Abstract: A magnetic component including at least one region is disclosed. The at least one region includes nitrogen and a concentration of the nitrogen in the at least one region is graded across a dimension of the at least one region. Further, a saturation magnetization in the at least one region is graded across the dimension of the at least one region. Further, a method of varying the magnetization values in at least one region of the magnetic component is disclosed.

Abstract: A magnetic component including first and second regions, and a method of varying the magnetization values in different regions of the magnetic component are disclosed. The first and the second regions are characterized by a nitrogen content that is different from each other. At least one of the first region and the second region is partially-magnetic and has a nitrogen content in a range from about 0.1 weight % to about 0.4 weight % of that region. A concentration of carbon, if present, of both the first and second regions is less than about 0.05 weight % of the respective regions.

Abstract: One aspect of the disclosure is directed to a method for forming an antireflective coating on a substrate, which includes providing a polymer solution and a silica solution, depositing the polymer solution on a surface of the substrate to forming a polymer film thereon, depositing the silica solution on the formed polymer film on the substrate to form a silica film thereon, thereby forming a stack structure having the silica film formed on the polymer film that is, in turn, formed on the substrate, and drying the stack structure to form the antireflective coating on the substrate, wherein the antireflective coating comprises silica nanoparticles.

Abstract: A shell mold is described. The shell mold includes a facecoat, a sealcoat, and a support disposed in between the facecoat and the sealcoat. The support includes a stucco in a concentration greater than about 40 volume percent of the support. The stucco includes a material that has a thermal conductivity greater than about 285 W/m-K.

Abstract: A method of directionally solidifying a molten alloy is presented. The molten alloy is disposed in a shell mold that has a thermal conductivity value greater than about 2 W/m-K. During the direction solidification, heat is transferred from the shell mold to a cooling region with a heat extraction rate greater than about 120 W/m2.

Abstract: A shell mold is described. The shell mold includes a facecoat, a sealcoat, and a support disposed in between the facecoat and the sealcoat. The support includes a stucco in a concentration greater than about 40 volume percent of the support. The stucco includes a material that has a thermal conductivity greater than about 285 W/m-K.

Abstract: An article having a nanocomposite magnetic component and method of forming a nanocomposite magnetic component are disclosed. The article includes a plurality of nanocrystalline flake particles bonded along their prior particle boundaries. The nanocrystalline flake particles have a median grain size less than about 30 nanometers and include a first set of grains comprising predominantly permanent magnet phase and a second set of grains comprising predominantly soft magnet phase.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method of fabricating a low friction, wear resistant, polydopamine/polytetrafluoroethylene layered film. In one embodiment, the method comprises the deposition of a polydopamine film on a stainless steel substrate through an oxidative polymerization process, the deposition of a polytetrafluoroethylene nanoparticle film on top of the polydopamine film, and heat treating the layered film to remove moisture and fuse the particles together.

Abstract: A novel magneto caloric material (MCM) is provided that can be used in, for example, a regenerator of a heat pump, appliance, air conditioning system, and other heating and/or cooling devices. The MCM is a type of Heusler alloy, has an L21 crystal structural prototype, and can undergo a reversible phase transformation between a low temperature, low magnetization Martensite phase and a high temperature, high magnetization Austenite phase to exhibit an inverse magneto caloric effect upon application of a sufficient magnetic field. A process of annealing of the alloy is also provided that can be used to adjust the temperature at which this phase transformation occurs. The present invention includes the alloy as subjected to such annealing.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for fabricating a polycrystalline silicon film. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a substrate having a thermally-grown silicon dioxide layer, forming an amorphous silicon film on the thermally-grown silicon dioxide layer of the substrate, forming an aluminum layer on the amorphous silicon film to form a structure having the substrate, the amorphous silicon film and the aluminum layer, and annealing the structure at an annealing temperature for a period of time in an N2 environment with a ramp-up time to crystallize the amorphous silicon film to form a polycrystalline silicon film.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for fabricating a polycrystalline silicon film. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a substrate having a thermally-grown silicon dioxide layer, forming an amorphous silicon film on the thermally-grown silicon dioxide layer of the substrate, forming an aluminum layer on the amorphous silicon film to form a structure having the substrate, the amorphous silicon film and the aluminum layer, and annealing the structure at an annealing temperature for a period of time in an N2 environment with a ramp-up time to crystallize the amorphous silicon film to form a polycrystalline silicon film.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for fabricating a polycrystalline silicon film. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a substrate having a thermally-grown silicon dioxide layer, forming an amorphous silicon film on the thermally-grown silicon dioxide layer of the substrate, forming an aluminum layer on the amorphous silicon film to form a structure having the substrate, the amorphous silicon film and the aluminum layer, and annealing the structure at an annealing temperature for a period of time in an N2 environment with a ramp-up time to crystallize the amorphous silicon film to form a polycrystalline silicon film.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for fabricating a polycrystalline silicon film. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a substrate having a thermally-grown silicon dioxide layer, forming an amorphous silicon film on the thermally-grown silicon dioxide layer of the substrate, forming an aluminum layer on the amorphous silicon film to form a structure having the substrate, the amorphous silicon film and the aluminum layer, and annealing the structure at an annealing temperature for a period of time in an N2 environment with a ramp-up time to crystallize the amorphous silicon film to form a polycrystalline silicon film.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a method of surface texturing at nano/micro-scale by aluminum-induced rapid crystallization of amorphous silicon for controlling the wettability of a surface, enhancing cell attachment to a surface, and promoting cell growth on a surface. The present invention can be used in a variety of applications, such as producing superhydrophobic or superhydrophilic surfaces for medical devices, microelectromechanical systems, and microfluidic channels.

Abstract: One aspect of the present invention relates to a method for fabricating a polycrystalline silicon film. In one embodiment, the method includes the steps of providing a substrate having a thermally-grown silicon dioxide layer, forming an amorphous silicon film on the thermally-grown silicon dioxide layer of the substrate, forming an aluminum layer on the amorphous silicon film to form a structure having the substrate, the amorphous silicon film and the aluminum layer, and annealing the structure at an annealing temperature for a period of time in an N2 environment with a ramp-up time to crystallize the amorphous silicon film to form a polycrystalline silicon film.

Abstract: A current squaring cell is provided for producing an output current that correlates to the square of an input signal current. The current squaring cell comprises a first circuit portion, which receives a first tail current that is positively proportional to the input signal current, and a second circuit portion, which connects to the first circuit portion and receives a second tail current that is negatively proportional to the input signal current.

Abstract: A squaring cell comprises a first circuit responsive to an input voltage to produce a corresponding current, and a second circuit, preferably in the form of an absolute modulator circuit, responsive to the current produced by the first circuit and to the input voltage to produce an output current that corresponds to the square of the input voltage. In one embodiment, the first circuit comprises an absolute value voltage-to-current converter; in another, the first circuit comprises a linear voltage-to-current converter. Techniques to improve accurate square law performance of the cell, independent of temperature, and of broad input voltage range and frequency, are presented.

Abstract: A variable gain amplifier contains a plurality of differential transistor pairs. A temperature dependent current is generated in the current path of each differential transistor pair. A generated gain control current is converted to a temperature dependent gain control current and applied in circuit with control inputs of the transistors of the paired differential transistors. The temperature dependent gain control current is obtained from a gain control current corresponding to a desired gain which is then multiplying the control current by the temperature dependent current. The temperature dependent gain control current is modified to compensate for gain non-linearity by introducing an offset as a function of the gain control current.

Abstract: A plurality of variable gain amplifier stages are coupled by an attenuation circuit that receives a voltage input to be amplified. A control circuit activates each of the variable gain amplifier stages in a seamless manner in accordance with a control signal applied to a voltage control node, while maintaining no more than one of the stages active at any time. Fractions of the reference signal voltage level are set to define boundaries between control voltage level ranges of the amplifier stages. A unique control voltage level range is thus established for each amplifier stage. A control voltage hysteresis range can be provided to avoid oscillations between stages at the transition voltages.

Abstract: A film-formable polyimide copolymer, which comprises two kinds of tetracarboxylic acid dianhydride consisting of (A) pyromellitic acid dianhydride and (B) 3,3′,4,4′-benzophenonetetracarboxylic acid dianhydride, and (C) 6-amino-2-(p-aminophenyl)benzimidazole has a heat-resistant dimensional stability without any deterioration of mechanical properties inherent in the polyimide resin when used as a film.