5721results about "Electrostatic charges" patented technology

A process to prepare stoichiometric-nanostructured materials comprising generating a plasma, forming an "active volume" through introduction of an oxidizing gas into the plasma, before the plasma is expanded into a field-free zone, either (1) in a region in close proximity to a zone of charge carrier generation, or (2) in a region of current conduction between field generating elements, including the surface of the field generation elements, and transferring energy from the plasma to a precursor material to form in the "active volume" at least one stoichiometric-nanostructured material and a vapor that may be condensed to form a stoichiometric-nanostructured material. The surface chemistry of the resulting nanostructured materials is substantially enhanced to yield dispersion stable materials with large zeta-potentials.

Apparatus for dispensing paper from rolls which feeds continuously, roll to roll, and does not require extra procedure to bring stub roll into position. The apparatus has device for holding and positioning at least first and second rolls of paper with respect to each other; device for dispensing paper from the first roll; device for dispensing paper from the first and second rolls simultaneously when the first roll reduces to a predetermined diameter of paper, device for positioning the depleted first roll for replacement without the necessity of removing the second roll; and device for dispensing from the second and replacement rolls simultaneously when the second roll reduces to a predetermined diameter of paper. The apparatus also has a proximity sensor, which senses when a hand is placed near the dispenser, and thereupon dispenses a set amount of towel. The dispenser incorporates device for dissipating static charges to a local ground.

Apparatus for dispensing paper from rolls which feeds continuously, roll to roll, and does not require extra procedure to bring stub roll into position. The apparatus holds and positions at least first and second rolls of paper with respect to each other; dispenses paper from the first roll; dispenses paper from the first and second rolls simultaneously when the first roll reduces to a predetermined diameter of paper, positions the depleted first roll for replacement without the necessity of removing the second roll; and dispenses from the second and replacement rolls simultaneously when the second roll reduces to a predetermined diameter of paper. The apparatus also has a proximity sensor, which senses when a hand is placed near the dispenser, and thereupon dispenses a set amount of towel. The proximity sensor incorporates “static” and noise immunity circuitry.

A method and apparatus for generating plasma in a fluid. The fluid (3) is placed in a bath (2) having a pair of spaced electrodes (4, 6) forming a cathode and an anode. A stream of bubbles is introduced or generated within the fluid adjacent to the cathode. A potential difference is applied across the cathode and anode such that a glow discharge is formed in the bubble region and a plasma of ionized gas molecules is formed within the bubbles. The plasma may then be used in electrolysis, gas production, effluent treatment or sterilization, mineral extraction, production of nanoparticles or material enhancement. The method can be carried out at atmospheric pressure and room temperature. The electrodes may carry means to trap the bubbles in close proximity. Partitions may be present between the electrodes.

Apparatus and method for generating and controlling flows of positive and negative air ions includes interposing isolated sets of electrodes in a flowing air stream to separately produce positive and negative ions. The rates of separated production of positive and negative ions are sensed to control ionizing voltages applied to electrodes that produce the ions. Variations from a balance condition of substantially equal amounts of positive and negative ions flowing in the air stream are also sensed to alter bias voltage applied to a grid electrode through which the air stream and ions flow.

A process and apparatus for the synthesis of metal oxide nanopowder from a metal compound vapour is presented. In particular a process and apparatus for the synthesis of TiO2 nanopowder from TiCl4 is disclosed. The metal compound vapour is reacted with an oxidizing gas in electrically induced RF frequency plasma thus forming a metal oxide vapour. The metal oxide vapour is rapidly cooled using a highly turbulent gas quench zone which quickly halts the particle growth process, yielding a substantial reduction in the size of metal oxide particles formed compared with known processes. The metal compound vapour can also react with a doping agent to create a doped metal oxide nanopowder. Additionally, a process and apparatus for the inline synthesis of a coated metal oxide is disclosed wherein the metal oxide particles are coated with a surface agent after being cooled in a highly turbulent gas quench zone.

An acoustic transducer comprising a substrate; and a diaphragm formed by depositing a micromachined membrane onto the substrate. The diaphragm is formed as a single silicon chip using a CMOS MEMS (microelectromechanical systems) semiconductor fabrication process. The curling of the diaphragm during fabrication is reduced by depositing the micromachined membrane for the diaphragm in a serpentine-spring configuration with alternating longer and shorter arms. As a microspeaker, the acoustic transducer of the present invention converts a digital audio input signal directly into a sound wave, resulting in a very high quality sound reproduction at a lower cost of production in comparison to conventional acoustic transducers. The micromachined diaphragm may also be used in microphone applications.

A movable device simultaneously enabling reduction of size down to the submicron level, higher speed operation, a streamlined production process, low costs, and greater reliability. A movable device provided with bottom electrodes and a basic conductive layer fixed to a substrate, an elastic shaft of a carbon nanotube with a bottom end fixed on the basic conductive layer and standing up, and a top structure including a top electrode spaced away from the bottom electrode and fixed to a top end of the elastic shaft, wherein when applying voltage between a bottom electrode and the top electrode, the top electrode displaces relatively to the bottom electrodes within an allowable range of elastic deformation of the elastic shaft.

A lightning protection system for protecting composite structures and a method of protecting composite structures from lightning strikes. A dielectric ply is fixed above and completely covers metal surface features, e.g., skin fasteners through a composite skin to a wing fuel tank. A conductive ply is fixed above and completely covers the dielectric ply and extends to an external connection to a platform ground. The conductive ply directs current from lightning strikes away from metal surface features, e.g., to the platform ground. Both plies may be adhesively backed and sequentially pressed into place.

A system comprising: a plasma production chamber configured to produce a plasma; a reaction chamber vaporize a precursor material with the plasma to form a reactive mixture; a quench chamber having a frusto-conical surface and a quench region formed within the quench chamber between an ejection port of the reaction chamber and a cooled mixture outlet, wherein the quench region configured to receive the reactive mixture from the ejection port, to cool the reactive mixture to form a cooled mixture, and to supply the cooled mixture to the cooled mixture outlet; and a conditioning fluid injection ring disposed at the ejection port and configured to flow a conditioning fluid directly into the reactive mixture as the reactive mixture flows through the ejection port, thereby disturbing the flow of the reactive mixture, creating turbulence within the quench region and cooling the reactive mixture to form a cooled mixture comprising condensed nanoparticles.

A grounding brush for mitigating static electric charge on a motor shaft includes a plurality of filaments secured to an annular frame around the shaft, with tips of the filaments disposed in a channel defined by the frame. Conductive powder can be provided in the channel to improve current flow from the shaft to the filaments.

A lightning detection system for detecting and locating an initial discharge of an initial leader stroke of a lightning flash. An initial lightning discharge produces a pulse that can be used to accurately detect lightning, and more particularly, the location of the initial lightning discharge. In one embodiment, at least three sensors detect and determine the location of the first pulses from initial lightning discharges using time difference of arrival information of the pulses at each of the three sensors. In another embodiment, a single sensor is used to determine the range of an initial lightning discharge from the amplitude of a corresponding initial detected pulse, and to determine the direction from a crossed loop antenna An alternative embodiment of a single sensor system determines a distance of a lightning event from a peak amplitude value derived from a pulse amplitude distribution. In a further embodiment, a lightning detection system provides enhanced lightning location by incorporating weather data from a weather radar with detected lightning information.

A composite material, the composite material comprising at least one prepreg, said prepreg comprising at least one polymeric resin and at least one fibrous reinforcement; and conducting particles dispersed in the polymeric resin.

An electrical apparatus includes a reaction chamber. A stream of contaminated gasses flows through the chamber. An elongated coronating electrode is positioned in the reaction chamber for producing a corona discharge within the chamber. A multi-stage Fitch generator connected to the electrode produces a high level, rapidly pulsating voltage in the electrode. Controlled amounts of an inert gas or inert gas-air mixture are combined with the contaminated gases to provide a high concentration of inert gas in the reaction chamber. In the inert gas-enriched atmosphere, the pulsating corona discharge produces a high concentration of metastable intermediates that greatly increase the rate of chemical conversion of the contaminants. Switching circuitry allows the pulsating voltage output of the Fitch generator to be superimposed on a constant direct current voltage in the electrode, setting up an electrostatic field in the reaction chamber for removing conversion byproducts from the gas stream.

A fingerprint sensor in accordance with the invention includes a non-conductive substrate providing a first surface onto which a user can apply a fingerprint to be sensed. A sensor circuit is applied to a second surface of the non-conductive substrate opposite the first surface to sense a fingerprint when juxtaposed proximally thereto. An electrostatic discharge conductor is applied to the non-conductive surface and is located between an area where a fingerprint is swiped and the sensor circuit. The electrostatic discharge conductor discharges electrostatic charge resulting from a user swiping a fingerprint across the first surface.

A structural joint for the transmission and control of high current flows in a carbon fiber or carbon fiber hybrid composite structure, said joint includingat least two composite structures comprising a multiplicity of resin bonded carbon fiber plies,an adhesive applied there between and capable of conducting high currentssaid adhesive comprising a conductive carrier film comprising carbon fibers,wherein the electrical conductivity of the adhesive is comparable with that of the adjacent composite structures.

In a wind turbine (104, 500, 704) having a plurality of blades (132, 404, 516, 744) and a blade rotor hub (120, 712), a lightning protection system (100, 504, 700) for conducting lightning strikes to any one of the blades and the region surrounding the blade hub along a path around the blade hub and critical components of the wind turbine, such as the generator (112, 716), gearbox (708) and main turbine bearings (176, 724).

Techniques for preventing electrostatic discharge (ESD) and circuit noise are provided. More particularly, the present invention provides a method to prevent ESD damage during the assembly of computer disk commonly called a hard disk for memory applications. The coating mainly involves a ion-deposition process. Merely by way of example, the present invention is implemented by using filtered cathodic vacuum arc (FCVA) with a dissipative crystalline and / or amorphous carbon base thin film coating on a flexible circuit to drain the potential electrostatic charges during circuit assembly and interconnect processes, yet it would be recognized that the invention has a much broader range of applicability on any electronic apparatus that is susceptible to electrostatic damage and static noise.

An ion sening circuit comprises a bridge sensing circuit and a differential amplifying circuit. The bridge sensing circuit detects the ion concentration of the solution in the operation mode of constant voltage and constant current. The differential amplifying circuit compares the output of the bridge sensing circuit and a floating reference voltage, thereby the delivered voltage to the bridge sensing circuit, such that the opeation mode of constant voltage and constant current is formed accordingly. The main features of the disclosed circuit are that it grounds the reference electrode and floats the source terminal. The drawbacks of not being manufactured with intergrated circuits by CMOS technology and low benefits when applied to sensor arrays are avoided by the disclosed circuit.

The present invention relates to an omnidirectional intelligentized remote networking system in automotive field, and is in particular suitable to an intelligentized management system in car maintenance. The present invention mainly comprises three subsystems that are running condition detecting system, condition decoding system and fault early warning notice system of the car, wherein, the running condition detecting comprises an OBD vehicle automatic diagnosis module and an additional inspection module, the additional inspection module uses an optical fiber to transmit the inspection result data, which is transmitted to a condition decoding module together with a data output by the OBD vehicle automatic diagnosis module; the condition decoding module unscrambles an OBD fault code and an additional detection sensing detecting data, the fault code is transmitted to the fault early warning notice system, and the control center and users are informed through mobile communication network by utilizing a GSM / GPRS module chip. Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the functions of remote self-check diagnosis and fault early warning for vehicle fault, thus realizing that the fault detection and the fault resolution are real time, accurate and effective, and offering the potent assurance to the daily maintenance work of vehicles, the personnel safety of the owners of the vehicles, and the unimpeded transport of urban and rural road.

A method of and system for recirculating a fluid in a particle production system. A reactor produces a reactive particle-gas mixture. A quench chamber mixes a conditioning fluid with the reactive particle-gas mixture, producing a cooled particle-gas mixture that comprises a plurality of precursor material particles and an output fluid. A filter element filters the output fluid, producing a filtered output. A temperature control module controls the temperature of the filtered output, producing a temperature-controlled, filtered output. A content ratio control module modulates the content of the temperature-controlled, filtered output, thereby producing a content-controlled, temperature-controlled, filtered output. A channeling element supplies the content-controlled, temperature-controlled, filtered output to the quench chamber, wherein the content-controlled, filtered output is provided to the quench chamber as the conditioning fluid to be used in cooling the reactive particle-gas mixture.

This process occurs in the presence of activated carbon or its equivalent by decomposing adsorbed hazardous materials, such as hydrazine and microorganisms, on the carbon surface by radiofrequency energy in the microwave range at near ambient conditions of temperature and pressure. Further microwave oxidation to nonhazardous gases occurs in the presence of a microwaves enhanced oxidation catalyst.

Provided are methods of printing a pattern of charge on a substrate surface, such as by electrohydrodynamic (e-jet) printing. The methods relate to providing a nozzle containing a printable fluid, providing a substrate having a substrate surface and generating from the nozzle an ejected printable fluid containing net charge. The ejected printable fluid containing net charge is directed to the substrate surface, wherein the net charge does not substantially degrade and the net charge retained on the substrate surface. Also provided are functional devices made by any of the disclosed methods.