Abstract: High intensity plasma-arc heat sources, such as a plasma-arc lamp, are used to irradiate glass, glass ceramics and/or ceramic materials to strengthen the glass. The same high intensity plasma-arc heat source may also be used to form a permanent pattern on the glass surface—the pattern being raised above the glass surface and integral with the glass (formed of the same material) by use of, for example, a screen-printed ink composition having been irradiated by the heat source.

Abstract: A thin film solar cell and a method fabricating thin film solar cells on flexible substrates. The method includes including providing a flexible polymeric substrate, depositing a photovoltaic precursor on a surface of the substrate, such as CdTe, ZrTe, CdZnTe, CdSe or Cu(In,Ga)Se2, and exposing the photovoltaic precursor to at least one 0.5 microsecond to 10 second pulse of predominately infrared light emitted from a light source having a power output of about 20,000 W/cm2 or less to thermally convert the precursor into a crystalline photovoltaic material having a photovoltaic efficiency of greater than one percent, the conversion being carried out without substantial damage to the substrate.

Abstract: A machine for asymmetric rolling of a work-piece includes pair of rollers disposed in an arrangement to apply opposing, asymmetric rolling forces to roll a work-piece therebetween, wherein a surface of the work-piece is rolled faster than an opposite surface of the work-piece; and an exit constraint die rigidly disposed adjacent an exit side of the pair of rollers so that, as the work-piece exits the pair of rollers, the work-piece contacts the exit constraint die to constrain curling of the work-piece.

Abstract: High intensity plasma-arc heat sources, such as a plasma-arc lamp, are used to irradiate glass, glass ceramics and/or ceramic materials to strengthen the glass. The same high intensity plasma-arc heat source may also be used to form a permanent pattern on the glass surface—the pattern being raised above the glass surface and integral with the glass (formed of the same material) by use of, for example, a screen-printed ink composition having been irradiated by the heat source.

Abstract: A thin film solar cell and a method fabricating thin film solar cells on flexible substrates. The method includes including providing a flexible polymeric substrate, depositing a photovoltaic precursor on a surface of the substrate, such as CdTe, ZrTe, CdZnTe, CdSe or Cu(In,Ga)Se2, and exposing the photovoltaic precursor to at least one 0.5 microsecond to 10 second pulse of predominately infrared light emitted from a light source having a power output of about 20,000 W/cm2 or less to thermally convert the precursor into a crystalline photovoltaic material having a photovoltaic efficiency of greater than one percent, the conversion being carried out without substantial damage to the substrate.

Abstract: A method of thermally processing a material includes exposing the material to at least one pulse of infrared light emitted from a directed plasma arc to thermally process the material, the pulse having a duration of no more than 10 s.

Abstract: A movable document handling system, or module, is utilized on a modified standard office copier. When the document handling module is moved away from the platen glass area, the document handling module equipment is disabled and the office copier may be used as a standard copier. When, however, the document handling module is moved over the platen glass, other optics and document handling apparatus are now energized and the standard office copier is now converted into a large document copier. A fold mirror in a first position directs reflected light from the large input document through the standard platen glass for 100% size copying. The fold mirror can be repositioned to reflect the reflected light toward a reduction mirror assembly which then directs the light through the standard platen glass for reduced size copying. The reduction mirror assembly is capable of being repositioned to provide various predetermined amounts of optical reduction.

Abstract: A movable document handling system, or module, is utilized on a modified standard office copier. When the document handling module is moved away from the platen glass area, the document handling module equipment is disabled and the office copier may be used as a standard copier. When, however, the document handling module is moved over the platen glass, other optics and document handling apparatus are now energized and the standard office copier is now converted into a large document copier. Additional mechanical apparatus moves lenses in a predetermined fashion in the document handling module in order to allow for various levels of magnification for reducing the size of the copy from the large input document.