Abstract: The invention relates to a method for examining a wire-sawn silicon substrate for a solar cell. The method includes irradiating the silicon substrate with an infrared radiation, detecting the infrared radiation transmitted through the silicon substrate, and analyzing the detected infrared radiation for characterizing the crystal orientation of the silicon substrate. The invention in addition relates to a device for carrying out such a method, and a method for manufacturing a solar cell.

Abstract: A bicycle handle system comprises a handle element to be fastened on a handlebar. Further, a control element is arranged laterally next to the handle element. The control element serves to control an electric auxiliary motor. The control element has a bearing element on which an actuation element can be turned. The bearing element has switching tabs connected thereto. By turning the actuation element, the switching tabs actuate electric switching elements.

Abstract: In order to produce silicon wafers, liquid ultra-pure silicon is solidified on a silicon monocrystalline seed arranged in the bottom area of a crucible and having a seed surface comprising a {110}-crystal orientation and an edge surface having a {100}-crystal orientation starting from the bottom of the crucible, thus forming a silicon block on the seed surface of the silicon monocrystalline seed which largely takes over the {110}-crystal orientation. Subsequently, the silicon block is divided into wafers with a wafer surface having a {100}-crystal orientation.

Abstract: In various embodiments, a method for fitting contact wires to a surface of a photovoltaic cell is provided. The method may include: feeding the contact wires to a contact wire positioning and placement device, wherein the contact wire positioning and placement device comprises a plurality of nozzles or eyes, wherein at least one contact wire is in each case passed through a respective nozzle or eye, for positioning and placement thereof onto the surface of the photovoltaic cell; positioning and placing the contact wires on the surface of the photovoltaic cell by means of the contact wire positioning and placement device; and attaching the contact wires to the surface of the photovoltaic cell.

Abstract: Systems and methods for the crowdsourced clustering of data items in accordance embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, a method for determining categories for a set of source data includes obtaining a set of source data, determining a plurality of subsets of the source data, where a subset of the source data includes a plurality of pieces of source data in the set of source data, generating a set of pairwise annotations for the pieces of source data in each subset of source data, clustering the set of source data into related subsets of source data based on the sets of pairwise labels for each subset of source data, and identifying a category for each related subset of source data based on the clusterings of source data and the source data metadata for the pieces of source data in the group of source data.

Abstract: A bicycle handle system comprises a handle element to be fastened on a handlebar. Further, a control element is arranged laterally next to the handle element. The control element serves to control an electric auxiliary motor. The control element has a bearing element on which an actuation element can be turned. The bearing element has switching tabs connected thereto. By turning the actuation element, the switching tabs actuate electric switching elements.

Abstract: Next to a handle element, a bicycle handle system comprises a control element adapted to be fastened on the handlebar and serving to control an electric auxiliary motor. The control element has an actuation element rotatable on a bearing element. By turning the actuation element from a rest position to in particular two different activation positions, the assisting power from the auxiliary motor can be increased or reduced. For a simple, intuitive actuation of the actuation element, a return element is provided by which the actuation element is automatically returned from the first and, if applicable, the second activation position to a rest position.

Abstract: A bicycle handlebar system comprises a control element for controlling an electric auxiliary motor, said element being adapted to be fastened to the handlebar. The control element has a housing, wherein a plurality of switching elements is arranged in recesses in the housing, one membrane button is arranged in the housing per switching element, the switching element acting on said membrane button, and the membrane buttons are interconnected through a common flexibly conductor path.

Abstract: Systems and methods for active learning decision engines in accordance with embodiments of the invention are disclosed. In one embodiment of the invention, an active learning decision engine includes equivalence class storage, hypotheses storage, edge storage, test storage, where tests are related to hypotheses, observation storage; and a processor, where the processor is configured to determine a plurality of equivalence classes containing one or more hypotheses, determine a set of edges utilizing tests, where the edges in the set of edges span hypotheses in distinct equivalence classes, determine weights for the determined edges, select a test based on the determined weights, perform the selected test and observe the results of the performed test, remove edges from the set of edges utilizing the observed results, and select a hypothesis from the one or more hypotheses using the set of edges.

Abstract: A method disclosed herein includes the act of computing a value of information for obtaining data from a personal sensor of a user for utilization in a utilitarian computing application, wherein a mobile computing device comprises the personal sensor of the user. The method further includes the act of requesting that the mobile computing device transmit a data packet to the computing device based at least in part upon the value of information for obtaining data from the personal sensor of the user.

Abstract: A method disclosed herein includes the act of computing a value of information for obtaining data from a personal sensor of a user for utilization in a utilitarian computing application, wherein a mobile computing device comprises the personal sensor of the user. The method further includes the act of requesting that the mobile computing device transmit a data packet to the computing device based at least in part upon the value of information for obtaining data from the personal sensor of the user.

Abstract: Within the scope of a Silicon-wafer making, in which a silicon monocrystal seed is arranged in the bottom region of a crucible, wherein the silicon monocrystal seed has a seed surface with a {110}-crystal orientation perpendicular to the bottom region of the crucible, in which liquid high-purity silicon is solidified, starting from the seed surface of the silicon monocrystal seed, and in which the silicon block is split into Silicon-wafers in such a manner that a wafer surface has a {100}-crystal orientation, wherein the silicon monocrystal seed is manufactured from a silicon monocrystal block, the block axis of which has a [110]-spatial orientation, wherein the silicon monocrystal block is cut-off for forming the seed surface of the silicon monocrystal seed with the {110}-crystal orientation parallel to the block axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for examining a wire-sawn silicon substrate for a solar cell. The method includes irradiating the silicon substrate with an infrared radiation, detecting the infrared radiation transmitted through the silicon substrate, and analyzing the detected infrared radiation for characterizing the crystal orientation of the silicon substrate. The invention in addition relates to a device for carrying out such a method, and a method for manufacturing a solar cell.

Abstract: An injection valve for injecting a liquid includes an electromagnetic actuator and a movable valve needle and a valve closing element that with a valve seating surface forms a sealing seat, and includes a perforated disc situated downstream from the sealing seat, the perforated disc having at least one inlet area and at least one outlet opening. An upper functional plane having the at least one inlet area has a different opening geometry in cross-section than a lower functional plane having the at least one outlet opening. The perforated disc has inlet areas, each provided, as a locally limited cavity, with a rectangular or bathtub-shaped contour, a respective outlet opening going out from each in the direction of flow, the outlet openings, going out from the midpoint of the respective inlet areas, and drawing an imaginary longitudinal axis and transverse axis through these, having an asymmetry as to both axes.

Abstract: A method and system for selecting a batch of input data from available input data for parallel evaluation by a function is disclosed. The function is modeled as drawn from a Gaussian process. Observations are used to determine a mean and a variance of the modeled function. An upper confidence bound is determined from the determined mean and variance. A decision rule is applied to select input data from the available input data to add to the batch of input data. The selection of the input data is based on a domain-specific time varying parameter. Intermediate observations are hallucinated within the batch. The hallucinated observations are used with the decision rule to select subsequent input data from the available input data for the batch of input data. The input data of the batch is evaluated in parallel with the function. The resulting determined data outputs are stored.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for masking a semiconductor substrate including the following steps: providing a planar semiconductor substrate having a first side and a second side lying opposite thereto, applying a mask to at least one of the sides, an extrusion printing method being used for applying the mask.

Abstract: A method for the production of a contact structure of a semiconductor component comprises the masking of at least one side of a semiconductor substrate with a coating and the partial removal thereof in at least one pre-determined region.

Abstract: An injection device having at least one first spray hole and one second spray hole, which form a spray hole pair, the first and the second spray holes being situated so that a distance between the two spray holes is less than, or equal to twice a maximum opening edge distance at an inflow side of the two spray holes, and the spray hole axes of the first and the second spray holes being situated in directions that are different from each other.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a solar-cell-marking method. The method comprises providing a substrate for a solar cell, forming an etching mask on the substrate, and carrying out an etching process, wherein an elevated marking structure defined by the etching mask is formed on the substrate. The invention further relates to a solar cell comprising such a marking structure.

Abstract: Device for producing silicon blocks for photovoltaic applications, comprising a container for receiving a silicon melt with a base wall and at least one side wall, means for reducing the diffusion of impurities from at least one of the walls of the container into the silicon melt, wherein the means for reducing the diffusion of impurities comprise at least one covering element for the at least partial covering of at least one of the walls of the container.