Abstract: One or more devices, systems, methods, and storage mediums for performing imaging and/or visualization and/or for performing lithotripsy are provided herein. Examples of applications include imaging, evaluating, and diagnosing biological objects, such as, but not limited to, for ureteral, Gastro-intestinal, cardio, bronchial, and/or ophthalmic applications, and being obtained via one or more optical instruments, such as, but not limited to, optical probes, catheters, ureteroscopes, endoscopes, and bronchoscopes. Techniques provided herein also improve image processing and efficiency and provide reliable imaging techniques that may be used for one or more applications, including, but not limited to, ureteroscopy and lithotripsy, while reducing mental and physical burden and improving ease of use.

Abstract: A multi-layer thin film composite is formed by applying a thin film formed from non-single-crystalline oxide onto a substrate; applying a protection film onto the thin film; and supplying energy to the thin film through at least one of the protection film or the substrate.

Abstract: A photoelectrochemical cell includes a cathode with a front and back cathode surface, an anode with front and back anode surfaces, a conductive connector between the cathode and the anode, and an optical waveguide configured to direct sunlight to the back surfaces of the cathode and anode. The cathode is adapted for photoelectric generation of electrons at the back cathode surface and electrolytic generation of hydrogen at the front cathode surface. Similarly, the anode is adapted for photoelectric generation of electrons at the back anode surface and electrolytic generation of oxygen at the front anode surface. The photoelectrochemical cell may also include a waveguide optical concentrator coupled to the waveguide.

Abstract: A multi-layer thin film composite is formed by applying a thin film formed from non-single-crystalline oxide onto a substrate; applying a protection film onto the thin film; and supplying energy to the thin film through at least one of the protection film or the substrate.

Abstract: A multi-layer thin film composite is formed by applying a thin film formed from non-single-crystalline oxide onto a substrate; applying a protection film onto the thin film; and supplying energy to the thin film through at least one of the protection film or the substrate.

Abstract: A sewing-machine operating program is installed in a terminal device of a user. A specifying information acquiring step causes a short-distance information acquiring unit to acquire specifying information recorded on a sewing-machine main unit. In the distance measuring step, an apart distance is calculated from a detection result of a movement detecting sensor with a position where the specifying information is acquired being as an initial position. In the distance comparing step, for a remote operation to the sewing-machine main unit, the apart distance and a prescribed distance are compared. In the function restricting step, when the apart distance is within the prescribed distance, an operation command is transmitted to the sewing-machine main unit via a wireless communication device, and when the apart distance exceeds the prescribed distance, the operation command is not transmitted to the sewing-machine main unit.

Abstract: A photoelectrochemical cell includes a cathode with a front and back cathode surface, an anode with front and back anode surfaces, a conductive connector between the cathode and the anode, and an optical waveguide configured to direct sunlight to the back surfaces of the cathode and anode. The cathode is adapted for photoelectric generation of electrons at the back cathode surface and electrolytic generation of hydrogen at the front cathode surface. Similarly, the anode is adapted for photoelectric generation of electrons at the back anode surface and electrolytic generation of oxygen at the front anode surface. The photoelectrochemical cell may also include a waveguide optical concentrator coupled to the waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sewing machine that enables to switch frequently used functions during the sewing work with good usability, validate only the indicator related to the work among a plurality of indicators, and enables GUI operations by a screen display unit. Thus, high operability can be achieved. The sewing machine includes: a setting unit for setting operation buttons related to desired sewing work; an operation display unit for displaying the operation buttons set by the setting unit, the operation display being arranged at an arm part; and a screen display unit arranged at a position different from the operation display unit.

Abstract: A loading order according to which function modules are to be loaded from a storage unit is determined based on a predicted use situation of a user. The function modules are loaded according to the loading order thus determined. Subsequently, the function modules thus loaded are started up according to a start-up instruction. With such an arrangement, by determining the loading order based on a prediction of the user's desired function, such an arrangement enables a reduction in the length of a loading time that bothers the user.

Abstract: A reflective optical coating has a thin film of silver as the primary reflecting material, a thin protective anti-oxidation layer of nickel oxide (NiO) deposited directly on top of the silver layer, and one or more thin transparent barrier layers deposited on top of the NiO, where each barrier layer is composed of a fluoride, a metal oxide, or a nitride. Optionally, a thin protective layer of NiO or Ni may be included, directly beneath the silver layer. Optionally, one or more thin barrier underlayer(s) may be included below the silver (and below the Ni or NiO protective layer, if present), where each of the barrier underlayers is a fluoride, a metal oxide, a metal nitride, or a bare metal.

Abstract: A sewing-machine operating program is installed in a terminal device of a user. A specifying information acquiring step causes a short-distance information acquiring unit to acquire specifying information recorded on a sewing-machine main unit. In the distance measuring step, an apart distance is calculated from a detection result of a movement detecting sensor with a position where the specifying information is acquired being as an initial position. In the distance comparing step, for a remote operation to the sewing-machine main unit, the apart distance and a prescribed distance are compared. In the function restricting step, when the apart distance is within the prescribed distance, an operation command is transmitted to the sewing-machine main unit via a wireless communication device, and when the apart distance exceeds the prescribed distance, the operation command is not transmitted to the sewing-machine main unit.

Abstract: A solar-powered thermoelectric generator is provided that includes a solar collector, a light absorbing and heat generating element having an elongated shape, where a first end of the light absorbing and heat generating element is configured to absorb light from the solar collector, where the absorbed light converts to heat in the light absorbing and heat generating element, where the light absorbing and heat generating element is configured to form a thermal gradient along a length of the light absorbing and heat generating element from the first end of the light absorbing and heat generating element to a second end of the light absorbing and heat generating element, and a plurality of thermoelectric generators disposed along the light absorbing and heat generating element, where the first end of the light absorbing and heat generating element is hotter than the second end of the light absorbing and heat generating element.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sewing machine that enables to switch frequently used functions during the sewing work with good usability, validate only the indicator related to the work among a plurality of indicators, and enables GUI operations by a screen display unit. Thus, high operability can be achieved. The sewing machine includes: a setting unit for setting operation buttons related to desired sewing work; an operation display unit for displaying the operation buttons set by the setting unit, the operation display being arranged at an arm part; and a screen display unit arranged at a position different from the operation display unit.

Abstract: A loading order according to which function modules are to be loaded from a storage unit is determined based on a predicted use situation of a user. The function modules are loaded according to the loading order thus determined. Subsequently, the function modules thus loaded are started up according to a start-up instruction. With such an arrangement, by determining the loading order based on a prediction of the user's desired function, such an arrangement enables a reduction in the length of a loading time that bothers the user.

Abstract: A multi-deposition chamber apparatus is provided that includes a first deposition chamber that includes a substrate holder, a retractable sputter gun, a gate valve, an output port, a retractable chamber separator, a gas input port, a gas output port, and an electron cyclotron resonance plasma source, where the retractable chamber separator is configured to selectively segment the first deposition chamber to form a second deposition chamber, where the second deposition chamber comprises the substrate holder, the gas input port, the gas output port and the electron cyclotron resonance plasma source.

Abstract: A thermoelectric device is provided that includes a first flexible copper substrate having a carbon layer disposed on a polycrystalline flexible copper foil, a first nanowire structure disposed on the carbon layer, where the first nanowire structure includes a first lateral film layer disposed on the distal ends of the first nanowire structure, where the first lateral film layer connects the first nanowire structure distal ends, a second nanowire structure disposed on the first lateral film layer, where the second nanowire structure includes a second lateral film layer disposed on distal ends of the second nanowire structure, where the second lateral film layer connects the second nanowire structure distal ends, and a second flexible copper substrate disposed on the second lateral film layer.

Abstract: Nanowire-based photovoltaic energy conversion devices and related fabrication methods therefor are described. A plurality of photovoltaic (PV) nanowires extend outwardly from a surface layer of a substrate, each PV nanowire having a root end near the substrate surface layer and a tip end opposite the root end. For some embodiments, a collar material is formed that laterally surrounds and is in contact with the PV nanowires along a portion of one or more of their ends. According to some embodiments, the PV nanowires are formed on a crystalline silicon substrate. According to some other embodiments, the PV nanowires are formed on a roll-sourced continuous substrate.

Abstract: A large substrate is optically coated in a reaction chamber that is formed by joining the substrate and a plate using a compliant seal, where the substrate forms one wall of the reaction chamber and the plate forms an opposite wall of the reaction chamber. The shape of the inside surface of the plate matches that of the inside surface of the substrate and they are spaced close together to minimize the volume of the reaction chamber. Atomic layer deposition is used to deposit one or more optical thin film layers to produce a coating on only the inside surface of the substrate. The outside surface is not coated.

Abstract: When fabricating thermoelectric devices using bulk semiconductor materials and single crystal substrates, the performance of the thermoelectric device can be limited by the interdependence between electrical conductivity, Seebeck coefficient, and thermal conductivity in the bulk semiconductor material. Additionally, the properties of bulk semiconductor materials can lead to expensive, bulky, and complex power generation systems. Thermoelectric devices can be fabricated using a metals-semiconductor composite and epitaxial nanowire percolation network architecture.

Abstract: Nanowire-based photovoltaic energy conversion devices and related fabrication methods therefor are described. A plurality of photovoltaic (PV) nanowires extend outwardly from a surface layer of a substrate, each PV nanowire having a root end near the substrate surface layer and a tip end opposite the root end. For one preferred embodiment, a canopy-style tip-side electrode layer contacts the tip ends of the PV nanowires and is separated from the substrate surface layer by an air gap layer, the PV nanowires being disposed within the air gap layer. For another preferred embodiment, a tip-side electrode layer is disposed upon a layer of optically transparent, electrically insulating solid filler material that laterally surrounds the PV nanowires along a portion of their lengths, wherein an air gap is disposed between the solid filler layer and the substrate surface layer. Methods for fabricating the nanowire-based photovoltaic energy conversion devices are also described.