Abstract: Provided herein is technology relating to calorimetry and particularly, but not exclusively, to apparatuses, methods, and systems for making high-resolution thermodynamic measurements of reactions between gas phase reactants and nanomaterials. For example, the technology can provide thermodynamic measurements with a high heat flow resolution and long term stability at a wide range of temperatures and reaction pressures. The technology is used, for example, to study the thermodynamics of surface reactions and phase transformations in nanomaterials.

Abstract: A display device uses the presence or absence of a pigmented fluid in a pixel to indicate pixel state. Fluid flow to or extraction from individual pixels is controlled through manipulation of row and column fluid pressures. A pixel wall opposite a viewer may be provided with a background color contrasting the color of the pigmented fluid. When present in the pixel, the pigmented fluid obscures the colored wall of the pixel, and viewer sees the pixel as the color of the fluid (a first state). When the fluid is absent from the pixel, the viewer sees the pixel as the color of the wall of the pixel (a second state). When partially present, the fluid color and the wall color mix to provide grayscale display.

Abstract: A method and structure for forming a spring structure that avoids undesirable kinks in the spring is described. The method converts a portion of a release layer such that the converted portion resists etching. The converted portion then serves as an anchor region for a spring structure deposited over the release layer. When the non-converted portions of the release layer are etched, the spring curls out of the plane of a plane.

Abstract: A spring contact has a post-release outer upper surface in compression and a post-release outer lower surface in compression. A compressive lower layer of spring material may be formed at a thickness that is three-eighths or less of a tensile upper layer of spring material. A low modulus of elasticity cladding material may also be applied to the outer surface of the spring contact with a lower surface of the cladding material being formed with a compressive stress.

Abstract: A Cassegrain-type concentrating solar collector cell includes primary and secondary mirrors disposed on opposing convex and concave surfaces of a light-transparent (e.g., glass) optical element. Light enters an aperture surface surrounding the secondary mirror, and is reflected by the primary mirror and the secondary mirror onto a photovoltaic cell, which is disposed in a central cavity formed in the optical element. A resilient, optically transmissive material is disposed in the central cavity between the PV cell and the optical element. The photovoltaic cell has a squarish upper surface including metal electrical contact structures disposed on each of the four corners of the upper surface and arranged to define a circular active area. The PV cell is mounted on a heat slug that is disposed in the central cavity during assembly. The heat slug includes resilient fingers that contact the surface of the cavity to facilitate self-alignment of the PV cell.

Abstract: A solar concentrator photovoltaic (CPV) device in which concentrator elements (optics, PV cells and wiring) are laminated to form a composite, substantially planar structure. The concentrator optics are implemented by a solid (e.g. glass) optical element that defines a focal point at which solar light received by the optical element is concentrated. Using vacuum lamination techniques, a printed circuit structure attached by way of an adhesive layer onto a surface of the optical element. The printed circuit structure includes one or more non-conductive layers and conductors that are disposed on the non-conductive layers. The PV cell is connected to printed circuit structure, and is positioned at the focal point of the optical element. Optional front and/or back protective layers are also attached prior to the lamination process. A CPV array includes multiple devices formed on an optical tile using a string-like flexible printed circuit structure.

Abstract: A Cassegrain-type concentrating solar collector cell includes primary and secondary mirrors disposed on opposing convex and concave surfaces of a light-transparent (e.g., glass) optical element. Light enters an aperture surface surrounding the secondary mirror, and is reflected by the primary mirror toward the secondary mirror, which re-reflects the light onto a photovoltaic cell. The photovoltaic cell is mounted on a central portion of heat spreader that extends over the primary mirror. The heat spreader transmits waste heat from the photovoltaic cell in a manner that evenly distributes the heat over the optical element, thereby maximizing the radiation of heat from the aperture surface into space. The heat spreader includes a thick copper layer formed on a flexible substrate (e.g., polyimide film) that is patterned with radial arms that facilitate mounting onto the convex surface of the optical element.

Abstract: A structure has at least one structure component formed of a first material residing on a substrate, such that the structure is out of a plane of the substrate. A first coating of a second material then coats the structure. A second coating of a non-oxidizing material coats the structure at a thickness less than a thickness of the second material.

Abstract: A spring contact has a post-release outer upper surface in compression and a post-release outer lower surface in compression. A compressive lower layer of spring material may be formed at a thickness that is three-eighths or less of a tensile upper layer of spring material. A low modulus of elasticity cladding material may also be applied to the outer surface of the spring contact with a lower surface of the cladding material being formed with a compressive stress.

Abstract: Photovoltaic devices (i.e., solar cells) are formed using non-contact patterning apparatus (e.g., a laser-based patterning systems) to define contact openings through a passivation layer, and direct-write metallization apparatus (e.g., an inkjet-type printing or extrusion-type deposition apparatus) to deposit metallization into the contact openings and over the passivation surface. The metallization includes two portions: a contact (e.g., silicide-producing) material is deposited into the contact openings, then a highly conductive metal is deposited on the contact material and between the contact holes. The device wafers are transported between the patterning and metallization apparatus in hard tooled registration using a conveyor mechanism. Optional sensors are utilized to align the patterning and metallization apparatus to the contact openings. An extrusion-type apparatus is used to form grid lines having a high aspect central metal line that is supported on each side by a transparent material.

Abstract: A display device uses the presence or absence of a pigmented fluid in a pixel to indicate pixel state. Fluid flow to or extraction from individual pixels is controlled through manipulation of row and column fluid pressures. A pixel wall opposite a viewer may be provided with a background color contrasting the color of the pigmented fluid. When present in the pixel, the pigmented fluid obscures the colored wall of the pixel, and viewer sees the pixel as the color of the fluid (a first state). When the fluid is absent from the pixel, the viewer sees the pixel as the color of the wall of the pixel (a second state). When partially present, the fluid color and the wall color mix to provide grayscale display.

Abstract: Method for integrally forming high Q tunable capacitors and high Q inductors on a substrate are described. A variable capacitors may employ stops between a moveable electrode and a fixed electrode to reduce and/or prevent electrical shorting between the moveable and fixed electrode. A capacitor may employ a split bottom electrode structure to removing a suspension portion of a moveable top electrode from an RF part of a circuit.

Abstract: A method and structure for forming a spring structure that avoids undesirable kinks in the spring is described. The method converts a portion of a release layer such that the converted portion resists etching. The converted portion then serves as an anchor region for a spring structure deposited over the release layer. When the non-converted portions of the release layer are etched, the spring curls out of the plane of a plane.

Abstract: A print system includes a print structure with a surface. The print system further includes an electrolyte bath in which the surface of the print structure passes through while being exposed by an expose component that forms an image of charge on the surface. An electrolyte from the electrolyte bath adheres to the charge on the surface. The print system further includes an ink bath that applies ink to unexposed portions of the surface to form an inked image on the surface.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) die/substrate assembly includes an IC die and a substrate that are electrically coupled through an interconnect formed on the IC die. The IC die/substrate assembly further includes at least one coupling that facilitates maintaining an IC die/substrate gap definition between the IC die and the substrate.

Abstract: A print structure includes a pattern layer that selectively actuates one or more of a plurality of actuators to selectively form one or more wells in a print surface to create a defined pattern on the print surface. A material is applied to the one or more wells and subsequently transferred to another surface in order to transfer the pattern.

Abstract: An electromagnetic tag includes a communication component, which includes an optical transmitter/emitter that transmits/emits optically encoded information.

Abstract: In one aspect, an electromechanical switching device is illustrated. The electromechanical switching device includes a relay with at least one first conductive portion, at least one second conductive portion, and at least one actuation component that moves the at least one first conductive portion and the at least one second conductive portion into and out of conductive contact. The at least one first conductive portion includes a conductive stationary end coupled to a substrate and a conductive free-floating end. The at least one actuation component includes an actuation stationary end coupled to the substrate and an actuation free-floating end. The actuation free floating end, when the at least one actuation component is not energized, curls, which curls the conductive free floating end into or out of conductive contact with the at least one second conductive portion.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for fabricating spring structures that minimize helical twisting by reducing or eliminating stress anisotropy in the thin films from which the springs are formed through manipulation of the fabrication process parameters and/or spring material compositions. In one embodiment, isotropic internal stress is achieved by manipulating the fabrication parameters (i.e., temperature, pressure, and electrical bias) during spring material film formation to generate the tensile or compressive stress at the saturation point of the spring material. Methods are also disclosed for tuning the saturation point through the use of high temperature or the incorporation of softening metals. In other embodiments, isotropic internal stress is generated through randomized deposition (e.g., pressure homogenization) or directed deposition techniques (e.g., biased sputtering, pulse sputtering, or long throw sputtering). Cluster tools are used to separate the deposition of release and spring materials.

Abstract: A device for extruding/dispensing materials on a substrate includes a housing with at least two channels formed to facilitate flow. The housing includes entrance ports for each of the channels for receiving different materials. The housing further includes an exit port for co-extruding the materials on the substrate to generate a relatively fine feature with a relatively high aspect ratio.