Abstract: A multi-piece piston (1) is disclosed, for fixing to the high pressure side end (3) of a piston rod (5) running axially in a casting cylinder (7) of a cold chamber casting machine. The piston comprises a piston crown (9) forming a piston front face (13) on the high pressure side and a piston body (15) in the form of a bush connected to the piston crown (9) on the low pressure side. The piston body (15) can be connected to the piston crown (9) by means of fixing screws (23) to form a module. Complementary bayonet looking means (25, 27) are provided, for axial fixing of the piston (1) to the end (3) of the piston rod (5), on the piston crown (9) and the end (3).

Abstract: An investment casting core combination includes a metallic casting core and a ceramic feedcore. A first region of the metallic casting core is embedded in the ceramic feedcore. A mating edge portion of the metallic casting core includes a number of projections. The first region is along at least some of the projections. A number of recesses span gaps between adjacent projections. The ceramic feedcore includes a number of compartments respectively receiving the metallic casting core projections. The ceramic feedcore further includes a number of portions between the compartments and respectively received in the metallic casting core recesses.

Abstract: Techniques for ball bonding wires in an integrated circuit are provided which allow formation of desired wire bond profile shapes for optimal performance. A wire is ball bonded to a first bond site in the integrated circuit with a bonding tool and at least one bend is formed in the wire. The wire is terminated at a second bond site with the bonding tool, thereby creating a wire bond profile. The technique is repeated for a plurality of additional wire bonds of the integrated circuit, and at least two wire bond profiles in the integrated circuit are substantially perpendicular to one another at a crossing point of the profiles.

Abstract: A mold plate to parking location interface includes: a mold plate for holding solder; a fill head with an o-ring for dispensing solder bumps on the mold plate; a parking location for locating the fill head; and a platform between the mold plate and the parking location for relatively moving the fill head from the first location to the second location such that the o-ring decompresses as it passes over the platform.

Abstract: This invention deals with novel method and apparatus for positioning and motion control of the elements (lenses) of a Fresnel lens solar concentrator tracking array by induced and/or permanent dipole coupling to an electronic grid to produce angular deflection, and rotational motion. Thus forces and torques are produced without the use of internal moving parts. Control can be achieved without recourse to magnetic fields, by means of high electric fields which may be attained at relatively low voltages. At low voltages, the instant invention exceeds the capability of conventional systems. It can perform dynamic motion control with independent amplitude and frequency modulation. It is ideally suited for maximization of solar energy focused by the array onto a receiver. Since there are no mechanical likages, the instant invention is the most adapted for fabrication from the mini- to the micro-technology realm. Furthermore it provides less costly and greater ease of manufacture from the mini-to the micro-realm.

Abstract: To cast one or more metal articles, a mold structure is positioned on a support with an anchor extending upward from the support into the mold structure. The mold structure and anchor are interconnected by a retainer which extends through a portion of the mold structure into the anchor. When the mold structure is immersed in a cooling bath, force is transmitted between the mold structure and anchor to retain the mold structure against movement relative to the support.

Abstract: There is provided a method for producing a multi-colored or multi-alloy extruded shape, such as metal tubing for use in forming rings. At least two contrastingly colored metal components or metal components made from different alloys are arranged in a container. The metal components in the container are compressed so as to form a billet of distorted multi-colored or multi-alloy metal. The billet is extruded thereby forming multi-colored or multi-alloy patterns in the extruded shape.

Abstract: The hybridization method provides a first component with first pads and a second component with second pads for accommodating protrusions of a fusible material, so that the first pads and second pads line up two by two in order to form pairs of pads to interconnect the two components when aligned. Then placing the first and second components one on top of the other to form an assembly where some of the protrusions of fusible material on the first and/or second pads respectively consist of at least three larger-sized protrusions, especially taller protrusions, so that before the temperature is increased to the hybridization temperature of the fusible material, the component only rests on the larger protrusions.

Abstract: A plurality of photoelectric conversion elements delimited by connection line regions and isolation line regions are provided on a glass substrate having an external profile of a right triangle. A connection line region is configured to connect photoelectric conversion elements in series. An isolation line region is configured to electrically isolate adjacent photoelectric conversion elements and to separate (divide) photoelectric conversion elements by a predetermined area. A connection line region is orthogonal to an isolation line region. The external profile of a photoelectric conversion elements represents a rectangle. An external interconnection to electrically connect photoelectric conversion elements is formed at an outer circumferential region of the glass substrate at the side outer to the region where photoelectric conversion elements are formed.

Abstract: A thermoelectric module device includes a first substrate having inner and outer surfaces, a second substrate having inner and outer surfaces, a Peltier-junction module sandwiched between the inner surfaces of the first and second substrates, the Peltier-junction module being made up of a series of Peltier junctions including a pair of outermost Peltier junctions, a pair of power supply electrodes connected to the pair of the outermost Peltier junctions, respectively, and a metallization layer provided on the outer surface of the second substrate for being soldered to a package, the metallization layer being divided into spaced first and second portions which correspond to the Peltier-junction module and the pair of power supply electrodes, respectively.

Abstract: Disclosed is a lightweight reflecting system for the concentration of solar radiation in which the reflecting optic is approximately sinusoidal in cross section and is maintained in this shape by minimal contact with a support frame. The reflector can be a flexible rectangular sheet deformed into a generally sinusoidal trough by compression between fixed or adjustable end supports. The sinusoid can be adjusted to be less than half a cycle by torsion applied to each end of the flexible sheet. A reflective film, polished metal, or similar material on the reflector surface can concentrate sunlight along a diffuse band rather than a sharp line, providing improved concentration levels for photovoltaic cells. The reflectors and their support frames can be mounted singly or severally on a tracking device that maximizes instantaneous power output by orienting the collectors toward the sun.

Abstract: A flexible photovoltaic module for converting light into electricity includes a plurality of photovoltaic cells, a wiring harness, and a connection subsystem. The plurality of photovoltaic cells are electrically interconnected to form a positive node for supplying current to a load and a negative node for receiving current from the load. The wiring harness includes a plurality of flexible electrical conductors, each electrical conductor being electrically isolated within the wiring harness. The connection subsystem is operable to selectively connect the positive node to one of the electrical conductors of the wiring harness. A plurality of flexible photovoltaic modules may be connected to form a photovoltaic array.

Abstract: A solar tracker has a mounting surface to which a solar device is mounted and means for causing the mounting surface to change its orientation so as to be substantially perpendicular to the sun's rays as the sun travels through a useful arc relative to the solar tracker wherein change of orientation of the mounting surface is caused by bending of the solar tracker attributable. The bending can be caused by mechanical contraction or due to shrinkage caused by loss of water in which case capillary action causes the outer surface material to be saturated and grow when it is not exposed to sunlight. The bendable mounting surface support is an elongated tube held in a nominally vertical position in the absence of sunlight by a vertical support which can be a coiled compression spring, an extruded tube of closed-end structural foam, a vertical floating pole or an air-inflated tube.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a flexible solar cell (10). The flexible solar cell includes a Al—Mg alloy substrate (11) having a first surface (110) and an opposing second surface (111). A first electrode layer (12), a semiconductor layer (13), and a second electrode layer (14), are sequentially formed on the first surface of the Al—Mg alloy substrate.

Abstract: A method for dispensing solder bumps on a mold plate includes the steps of: relatively moving a fill head comprising an o-ring from a first location to a second location such that the o-ring decompresses as it crosses from the first location to the second location; filling at least one cavity in the mold plate with solder; and then relatively moving the fill head from the second location to a third location such that the o-ring decompresses as it crosses from the second location to the third location. The step of relatively moving the fill head from the first location to the second location includes moving from a higher elevation to a lower elevation.

Abstract: There is provided multicolored metal rings and multicolored metal tubing and a method for producing metal rings and metal tubing for use in forming multicolored rings. At least two contrastingly colored metal components are arranged in a container. The metal components in said container are compressed so as to form a billet of distorted multicolored metal. The billet is extruded thereby forming multicolored patterns in the tubing.

Abstract: A friction stir welding tool is used in welding structures. The tool comprises a shoulder and a probe extending from the shoulder. The probe has at least three sections equiangularly arranged around the longitudinal axis of the probe, each section comprising at least three contiguously arranged flats arranged about the axis of the probe. The flats are so arranged that the normal axes of the flats converge in a direction towards the axis of the probe thereby resulting in the sections each having a generally convex shape. The probe also includes a threaded portion disposed between each pair of adjacent generally convexly shaped unthreaded sections.

Abstract: A gimbaled-shoulder friction stir welding tool includes a pin and first and second annular shoulders coupled to the pin. At least one of the annular shoulders is coupled to the pin for gimbaled motion with respect thereto as the tool is rotated by a friction stir welding apparatus.

Abstract: A wire bonding machine includes a moveable arm assembly and at least one component for a ball bonding operation of the wire bonding machine supported by the moveable arm assembly. The moveable arm assembly is configured to move between a ball bonding position and a wedge bonding position. When the moveable arm assembly is in the ball bonding position the at least one component for the ball bonding operation is in a predetermined position for use in the ball bonding operation.