Nview Corporation

Adaptivenergy, LLC

Parasitx, LLC

James H Vogeley

Arthur W Vogeley

Giles K Davis

Garth S Jones

David D Wright

Stephen Samuel Trani

Paul Aaron Robinson

Marcel F C Schemmann

Edward T Tanner

Sanford Jones

Taylor D McClenny

Patrick H Newton

Kenneth Kosin

Peter R Merrick

James S Love

A density meter for measuring the density of a fluid, having a base plate, wherein a spring element is clamped to the base plate; a torpedo, wherein the torpedo comprises a known weight, and wherein the torpedo is attached or coupled to the spring element; and a sensor, wherein the sensor measures a deflection of the spring element, as the torpedo displaces a volume of fluid.

Systems, methods, and apparatuses for monitoring and/or controlling the density of a fluid

A diaphragm assembly () comprises at least two piezoelectric diaphragm members () arranged in a stacking direction (). An interface layer () is situated between adjacent piezoelectric diaphragm members (). The interface layer () in the stacking direction () is displaceable and incompressible or resilient. The interface layer () permits lateral movement of the adjacent piezoelectric diaphragm members () relative to the interface layer () in a direction perpendicular to the stacking direction (). The interface layer () can comprise, for example, an incompressible liquid or a semi-liquid or a compressible gas. A gasket () can be used to seal the substance in the interface layer if necessary.

Stacked piezoelectric diaphragm members

An actuator assembly comprises a first diaphragm () and a second diaphragm () connected to the first diaphragm for forming a chamber () between the first diaphragm and the second diaphragm. An actuator shaft () is connected to first diaphragm () and is oriented to extend through the chamber () and to extend through an aperture formed in the second diaphragm (). The second diaphragm () can be connected to an actuator body () wherein the actuator shaft () performs an actuation operation. Alternatively, one or more actuator amplification assemblies ((B)) can be interposed between the second diaphragm and the actuator body.

Actuators with connected diaphragms

A pump comprises a diaphragm assembly which includes a first diaphragm () having a first diaphragm edge () and a second diaphragm () having a second diaphragm edge (). The first diaphragm edge () and the second diaphragm edge () are bonded together so that a bellows chamber () is formed between the first diaphragm () and the second diaphragm (). At least one and possibly both of the first diaphragm () and the second diaphragm () is a piezoelectric diaphragm which displaces in accordance with application of an electrical signal. A driver applies the electrical signal to whichever of the first diaphragm () and the second diaphragm () is the piezoelectric diaphragm. The first diaphragm and the second diaphragm bow outwardly together and shrink in diameter during a suction stroke but flatten out and increase in diameter during a pump stroke.

Pumps with diaphragms bonded as bellows

A drive circuit () senses a parameter of a piezoelectric actuator () operating in a device () and adjusts a drive signal of the piezoelectric actuator in accordance with the parameter. The drive circuit comprises a controller () which controls a drive signal applied to the piezoelectric actuator (); a feedback monitor () which obtains a feedback signal from the piezoelectric actuator while the piezoelectric actuator works; and, a processor () which uses the feedback signal to determine the parameter of the piezoelectric actuator. In one example mode, the parameter of the piezoelectric actuator which is determined by the piezoelectric actuator drive circuit is the capacitance or dielectric constant of the piezoelectric actuator. In other example modes, the parameter of the piezoelectric actuator which is determined by the piezoelectric actuator drive circuit is impedance or resonant frequency of the piezoelectric actuator.

Piezoelectric devices and methods and circuits for driving same

A drive circuit () produces a drive signal for a pump () having a piezoelectric actuator (), with the piezoelectric actuator () forming a part of the drive circuit () and serving to shape a waveform of the drive signal. The drive circuit () comprises a pulse generator () which generates pulses; a converter circuit () which receives the pulses and produces charge packets at a rate which equals a desired drive frequency; and, the piezoelectric actuator (). The piezoelectric actuator () receives the charge packets and, by its capacitive nature, integrates the charge packets to shape the waveform of the drive signal. Preferably, the piezoelectric actuator () integrates the charge packets to yield a drive field that approximates a sine wave. In one non-limiting example embodiment, the pulse generator () comprises a microcontroller-based pulsed width modulator (PWM) circuit () and the converter circuit () comprises a flyback circuit.

Actuator assemblies comprise an actuator element and two piezoelectric assemblies, with the two piezoelectric assemblies being configured and arranged for controlling movement of the actuator element. In some example implementations, the first piezoelectric assembly and the second piezoelectric assembly are constructed and arranged so that a temperature dependency of the first piezoelectric assembly is cancelled by the temperature dependency of the second piezoelectric assembly. In a first example embodiment, a first piezoelectric assembly comprises a first or main piezoelectric diaphragm connected to the actuator element for displacing the actuator element in response to displacement of the first piezoelectric diaphragm. The first piezoelectric diaphragm and the second piezoelectric diaphragm are fixedly mounted to a movable carriage. In second example embodiment, first variable reservoir having a first piezoelectric diaphragm contracts and a second variable reservoir having a second piezoelectric diaphragm expands during an extension movement of the actuator element, and vise versa during a withdrawal movement of the actuator element.

Actuators with diaphragm and methods of operating same

Disclosed is a digital micromirror device (DMD) based projector in which the position of a stylus with respect to a projected image can be determined automatically. In one embodiment, the stylus includes a detector capable of detecting illumination from a single pixel and the plurality of pixels in the DMD array are sequentially energized until a pixel reflects light to the stylus detector. Since the location of that pixel is known, the position of the stylus adjacent that pixel on the image is also known. In another embodiment, light is emitted from the stylus and the DMD array is sequenced in order to reflect light from the array to a photodetector. Again, when a pixel is sequenced so as to reflect light to the detector, the position of the stylus with respect to the image is related to the image of the pixel with respect to the pixel's location in the array. A further embodiment utilizes a general illumination source of the screen with infrared radiation and a reflective stylus which reflects the infrared radiation back to the DMD array. As before, sequencing of the DMD array and detection of the pixel associated with the reflected IR radiation provides an indication of the stylus location. In a further embodiment, a DMD array is utilized to sequentially address all of the pixels of a subject image thereby providing an output of each sequenced pixel to a data storage device forming a digital camera.

Stylus position sensing and digital camera with a digital micromirror

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for one or more operators to interact with a computer-controlled image projection-system. An operator-controlled radiation projector projects a beam of radiation which may be visible or invisible on the image created by the computer-controlled image projection system. A position sensing device determines the position of the projected radiation relative to the projected image and provides position information to the computer. In a preferred embodiment, the computer can then generate an additional image at or related to the spot of radiation permitting the operator to draw or paint pictures on the computer-projected image. In an additional preferred embodiment, the use of the position sensing device can be utilized to sense the position of a spot projected by one or more of a multiple gun projector which in a closed loop feedback loop can be used to control alignment of images projected by the multiple gun projector. In a preferred three-gun projector embodiment, the relationship between a spot projected by one or more projectors and its position as determined by two or less position sensors results in accurate alignment in translation, roll and magnification.

Method and apparatus for interacting with a computer generated projected

Disclosed is a liquid crystal display unit comprising liquid twisted nematic liquid crystal material sandwiched between two polarizers. Transparent electrodes are provided on each side of the layer of liquid crystal for locally energizing liquid crystal material in the vicinity of two energized transparent electrodes. Polarized light passing through one polarizer is twisted or not twisted depending upon the energization state of the liquid crystal material and depending upon the second polarizer orientation does or does not pass therethrough. Accordingly, depending upon energization locations, images are formed which can be projected upon a screen. In preferred embodiments the liquid crystal display unit is used in conjunction with a cabinet to provide a low stress work station. A further embodiment includes a folded optical path in combination with the liquid crystal display so as to provide a compact projector. When operating in conjunction with an overhead projector, a preferred embodiment of the present invention is powered by light energy from the overhead projector and in a further preferred embodiment is controlled through the use of infrared or other non-visible electromagnetic communication.

Liquid crystal display for projection systems

Disclosed is a method and apparatus for mixing internally generated or stored video with an external video and driving an LCD display device. External video is clocked into a dual port external frame store. Internal video is either internally generated or read from an internal mass store device and stored in an internal frame store and in a preferred embodiment, the internal video data includes an embedded code which serves to select on a pixel by pixel basis the appropriate frame store signal, either external or internal for display on the LCD panel. By adjusting the start number on row and column counters for reading out data from the external frame store, panning of an external video image can be accomplished. By repeating the readout of the external frame store selectively, a 'zoom' of the image can be provided to an LCD display device. By reversing either the direction in which the external video is stored in the frame store or the direction in which columns of information are read out, the displayed image can be reversed permitting rear projection of an accurate image.

Growing community of inventors

Yorktown, VA, United States of America

James H Vogeley