398results about "Cryogenics" patented technology

A method for providing location-based nowcast, comprises the steps of: a) initiation of a request, by an end-user, for a time evolution of user-selected nowcast weather parameters, the transmission of the request being made over a public communication network to a nowcast request processor; b) the determination of the end-user's actual location by the nowcast request processor; c) the nowcast request processor gathering raw weather data from data sources; d) processing the raw data into a time-series of nowcast parameter maps; e) extracting the time evolution of the user requested nowcast parameters from the time-series of nowcast parameter maps by positioning the end-user's location on said time series; and f) distributing the requested information to end-user regarding the user-selected nowcast parameters within the extracted time evolution.

High strength aluminum alloy powders, extrusions, and forgings are provided in which the aluminum alloys exhibit high strength at atmospheric temperatures and maintain high strength and ductility at extremely low temperatures. The alloy is produced by blending about 89 atomic % to 99 atomic % aluminum, 1 atomic % to 11 atomic % of a secondary metal selected from the group consisting of magnesium, lithium, silicon, titanium, zirconium, and combinations thereof, and up to about 10 atomic % of a tertiary metal selected from the group consisting of Be, Ca, Sr, Ba, Ra, Sc, V, Cr, Mn, Fe, Co, Ni, Cu, Zn, Y, Nb, Mo, Tc, Ru, Rh, Pd, Ag, Cd, W, and combinations thereof. The alloy is produced by nanostructure material synthesis, such as cryomilling, in the absence of refractory dispersoids. The synthesized alloy is then canned, degassed, consolidated, extruded, and optionally forged into a solid metallic component. Grain size within the alloy is less than 0.5 μm, and alloys with grain size less than 0.1 μm may be produced.

Methods and devices are provided for high-throughput printing of semiconductor precursor layer from microflake particles. In one embodiment, the method comprises of transforming non-planar or planar precursor materials in an appropriate vehicle under the appropriate conditions to create dispersions of planar particles with stoichiometric ratios of elements equal to that of the feedstock or precursor materials, even after settling. In particular, planar particles disperse more easily, form much denser coatings (or form coatings with more interparticle contact area), and anneal into fused, dense films at a lower temperature and / or time than their counterparts made from spherical nanoparticles. These planar particles may be microflakes that have a high aspect ratio. The resulting dense film formed from microflakes is particularly useful in forming photovoltaic devices. In one embodiment, at least one set of the particles in the ink may be inter-metallic flake particles (microflake or nanoflake) containing at least one group IB-IIIA inter-metallic alloy phase.

A high-throughput method of forming a semiconductor precursor layer by use of a chalcogen-rich chalcogenides is disclosed. The method comprises forming a precursor material comprising group IB-chalcogenide and / or group IIIA-chalcogenide particles, wherein an overall amount of chalcogen in the particles relative to an overall amount of chalcogen in a group IB-IIIA-chalcogenide film created from the precursor material, is at a ratio that provides an excess amount of chalcogen in the precursor material. The excess amount of chalcogen assumes a liquid form and acts as a flux to improve intermixing of elements to form the group IB-IIIA-chalcogenide film at a desired stoichiometric ratio, wherein the excess amount of chalcogen in the precursor material is an amount greater than or equal to a stoichiometric amount found in the IB-IIIA-chalcogenide film.

Methods and devices are provided for high-throughput printing of semiconductor precursor layer from microflake particles. In one embodiment, a solar cell is provided that comprises of a substrate, a back electrode formed over the substrate, a p-type semiconductor thin film formed over the back electrode, an n-type semiconductor thin film formed so as to constitute a pn junction with the p-type semiconductor thin film, and a transparent electrode formed over the n-type semiconductor thin film. The p-type semiconductor thin film results by processing a dense film formed from a plurality of microflakes having a material composition containing at least one element from Groups IB, IIIA, and / or VIA, wherein the dense film has a void volume of about 26% or less. The dense film may be a substantially void free film.

Methods and devices are provided for transforming non-planar or planar precursor materials in an appropriate vehicle under the appropriate conditions to create dispersions of planar particles with stoichiometric ratios of elements equal to that of the feedstock or precursor materials, even after selective forces settling. In particular, planar particles disperse more easily, form much denser coatings (or form coatings with more interparticle contact area), and anneal into fused, dense films at a lower temperature and / or time than their counterparts made from spherical nanoparticles. These planar particles may be nanoflakes that have a high aspect ratio. The resulting dense films formed from nanoflakes are particularly useful in forming photovoltaic devices.

Methods and devices are provided for high-throughput printing of semiconductor precursor layer from microflake particles. In one embodiment, the method comprises of transforming non-planar or planar precursor materials in an appropriate vehicle under the appropriate conditions to create dispersions of planar particles with stoichiometric ratios of elements equal to that of the feedstock or precursor materials, even after settling. In particular, planar particles disperse more easily, form much denser coatings (or form coatings with more interparticle contact area), and anneal into fused, dense films at a lower temperature and / or time than their counterparts made from spherical nanoparticles. These planar particles may be microflakes that have a high aspect ratio. The resulting dense film formed from microflakes are particularly useful in forming photovoltaic devices.

A system and method for forecasting future retail performance are described herein. The system includes a storage device that stores a sales history database, a weather history database, and a weather forecast database. An analyzer determines the extent to which past retail performance of a plurality of products at a plurality of locations was affected by weather using the sales history database and the weather history database. A configurator, coupled to the analyzer, estimates expected future retail performance of the products at the stores for a plurality of future time periods using the weather forecast database and results produced by the analyzer. A graphical user interface, coupled to the analyzer and the configurator, enables users to view and manipulate results produced by the analyzer and the configurator to thereby forecast future retail performance of the products at the locations.

Materials and devices are provided for high-throughput printing of nanostructured semiconductor precursor layer. In one embodiment, a material is provided that comprises of a plurality of microflakes having a material composition containing at least one element from Groups IB, IIIA, and / or VIA. The microflakes may be created by milling precursor particles characterized by a precursor composition that provides sufficient malleability to form a planar shape from a non-planar starting shape when milled, and wherein overall amounts of elements from Groups IB, IIIA and / or VIA contained in the precursor particles combined are at a desired stoichiometric ratio of the elements. It should also be understood that other flakes such as but not limited to nanoflakes may also be used to form the precursor material.

A system and method for generating storm warnings which are precisely tailored automatically for a particular individual or business user's geographic location of interest, which maybe provided automatically to the individual user or business. The user establishes an individualized user profile, in which the user may define a particular location of interest and a contact address to which a personalized storm warning is to be delivered. The user may also establish a storm profile defining attribute characteristics of a storm for which the user desires a storm warning to be provided, and an amount of advanced warning to be provided by the personalized storm warning. A detailed and accurate storm track, which includes information describing storm characteristics (severe weather conditions) as well as the current location and predicted track of movement of the storm, is generated. The storm track may be generated automatically from weather radar data, such as NEXRAD data, either alone, or in combination with local live weather radar information, to provide a more accurate storm track. Generated storm tracks are compared to individual user profiles. Personalized storm warnings identifying in detail the storm conditions approaching a user location of interest and arrival time information for that location of interest are generated for user profiles defining locations of interest within a predicted storm track, if the storm track characteristics of the storm meet the attribute and advance warning characteristics specified in the storm profile established by the users. The personalized storm warnings may be delivered to users via e-mail, cell phone, pager, etc.

A weather alert manager is used to provide real-time, site specific information to a user regarding weather and possibly other hazards. The weather alert manager compares meteorological data, a user profile including information on points of interest to the user, and geographical data to determine if weather will impact one or more of the user's points of interest. The user's points of interest include at least one mobile point of interest, which periodically transmits its location. The weather alert manager transmits a user alert message if one is needed, and a remote receiver notifies the user that a message has been received.

A broadcast network for selectively transmitting individualized weather forecast signals to remote communicator devices. The broadcast network comprising a user input database, a communicator location database, a weather analysis unit and a communication network. The user input database contains user-defined parameters, each of the user-defined parameters includes a user profile. The user profile utilizes a user identifier code and identifies a communicator device associated with a particular user. The communicator location database contains data indicative of the real-time spatial locations of the communicator devices. The weather analysis unit compares the spatial location of each communicator device contained in the communicator location database with real-time weather forecast data or weather data and generates an individualized weather forecast signal upon demand of a user. The communication network receives the individualized weather output signals and transmits the individualized weather output signals to the communicator devices identified by the user identifier codes.

Methods and devices are provided for transforming non-planar or planar precursor materials in an appropriate vehicle under the appropriate conditions to create dispersions of planar particles with stoichiometric ratios of elements equal to that of the feedstock or precursor materials, even after selective forces settling. In particular, planar particles disperse more easily, form much denser coatings (or form coatings with more interparticle contact area), and anneal into fused, dense films at a lower temperature and / or time than their counterparts made from spherical nanoparticles. These planar particles may be nanoflakes that have a high aspect ratio. The resulting dense films formed from nanoflakes are particularly useful in forming photovoltaic devices. In one embodiment, at least one set of the particles in the ink may be inter-metallic flake particles (microflake or nanoflake) containing at least one group IB-IIIA inter-metallic alloy phase.

A system and method for generating weather reports and the like which are precisely computed automatically for a particular individual user's geographic location and which are provided automatically to the individual user. A user establishes an individualized user profile in which the user defines a particular location of interest, a contact address, and optionally, a personalized activity weather condition profile. A detailed and accurate weather forecasting model is run to provide high geographic and temporal resolution forecast data. The high resolution forecast data is compared to the individual user profile and a personalized weather report for the particular location, times, and conditions of interest are provided automatically to the individual, e.g., via e-mail and / or at a personalized internet web page. A detailed weather forecast report may be provided in an easily readable tabular form, with notable weather conditions, e.g., daily high and low temperatures, highlighted.

A method of producing high strength nanophase metal alloy powder by cryomilling metal powder under conditions which cause the formation of intrinsic nitrides, and of producing high strength metal articles by subjecting the nitrided cryomilled powder to thermo-mechanical processing. The intrinsic nitrides present within the alloy significantly reduce grain growth during thermo-mechanical processing, resulting in formed metal products of high strength and improved ductility.

A method for locating at least one individual located remotely from a broadcast network. An analysis unit compares user profiles, dynamic locations stored in the communicator location database, and / or fixed locations entered into the analysis unit. A data set of at least one matching individualized locatee user profile is generated and the individualized locatee user profile is transmitted to the locator via the locator's communicator device.

A method for consolidating nanophase metal powder includes the steps of consolidating the powder by applying pressure to the powder at a first temperature, encompassing the powder with a flowable pressure transmitting medium that is heated to a second temperature that is higher than the first temperature, and compressing the heated medium and thereby further consolidating the powder. The first consolidating step may include encompassing the nanophase metal powder with a flowable pressure transmitting medium that is heated to the first temperature, and compressing the heated medium at the first temperature.

A system and method for generating weather reports and the like which are precisely computed automatically for a particular individual user's geographic location, e.g., home or work, and which are provided to the individual user in both graphical and textual format in a user interactive manner. A personalized weather report presentation in accordance with the present invention may include a tabular presentation of a plurality of forecast weather conditions for the user location of interest throughout a day, along with a linked graphical representation of at least one of those weather conditions overlaid on a map centered at the user location of interest. Under user control, the user may select the time of the forecast weather conditions shown in the graphical portion of the presentation.

Methods and systems for normalizing flood warnings and potential flood levels across multiple river gauges by converting localized flood stage levels to a datum-based normalized value are disclosed. The normalized flood levels can then be used to plot flood levels from multiple river gauges on an inundation map. Methods and systems are also disclosed for creating animated inundation maps that illustrate flood levels geographically, and may include an indication of the certainty that flooding will reach one or more of the indicated flood levels through the use of multiple colors, shades, dithering, or the like.

For improved reliability and relevancy of reporting of atmospheric condition data, faster access to the data, and more geographically granular collection of data, data pertaining to atmospheric conditions is measured at network towers, collected, managed, distributed and presented according to a requested service. Weather data is measured and collected at a granularity greater than previously existing systems by communicatively coupling and generally co-locating weather or atmospheric measuring instruments to existing mobile network towers, and collecting and distributing the data as part of enhanced services for end users. Accordingly, when weather data is collected from the measuring instruments placed on network towers according to the present invention, and aggregated at one or more servers, the weather data may be distributed to end users of the communications networks with greater relevancy. Any of the voice / data, control and broadcast channels of an applicable mobile communications network may be utilized.

A high-throughput method of forming a semiconductor precursor layer by use of a chalcogen-containing vapor is disclosed. In one embodiment, the method includes forming a first layer of a first precursor material over a surface of a substrate, wherein the precursor material comprises group IB-chalcogenide and / or group IIIA-chalcogenide particles. The method may include forming at least a second layer of a second precursor material over the first layer, wherein the second precursor material comprises group IB-chalcogenide and / or group IIIA-chalcogenide particles and wherein the second precursor material has a chalcogen content greater than that of the first material. The method may also include heating the first layer and the second layer in a suitable atmosphere to a temperature sufficient to react the particles and to release at least the surplus amount of chalcogen from the chalcogenide particles, wherein the surplus amount of chalcogen assumes a liquid form and acts as a flux to improve intermixing of elements to form the group IB-IIIA-chalcogenide film at a desired stoichiometric ratio

Methods and articles of manufacture for estimating or deriving weather observations for any given location. Using weather radar data, a correspondence between the weather radar coverage, intensity and the precipitation type may be monitored. From that, a measure of corroboration between the radar data and surface weather conditions may be established. Through radar calibration statistics and estimates of ground-based precipitation, the corroboration can be iteratively tuned, resulting in a final improved estimate of the present weather and associated meteorological fields. The associated meteorological fields may include at least one of a probability of precipitation, precipitation accumulation, precipitation rate, and horizontal visibility.

A severe weather monitoring system including a local event detector wherein the local event detector includes at least one electric field monitor and at least one electromagnetic sensor. A local grid computer receives local data from the electric field monitor and the electromagnetic sensor, the local grid computer is connected to the Internet to periodically send information about local environmental conditions to local and remote communications devices, such as computers and cell phones. The local grid computer includes software to analyze the local data and to post the local data to a computer network and wherein the local grid computer can trigger a local on site alert in event of the sensed data indicating a dangerous condition.

Apparatus and methods for passively and remotely and continuously locating, monitoring, and measuring present weather and nowcasting and forecasting weather and meteorological phenomena and parameters by utilizing observations of infrared emissions and reflections are disclosed. Based on observations of an instrument such as an infrared noncontact thermometer, the methods provide useful information on the presence of aerosol, dust, cloud, and precipitation for the purpose of determining present weather, weather tracking, weather nowcasting, and weather forecasting as well as other weather phenomena. One embodiment of this invention is an infrared sensor pointed vertically and reflected from a suitable mirror rotating about a vertical axis such that the field of view of the sensor scans azimuthally at an elevated angle above the horizon.

A system and method for generating weather reports and the like which are precisely computed automatically for a particular individual user's geographic location and which are provided automatically to the individual user. A user establishes an individualized user profile in which the user defines a particular location of interest, a contact address, and optionally, a personalized activity weather condition profile, establishing a preferred weather condition profile for activities of interest. A detailed and accurate weather forecasting model is run to provide high geographical and temporal resolution forecast data. The resulting modeled forecast data may be constrained by an operator using a constrainer module. The high resolution forecast data is compared to the individual user profile and personalized weather report for the particular location, times, and conditions of interest are provided automatically to the individual, e.g., via e-mail and / or at a personalized internet web page. A detailed weather forecast report may be provided in an easily readable tabular form, with notable weather conditions, e.g., daily high and low temperatures, highlighted. The high resolution forecast data may be generated locally for a limited region, e.g., at a television station for the station's viewing area, using initialization conditions provided from a central location, and / or for a wider region, e.g., the entire country, using a less high resolution weather forecast module.

At least one method for indicating a weather condition. The method includes providing a probability of one or more wind fields from a cyclone impacting one or more locations over a period of time. The probability may then be delivered to a recipient.

For improved reliability and relevancy of reporting of atmospheric condition data, faster access to the data, and more geographically granular collection of data, data pertaining to atmospheric conditions is measured at network towers, collected, managed, distributed and presented according to a requested service. Weather data is measured and collected at a granularity greater than previously existing systems by communicatively coupling and generally co-locating weather or atmospheric measuring instruments to existing mobile network towers, and collecting and distributing the data as part of enhanced services for end users. Accordingly, when weather data is collected from the measuring instruments placed on network towers according to the present invention, and aggregated at one or more servers, the weather data may be distributed to end users of the communications networks with greater relevancy. Any of the voice / data, control and broadcast channels of an applicable mobile communications network may be utilized.