Abstract: A photovoltaic device includes an electrically-conductive front contact layer; an electrically-conductive back contact layer, the back contact layer being intended to be situated further from a source of incident light than the front contact layer; and a semiconductor-based PIN junction having a substantially amorphous intrinsic silicon layer sandwiched between a P-type doped semiconductor layer and an N-type doped semiconductor layer. The layer of the PIN junction situated closest to the back contact layer is a silicon-germanium alloy layer including at least 2 mol % of germanium.

Abstract: A valve assembly is disclosed, which includes a valve body defining a valve chamber and a moveable member. The moveable member has a valve element at its first end and an armature at its second end. The moveable member is moveable in an axial direction to selectively open and close the valve. The entire moveable member is spaced from the walls of the valve body when the valve is open or partially open. A flexible membrane forms a seal against the moveable member and the valve body to divide the valve chamber into a flow chamber in which the valve seat and valve element are located and a pressure compensation chamber within which the armature is entirely enclosed. A first fluid port is fluidly connected to the pressure compensation chamber via one or more bores in a pressure compensation flow path with at least one opening extending into the pressure compensation chamber at an axial position between the armature and the flexible membrane.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a composite material with a graded or homogeneous matrix, the production method thereof, and the uses of same.

Abstract: An apparatus, program product and method collect and maintain booking histories for customers within one or more computerized databases to incorporate the past behaviors of customers booked for service components when forecasting show probabilities for those service components. A show rate forecast operation, for example, may be used to determine a show probability for a service component based upon both a personal show probability for one or more customers booked on the service component and anonymous statistical show probability data relevant to the service component.

Abstract: The present invention provides systems and methods that measure and analyze a user's movement during a specific activity, then provide immediate, focused feedback as to how the user can modify the movement.