Abstract: A thin film layer can be formed on a glass substrate by preheating the substrate, depositing an amorphous silicon precursor layer on the substrate at a first temperature, and annealing the substrate in a thermal processing chamber at a second temperature sufficiently higher than the first temperature to substantially reduce the hydrogen concentration in the precursor layer. The preheating and annealing steps can occur in the same thermal processing chamber. Then the precursor layer is converted to a polycrystaline silicon layer by laser annealing.

Abstract: A durable, water-resistant, locking pouch to safeguard package or parcel deliveries, with connected cable and anchor clamp. The cable provides a means to secure the pouch from under or behind a fixture such as a door. An anchor clamp, attached to the end of the cable furthest from the pouch, serves either as an anchor fastened to or placed behind a door, and prevents the device and its pouch with package/parcel contents from being dislodged.

Abstract: Systems and methods are disclosed wherein a single set of consumer items may be purchased by debiting any of a plurality of accounts stored on a smart card. According to an embodiment disclosed herein, a point-of-sale terminal includes a terminal processor, an item identification device, a terminal memory, and a smart card reader. The item identification device may include a conventional UPC bar code reader adapted to read UPC bar codes on consumer items. A cost table and a plurality of item tables are electronically stored in terminal memory. The cost table associates each item identifier (UPC bar code) with a corresponding cost. Each item table contains a list of item identifiers, and may optionally associate specific item identifiers with corresponding accounts. Each item table is uniquely identified using an item table identifier. The terminal memory, item identification device, and smart card reader are all coupled to the terminal processor.

Abstract: A thermostatic mixing valve comprises a casing including inlet ducting for passage of relatively hot and cold fluids e.g. water, to a valve means which control the outflow of mixed fluids from the valve via outlet ducting. An elongate thermostat is located in the ducting and regulates the position of the valve means. The thermostat includes a first shorter portion which is responsive predominantly to the cold fluid and a second longer portion responsive to the mixed fluid, the arrangement being such that when there is a fall in cold fluid pressure the effect of the first (relatively inactive) portion reduces so that the second (active) portion now functions to reduce the hot fluid input and thereby avoid or reduce an undesirable rise in temperature of the discharge mixed fluid which otherwise would occur.