University of Michigan

Integrated Sensing Systems, Inc.

Delphi Technologies, Inc.

Michael W Putty

Nader Najafi

Sridhar Lakshmanan

Richard Thayre Smith

Douglas Ray Sparks

Joseph V Mantese

Adolph L Micheli

Norman William Schubring

Sean Ahlquist

Russell Andres

A communication system comprising a light source associated with a first item of interest; a visible light communications system operably coupled to the light source of the first item of interest, the visible light communications system configured to process information as an encoded signal and output the encoded signal via the light source; and a receiver associated with a second item of interest, the receiver configured to receive the encoded signal from the light source and process the encoded signal to obtain the information.

Visible light communications technology for inter-vehicular use

A heating and/or cooling device for contact with a human body is provided having a power source outputting electrical energy, a temperature controller operably coupled to the power source configured to maintain a predetermined temperature parameter, and at least one heating and/or cooling module operably coupled to the temperature controller for selectively receiving the electrical energy and being responsive thereto to heat and/or cool the human body. The at least one heating and/or cooling module having a pair of electrodes spaced apart by a thermoelectric powder and an insulator at least partially surrounding the thermoelectric powder.

Heating and cooling device

A heating and/or cooling device having one or more thermoelectric threads. The thermoelectric thread includes a plurality of individual thermoelectric elements, each thermoelectric element having a first side and a second side. A set of first side electrodes connects at least some of the thermoelectric elements at the first side, and a set of second side electrodes connects at least some of the thermoelectric elements at the second side. An electrically insulative covering at least partially surrounds the plurality of individual thermoelectric elements. The electrically insulative covering is configured to be woven into or otherwise integrated with a fabric.

Thermoelectric thread for a heating and/or cooling device

In some embodiments, an apparatus includes a base structure and a tube. The tube has a first tube portion, a second tube portion substantially parallel to the first tube portion, an inlet portion, and an outlet portion. The tube is configured to have a material pass from the inlet portion to the outlet portion. The apparatus further includes a drive element in contact with the tube. The drive element is configured to vibrate the tube such that the first tube portion conducts vibrational movements out of phase with vibrational movements of the second tube portion. The apparatus also includes a sensing element, at least a portion of which is in contact with the tube. The sensing element is configured to sense deflections of the first tube portion and the second tube portion such that at least one property of the material is determined.

Apparatus and methods for density and mass flow sensing with a micromachined dual-tube resonator

Fluidic systems and methods of determining properties of fluids flowing therein. The fluidic systems and methods make use of a micromachined device that determines at least one property of the fluid within the system. The micromachined device includes a base structure on a substrate and a tube structure extending from the base structure and spaced apart from a surface of the substrate. The tube structure has at least one pair of geometrically parallel tube portions substantially lying in a plane, and at least one continuous internal passage defined at least in part within the parallel tube portions. A drive element induces vibrational movement of the tube structure in the plane of the tube structure and induces resonant vibrational movements in the tube portions in the plane of the tube structure. A sensing element senses deflections of each tube portion in the plane of the tube structure.

Fluidic systems and methods of determining properties of fluids flowing therein

A microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device and a method for operating the device to determine at least one property of a fluid. The device includes a base on a substrate and a tube structure extending from the base and spaced apart from a surface of the substrate. The tube structure includes at least one tube portion and more preferably at least a pair of parallel tube portions substantially lying in a plane, at least one continuous internal passage defined at least in part within the parallel tube portions, and an inlet and outlet of the internal passage fluidically connected to the base. A drive element is operable to induce vibrational movement in the tube structure in a plane of the tube structure and induce resonant vibrational movements in the tube portions. A sensing element senses the deflections of the tube portions when the tube structure is vibrated with the drive element.

Microfluidic device and methods of operation and making

Systems and methods for determining a temperature of a ferroelectric sensor are provided. The ferroelectric sensor has operational characteristics defined by a polarization versus voltage hysteresis loop. In one exemplary embodiment, the method includes applying a symmetrical periodic voltage waveform to the ferroelectric sensor so as to induce the ferroelectric sensor to traverse the polarization versus voltage hysteresis loop. The method further includes monitoring voltages across the ferroelectric sensor and polarization states of the ferroelectric sensor over a first time interval to determine a first zero field polarization state and a first coercive field voltage. The method further includes determining a first temperature value indicative of the temperature of the ferroelectric sensor based on the first coercive field voltage.

Growing community of inventors

Grosse Point Woods, MI, United States of America

Michael W Putty