Abstract: A solar cell design includes fabricating one or more gridlines for extracting photo-current on a front surface of the solar cell, wherein each of the gridlines is a metal grid and a cap layer, and at least a portion of the metal grid is deposited on the cap layer; and controlling an alignment of the metal grid relative to the cap layer, and a width of the cap layer relative to a width of the metal grid, so that a minimum cap edge offset distance value is about 1 ?m or more. The alignment of the metal grid relative to the cap layer and the width of the cap layer relative to the width of the metal grid are controlled at areas on the front surface of the solar cell opposite where welding occurs on a back-side of the solar cell. The alignments and widths of the metal grid relative to the cap layer are controlled by a photomask.

Abstract: A solar cell design includes fabricating one or more gridlines for extracting photo-current on a front surface of the solar cell, wherein each of the gridlines is a metal grid and a cap layer, and at least a portion of the metal grid is deposited on the cap layer; and controlling an alignment of the metal grid relative to the cap layer, and a width of the cap layer relative to a width of the metal grid, so that a minimum cap edge offset distance value is about 1 ?m or more. The alignment of the metal grid relative to the cap layer and the width of the cap layer relative to the width of the metal grid are controlled at areas on the front surface of the solar cell opposite where welding occurs on a back-side of the solar cell. The alignments and widths of the metal grid relative to the cap layer are controlled by a photomask.

Abstract: An attachment mechanism is described for attaching accessories to a stake hole in the sidewall of a cargo area of a vehicle, such as a pickup truck. The mechanism comprises of a base plate with a grove formed in the top of the base plate having the shape of an inverted T. An attachment plate having a connector, also having the shape of an inverted T, is attached to the bottom surface of the attachment plate. An attachment such as a tie down ring, a tie down anchor, a flag pole or tent pole holder or the like is attached to the top surface of the attachment plate. The attachment plate can then be attached to the base plate by sliding the inverted T shaped connector into the inverted T shaped groove in the base plate. Another attachment mechanism is described which can be used to attach accessories to vehicles without stake holes or to other regions of a vehicle.

Abstract: An attachment mechanism is described for attaching accessories to a stake hole in the sidewall of a cargo area of a vehicle, such as a pickup truck. The mechanism comprises of a base plate with a grove formed in the top of the base plate having the shape of an inverted T. An attachment plate having a connector, also having the shape of an inverted T, is attached to the bottom surface of the attachment plate. An attachment such as a tie down ring, a tie down anchor, a flag pole or tent pole holder or the like is attached to the top surface of the attachment plate. The attachment plate can then be attached to the base plate by sliding the inverted T shaped connector into the inverted T shaped groove in the base plate. Another attachment mechanism is described which can be used to attach accessories to vehicles without stake holes or to other regions of a vehicle.

Abstract: An attachment mechanism is described for attaching accessories to a stake hole in the sidewall of a cargo area of a vehicle, such as a pickup truck. The mechanism comprises of a base plate with a grove formed in the top of the base plate having the shape of an inverted T. An attachment plate having a connector, also having the shape of an inverted T, is attached to the bottom surface of the attachment plate. An attachment such as a tie down ring, a tie down anchor, a flag pole or tent pole holder or the like is attached to the top surface of the attachment plate. The attachment plate can then be attached to the base plate by sliding the inverted T shaped connector into the inverted T shaped groove in the base plate. Another attachment mechanism is described which can be used to attach accessories to vehicles without stake holes or to other regions of a vehicle.

Abstract: A dental instrument that has a first shaft, and a first operative end that defines a generally flat face. The face has a generally oval shape with opposite narrow ends. The instrument can have two shafts that are each adapted to be coupled to a handle; each shaft has such a flat face. The faces can be perpendicular to each other.

Abstract: An attachment mechanism is described for attaching accessories to a stake hole in the sidewall of a cargo area of a vehicle, such as a pickup truck. The mechanism comprises of a base plate with a grove formed in the top of the base plate having the shape of an inverted T. An attachment plate having a connector, also having the shape of an inverted T, is attached to the bottom surface of the attachment plate. An attachment such as a tie down ring, a tie down anchor, a flag pole or tent pole holder or the like is attached to the top surface of the attachment plate. The attachment plate can then be attached to the base plate by sliding the inverted T shaped connector into the inverted T shaped groove in the base plate. Another attachment mechanism is described which can be used to attach accessories to vehicles without stake holes or to other regions of a vehicle.

Abstract: A transport decoder 110, for receiving and processing a transport data stream using MPEG-2 formats, includes connections to a physical layer channel interface (channel interface) 112, a buffer memory 114, a host microprocessor 116, audio and video decoders 118/120, and clock signal circuitry 122. Upon receipt of a discontinuity indicator, the transport packet headers are parsed and transport packet payloads are stored in memory. Subsequently, upon receipt of a next program counter reference (PCR) value, a counter is loaded with the received program counter reference value. Next, the data stored in memory is searched for a time stamp and, when one is found, the time stamp is retrieved. Finally, a timer interrupt is set for a point in time approximately one frame time before the time stamp value, and, when the timer interrupt occurs, the program counter reference value is sent to the decoders, thereby providing sufficient time for the decoders to process data.

Abstract: Continuous vapor deposition apparatus for coating objects with a coating material, e.g., parylene, are disclosed. The apparatus comprise an entrance chamber for loading the objects, a process chamber for coating the objects, and an exit chamber for removing the objects. Coating material is introduced into the process chamber under vacuum conditions in a vaporized state. The pressure in the process chamber can be controlled by modulating the rate of introduction of the coating material with a modulating valve in response to the pressure in the process chamber. A process for continuously coating objects by vapor deposition under vacuum conditions, suitable for use in the apparatus, is also disclosed.

Abstract: A homogeneous concentrate suitable for use as an additive for lubricating oils is formed from a long chain succinimide and a benzotriazole by heating a mixture of these materials in the presence of water or alkoxylated amines or dihydrocarbylphosphites or dihydrocarbyl phosphonates (or mixtures of such materials) and then distilling the volatile component, from the resulting product. When this heating step is conducted in the additional presence of a boronating agent such as boric acid and the volatile component, is removed by distillation, not only is a compatible additive concentrate formed, but the long chain succinimide is boronated in the process.

Abstract: Lubricating oil dispersancy is improved by adding to the oil a product made by grafting an N-allyl amide (e.g. N,N-diallyl formamide) to an olefin polymer having a molecular weight of about 500-500,000 (e.g. ethylene/propylene/diene copolymer).

Abstract: Lubricating oil dispersant VI improvers are made by grafting maleic anhydride to an ethylene/.alpha.-olefin-non-conjugated diene terpolymer in a hydrogen-treated mineral oil solvent using a free radical and then reacting the grafted intermediate with an amine containing only one primary amine group, 1-6 amino nitrogen atoms and 20-36 carbon atoms.

Abstract: A lubricating oil dispersant made by reacting an aldehyde (e.g. isobutyraldehyde) with an amine (e.g. tetraethylenepentamine) under conditions to form a Schiff base which is then reacted with a hydrocarbon-substituted succinic acid, anhydride or lower alkyl ester.

Abstract: Friction of internal combustion engines is reduced by adding to the lubricating oil or fuel used in such engine a minor amount of a friction-reducing additive. The additive is the reaction product of a N-alkanol hydrocarbylamide such as N-ethanol oleamide with a boron compound such as boric acid.

Abstract: Engine fuel economy is improved by adding a friction-reducing amount of a N-hydroxymethyl aliphatic hydrocarbyl succinimide to the engine crankcase oil or fuel.

Abstract: Engine fuel economy is improved by adding a friction-reducing amount of a boronated N-hydroxymethyl aliphatic hydrocarbyl succinimide to the engine crankcase oil.

Abstract: Engine friction is reduced by using in the engine crankcase a formulated motor oil containing a small amount of a reaction product of a fatty acid and monoethanolamine. A di-lower alkyl hydrocarbylphosphonate can optionally be included.

Abstract: Friction of internal combustion engines is reduced by adding a minor amount of a friction-reducing additive to the lubricating oil or fuel used in such engines. The additive is an aliphatic hydrocarbyl sulfinyl or sulfonyl methane. Performance is enhanced by including a di-lower alkyl C.sub.12-36 aliphatic hydrocarbyl phosphonate.

Abstract: Engine fuel economy is improved by including in the crankcase oil a friction-reducing amount of an N-aliphatic hydrocarbyl hydroxyalkylsulfinylsuccinimide or N-aliphatic hydrocarbyl hydroxyalkylsulfonylsuccinimide. The additives can also be added to the engine fuel.

Abstract: Engine friction of internal combustion engines is reduced by adding to the lubricating oil or fuel used in such engine a small friction-reducing amount of an aliphatic hydrocarbylsulfonylalkanol or aliphatic hydrocarbylsulfinylalkanol resulting in improved fuel economy.