US Government As Represented by the Secretary of the Army

University of Florida Research Foundation, Incorporated

Christopher David Meyer

Nathan Scott Lazarus

David Patrick Arnold

Sarah Salah Bedair

Shuo Cheng

Brian Carl Morgan

Iain M Kierzewski

Israel Boniche

Sivaraman Masilamani

A deformable inductive device includes an elastomer material having at least one deformable electrode and a liquid magnetic core formed in the elastomer material and containing a magnetic liquid. Depending on the device's configuration, the deformable element may be embedded in, attached to, or in close proximity with the liquid magnetic core. In some embodiments, the deformable inductive device may be configured as an inductor, solenoid, or transformer and the deformable electrode is at least partially embedded in the liquid magnetic core, for instance. In another embodiment, the deformable inductive device may be configured as part of a wireless power transfer system which includes a coil and a magnetic backplane having the liquid magnetic core with the coil being attached to or in close proximity to the magnetic backplane.

Deformable inductor having a liquid magnetic core

A deformable inductive device includes a magnetic core formed of an elastomer material having magnetic particles dispersed in it and at least one deformable electrode. Depending on the device's configuration, the deformable element may be embedded in, attached to, or in close proximity with the magnetic core. In some embodiments, the deformable inductive device may be configured as an inductor, solenoid, or transformer and the deformable electrode is at least partially embedded in the magnetic core, for instance. In another embodiment, the deformable inductive device may be configured as part of a wireless power transfer system which includes a coil and a magnetic backplane having the magnetic core with the coil being attached to or in close proximity to the magnetic backplane.

Deformable inductive devices having a magnetic core formed of an elastomer with magnetic particles therein along with a deformable electrode

Embodiments of the present invention provide a tunable inductor having a magnetic core which has an air gap. In order to vary the inductance of the inductor, the inductor includes a tuner that is moveable relative to the magnetic core in the vicinity of the air gap. An actuator is attached to the tuner which, upon actuation, moves the tuner relative to the magnetic core to thereby vary the spacing between the tuner and the core in the vicinity of the air gap. The variation of the spacing between the tuner and the magnetic core varies the effective air gap of the overall inductor in the desired fashion.

MEMS tunable inductor

A system for transferring electrical power, data or both, by way of magnetic induction between a first article and a second article. A first electrically conductive coil is integrated in the first article and a second electrically conductive coil is integrated to a second article. A fastener comprising ferromagnetic or ferrimagnetic material is configured to be positioned through the first coil and the second coil to provide an efficient magnetic conductance path between the first coil and the second coil and to removably secure the first article and the second article together. A control circuit selectively energizes the first coil or second coil with alternating current to transfer electrical energy to the other of said first and second coil.

System for transferring electrical energy

Embodiments of the present invention are directed to electrical devices and methods for fabricating electrical devices using an oxidation process. According to one embodiment, a method of forming an electrical device using an oxidation process includes forming a metallic element which is to become an electrically insulating or resistive element in an electrical device; forming an electrically conductive element connected to the metallic element, wherein the metallic element and the electrically conductive element have different oxidation behavior when subjected to the oxidation process; and subjecting the elements forming the electrically insulating or resistive element and the electrically conductive element to the oxidation process.

Electrically insulating elements and electrically conductive elements formed from elements having different oxidation behaviors

Devices and systems for power electronic circuits are provided. Embodiments of the present invention enable high density inductive energy storage by using electromechanical coupling between an electrically conducting inductive element and a mechanical resonator to passively store energy via both electromagnetic and mechanical mechanisms. A microelectromechanical inductor (MEMI) is provided utilizing a magnet and a conductor. In a specific embodiment, the MEMI includes a permanent magnet on a compliant layer centrally disposed within a spiral coil. In a further embodiment, a second coil is provided near the magnet to provide a resonating transducer.

Electromechanical inductors and transformers

The subject invention pertains to thermoelectric power generation. According to certain embodiments, a stack of silicon-micromachined chips can be connected to form a cylindrical heat exchanger that enables a large, uniform temperature difference across a radially-oriented thermopile. Each layer in the stack can comprise two thermally-isolated concentric silicon rings connected by a polyimide membrane that supports patterned thermoelectric thin films. The polyimide membrane can be formed by selectively etching away the supporting silicon, resulting in thermally-isolated inner and outer rings. In operation, hot gas can flow through a finned central channel, and an external cross flow can enhance heat transfer to ambient to keep the outer surfaces cool. The resulting temperature gradient across the thermopile generates a voltage potential across the open ends due to the Seebeck effect. When connected to a load, current flows, and electrical power is supplied by the generated voltage potential caused by the temperature gradient.

Miniature thermoelectric power generator

A method of forming at least one electronic device on a substrate comprising creating a depository and an attached capillary; providing a liquid containing particles in the range 1 nanometer to 1 millimeter for deposit into the depository; the liquid flowing into the at least one capillary by capillary action; evaporating the liquid such that the particles form an agglomerate beginning at the end of the at least one capillary with a substantially uniform distribution of the particles within the agglomerate; whereby the agglomerate is used to form a part of the at least one electronic device. An microelectronic integrated circuit device comprising a substrate; a depository coupled to said substrate formed by at least one wall, a capillary channel coupled to said depository adapted to be filled with liquid comprising nanoparticles by capillary action, whereby as the liquid evaporates, an agglomerate forms in the capillary channel having a substantially uniform distribution of the particles.

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Bethesda, MD, United States of America

Christopher David Meyer