Abstract: The invention relates to a test glass changing system (10) for selectively coating and optically measuring a test glass (24, 24?) in a coating chamber (1) of a vacuum coating installation (3). In the coating chamber, a movable turntable (2) is used to guide substrates (7) on a path through a stream of a coating material. The test glass changing system (10) comprises a test glass holder (8, 8?) with a test glass plate (26) for holding the test glass (24, 24?), and a cover (28, 28?) for selectively covering the test glass plate (26). The test glass changing system (10) also comprises a rotary apparatus (34) for rotating the test glass plate (26) about an axis (51) which is oriented approximately parallel to the axis of rotation (5) of the turntable (2). The test glass holder (8, 8?) can be positioned on the turntable (2) and removed from the coating chamber (1) in the form of a unit.

Abstract: A method for generating a plasma beam and a plasma source for carrying out the method, where the plasma beam is extracted from a plasma generated by electric and magnetic fields by means of a radiofrequency voltage being applied to an extraction electrode and an RF electrode device having an excitation electrode having an excitation area, where a plasma space is arranged between extraction electrode and excitation area and the plasma, relative to the extraction electrode, on average over time, is at a higher potential which accelerates positive plasma ions, and the plasma and the extracted plasma beam are influenced by a magnetic field, it is provided that at least one magnet north pole and one magnetic south pole are used for generating the magnetic field, which in each case are arranged on a side facing away from the plasma behind the excitation electrode and are directed into the interior of the plasma space, such that a curved magnetic field projecting into the interior of the plasma space is formed, and

Abstract: Generally speaking, an umbrella having a frame formed by a plurality of rod members joined together by a plurality of hinges, is disclosed. The frame forms a periphery of a shape, such as a circle, square, hexagon, etc., and the frame is capable of movement between a folded configuration and an unfolded configuration. A canopy is attached to the frame, and may be detachable there from, and is also capable of movement with the frame between the folded configuration and the unfolded configuration. A stem having a first end attached to the frame along the periphery and extending there from allows the user to position the umbrella to achieve ideal coverage during use. The stem may include a handle formed at a second end opposite the first end, for improved gripping and control of the umbrella.

Abstract: The invention concerns an optical coating (3, 3?), having a high refractive index and good optical properties (i.e., low absorption and scatter) and limited internal stresses in a spectral range extending from the visible to the near UV range (i.e., up to a wavelength of 220 nm). The coating (3, 3?) according to the invention consists of a hafnium- or zirconium-containing oxide HfxSiyOz or ZrxSiyOz, containing an silicon fraction (y) between 1 at. % and 10 at. %, especially between 1.5 at. % and 3 at. %.

Abstract: Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention would provide a back floatation panel comprising an inner panel and an outer panel. The inner panel and the outer panel would be joined to each other in such a way as to allow “bellowed” expansion of a space, or a “sleeve,” in between the inner and outer panels. The bellowed expansion space between the inner and outer panels would be adapted for accommodating, for example, a hydration bladder and/or an insert of high density polyethylene (“HDPE”) plastic for protecting the wearer's back. The inner and outer panels would be joined in such a way as to provide a pathway through which a hydration tube can be inserted. Various exemplary embodiments of the present invention would provide differentially cut fabric panels for covering buoyancy panels. An outer fabric panel, comprising an outer panel surface area, would be used to cover an outer surface of a buoyancy panel.

Abstract: A portable structure includes first and second support poles, each having one lower end for resting on a ground surface. First and second connectors attach at upper ends of the first and second support poles, respectively and two or more linking poles connect the first support pole with the second support pole via the first and second connectors. The linking poles form obtuse angles with the first and second support poles at the first and second connectors. The linking poles form an eye shape between the first and second support poles when joined with the connectors.

Abstract: A method for producing one or more coating on a displaccable substrate in a vacuum chamber with the aid of a residual gas, by means of a sputtering device said coating being formed from at least two constituents, whereby a sputtering material of the sputtering device constitutes at least one first constituent and a reactive component of the residual gas constitutes a second constituent.

Abstract: A portable structure has a first support pole forming a first arc, when ends of the first support pole rest on ground, and a second support pole forming a second arc, crossing the first arc, when ends of the second support pole rest on the ground. A curved linking pole crosses, off of the ground, at least one of the first and second arcs.

Abstract: A tent includes a shell, a frame including at least one flexible, resilient pole for extending over an exterior of the shell in an arch shape and for holding the shell up in an erect configuration in which the shell encloses a living space. The pole includes a plurality of sections, each section bounded by first and second points on the pole. A truss system includes a plurality of chords for tending to hold the pole in the arch shape. Each chord includes at least one tension-taking web extending along the exterior of the shell generally along a line from the first point to the second point of one of the pole sections to inhibit movement of the first and second points away from one another whereby the chords tend to hold the pole in the arch shape and stabilize the tent.

Abstract: A tent includes a shell, a frame including at least one flexible, resilient pole for extending over an exterior of the shell in an arch shape and for holding the shell up in an erect configuration in which the shell encloses a living space. The pole includes a plurality of sections, each section bounded by first and second points on the pole. A truss system includes a plurality of chords for tending to hold the pole in the arch shape. Each chord includes at least one tension-taking web extending along the exterior of the shell generally along a line from the first point to the second point of one of the pole sections to inhibit movement of the first and second points away from one another whereby the chords tend to hold the pole in the arch shape and stabilize the tent.

Abstract: A tent comprises a shell and a frame comprising a plurality of poles extending over the shell holding the shell up in an erect configuration in which the shell encloses a living space. Tension-taking trussing extends between the poles on the exterior of the shell to stabilize the tent.

Abstract: A workpiece holding device for a vacuum unit has coolable or heatable transfer plates (2) displaceable independently of one another in a baseplate (1) and each comprising a heat transfer surface (3) which is surrounded by an O-ring (4), is connected to a pipe (5) and, with a workpiece (15) which is pressed against the O-ring (4) by a holder (16), encloses a gap (20). The holder (16) can be locked to the baseplate (1). After lowering of the holder (16) into a closed position and load-free locking to the baseplate (1), the heat transfer plates (2) are pneumatically raised until in each case a stop (23, 22) becomes effective between said heat transfer plates and the holder (16) and determines the width of the gap (20). The gap (20) is then filled via the pipe (5) with a heat transfer medium, e.g. helium. After processing of the workpiece (15), the heat transfer plates (2) are lowered and the holder (16) is released again in a loadfree manner.

Abstract: A slide fastener system and method for attaching two articles at selectively adjustable relative positions. The slide fastener system includes two zipper tracks, each track having a fabric tape adapted for attachment to one of the articles and a row of teeth mounted on the tape. The teeth on one track are interengageable with the teeth on the other track. A slider on at least one of the tracks is slidably moveable therealong to selectively engage and disengage the teeth of the two tracks and thereby attach and detach the articles. A bracket is configured for holding the two zipper tracks in close proximity and in a generally parallel arrangement so that when the slider is at an unlock position wherein no teeth are engaged, the tracks and respective tapes are slidable relative to one another.

Abstract: In an apparatus for coating substrates (9), especially with magnetizable materials such as NiFe, with a circular, disk-shaped, rotatably supported substrate holder (3), which is subjected to an HF bias voltage, which is provided around its circumference and on the back with dark-space shield (1), and which rotates under at least one opposing cathode (7), and with a device for generating a magnetic field (13) parallel to the plane of the substrate (9), the magnetic field is generated by an electromagnet, the exciter coil of which, together with the lower part of the yoke (10), is housed in the dark-space shield (1), whereas the extended pole pieces (12, 12'), which are electrically insulated from the coil yoke (10) via the dark space gap (2), are housed in the substrate holder (3) in proximity to the substrate (9).

Abstract: In a moisture sensor (1), the effective sensor field (4) is formed by two sensor elements (8a, 8b,) having interdigitating parallel tracks. These sensor elements consist of layers of a metal nitride compound, especially a chromium-nitrogen compound, deposited by means of magnetron cathode sputtering or glow discharge onto a dielectric substrate (2), the metal nitride layers being deposited onto the substrate surface which has first been cleaned by ion sputtering. These sensor element layers (8a, 8b) have a high hardness of about 2,000 on the Vickers scale, as a result of which the sensor elements (8a, 8b) are highly resistant to abrasive wear such as that caused by windshield wipers or scratching from ice. The moisture sensor can be produced with a low electrical surface resistivity of <100 ohms.quadrature. and is chemically stable with respect to environmental effects such as salt water and/or windshield cleaning fluids.

Abstract: A pot-shaped hollow target (4) is open toward the substrate (3) that is to be coated, a dark-space shield (6) surrounds the lateral wall (5) of the target (4), and a cathode base body (11) is supported on an insulator (8) on the roof (9) of the vacuum chamber (2) and is connected electrically to a power source (10). A magnet belt (12) formed of a plurality of magnets (18, 18') surrounds the dark-space shield (6). A turntable (15) having an axis of rotation (16) parallel to and offset from the target's (4) perpendicular plane of symmetry (17) is provided for holding the substrates (3).

Abstract: A pot-shaped hollow target (4) open toward the substrate (3) to be coated is surrounded by a dark-space shield (7) adjacent the lateral wall (5) of the target (4), and a cathode base body (11) is supported on an insulator (9) on the roof (10) of the vacuum chamber (2) and connected electrically to a power source (6). A hanger (15) reaches through a central opening (12) in the cathode base body (11) and through a central opening in the top (8) of the target (4) and is supported on the cathode base by an insulator (14), and holds a disk (16) shielding the top (8) of the target (4). A motor-driven turntable (18) forms the substrate holder (17), whose axis of rotation (19) is parallel to but offset laterally from the plane of symmetry (20) of the target by an amount (A).

Abstract: A barrier discharge device (4a, 4b, 4c) installed in a vacuum chamber (1) consists essentially of at least two facing electrodes (20, 22); a dielectric (22) situated between the electrodes (20, 22) and in the immediate proximity of one of these electrodes (20); and a power source (26), which is connected electrically to the electrodes (20, 22). The plasma particles and UV radiation generated during the electrical discharge between the electrodes (20, 22) pass through the electrode (22), which is permeable to UV radiation and plasma particles, and thus emerge from the discharge space. On the surfaces (5a, 5b), the UV radiation induces a photochemical cleaning process, and the impinging plasma particles induce a plasma-chemical cleaning process. The cleaning process is essentially independent of pressure and can be used at pressures of up to 10 bars, which means that the cleaning process can be operated in particular during the time in which the vacuum chamber (1) is being pumped out.

Abstract: In a moisture sensor (1), the effective sensor field (4) is formed by two sensor elements (8a, 8b,) having interdigitating parallel tracks. These sensor elements consist of layers of a metal nitride compound, especially a chromium-nitrogen compound, deposited by means of magnetron cathode sputtering or glow discharge onto a dielectric substrate (2), the metal nitride layers being deposited onto the substrate surface which has first been cleaned by ion sputtering. These sensor element layers (8a, 8b) have a high hardness of about 2,000 on the Vickers scale, as a result of which the sensor elements (8a, 8b) are highly resistant to abrasive wear such as that caused by windshield wipers or scratching from ice. The moisture sensor can be produced with a low electrical surface resistivity of <100 ohms.quadrature. and is chemically stable with respect to environmental effects such as salt water and/or windshield cleaning fluids.

Abstract: In a coating apparatus, a sputter cathode (1) has, directly side by side, two electrodes (2, 3) connected in common to a high-frequency generator and having each a target (9, 10). The targets (9, 10) of both electrodes (2, 3) abut one another each with a straight edge (11, 12). A dark space shield surrounds both electrodes (2, 3) and targets (9, 10) together.