result. The target electrodes can be copper or boron, and the substrate can be stainless steel, aluminum, or titanium. Copper coatings produced are used in place of nickel and/or copper striking.

Abstract: A thin-film solar module includes a transparent substrate, at least one active semiconductor layer (3) made of a I-III-VI2 semiconductor (chalcopyrite) having a diode structure, the semiconductor layer being patterned into strip-shaped individual solar cells, electrode patterns made of aluminum-doped zinc oxide (ZnO:Al) having a hexagonal crystal structure as front and rear contacts and for integrated interconnection of the solar module, and an epoxy coating layer as a rear covering.

Abstract: A target assembly for use in fabricating magnetic recording media is described. The target assembly has inner and outer concentric targets for sputter depositing on a substrate first and second layers having different compositions. Disposed adjacent each target is a magnetic means, and at least one which is reversible in magnetic-pole polarity. One polarity produces a magnetic flux sufficient to ignite a sputtering plasma in the inner target only, when power is supplied to the inner target at a preselected level. The opposite polarity produces a magnetic flux sufficient to ignite a sputtering plasma in the outer target only, when power is supplied to the outer target at a preselected level.

Abstract: A roof panel with solar batteries and a roof structure with solar batteries, which can improve water blocking between adjacent solar batteries integral with the roof panel. On the inclined surface of the roof Y is disposed the base panel 2, on which support rails 37 (each having a two-stage structure with a gutter and a cylindrical section 37a and 37b) are provided. A plurality of solar battery panels 3, provided with a frame (having an upper and a lower frame member 6 and 7 and paired vertical frame members 8) therearound, are each provided between paired support frames 37. The lower frame member 7 has an extension 25 extending from its side nearer the eaves N and covering the upper frame member 6 of the adjacent panel 3. The base and solar battery panels 2 and 3 are made integral with one another in the factory to be supplied as a roof panel 1 with solar batteries. With this structure, water is blocked around the solar battery panel 3 by the frame (6 to 8) therearound.

Abstract: Processes which utilize rapid thermal processing (RTP) are provided for inexpensively producing high efficiency silicon solar cells. The RTP processes preserve minority carrier bulk lifetime .tau. and permit selective adjustment of the depth of the diffused regions, including emitter and back surface field (bsf), within the silicon substrate. Silicon solar cell efficiencies of 16.9% have been achieved. In a first RTP process, an RTP step is utilized to simultaneously diffuse phosphorus and aluminum into the front and back surfaces, respectively, of a silicon substrate. Moreover, an in situ controlled cooling procedure preserves the carrier bulk lifetime .tau. and permits selective adjustment of the depth of the diffused regions. In a second RTP process, both simultaneous diffusion of the phosphorus and aluminum as well as annealing of the front and back contacts are accomplished during the RTP step.