Abstract: A filtered cigarette possesses a smokable rod and a filter element. The filter element possesses a segment incorporating filter material (e.g., cellulose acetate tow) having carbonaceous material (e.g., activated charcoal particles) or other adsorbent dispersed throughout the filter material, and encapsulated flavoring agent (e.g., flavor-containing microcapsules) dispersed throughout the filter material.

Abstract: In order to treat cut tobacco so as to loosen and homogenize the same, a tobacco stream (12, 16) passes through a plurality of processing stations (18, 19, 20), in the region of which the tobacco is loosened, during transportation, with the aid of different processing arrangements. The tobacco stream or main stream here is divided up into a plurality of smaller sub-streams during treatment.

Abstract: A two-container dispenser for storing, mixing and dispensing hair dye for touch up applications. The dispenser retains and separates two hair dye components until they are to be mixed immediately prior to application of the dye. The two containers are permanently secured together via a valve assembly. When the valve assembly is in a closed position, the interior chambers and therefore the contents of the containers remain separated. When the valve assembly is opened by rotating one of the containers through 180 degrees, the two interior chambers are in fluid communication and the contents can flow between the containers to form a hair dye mixture. The connections between the first and second containers and the valve assembly are such that all three remain secured together when the valve assembly is moved between the closed and open positions.

Abstract: A versatile, convenient-to-use, unitary, cosmetic compact of increased stability, comprising a base, a hinged cover capable of rotating with respect to the base and an article carrier that is capable of translation and rotation with respect to the base, via a selective rotation mechanism. The combination of a decoupled motion of the article carrier with respect to the base and the fact that the cover and article carrier move independently, creates a versatile, tri-fold compact that may be held in the hand similar to a bi-fold compact or placed on a surface in various useful configurations, including lying flat, extended base and stable A-frame configurations. The compact has an elegant, playful feel, while being versatile, stable, simple and inexpensive to manufacture.

Abstract: A two-container dispenser for storing, mixing and dispensing hair dye for touch up applications. The dispenser retains and separates two hair dye components until they are to be mixed immediately prior to application of the dye. The two containers are permanently secured together via a valve assembly. When the valve assembly is in a closed position, the interior chambers and therefore the contents of the containers remain separated. When the valve assembly is opened by rotating one of the containers through 90 degrees, the two interior chambers are placed into fluid communication with each other and the contents can flow between the containers to form a hair dye mixture. The connections between the first and second containers and the valve assembly are such that all three remain secured together when the valve assembly is moved between the closed and open positions.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for permanently deforming keratinic fibers, in particular hair, which comprises: applying to the keratinic fibers a reducing composition, to reduce keratin disulfide linkages, the keratinic fibers being placed under mechanical tension before, during or after said application, preferably before, then applying to the keratinic fibers an intermediate rinsing composition comprising at least one salt of a monovalent metallic cation and/or at least one ammonium salt, and at least one organic acid, said one or more monovalent salts not being one or more salts of said one or more organic acids present in the intermediate rinsing composition, and said one or more salts not being surfactants, then applying to the keratinic fibers an oxidative composition in an oxidation fixing step, to recreate said linkages, said process being free of any water rinsing step either between the reducing composition application step and the intermediate rinsing composition application step, or between

Abstract: Applicator (1) for a cosmetic product, typically a mascara, comprising an application means (4) having an axial core (40) which is unitary with axial rod (3) at its lower part (31) and a stack (41) of a plurality of N elements which cooperate with axial core (40) through a typically central orifice (50) allowing the axial core (40) to extend therethrough, characterized in that: the elements are elements E (5) lacking complete rotation symmetry, and the axial core (40) and the plurality of elements E (5) operate jointly with an angular orientation means for elements E (5) with respect to axial direction (10), in a transverse plane (11) which is perpendicular to the axial direction (10), in a manner that each element Ei (5) is rotatably connected with axial core (40) and has a predetermined angular orientation ?i with respect to the axial core (40).

Abstract: A hair barrette includes a decorative outer member, a basic member secured onto the outer member and having a recess formed in one side and defined by an inner peripheral shoulder, an anti-slip member made of a resilient material having a high coefficient of friction and engaged into the recess of the basic member and engaged with the inner peripheral shoulder of the basic member for stably securing the anti-slip member to the basic member and for preventing the anti-slip member from being disengaged from the basic member. A clamping arm has one end pivotally attached to the basic member and the other end for resiliently latching to the basic member.

Abstract: A cooling device includes a cooling arrangement having a refrigerant dispenser. In an illustrated example, the dispenser includes an aerosol container containing the refrigerant and a dispensing valve fitted to a fixing cup which crimps onto the aerosol container. The aerosol container is at least partly housed inside an outer jacket, and a dispensing channel is engaged on the dispensing valve. A cover is mounted on top of the dispensing channel. The cover has an inside face that is impermeable to the refrigerant and at least part of the cover, preferably an outside face of the cover, is made of a material having a thermal conductivity greater than or equal to 1 Wm?1K?1. A method of applying a cosmetic product to a body surface is also provided.

Abstract: A method for cleaning deposits of particulate material from the tip of a nozzle of a dispensing apparatus, such as, for example, the tip of the nozzle of a liquid reagent dispensing apparatus. The method involves the use of a multiple excitation signal waveform to cavitate and agitate the cleaning medium in which the tip of the nozzle is suspended. Multiple excitation refers to a method of excitation that uses waves of alternating polarity; multiple excitation may involve excitation at a plurality of frequencies in sequence, at a plurality of amplitudes in sequence, at a plurality of waveforms in sequence, combinations of the aforementioned frequencies, amplitudes, and waveforms. The invention also provides an apparatus incorporating electrical and mechanical components, along with appropriate software, sufficient to perform the method described herein.

Abstract: A method for improving the wettability of a medical device is provided, the method comprising the steps of (a) providing a medical device formed from a monomer mixture comprising a hydrophilic monomer and a siloxy-containing monomer, (b) subjecting a surface of the medical device to a surface treatment, and (c) contacting the treated surface of the medical device with a wetting agent solution comprising a carboxylic acid-containing polymer or copolymer to form a carboxylic acid-containing polymeric or copolymeric layer on the treated surface of the medical device.

Abstract: Compositions, apparatus and methods for removal of unwanted deposited materials, e.g., nitrides such as silicon nitrides, from substrates. In one implementation, such removal is carried out with a composition including (i) a halide, e.g., NF3, ClF3, F2, XeF2, CF4, or other fluorocarbon species of the formula CxFy, wherein x and y have stoichiometrically compatible values, and (ii) a nitrogen source, optionally wherein at least the halide cleaning agent in the cleaning composition has been subjected to plasma generation to form a plasma. The use of relatively inexpensive nitrogen sources enables the amount of costly halide to be reduced in applications such as cleaning of internal surfaces and components of microelectronic product manufacturing process tool chambers.

Abstract: A system and apparatus for cleaning particle deposits from slurry distribution system components by injecting gas bubbles into the slurry solution having a geometry and interval such that an optimal cleaning power and cleaning rate is obtained. The method provides efficient cleaning of the buildup of abrasive particles deposited from the slurry solution without requiring the operator to disassemble or flush the slurry distribution system. The system cleaning potential is optimal when the diameter of the bubbles and the fluid slug length is approximately equal to the pipe diameter.

Abstract: There is described a process for the cleaning of an installation, whereby the installation is rinsed with an alkaline cleaning solution and the result of the cleaning is tested by means of an indicator agent on the basis of permanganate in an alkaline environment. In order to make the cleaning more economical and less productive of waste water, it is proposed to introduce the indicator agent that is used as an indicator into the alkaline cleaning solution for further use as a cleaning agent.

Abstract: A tank cleaning system provides more efficient and more effective tank cleaning than known systems. The tank cleaning system further allows for a cleaning process to be monitored and provides a cleaning validation. In this regard, the tank cleaning system provides control and monitoring of the spray head mechanism while maintaining the mechanical simplicity and robust nature associated with known systems. The tank cleaning system automatically accounts for one or more characteristics of the vessel being cleaned and modifies the cleaning operation accordingly.

Abstract: A coating film processing method is used for processing a coating film formed on a surface of a substrate to prepare for an immersion light exposure process arranged to perform light exposure through a liquid. The method includes supplying a solvent-containing liquid comprising a combination of a solvent and a solvent-ability decreasing agent for decreasing solvent ability, or a diluted solvent, onto an edge portion of the coating film, thereby performing edge portion cutting; and supplying a cleaning liquid onto the edge portion of the coating film, thereby performing edge portion cleaning, subsequently to the edge portion cutting.

Abstract: In order to provide a cleaning apparatus for cleaning workpieces, comprising at least one workpiece holder for a workpiece that is to be cleaned, that allows easy, flexible and reliable checking of the workpiece position, it is proposed that the cleaning apparatus comprises at least one ranging sensor that produces a signal, from which it is derivable whether a workpiece is held in the correct position on the workpiece holder.

Abstract: A device and method for vacuuming solid particles out of a chemical reactor tube.

Abstract: A thermal process for cleaning equipment surfaces of undesired silicon nitride in semiconductor processing chamber with thermally activated source of pre-diluted fluorine is disclosed in the specification. The process comprising: (a)flowing pre-diluted fluorine in an inert gas through the chamber; (b)maintaining the chamber at an elevated temperature of 230° C. to 565° C. to thermally disassociate the fluorine; (c)cleaning undesired silicon nitride from the surfaces by chemical reaction of thermally disassociated fluorine in (b) with the undesired silicon nitride to form volatile reaction products; (d)removing the volatile reaction products from the chamber.

Abstract: This disclosure provides an approach for cleaning an ion implanter. In this disclosure, there is a vacuum device having an in-take port adapted to receive a contaminant removing hose. The vacuum device and hose are configured to provide constant suction to the ion implanter. A dry ice blaster having a dry ice dispensing hose is configured to supply dry ice. A sealing plate is adapted to attach to an access section of a processing region of the ion implanter. The sealing plate has a first opening configured to receive the contaminant removing hose and the dry ice dispensing hose.

Abstract: A wafer clamping apparatus is provided to secure a wafer within a chamber during wafer processing. The wafer clamping apparatus creates a pressure differential between a top surface and a bottom surface of the wafer. The pressure differential serves to pull the wafer toward a wafer support structure in contact with the wafer bottom surface, whereby the wafer is secured and maintained in an immobile state. The wafer clamping apparatus also includes options for controlling the pressure differential between the top and bottom surfaces of the wafer. The wafer clamping apparatus is implemented without requiring contact with the wafer top surface and with minimal increase in chamber design complexity.

Abstract: An endoscope washer disinfector washes and disinfects an endoscope with a mouth ring communicating with an endoscope duct. The washer disinfector comprises a washing disinfecting bath; a nozzle arranged with the bath, loaded into the mouth ring, and formed to supply fluid to the duct via the mouth ring; a tray on which the endoscope is mounted. In this washer disinfector, a bilateral positioning member positions the endoscope and the tray so that the mouth ring of the endoscope mounted on the tray is located at a given position on the tray; and a trilateral positioning member positions the washing disinfecting bath, the tray, and the endoscope so that, when the tray is loaded into the washing disinfecting bath, the mouth ring of the endoscope positioned at the given position on the tray by the bilateral positioning member is positioned at a position that is across is from the nozzle.

Abstract: A processing apparatus is provided to surface-finish or otherwise process features of a workpiece, such as a lumen of a stent. The fluid jet apparatus can have a nozzle system and a holder for holding and positioning the workpiece with respect to the nozzle system. A fluid jet outputted from the nozzle system is used to form a desired surface-finish.

Abstract: An inventive recovery cup cleaning method is a method for cleaning a recovery cup having an interior wall partitioning a recovery space into which a chemical agent used for treating a substrate is introduced, the recovery cup being configured such that the chemical agent introduced into the recovery space is further introduced into a predetermined chemical agent recovery passage so as to be recovered.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing semiconductor substrates. The method includes providing a semiconductor wafer, which has an upper surface, a backside surface, and an edge region around a periphery of the semiconductor wafer. In a preferred embodiment, the upper surface is often for the manufacture of the integrated circuit device elements themselves. The method includes subjecting the semiconductor wafer to one or more process steps to form one or more films of materials on the backside surface. The method mounts the semiconductor wafer to expose the backside surface. The method rotates the semiconductor wafer in a circular manner. In a specific embodiment, the method includes supplying an acid solution containing fluorine bearing species, a nitric acid species, a surfactant species, and an organic acid species, on at least the backside surface as the semiconductor wafer rotates.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems are provided for efficiently reclaiming solvents used to clean surfaces of semiconductor wafers, etc. More particularly, embodiments of the present invention provide an in-situ reclaim approach that utilizes condensing mechanisms to reclaim evaporated solvent components. In these embodiments, the condensing can occur within a proximity head itself and/or along a vacuum line running from the proximity head to a vacuum tank. Other embodiments of the present invention provide an in-situ reclaim approach that prevents the evaporation of solvents at the onset by maintaining appropriate equilibrium gas phase concentrations between the liquid chemistries and gases used to process wafer surfaces.

Abstract: A substrate processing method includes a cleaning processing step, a mixed organic solvent supplying step, and a fluorine organic solvent supplying step. The cleaning processing step is a step of cleaning a main surface of a substrate by supplying deionized water to the substrate. The mixed organic solvent supplying step is a step of supplying a fluid of a mixed organic solvent to the main surface of the substrate after the cleaning processing step. The fluid of the mixed organic solvent contains a fluid of a water-soluble organic solvent and a fluid of a fluorine organic solvent having a smaller surface tension than that of the deionized water and a lower water solubility than that of the fluid of the water-soluble organic solvent. The fluorine organic solvent supplying step is a step of supplying the fluid of the fluorine organic solvent to the main surface of the substrate without supplying the fluid of the water-soluble organic solvent after the mixed organic solvent supplying step.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus are provided for using various megasonic apparatus including megasonic tanks, scanning megasonic plates, megasonic jets, and megasonic sweeping beams etc., in combination with selective chemistries to remove sub-micron particulate contaminants from the surfaces of the processing equipment used in semiconductor, medical, or any other processing environments.

Abstract: A fluid coupling assembly is provided for releasably connecting a wash fluid supply line of a dishwasher to an upper spray arm assembly of the dishwasher. The fluid conduit assembly includes an extensible tower that is moved into an extended position, engaging the coupling of a feed tube for the upper spray arm assembly for the dishwasher when wash fluid is passed therethrough, and is automatically disconnected and moves to a retracted, non-engaging position when the flow of wash fluid is discontinued so as not to interfere with the sliding movement of the upper and lower dish racks of the dishwasher for loading and unloading of dishes therefrom.

Abstract: Atmospheric gas discharge plasma is generated in a gas whirlpool cavity. Then the plasma is sprayed out in a gas flow to clean an object. The whole process is simple with merits of utility and cost savings. And objects can be cleaned one after one continuously.

Abstract: A sun shading arrangement is disclosed as including a sun shading portion, an arm arrangement connected with the sun shading portion, and a support portion connected with the arm arrangement, and the support portion is a double-helical structure. The arm arrangement includes at least two arms which are pivotable relative to each other, and a locking mechanism with a switch which is swivelable between a locked position in which the arms are locked against relative pivotable movement relative to each other and an unlocked position in which the arms are pivotable relative to each other.

Abstract: The invention encompasses an entirely automated room extension intended for larger wheeled structures such as a Recreational Vehicle or a semi trailer that has been modified to form an office or semi-permanent emergency shelter. The extension, having substantially hinged, folding, rigid panels that in the collapsed state are stacked flush forming the exterior surface and with a simple push button will automatically deploy a supporting structure and then automatically expand the panels to form a solid enclosure of usable interior space. A programmable logic controller will activate the extension and contraction of several actuators in such order as to deploy and collapse the enclosure by push button with no manual intervention.

Abstract: Systems and methods of managing the performance of host products such as outdoor gear provide for detecting a connection between drive and performance modules. The performance module has an associated output type and is installed in a host product. A drive profile is selected from a plurality of drive profiles based on the output type and performance characteristic of the host product and is modified by controlling the performance module based on the selected drive profile. Other embodiments include systems and methods of managing trips provide for a performance unit that generates profile data for a performance module based on pre-trip data. The profile data instructs a drive module to modify a performance characteristic of a host product in which the performance module is installed. A trip management unit collects sensor data from a sensor based on the pre-trip data and generates post-trip data based on the sensor data.

Abstract: An air supported positively pressurized flexible material shelter for use on a surface comprising a flexible wall and a skirt connected to the wall and surrounding the flexible wall. A source of vacuum being propagated beneath the skirt along the flexible wall, to vacuum the skirt down to the surface to secure the temporary shelter to the surface. The skirt forms a continuous connection with the surface around the entire perimeter of the shelter. An optional flexible seal is provided essentially parallel to a vacuum channel and on an exterior edge of the skirt spaced from the flexible wall.

Abstract: A portable compact sunshield apparatus for the head of a sunbather includes a substantially rectangular and planar base, hanging hooks, and an expandable canopy assembly. The canopy assembly further includes a plurality of inverted substantially U-shaped support members forming substantially 90-degree angles between two vertical segments and a horizontal segment of each said support member. An opaque material covers at least the horizontal segments of at least two of the inverted U-shaped support members, and two pivot means are attached to said rectangular and planar base for movably combining free ends of said vertical segments of the inverted U-shaped support members. Substantially open side areas, preferably with screen sections, allow for air flow.

Abstract: A tent pole fixer is provided that is mounted on the edge of a tent so as to connect an end portion of a pole. The tent pole fixer has one end portion coupled to an edge of a tent, a longitudinally middle portion to which the pole supporting the tent is coupled, and the other end portion coupled to the fly covering the tent, wherein the both end portions are able to relatively move up and down about the middle portion. The tent pole fixer has a benefit of improving air permeability of the tent with the securing of sufficient space between the tent and the fly.

Abstract: An aluminum frame for the construction of a sunshade with double layers of sunshade fabric which is adjustable to any kind of sunshade characterized in that on its one end it comprises a rectangular notch (1) to which a PVC frame is fitted on which the fabric of the exterior sunshade is glued or sewed and to the two adjacent sides there are two respective adjacent circular notches (3) to which the fabric of the interior sunshade is fitted. To the other end of the aluminum frame there is a circular notch (2) to which an advertising panel (8) can be fitted. In order for the invented frame to be used for the construction of greater surfaces, it is of rectangular shape with three notches (9), (10) and (11) on its upper part and three notches (12), (13), (14) on its lower part.

Abstract: A light-duty structural shed or house with skylights includes walls and a roof supported by a beam, wherein the walls have openings for doors and/or windows, and the roof is constituted of a ridge and two inclined top panels. Each of the inclined top panels has a width that is smaller than an inclined roof face of the shed or house, and the ridge is made of a flexible material that is fixedly connected to the inclined top panels at spaced joining positions. Several propping poles are sheathed across the ridge laterally with respect to the beam at the positions that are staggered between the spaced joining positions. Each of the propping poles is supported over the beam in such a way that a portion of the ridge located at one of the staggered positions between said spaced joining positions is propped up by the propping pole, thus creating a skylight that is substantially triangular in shape.

Abstract: Method for producing a nanostructure based on interconnected nanowires, nanostructure and use as thermoelectric converter The nanostructure comprises two arrays of nanowires made from respectively n-doped and p-doped semi-conducting material. The nanowires of the first array, for example of n type, are formed for example by VLS growth. A droplet of electrically conducting material that acted as catalyst during the growth step remains on the tip of each nanowire of the first array at the end of growth. A nanowire of the second array is then formed around each nanowire of the first array by covering a layer of electrically insulating material formed around each nanowire of the first array, and the associated droplet, with a layer of p-type semi-conducting material. A droplet thus automatically connects a nanowire of the first array with a single coaxial nanowire of the second array. This type of nanostructure can be used in particular to form a thermoelectric converter.

Abstract: The invention relates to a thermoelectric-based power generation system designed to be clamped onto the outer wall of a steam pipe or other heating pipe. The system can include a number of assemblies mounted on the sides of a pipe. Each assembly can include a hot block, an array of thermoelectric modules, and a cold block system. The hot block can create a thermal channel to the hot plates of the modules. The cold block can include a heat pipe onto which fins are attached.

Abstract: A thermoelectric system comprising at least one thermoelectric module comprising a first side and a second side, and being configured to develop a temperate difference between the first side and the second side during operation, and comprising at least one first fluid manager configured to direct a first fluid along at least a first portion of the first side of the at least one thermoelectric module. Additional embodiments, cooling systems, and methods are further disclosed.

Abstract: A novel thermoelectric module in which the thermoelectric elements are stacked together with thermal and electrical conductors integrated in the stack to perform the dual functions of conducting both heat and electricity.

Abstract: A photovoltaic module (10) comprises a plurality of interconnected submodules (11, 12, 13). Each submodule (11, 12, 13) has a transparent front electrode layer (15), a semiconductor layer (16) and a back electrode layer (17) which have separating lines (18, 19, 20) in each case for forming series-connected strip-shaped photovoltaic cells (C). The outer cells (Cn, C1) of two adjacent submodules (11 and 12 or 12 and 13) are united into a single tap cell (Cn, C1) for current collection, the separating lines (18, 19, 20) of the two adjacent submodules (11 and 12 or 12 and 13) being disposed mirror-symmetrically with respect to their common tap cell.

Abstract: A photovoltaic (PV) module includes a plurality of PV cells and a plurality of reconfigurable interconnects which electrically interconnect the plurality of PV cells.

Abstract: An ink for forming CIGS photovoltaic cell active layers is disclosed along with methods for making the ink, methods for making the active layers and a solar cell made with the active layer. The ink contains a mixture of nanoparticles of elements of groups IB, IIIA and (optionally) VIA. The particles are in a desired particle size range of between about 1 nm and about 500 nm in diameter, where a majority of the mass of the particles comprises particles ranging in size from no more than about 40% above or below an average particle size or, if the average particle size is less than about 5 nanometers, from no more than about 2 nanometers above or below the average particle size. The use of such ink avoids the need to expose the material to an H2Se gas during the construction of a photovoltaic cell and allows more uniform melting during film annealing, more uniform intermixing of nanoparticles, and allows higher quality absorber films to be formed.

Abstract: Optoelectronic device modules, arrays optoelectronic device modules and methods for fabricating optoelectronic device modules are disclosed. The device modules are made using a starting substrate having an insulator layer sandwiched between a bottom electrode made of a flexible bulk conductor and a conductive back plane. An active layer is disposed between the bottom electrode and a transparent conducting layer. One or more electrical contacts between the transparent conducting layer and the back plane are formed through the transparent conducting layer, the active layer, the flexible bulk conductor and the insulating layer. The electrical contacts are electrically isolated from the active layer, the bottom electrode and the insulating layer.

Abstract: A method for producing a conductive polyaniline comprising oxidative polymerizing aniline or its derivative in the presence of at least one member of a sulfonic acid compound and a water-insoluble organic polymer compound having protonic acid group in a mixed layer composed of an aqueous layer and organic layer, during which it establishes the presence of a molecular weight adjusting agent and, optionally, a phase transfer catalyst so as to stably disperse them in an organic solvent, and an organic polymer composition containing the conductive polyaniline.

Abstract: Photovoltaic devices or solar cells are provided having one or more photoactive layers where at least one of the photoactive layers comprises a sublayer made of photoactive nanoparticles that differ in size, composition or both.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention seal an inside volume of an energy conversion unit from the outside atmosphere. A chamber for housing an energy conversion unit includes a lid having a first rim, a housing having a second rim, and a continuous seal sealing the first rim to the second rim. The lid and the housing form a volume with an atmosphere for securely housing an energy conversion unit. The seal has sidewalls that extend from the first rim to the second rim and includes an embedded ribbon that extends along a length of the seal such that the atmosphere is controlled by the continuous seal. Preferably, the embedded ribbon oscillates between the sidewalls in a pattern, such as a wave, a square wave, or a zig-zag. Preferably, the energy conversion unit is a concentrator photovoltaic device that includes optics for focusing light onto a photo-sensitive area of the photovoltaic device.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention control an atmosphere of a volume surrounding an energy conversion unit, such as a concentrator photovoltaic device. Differences between pressures within the volume and pressures outside the volume are controlled to reduce stress on seals and to prevent contaminants and moisture from flowing into the volume. A chamber for housing an energy conversion unit in accordance with one embodiment includes a housing and a controller. The housing defines a first unit volume for containing the energy conversion unit. The controller is coupled to the first unit volume and automatically controls an environment in the first unit volume. In one embodiment, the controller provides a flow path from a second unit volume outside the housing to a bladder within the first unit volume.