Abstract: Sputter tools are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus to support a wafer includes a pallet having a depression to receive the wafer. The pallet includes an opening below the depression, and an edge in the depression is to support the wafer over the opening. A cover at least partially covers the opening. In one example, the cover may be a plate with one or more holes, and a pipe may be located below each of the holes in the cover. In one embodiment, a wafer-processing system includes a processing chamber and a pallet with a depression to receive a wafer. The pallet has an opening below the depression, and an edge in the depression supports the wafer over the opening. In one such embodiment, a cover at least partially covers the opening. According to one embodiment, an energy-absorbing material is disposed below the opening in the pallet.

Abstract: Approaches for forming barrier-less seed stacks and contacts are described. In an example, a solar cell includes a substrate and a conductive contact disposed on the substrate. The conductive contact includes a copper layer directly contacting the substrate. In another example, a solar cell includes a substrate and a seed layer disposed directly on the substrate. The seed layer consists essentially of one or more non-diffusion-barrier metal layers. A conductive contact includes a copper layer disposed directly on the seed layer. An exemplary method of fabricating a solar cell involves providing a substrate, and forming a seed layer over the substrate. The seed layer includes one or more non-diffusion-barrier metal layers. The method further involves forming a conductive contact for the solar cell from the seed layer.

Abstract: Sputter tools are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus to support a wafer includes a pallet having a depression to receive the wafer. The pallet includes an opening below the depression, and an edge in the depression is to support the wafer over the opening. A cover at least partially covers the opening. In one example, the cover may be a plate with one or more holes, and a pipe may be located below each of the holes in the cover. In one embodiment, a wafer-processing system includes a processing chamber and a pallet with a depression to receive a wafer. The pallet has an opening below the depression, and an edge in the depression supports the wafer over the opening. In one such embodiment, a cover at least partially covers the opening. According to one embodiment, an energy-absorbing material is disposed below the opening in the pallet.

Abstract: Approaches for forming barrier-less seed stacks and contacts are described. In an example, a solar cell includes a substrate and a conductive contact disposed on the substrate. The conductive contact includes a copper layer directly contacting the substrate. In another example, a solar cell includes a substrate and a seed layer disposed directly on the substrate. The seed layer consists essentially of one or more non-diffusion-barrier metal layers. A conductive contact includes a copper layer disposed directly on the seed layer. An exemplary method of fabricating a solar cell involves providing a substrate, and forming a seed layer over the substrate. The seed layer includes one or more non-diffusion-barrier metal layers. The method further involves forming a conductive contact for the solar cell from the seed layer.

Abstract: Methods and systems of controlling an autonomous vehicle are provided. A method comprises controlling operations of the vehicle based at least in part on edge costs. An edge is a representation of a path the vehicle can traverse. Edge costs are determined by an estimation system and are based on at least one of an estimated travel time for an edge and a traverse-ability of the edge. The method further comprises sensing conditions of edges the vehicle is traversing and based on the sensed conditions, dynamically updating the edge costs.

Abstract: Methods and systems of controlling an autonomous vehicle are provided. A method comprises controlling operations of the vehicle based at least in part on edge costs. An edge is a representation of a path the vehicle can traverse. Edge costs are determined by an estimation system and are based on at least one of an estimated travel time for an edge and a traverse-ability of the edge. The method further comprises sensing conditions of edges the vehicle is traversing and based on the sensed conditions, dynamically updating the edge costs.

Abstract: Embodiments of the invention generally provide methods for forming a multilayer rear surface passivation layer on a solar cell substrate. The method includes forming a silicon oxide sub-layer having a net charge density of less than or equal to 2.1×1011 Coulombs/cm2 on a rear surface of a p-type doped region formed in a substrate comprising semiconductor material, the rear surface opposite a light receiving surface of the substrate and forming a silicon nitride sub-layer on the silicon oxide sub-layer. Embodiments of the invention also include a solar cell device that may be manufactured according methods disclosed herein.

Abstract: The present invention generally provides a method of forming a high quality passivation layer over a p-type doped region to form a high efficiency solar cell device. Embodiments of the present invention may be especially useful for preparing a surface of a boron doped region formed in a silicon substrate. In one embodiment, the methods include exposing a surface of the solar cell substrate to a plasma to clean and modify the physical, chemical and/or electrical characteristics of the surface and then deposit a charged dielectric layer and passivation layer thereon.

Abstract: A system includes a platform on which a plurality of platform-specific I/O and fault-tolerance mechanisms are implemented. The system also includes an embedded software application operating on the platform and middleware which acts as a buffer between the application and the platform. In operation, the middleware logically separates the embedded software application from the platform-specific I/O and fault-tolerance mechanisms, such that the application can be transferred from one platform to another without necessitating complex and time-consuming code changes.

Abstract: Scheduling a set of anytime tasks includes assigning a percentage of at least one resource to each of the set of anytime tasks and allowing each of the set of anytime tasks to use the at least one resource in accordance with the respective assigned fraction. The percentage of the at least one resource assigned to each of the set of anytime tasks is subsequently adapted.

Abstract: The present invention relates to tablets which are time-controlled to release active agent at different rates in different regions of the digestive tract in order to maintain a substantially constant concentration in the blood. In one embodiment, a new modified release drug delivery system, for once a day peroral use, consisting of a solid core comprising an active agent together with a hydrogel, with the solid core being coated with a semi-permeable, self-destructing membrane which is optionally drilled to provide a release orifice, and then optionally further coated with the same or different active agent material. The device delivers the active agent in a substantially constant effective dose for the duration of the transit through the stomach and small intestine, followed by accelerated release when reaching the large intestine.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a control solution development environment coupled to a runtime environment constructed to insulate the control solution designer as well as the developed control applications from both the hardware and the operating system. This insulation frees the designer from having to deal with a tangle of control and operating system commands and considerations. The runtime environment manages the details of the process system resource and task allocation to implement the control strategies. Since the runtime environment insulates the developed control applications from changes in operating systems and hardware, applications developed to run in this environment are both reusable and portable. The runtime environment is scaleable, fault-tolerant, allows dynamic reconfiguration of the system, integration of diverse sensors and actuators and enables distributed control strategies.