Abstract: Apparatus and methods incorporate magnetocaloric materials in integrated circuit chip-carrier structures for electronic packages. An integrated circuit chip is electrically connected to a substrate. A thermostabilization unit is physically connected to the integrated circuit chip and the substrate. The thermostabilization unit comprises a temperature detector and magnetocaloric material on the integrated circuit chip. The integrated circuit structure includes a magnetic field generator operatively connected to the temperature detector. The magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field of variable intensity responsive to changes in temperature detected by the temperature detector.

Abstract: Solar cells having emitter regions composed of wide bandgap semiconductor material are described. In an example, a method includes forming, in a process tool having a controlled atmosphere, a thin dielectric layer on a surface of a semiconductor substrate of the solar cell. The semiconductor substrate has a bandgap. Without removing the semiconductor substrate from the controlled atmosphere of the process tool, a semiconductor layer is formed on the thin dielectric layer. The semiconductor layer has a bandgap at least approximately 0.2 electron Volts (eV) above the bandgap of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: A decision based learning apparatus can include a decision module configured to implement a decision model associated with a problem, the decision model including a plurality of decisions associated with solving the problem, a problem profile module configured to store a problem profile, the problem profile defining the problem and a solution to the problem, a learning storage module configured to store at least one learning module associated with at least one of the plurality of decisions, and a decision scenario interface module configured to generate a scenario based on the decision model and the problem profile and to present the scenario based on the decision model and the problem profile to a user.

Abstract: An air compression system and method for an air separation plant in which air is compressed in a series of compression stages and a temperature swing adsorption unit adsorbs water vapor and carbon dioxide. The temperature swing adsorption unit is situated at a location of the compression stages such that air pressure upon entry into the adsorbent beds is between about 400 psia and about 600 psia. Each of the adsorbent beds of the unit have a minimum transverse cross-sectional flow area that will set the air velocity of the air to a level below that at which adsorbent bed fluidization would occur. Such operation allows fabrication costs of the adsorbent beds to be reduced because less adsorbent and smaller adsorbent beds are required while power consumption will be at a minimum.

Abstract: Methods of passivating light-receiving surfaces of solar cells, and the resulting solar cells, are described. In an example, a solar cell includes a silicon substrate having a light-receiving surface. An intrinsic silicon layer is disposed above the light-receiving surface of the silicon substrate. An N-type silicon layer is disposed on the intrinsic silicon layer. A non-conductive anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer is disposed on the N-type silicon layer. In another example, a solar cell includes a silicon substrate having a light-receiving surface. A tunneling dielectric layer is disposed on the light-receiving surface of the silicon substrate. An N-type silicon layer is disposed on the tunneling dielectric layer. A non-conductive anti-reflective coating (ARC) layer is disposed on the N-type silicon layer.

Abstract: Solar cells having emitter regions composed of wide bandgap semiconductor material are described. In an example, a method includes forming, in a process tool having a controlled atmosphere, a thin dielectric layer on a surface of a semiconductor substrate of the solar cell. The semiconductor substrate has a bandgap. Without removing the semiconductor substrate from the controlled atmosphere of the process tool, a semiconductor layer is formed on the thin dielectric layer. The semiconductor layer has a bandgap at least approximately 0.2 electron Volts (eV) above the bandgap of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Solar cells having emitter regions composed of wide bandgap semiconductor material are described. In an example, a method includes forming, in a process tool having a controlled atmosphere, a thin dielectric layer on a surface of a semiconductor substrate of the solar cell. The semiconductor substrate has a bandgap. Without removing the semiconductor substrate from the controlled atmosphere of the process tool, a semiconductor layer is formed on the thin dielectric layer. The semiconductor layer has a bandgap at least approximately 0.2 electron Volts (eV) above the bandgap of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for improved join structure connections between substrates. More specifically, a method is provided for manufacturing a semiconductor structure. The method includes obtaining a characteristic of an existing first join structure on a first substrate and a characteristic of an existing second join structure on a second substrate. The method further includes analyzing the characteristics of the existing first join structure and the existing second join structure to determine a match between the existing first join structure and the existing second join structure to avoid contact defects.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods incorporate magnetocaloric materials in integrated circuit chip-carrier structures for electronic packages. An integrated circuit chip is electrically connected to a substrate. A thermostabilization unit is physically connected to the integrated circuit chip and the substrate. The thermostabilization unit comprises a temperature detector and magnetocaloric material on the integrated circuit chip. The integrated circuit structure includes a magnetic field generator operatively connected to the temperature detector. The magnetic field generator generates a magnetic field of variable intensity responsive to changes in temperature detected by the temperature detector.

Abstract: Enhanced adhesion of seed layers for solar cell conductive contacts and methods of forming solar cell conductive contacts are described. For example, a method of fabricating a solar cell includes forming an adhesion layer above an emitter region of a substrate. A metal seed paste layer is formed on the adhesion layer. The metal seed paste layer and the adhesion layer are annealed to form a conductive layer in contact with the emitter region of the substrate. A conductive contact for the solar cell is formed from the conductive layer.

Abstract: An air compression system and method for an air separation plant in which air is compressed in a series of compression stages and a temperature swing adsorption unit adsorbs water vapor and carbon dioxide. The temperature swing adsorption unit is situated at a location of the compression stages such that air pressure upon entry into the adsorbent beds is between about 400 psia and about 600 psia. Each of the adsorbent beds of the unit have a minimum transverse cross-sectional flow area that will set the air velocity of the air to a level below that at which adsorbent bed fluidization would occur. Such operation allows fabrication costs of the adsorbent beds to be reduced because less adsorbent and smaller adsorbent beds are required while power consumption will be at a minimum.

Abstract: A connection state system is described herein that allows a client to resume a connection with a server or a different replacement server by remotely storing client state information in association with a resume key. The system provides a resume key filter operating at the server that facilitates the storing of volatile server state information. The state information can include information such as oplocks, leases granted to a client, and in-flight operations on a file handle. The resume key filter driver sits above the file system, which allows multiple file access protocols to use the filter. Upon a failover event, such as a server going down or losing connectivity to a client, the system can bring up another server or the same server and reestablish state for file handles held by various clients using the resume key filter.

Abstract: An air compression system and method for an air separation plant in which air is compressed in a series of compression stages and a temperature swing adsorption unit adsorbs water vapor and carbon dioxide. The temperature swing adsorption unit is situated at a location of the compression stages such that air pressure upon entry into the adsorbent beds is between about 400 psia and about 600 psia. Each of the adsorbent beds of the unit have a minimum transverse cross-sectional flow area that will set the air velocity of the air to a level below that at which adsorbent bed fluidization would occur. Such operation allows fabrication costs of the adsorbent beds to be reduced because less adsorbent and smaller adsorbent beds are required while power consumption will be at a minimum.

Abstract: Solar cells having emitter regions composed of wide bandgap semiconductor material are described. In an example, a method includes forming, in a process tool having a controlled atmosphere, a thin dielectric layer on a surface of a semiconductor substrate of the solar cell. The semiconductor substrate has a bandgap. Without removing the semiconductor substrate from the controlled atmosphere of the process tool, a semiconductor layer is formed on the thin dielectric layer. The semiconductor layer has a bandgap at least approximately 0.2 electron Volts (eV) above the bandgap of the semiconductor substrate.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to providing file access in a multi-protocol environment. In aspects, a file server is operable to receive requests formatted according to two or more file access protocols. If a request is formatted according to a first file access protocol, the file server applies access rights associated with the file to an account associated with a requester to determine whether to grant access. If the request is formatted according to the second file access protocol, the file server may first attempt to find an account for the requester. If an account is not found, the file server may then grant access based on access rights associated with the file as applied to information in the request without consulting an account on the file server.

Abstract: A connection state system is described herein that allows a client to resume a connection with a server or a different replacement server by remotely storing client state information in association with a resume key. The system provides a resume key filter operating at the server that facilitates the storing of volatile server state information. The state information can include information such as oplocks, leases granted to a client, and in-flight operations on a file handle. The resume key filter driver sits above the file system, which allows multiple file access protocols to use the filter. Upon a failover event, such as a server going down or losing connectivity to a client, the system can bring up another server or the same server and reestablish state for file handles held by various clients using the resume key filter.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to configuring file shares. In aspects, a template is created that includes policies to apply to one or more shares. The template may derive or otherwise obtain policies from other templates and may also refer to other templates. The template may include opaque data to pass to a subsystem that configures a share with a policy corresponding to the data. After the template is created, the template may then be applied to one or more shares to configure the shares according to policies included in the template. When the template or any template upon which the template depends or to which the template refers is changed, shares associated with the template may also be automatically changed as appropriate.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to directory oplocks. In aspects, a file system filter is inserted in a filter stack between requesters of directory oplocks and a file system that stores file system objects. The file system filter receives requests for directory oplocks and subsequently monitors for requests to access file system objects that are inconsistent with the directory oplocks. To provide directory oplock mechanisms, the file system filter may use alternate data streams if provided by the file system or may independently maintain information usable to maintain and release directory oplocks. A directory oplock may affect ancestors and descendants of the directory depending on constraints imposed by the oplock.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to configuring file shares. In aspects, a template is created that includes policies to apply to one or more shares. The template may derive or otherwise obtain policies from other templates and may also refer to other templates. The template may include opaque data to pass to a subsystem that configures a share with a policy corresponding to the data. After the template is created, the template may then be applied to one or more shares to configure the shares according to policies included in the template. When the template or any template upon which the template depends or to which the template refers is changed, shares associated with the template may also be automatically changed as appropriate.

Abstract: Aspects of the subject matter described herein relate to providing file access in a multi-protocol environment. In aspects, a file server is operable to receive requests formatted according to two or more file access protocols. If a request is formatted according to a first file access protocol, the file server applies access rights associated with the file to an account associated with a requester to determine whether to grant access. If the request is formatted according to the second file access protocol, the file server may first attempt to find an account for the requester. If an account is not found, the file server may then grant access based on access rights associated with the file as applied to information in the request without consulting an account on the file server.