Abstract: A photovoltaic awning assembly includes a sheet of material carrying photovoltaic strips thereon. A rotatable roll receives the sheet of material and has a contoured drum at opposite ends thereof for deploying and retrieving the sheet of material through the use of a cable connected to a boom at an opposite end of the sheet. A pair of support tubes extend along opposite sides of the sheet of material, and support legs serve to position the sheet. In one embodiment of the invention, one of the support legs is out of plane with the others, introducing a saddle surface in the sheet of material to provide it with stability to resist wind. The roll for retrieving and maintaining the material is constructed of a non-metallic material such as corrugated fiberglass sheet, rolled about take-up drums at opposite ends thereof, and having reinforcing flanged disks in the interior thereof. The corrugations provide conduits for the passage of electrical conductors to an externally maintained control box.

Abstract: A first dimension electrophoresis apparatus of vertical type with a gel container 2 having a plurality of rectangular rod-shaped gel chambers is provided. The rod-type gels surrounded with non-conductive material plates are arranged in parallel, an upper open end of the gel container 2 is placed tightly into an upper buffer reservoir 4 and the lower open end thereof is placed tightly into a lower buffer reservoir 1. The gel container 2 and the main parts of the first buffer reservoir 4 and the lower buffer reservoir 1 are sunk in a cooling reservoir 5 filled with cooling liquid. The lower buffer reservoir has a panel portion 1b which is bent upward to penetrate the cooling reservoir. Outlet conductors thereof extend from each of the reservoirs and are insulated physically and electrically from the cooling liquid. As a result, the outer surface of the gel container can directly contact with the cooling liquid.

Abstract: A sensor for detecting water vapor in a gaseous sample. The sensor comprises (a) an anode, (b) a cathode, (c) an electrolyte intermediate the anode and cathode, and (d) an inlet orifice through a central area of the anode or cathode through which the gaseous sample may be placed into contact with the electrolyte. The electrolyte can be retained on a porous electrical-insulating separator located between the interior-facing major surfaces of the anode and the cathode.

Abstract: Partial fill of an electrochemical test strip is determined by making a DC determination of double layer capacitance from charging or discharging charge on a test strip containing sample, for example a blood sample to be tested for glucose. The measured double layer capacitance is compared to a reference value. The double layer capacitance may be determined as an integral or differential capacitance. Double layer capacitance may also be used for quality control to monitor the quality of electrode formation, particularly in strips using screen printed electrodes.

Abstract: An electrochemical gas sensor which comprises an electrode assembly, including a catalytic sensing electrode and a counter electrode, mounted inside a housing provided with at least one gas entrance, a reservoir for containing electrolyte in use, a compressible wick for supplying the electrode assembly with electrolyte and a wick compression component. A first end of the wick extends into the reservoir and a second end of the wick contacts the electrode assembly. The wick compression component compresses the wick in a direction substantially radial to an axis joining its first and second ends.

Abstract: A solar cell module includes a front member placed at a light-incident side of the module; a sealing member having an exposed section that is not covered with the front member; solar cell elements that are sealed with the sealing member and covered with the front member; and an electric device, stored in a housing, for extracting electricity generated by the solar cell elements. The housing is fixed on the exposed section and is located at a light-incident side of the module.

Abstract: Energy harvesting devices are disclosed. An illustrative embodiment of the energy harvesting devices includes a fastening device, a first thermally-conductive element engaging the fastening device, a thermoelectric device disposed in thermal contact with the first thermally-conductive element and a second thermally-conductive element disposed in thermal contact with the thermoelectric device.

Abstract: A layered sensor element used in a gas measuring sensor for measuring a physical property of a measuring gas, preferably for determining the temperature of the measuring gas or the concentration of a component of the measuring gas. The sensor element contains a wave-form heater, which is embedded in a porous heater insulation. At least one separating element having a lower porosity than the porous heater insulation is provided between two adjacent sections of the wave-form heater.