Abstract: A method and resulting structure of patterning a metal film pattern over a substrate, including forming a metal film pattern over the substrate; depositing a coating over the substrate surface and the metal film pattern; and removing the coating over the metal film pattern by laser irradiation. The substrate and coating do not significantly interact with the laser irradiation, and the laser irradiation interacts with the metal film pattern and the coating, resulting in the removal of the coating over the metal film pattern. The invention offers a technique for the formation of a metal pattern surrounded by a dielectric coating for solar cells, where the dielectric coating may function as an antireflection coating on the front surface, internal reflector on the rear surface, and may further may function as a dielectric barrier for subsequent electroplating of metal patterns on either surface.

Abstract: A method for patterning a film pattern on a substrate includes forming a film pattern on a substrate surface, forming a coating over the substrate and the film pattern and inducing porosity or openings in the coating. At least a part of the coating overlying the film pattern is removed including etching at least one layer underlying the coating ahead of removing at least part of the coating.

Abstract: A solar cell formation method, and resulting structure, having a first film and a barrier film over a surface of a doped semiconductor, wherein the optical and/or electrical properties of the first film are transformed in-situ such that a resulting transformed film is better suited to the efficient functioning of the solar cell; wherein portions of the barrier film partially cover the first film and substantially prevent transformation of first film areas beneath the portions of the barrier film.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for hydrogenation of a target, such as a polycrystalline silicon film on a glass substrate, by using an atomic hydrogen source. The target is subjected to intermittent exposure of the atomic hydrogen field of the source until at least one area of the target has been subjected to the hydrogen field for a predetermined minimum period of time. The processing area of the source established by its atomic hydrogen field is smaller than the target, and after the target is moved into the high temperature processing zone it is translated within the high temperature processing zone to intermittently process successive areas of the target until the entire target has been processed for a predetermined minimum period of time. After the entire target has been processed, the target is cooled to a predetermined lower temperature while still intermittently subjecting the target to atomic hydrogen.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing recorded broadcast content on a peer to peer system, in which portions of the content are synchronized between the peers by referring to program clock reference values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for synchronizing recorded broadcast content on a peer to peer system, in which portions of the content are synchronized between the peers by referring to program clock reference values.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for hydrogenation of a target, such as a polycrystalline silicon film on a glass substrate, by using an atomic hydrogen source. The target is subjected to intermittent exposure of the atomic hydrogen field of the source until at least one area of the target has been subjected to the hydrogen field for a predetermined minimum period of time. The processing area of the source established by its atomic hydrogen field is smaller than the target, and after the target is moved into the high temperature processing zone it is translated within the high temperature processing zone to intermittently process successive areas of the target until the entire target has been processed for a predetermined minimum period of time. After the entire target has been processed, the target is cooled to a predetermined lower temperature while still intermittently subjecting the target to atomic hydrogen.

Abstract: An inductor comprising one or more windings disposed on opposed first and second surfaces of a flat-plate substrate. The windings are applied to the substrate by plating or photoresistive deposition techniques, with through-holes through the plate accommodating the windings from opposed surfaces. Windings of more than one layer are obtainable with insulation between adjacent layers. The resulting inductor is usable, for example, as a component of an EMI filter in a power converter circuit.

Abstract: A sleeve for protecting a utility conduit or conduits passing through a hole in a stud used in building construction. A provided body portion forms a longitudinally extending hollow trough. The trough includes a circular side section, with a diameter defining a body width. This circular side section is changeable by compression with either the human hand or a conventional hand-tool to adapt the body width, and thus the sleeve, to coincide with a potential range of stud hole sizes. Engagement of the sleeve in the hole can be achieved by placing an inserted end into the hole and pressing a worked end. A provided stop portion at the worked end then stops insertion of the sleeve beyond the stud face, and a provided retention portion in the sleeve affirmatively retains the sleeve within the hole once it is thus inserted.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vessel and kit for thermal cycling applications, a method for manufacturing such a vessel. The vessel comprises, in the form of a planar grid having a predefined pitch, a plurality of sample wells each having a well wall, which defines an open well end and a closed well end. According to the invention there are provided a plurality of ribs between pairs of adjacent wells, the ribs being connected to the walls of the wells and extending essentially in a plane perpendicular to the plane of the well grid. The invention enables manufacturing of dense microtiter plates, which are stable enough to be used in high temperature applications and allow for more efficient manufacturing of the plate.

Abstract: The invention concerns a novel sample tube and a method of manufacturing a such a sample tube. According to the method an oversized mould cavity is formed with an opposing pair of mould members of an injection moulding machine, the mould members being movable relative to each other and between which mould members the sample tube is formed. A volume of resin exceeding the prescribed volume of the sample tube is injected into the cavity and force is applied to said mould members in order to reduce the volume of said mould cavity for displacing molten polymer in the cavity and for compressing the polymer to form said sample tube. By means of the invention, sample tubes and vessels having ultra thin walls can be manufactured.

Abstract: The invention provides a method and apparatus for forming simultaneously two or more elastomeric strips of predetermined cross-sectional profiles from a material. The material is received from an extruder into an inlet channel where it is divided into a first and a second angled flow passage. The material passes through a transition area where it is straightened out and the center of mass of the material is moved into alignment with the center of a divertor located in a downstream discharge channel. The material is then discharged into a preformer and die.

Abstract: A roller die preformer for use in an extrusion system to form wide extruded components, such as a rubber tire tread, on a surface of a roller. The roller die preformer includes a flow inlet, a flow outlet and a laterally expanding flow channel extending from the flow inlet to the flow outlet. A flow restrictor is configured within the flow channel to urge the flow of material toward the lateral extremities of the flow channel to thereby form an extruded component at the flow outlet having a lateral width which is greater than the lateral width of the flow inlet of the preformer.

Abstract: A cap capable of being used to close off an unthreaded cylindrical member and capable of being removed after closing off the unthreaded cylindrical member is disclosed. This cap has a one-piece, generally circular, relatively flexible, relatively impervious, self-supporting body. It is made of elastomeric material, preferably rubber, and is shaped so as to include between about 2 and about 12 successive levels, each level having a larger diameter than the level before it. This multi-level cap is useful for capping water or sanitary systems during testing of the systems. The cap preferably has 3 levels which fit three different standard sized pipes, one pipe at a time.

Abstract: A fiber-optic probe is formed by a pair of optical fibers one of which delivers light to a target zone and the other collects light from a field of view in the target zone. One of these fibers is provided with a window that opens substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the fiber and with a transverse surface oriented at an angle to the longitudinal axis of the fiber to reflect light through the window or from the window longitudinally of the axis of this fiber. Two fibers are physically interconnected to position the window on one side of and immediately adjacent to the target zone and the axial end of other fiber to deliver or receive light from another side of the target zone preferably substantially perpendicular to the one side.

Abstract: A leaf clipping collector including a bottom wall made of rigid plastic and having an out edge defining a generally circular periphery, a generally vertically extending sidewall rigidly fixed relative to the bottom wall, the sidewall having a lower edge integrally formed with the outer edge of the bottom wall and having an upper edge an opening, the sidewall having extending therethrough a pair of slots, and a strap extending through the pair of slots and having opposite ends.

Abstract: A protective cover which may be used with a sensor probe component of an electronic thermometer is provided having an improved design for a structure comprising two components of dissimilar materials. An elongate shaft or sleeve member preferably of plastic material may have a metallic cap member forming a closural end thereof. The metal cap may have a flange extending outwardly therefrom. This flange extension may traverse backwardly away from the shaft. Plastic material from the shaft is formed about the backward traverse of the cap flange to form an interlocked encasement of the two dissimilar components.

Abstract: A probe member for use with a probe cover including a handle having a mounting member; and a probe element fixed to the mounting member; the probe element includes at least one stationary salient section having a sharp edge outwardly flared toward the handle for gradually dilating the end of the probe cover installed on the probe element and impaling the adjacent surface of the probe cover to hold the probe cover firmly in place and prevent its release.

Abstract: An independent, replaceable probe unit for an electronic measuring system having a housing with a compartment for receiving the probe unit, including; a probe member having a probe element bearing a sensor device for sensing the parameter to be measured by the system and a cable electrically connected to the sensor device; and a probe chamber removably mountable in the compartment and having a recess for receiving the probe member, the chamber including contact means interconnected with the cable and disposed to engage corresponding contact means in the compartment for interconnecting the probe member with the electronic measuring system.