Other

Measuretek, Inc.

Rtc Inc.

Charles W Krapf

Richard H Harrington

Michael Rontal

Frank Joseph Fedel

Ryan Klock

Doug Briggs

Douglas William Briggs

Rick Harrington

A combined force- and temperature-sensing array includes an array of drive plates, an array of sense plates corresponding the drive plates, and a layer of dielectric material separating the drive and sense plates. A diode with a forward junction voltage is connected between at least one of the drive plates and at least one of the sense plates. A multiplexer is operative to select between an electrical pulse or an electrical current for delivery to the at least one drive plate. Circuitry is provided for sensing an applied force resulting from a change in capacitance between the at least one drive plate and the at least one sense plate when the electrical pulse is delivered, and for sensing a temperature resulting from a change in the forward junction voltage of the diode when the current is delivered. The sensor array may be provided as a shoe insert for diabetics with neuropathy.

Multi-capacitor sensor array with integrated temperature measurement

A surgical instrument for treating body tissues through narrow body passages employs an elongated cantilevered beam having a proximal end supported in a rigid block and a narrower distal end extendable through the narrow passages. One or more piezoelectric actuators are fixed to the beam surface and energized from an AC source provided by an electrical excitation system through electrodes interspersed with the piezoelectric actuators to produce oscillatory motion of the beam distal end in multiple modes of movement.

Surgical device employing a cantilevered beam dissector

A smart light-emitting-diode (LED) bulb includes apparatus enabling the bulb to be turned ON, OFF, or dimmed without the use of a wall switch. Such apparatus may include circuitry responsive to rotating the LED portion of the bulb, circuitry responsive to touching or tapping on the bulb, or a Bluetooth or WiFi interconnection enabling the bulb to be controlled using a smartphone or other device executing a bulb-control application. Other apparatus may include a microphone enabling the bulb to be controlled with a voice, sound or music. In other embodiments, apparatus enabling the bulb to be turned ON, OFF, or dimmed may include a power line communication (PLC) interface enabling the bulb or bulbs to be controlled via the Internet. A camera or image sensor may be provided enabling the bulb to be gesture-controlled. A system may include a plurality of smart LED light bulbs.

Control and monitoring of light-emitting-diode (LED) bulbs

Electrical feedback is provided to a user who cannot receive full sensation from a body part due to amputation, neuropathy or other condition. A sensor array includes an array of capacitive force-sensing elements operative to sense axial and shear forces applied to that element. Temperature may also be sensed at each force-sensor location. An electrode matrix, adapted for external placement in an area on a user of the sensor array, includes an array of electrodes in physical correspondence to the array of capacitive sensing elements of the sensor array. An electronic controller is configured to receive electrical signals representative of the axial and shear forces applied to the sensor array and drive the electrode matrix with electrical stimulation signals corresponding to the electrical signals received from the sensor array, thereby enabling the user to experience force and/or temperature sensations experienced by the body part through the electrode matrix.

Multicapacitor sensor array with user electrical feedback

A surgical instrument for treating body tissues through narrow body passages employs an elongated cantilevered beam having a proximal end supported in a rigid block and a narrower distal end extendable through the narrow passages. One or more piezoelectric actuators are fixed to the beam surface and energized from an AC source through electrodes interspersed with the piezoelectric actuators to produce oscillatory motion of the beam distal end in multiple modes of movement with sensing electronics to monitor and control the distal mechanical movement.

Improved circuits minimize, or eliminate, energy losses in the supply of energy to control LEDs. Diodes and a capacitor reduce or eliminate LED blinking, and create smooth and continuous, infinitely variable dimming. The components are added to supply power to each LED during the half of the AC cycle where it would normally be turned off. A first added diode allows an added capacitor to charge during the half cycle that the original diode is turned on, but does not allow the other half cycle to discharge the added capacitor. When the added capacitor is charged enough to turn on the original diode, it stays on throughout the AC cycle. The same relationship exists between the second added diode, the added capacitor and the second original diode. Zener diodes protect the LEDs from voltage surges/spikes by shunting current around LEDs when the voltage exceeds the Zener diode's breakdown voltage.

Light emitting diode circuits for general lighting

Improved electric circuits that minimize, or eliminate, energy losses in the supply of energy to and control of LEDs. Addition of diodes and a capacitor to a circuit reduces or eliminates LED blinking, creates smooth and continuous infinitely variable dimming. The components are added to supply power to each LED during the half of the AC cycle where it would normally be turned off. A first added diode allows an added capacitor to charge during the half cycle that the original diode is turned on, but does not allow the other half cycle to discharge the added capacitor. When the added capacitor is charged enough to turn on the original diode, it stays on throughout the AC cycle. The same relationship exists between the second added diode, the added capacitor and the second original diode. Zener diodes protect the LEDs from voltage surge's/spikes by shunting current around LEDs when the voltage exceeds the Zener diode's breakdown voltage. Micro processor controller with MOS FETs is ultra efficient and has next to zero power dissipation.

A platform weight scale comprising a capacitative load cell sensing means configured to be insensitive to off center loading of the horizontal platform regardless of load amount or location on the platform. The platform is supported by a plurality of springs selected for equal spring rates. The load cell is electrically connected into a FET (Field Effect Transistor), CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) or Bi-Polar semiconductor multivibrator circuit selected and designed to sense electric currents on the order of 10.sup.-13 amperes. In one preferred embodiment the load cell comprises a grounded hemispherical surface opposing a flat charged plate. In alternate embodiments the load cell comprises a differential capacitor or a parallel plate capacitor suspended in a manner that is insensitive to off center loading. An additional embodiment for the load cell comprises a spherically concave surface opposing the above grounded hemisperical surface. A method for two point calibration of the scale without the use of calibration weights is provided. The method provides for weighing the empty weight table or platform for the zero point, weighing the scale without the platform and without disassembly by turning upside down and then recalibrating the scale at the two points or settings. The differential capacitor load cell embodiment utilizes an alternating switch circuit as a part of the multivibrator circuit. As a third alternative, a frequency modulated system clock circuit that is modulated by the load cell capacitance or differential capacitance may be utilized as the weight sensing circuit and driver for peripheral attachments to the scale circuit.

Calibration of weight scale utilizing a capacitative load cell

A platform weight scale comprising a capacitative load cell sensing means configured to be insensitive to off center loading of the horizontal platform regardless of load amount or location on the platform. The platform is supported by a plurality of springs selected for equal spring rates. The load cell is electrically connected into a FET (Field Effect Transistor), CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) or Bi-Polar semiconductor multivibrator circuit selected and designed to sense electric currents on the order of 10.sup.-13 amperes. In one preferred embodiment the load cell comprises a grounded hemispherical surface opposing a flat charged plate. In alternate embodiments the load cell comprises a differential capacitor or a parallel plate capacitor suspended in a manner that is insensitive to off center loading. An additional embodiment for the load cell comprises a spherically concave surface opposing the above grounded hemispherical surface. A method for two point calibration of the scale without the use of calibration weights is provided. The method provides for weighing the empty weight table or platform for the zero point, weighing the scale without the platform and without disassembly by turning upside down and then recalibrating the scale at the two points or settings. The differential capacitor load cell embodiment utilizes an alternatin switch circuit as a part of the multivibrator circuit. As a third alternative, a frequency modulated system clock circuit that is modulated by the load cell capacitance or differential capacitance may be utilized as the weight sensing circuit and driver for peripheral attachments to the scale circuit.

Weight scale utilizing a capacitative load cell

A platform weight scale comprising a capacitative load cell sensing means configured to be insensitive to off center loading of the horizontal platform regardless of load amount or location on the platform. The platform is supported by a plurality of springs selected for equal spring rates. The load cell is electrically connected into a FET (Field Effect Transistor), CMOS (Complementary Metal Oxide Semiconductor) or Bi-Polar semiconductor multivibrator circuit selected and designed to sense electric currents on the order of 10.sup.-13 amperes. In one preferred embodiment the load cell comprises a grounded hemispherical surface opposing a flat charged plate. In alternate embodiments the load cell comprises a differential capacitor or a parallel plate capacitor suspended in a manner that is insensitive to off center loading. The differential capacitor load cell embodiment utilizes an alternating switch circuit as a part of the multivibrator circuit. As a third alternative, a frequency modulated system clock circuit that is modulated by the load cell capacitance or differential capacitance may be utilized as the weight sensing circuit and driver for peripheral attachments to the scale circuit.

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Livonia, MI, United States of America

Charles W Krapf