Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100116334 | VHF ENERGIZED PLASMA DEPOSITION PROCESS FOR THE PREPARATION OF THIN FILM MATERIALS - A VHF energized plasma deposition process wherein a process gas is decomposed in a plasma so as to deposit the thin film material onto a substrate, is carried out at process gas pressures which are in the range of 0.5-2.0 torr, with substrate temperatures that do not exceed 300° C., and substrate-cathode spacings in the range of 10-50 millimeters. Deposition rates are at least 5 angstroms per second. The present method provides for the high speed deposition of semiconductor materials having a quality at least equivalent to materials produced at a much lower deposition rate. | 05-13-2010 |
20100117172 | THIN FILM SEMICONDUCTOR ALLOY MATERIAL PREPARED BY A VHF ENERGIZED PLASMA DEPOSITION PROCESS - A thin film, hydrogenated, silicon based semiconductor alloy material is produced by a VHF energized plasma deposition process wherein a process gas is decomposed in a plasma so as to deposit the thin film material onto a substrate. The process is carried out at process gas pressures which are in the range of 0.5-2.0 torr, with substrate temperatures that do not exceed 300° C., and substrate-cathode spacings in the range of 10-50 millimeters. Deposition rates are at least 5 angstroms per second. Also disclosed are photovoltaic devices which include the semiconductor material. | 05-13-2010 |
20110220177 | TANDEM PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE WITH DUAL FUNCTION SEMICONDUCTOR LAYER - A tandem photovoltaic device includes at least two photovoltaic cells stacked in an optical and electrical series relationship. At least one of the tandem cells includes a dual function semiconductor layer fabricated from a dual function semiconductor material. This dual function layer is an electronically active constituent of the cell. The dual function layer also is optically active and creates a reflective condition which redirects a portion of the light which has passed through the cell back through the cell's active layers to photo generate additional photocurrent. Use of the dual function material eliminates the need for incorporating separate semiconductor and reflective layers in a photovoltaic device. Further disclosed are exemplary formulations of some dual function materials. | 09-15-2011 |
20130000717 | BACK REFLECTOR WITH NANOCRYSTALLINE PHOTOVOLTAIC DEVICE - A photovoltaic device and processes of manufacture are provided that employ particularly configured, textured back reflector structures that maintain a smooth, non-textured surface at the interface between the lowermost doped layer of semiconductor material and the intrinsic, light absorbing layer of nanocrystalline semiconductor material. The back reflector structure provides exhibit both superior short circuit current and a superior fill factor to a photovoltaic device such as those using nanocrystalline semiconductor materials. | 01-03-2013 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20100119032 | PORTAL AND REAL TIME IMAGING FOR TREATMENT VERIFICATION - A system for radiotherapy includes a first imaging system and a second imaging system. The first imaging system generates projection images of an area of interest of an object, and the second imaging system generates portal images of the area of interest of the object synchronously with the generation of the projection images. The radiotherapy system further includes a processing system that receives data associated with the projection images and data associated with the portal images and reconstructs 3D and 4D portal images from the projection images and the portal images. | 05-13-2010 |
20100294279 | Hyperthermia Assisted Radiation Therapy - A breathing system for hyperthermic assisted radiation therapy includes at least one heating element that modulates the temperature of air inhaled by a patient, at least one cooling element that modulates the humidity of the air inhaled by a patient, and a controller that maintains the desired humidity and temperature. | 11-25-2010 |
20110185503 | Local Adjustment Device for Radiotherapy - A cradle for supporting an anatomical portion of a patient during radiotherapy includes a plurality of air chambers and at least one pressure regulator that adjusts the pressure in each air chamber. The cradle may be connected to an electronic control unit that sends instructions to the at least one pressure regulator to pressure each air chamber to a desired pressure. | 08-04-2011 |
20120020449 | Intensity modulated arc therapy with continuous couch rotation/shift and simultaneous cone beam imaging - A system for radiotherapy that includes a couch upon which a patient being treated by the system is positioned, the couch having continuous arc rotation for delivery accelerated irradiation to the patient. | 01-26-2012 |
20120076271 | Portal and Real Time Imaging For Treatment Verification - A system for radiotherapy includes a first imaging system and a second imaging system. The first imaging system generates projection images of an area of interest of an object, and the second imaging system generates portal images of the area of interest of the object synchronously with the generation of the projection images. The radiotherapy system further includes a processing system that receives data associated with the projection images and data associated with the portal images and reconstructs 3D and 4D portal images from the projection images and the portal images. | 03-29-2012 |
20120163531 | TETRAHEDRON BEAM COMPUTED TOMOGRAPHY WITH MULTIPLE DETECTORS AND/OR SOURCE ARRAYS - A tetrahedron beam computed tomography system including an x ray source array that sequentially emits a plurality of x ray beams at different positions along a scanning direction and a collimator that intercepts the plurality of x-ray beams so that a plurality of fan-shaped x-ray beams emanate from the collimator towards an object. The system includes a first detector receiving a first set of fan-shaped x ray beams after they pass through the object, the first detector generating a first imaging signal for each of the received first set of fan-shaped x-ray beams and a second detector receiving a second set of fan-shaped x ray beams after they pass through the object, the second detector generating a second imaging signal for each of the received second set of fan-shaped x-ray beams. Each detector and source pair form a tetrahedral volume. In other embodiments, the system may also have more than two detectors arrays and/or more than one source array. Each pair of source array and detector array forms a tetrahedral volume. Using multiple detector arrays and source arrays can increase field of view, reduce the length of detector and source arrays so that the imaging system is more compact and mobile. | 06-28-2012 |
20120305007 | Local Adjustment Device For Radiotherapy - A cradle for positioning an anatomical portion of a patient during treatment includes a plurality of expandable fluid chambers and a pressure regulator configured to supply fluid to and withdraw fluid from each of the fluid chambers. A system for positioning an anatomical portion of a patient during treatment includes the aforementioned cradle and a control unit configured to control the pressure of each of the fluid chambers. A method for positioning an anatomical portion of a patient during treatment comprises the steps of placing the anatomical portion in the aforementioned cradle and adjusting the pressure of each of the fluid chambers to hold the anatomical portion in a desired position. | 12-06-2012 |
20140100408 | Intensity Modulated Arc Therapy with Continuous Coach Rotation/Shift and Simultaneous Cone Beam Imaging - A system for radiotherapy includes a couch having a top lateral surface upon which a patient being treated by the system is positioned. The couch has continuous arc rotation for delivery of accelerated irradiation to the patient. The couch is movable rotationally and translationally. Delivery of the accelerated irradiation is performed during at least a portion of the movement. | 04-10-2014 |
20140241505 | Compton Coincident Volumetric Imaging - A volumetric imaging device for constructing a three dimensional image includes a source, and absorbing detector, and an image constructor. The source includes a photon source, and a scatter detector arranged between the object and the photon source. The photon source emits photons towards the scatter detector. The scatter detector scatters at least some of the photons and detects the scattered photons. The object scatters at least some of the photons that were first scattered by the scatter detector. The absorbing detector is arranged to detect scattered photons from the object. The image constructor constructs the three dimensional image based on the scattered photons. | 08-28-2014 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080196397 | LNT regeneration strategy to reduce NOx spike - Systems and methods are disclosed for ameliorating NOx slip from a lean NOx trap by reducing the amount of hydrocarbons reaching the lean NOx trap during the early stages of, or in a period immediately preceding, a rich regeneration. In one embodiment, a hydrocarbon absorber is configured downstream from a fuel reformer, but upstream from the lean NOx trap, in order to reduce the quantity of hydrocarbons that reach the lean NOx trap during lean reformer warm-up and rich regeneration phases. In another embodiment, the fueling rate to a fuel reformer configured in an exhaust line upstream from the lean NOx trap is limited to reduce NOx slip. | 08-21-2008 |
20080196398 | HC mitigation to reduce NOx spike - Systems and methods are disclosed for ameliorating NOx slip from a lean NOx trap by reducing the amount of hydrocarbons reaching the lean NOx trap during the early stages of, or in a period immediately preceding, a rich regeneration. In one embodiment, a hydrocarbon absorber is configured downstream from a fuel reformer, but upstream from the lean NOx trap, in order to reduce the quantity of hydrocarbons that reach the lean NOx trap during lean reformer warm-up and rich regeneration phases. In another embodiment, the fueling rate to a fuel reformer configured in an exhaust line upstream from the lean NOx trap is limited to reduce NOx slip. | 08-21-2008 |
20100077734 | System and Method For Coupled DPF Regeneration and LNT DeNOx - A diesel exhaust aftertreatment system comprises an LNT within an exhaust line. A low thermal mass DPF and a low thermal mass fuel reformer are configured within the exhaust line upstream from the LNT. A thermal mass is configured downstream from the fuel reformer and the DPF, but upstream from the LNT. For LNT denitration, the fuel reformer is rapidly heated and then used to catalyze steam reforming. The DPF is also rapidly heat each time the fuel reformer is heated and the LNT denitrated. The system operates to regenerate the DPF each time the LNT is denitrated. Preferably, a second DPF is provided to augment the performance of the first DPF. Preferably, the first DPF is small and of the flow through type whereas the second DPF is much larger and of the wall flow filter type. The second DPF can be used as the thermal mass. | 04-01-2010 |
20110185708 | Adaptive Desulfation Control Algorithm - The exhaust from a diesel-fueled internal combustion engine is treated by a lean NO | 08-04-2011 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20090307966 | ZnO NANOPARTICLE CATALYSTS FOR USE IN BIODIESEL PRODUCTION AND METHOD OF MAKING - A method of forming a biodiesel product and a heterogeneous catalyst system used to form said product that has a high tolerance for the presence of water and free fatty acids (FFA) in the oil feedstock is disclosed. This catalyst system may simultaneously catalyze both the esterification of FAA and the transesterification of triglycerides present in the oil feedstock. The catalyst system is comprised of a mixture of zinc oxide and a second metal oxide. The zinc oxide includes a mixture of amorphous zinc oxide and zinc oxide nanocrystals, the zinc nanocrystals having a mean grain size between about 20 and 80 nanometers with at least one of the nanocrystals including a mesopore having a diameter of about 5 to 15 nanometers. Preferably, the second metal oxide is a lanthanum oxide, the lanthanum oxide being selected as one from the group of La | 12-17-2009 |
20100010246 | METHODS AND CATALYSTS FOR MAKING BIODIESEL FROM THE TRANSESTERIFICATION AND ESTERIFICATION OF UNREFINED OILS - A method of forming a biodiesel product and a heterogeneous catalyst system used to form said product that has a high tolerance for the presence of water and free fatty acids (FFA) in the oil feedstock is disclosed. This catalyst system may simultaneously catalyze both the esterification of FAA and the transesterification of triglycerides present in the oil feedstock. The catalyst system according to one aspect of the present disclosure represents a class of zinc and lanthanum oxide heterogeneous catalysts that include different ratios of zinc oxide to lanthanum oxides (Zn:La ratio) ranging from about 10:0 to 0:10. The Zn:La ratio in the catalyst is believed to have an effect on the number and reactivity of Lewis acid and base sites, as well as the transesterification of glycerides, the esterification of fatty acids, and the hydrolysis of glycerides and biodiesel. | 01-14-2010 |
20110209388 | CALCIUM AND LANTHANUM SOLID BASE CATALYSTS FOR TRANSESTERIFICATION - In one aspect, a heterogeneous catalyst comprises calcium hydroxide and lanthanum hydroxide, wherein the catalyst has a specific surface area of more than about 10 m | 09-01-2011 |
20120029218 | SUPPORTED CATALYST SYSTEMS AND METHOD OF MAKING BIODIESEL PRODUCTS USING SUCH CATALYSTS - A heterogeneous catalyst system, a method of preparing the catalyst system and a method of forming a biodiesel product via transesterification reactions using the catalyst system is disclosed. The catalyst system according to one aspect of the present disclosure represents a class of supported mixed metal oxides that include at least calcium oxide and another metal oxide deposited on a lanthanum oxide or cerium oxide support. Preferably, the catalysts include CaO—CeO | 02-02-2012 |
20120233910 | ZnO NANOPARTICLE CATALYSTS FOR USE IN TRANSESTERIFICATION AND ESTERIFICATION REACTIONS AND METHOD OF MAKING - A method of forming a product from an oil feedstock, such as a biodiesel product, and a heterogeneous catalyst system used to form said product is disclosed. This catalyst system, which has a high tolerance for the presence of water and free fatty acids (FFA) in the oil feedstock, may simultaneously catalyze both the esterification of FAA and the transesterification of triglycerides present in the oil feedstock. The catalyst system is comprised of a mixture of zinc oxide and a second metal oxide. The zinc oxide includes a mixture of amorphous zinc oxide and zinc oxide nanocrystals, the zinc nanocrystals having a mean grain size between about 20 and 80 nanometers with at least one of the nanocrystals including a mesopore having a diameter of about 5 to 15 nanometers. Preferably, the second metal oxide is a lanthanum oxide, the lanthanum oxide being selected as one from the group of La | 09-20-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20080229806 | KNOCK SYSTEM WITH DETECTION ZONES - A knock detection module for an engine comprises a statistics storage module and a processing module. The statistics storage module stores M times N vibration profiles corresponding to M zones of operation of the engine and N cylinders of the engine, wherein M and N are integers greater than one. The processing module determines in which one of the M zones the engine is operating and determines whether knock has occurred for one of the N cylinders by comparing measured vibration data with a selected one of the vibration profiles corresponding to the one of the M zones and the one of the N cylinders. | 09-25-2008 |
20080243355 | FULL RANGE TORQUE REDUCTION - An engine control system comprises a torque request module, an immediate torque control module, an actuation module, and an expected torque control module. The torque request module generates an expected torque request and an immediate torque request. The immediate torque control module controls a spark advance of an engine based on the immediate torque request. The actuation module selectively reduces the expected torque request based on the immediate torque request and a spark capacity. The spark capacity is based on a difference between a first engine torque and a second engine torque, determined at a current airflow. The first engine torque is determined at a first spark advance and the second engine torque is determined at a second spark advance that is less than the first spark advance. The expected torque control module that controls a throttle valve area based on the expected torque request. | 10-02-2008 |
20090173314 | SPEED CONTROL IN A TORQUE-BASED SYSTEM - An engine control system includes a power module, an air flow module, a torque estimation module, and an air control module. The power module determines a power-based torque based on a desired engine speed. The air flow module determines an air flow value based on the power-based torque. The torque estimation module estimates a desired torque based on the air flow value. The air control module selectively determines a throttle area based on the desired torque. A throttle valve is actuated based on the throttle area. | 07-09-2009 |
20100075803 | SECURING THROTTLE AREA IN A COORDINATED TORQUE CONTROL SYSTEM - An engine system includes a throttle actuator module and a torque control module. The throttle actuator module controls a throttle actuator based on a desired throttle area. The torque control module determines an actuator torque. The torque control module determines a rate limited torque, a maximum torque, and a minimum torque based on the actuator torque and a predetermined rate of change. The torque control module determines the desired throttle area based on the actuator torque when the rate limited torque is greater than the maximum torque. The torque control module determines the desired throttle area based on the actuator torque when the rate limited torque is less than the minimum torque. | 03-25-2010 |
20120065864 | METHOD FOR CONTROLLING INTERNAL COMBUSTION ENGINES IN HYBRID POWERTRAINS - A method for selectively creating vacuum in a hybrid powertrain controlled by a hybrid control processor and having an engine controlled by an engine control module includes requesting a pressure differential between a first intake point and a second intake point, wherein the first intake point and the second intake point are separated by a throttle. An actual torque capacity is calculated for the engine, wherein the actual torque capacity occurs when pressure is substantially equal at the first intake point and at the second intake point. A desired torque capacity is also calculated for the engine, wherein the desired torque capacity reduces the pressure at the second intake point relative to the pressure at the first intake point, such that the requested pressure differential is created. The engine is then operated at one of the desired torque capacity and the actual torque capacity. | 03-15-2012 |
Patent application number | Description | Published |
20120272557 | Foregrip - A grip is disclosed. The grip comprises a base portion; a grip portion pivotably connected to the base portion for arrangement in one of: a deployed orientation, a stowed orientation and an intermediate orientation, wherein the grip portion includes a first, inner body, and a second, outer body, wherein the second, outer body is movably- and telescopingly-connected to the first, inner body; and a locking assembly arranged within and at least partially contained by the grip portion, wherein a portion of the locking assembly is selectively-extendable in one of an orientation within the grip portion and beyond an outer surface of the grip portion for selective coupling of the portion of the locking assembly with the base portion. A method for operating a grip is also disclosed. An assembly is also disclosed. | 11-01-2012 |
20130134286 | Support Apparatus, Mechanisms and Methods for Operating the Same - An apparatus is disclosed. The apparatus includes a base member and at least one support member. The base member includes an outer side surface and at least one support-member-receiving channel formed in the outer side surface. The at least one support member is pivotably-coupled to the base member for selective arrangement relative the base member in one of a stowed orientation and a deployed orientation. The at least one support member includes a surface geometry dimension that corresponds to a spatial dimension of the at least one support-member-receiving channel such that: upon arrangement of the at least one support member in the stowed orientation, an outer surface of the at least one support member is aligned with the outer side surface of the base member, and upon arrangement of the at least one support member in the deployed orientation, the base member in combination with the at least one support member forms a pod. A method is also disclosed. | 05-30-2013 |
20140026459 | Firearm Handguard Components, Assembly and Method for Forming the Same - A firearm handguard assembly attachable to a receiver of a barrel of a firearm is disclosed. The firearm handguard assembly includes a barrel nut member, a locking sleeve member, a firearm handguard member and a plurality of fasteners. The locking sleeve member is disposed within an axial passage formed by the barrel nut member. A plurality of radial passages of the locking sleeve member are aligned with a plurality of radial passages of the barrel nut member. The firearm handguard member is arranged about the barrel nut member and the locking sleeve member such that the barrel nut member and the locking sleeve member are arranged within an axial passage of the firearm handguard member. The plurality of fasteners join the firearm handguard member to the barrel nut member and the locking sleeve member. | 01-30-2014 |