University of Arkansas

Carrier Corporation

James Douglas Wilson

Malay K Mazumder

William C Culp

Jason Shain Breland

Robert A Sims

An apparatus and method for using ultrasound augmented with microbubbles, thrombolytic drugs or other agents for clot lysis wherein at least one ultrasound transducer generates a plurality of acoustic signals and time, amplitude, phase and frequency modulation of the signals provide more uniform power delivery with fewer gaps in the ultrasound field. Interference patterns from one or multiple transducers are constantly shifted in position. A phased array of transducers may generate a beam that is swept over the area to be treated. In another embodiment, an array of transducers may generate ultrasound at a number of slightly varying frequencies to produce an interference pattern that sweeps in and out through the targeted tissue. A single array may be used to produce both effects simultaneously or separately.

Ultrasound apparatus and method for augmented clot lysis

A transparent electromagnetic shield to protect solar panels and the like from dust deposition. The shield is a panel of clear non-conducting (dielectric) material with embedded parallel electrodes. The panel is coated with a semiconducting film. Desirably the electrodes are transparent. The electrodes are connected to a single-phase AC signal or to a multi-phase AC signal that produces a travelling electromagnetic wave. The electromagnetic field produced by the electrodes lifts dust particles away from the shield and repels charged particles. Deposited dust particles are removed when the electrodes are activated, regardless of the resistivity of the dust. Electrostatic charges on the panel are discharged by the semiconducting film. When used in conjunction with photovoltaic cells, the power for the device may be obtained from the cells themselves. For other surfaces, such as windshields, optical windows and the like, the power must be derived from an external source. One embodiment of the invention employs monitoring and detection devices to determine when the level of obscuration of the screen by dust has reached a threshold level requiring activation of the dust removal feature.

Transparent self-cleaning dust shield

An apparatus for measuring an operating parameter of a relay armature operating a pair of relay contacts, and for controlling the voltage that occurs between the pair of relay contacts when they open or close. The apparatus includes a microcontroller that senses a reference voltage, and a sensed voltage signal that comprises a voltage component representing a relay coil voltage, a power supply voltage component, and a voltage component induced by a motion of the armature. The microcontroller uses discrete digital samples of the signals to deduce the operating parameter. The microcontroller provides a control signal to cause the relay to open or close the relay contacts at a time when a predefined voltage occurs therebetween. The predefined voltage can be substantially zero volts. Methods of use of the apparatus to control the opening and closing of relay contacts are described.

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Benton, AR, United States of America

James Douglas Wilson