Other

Horizon Technology Group

Robert B McIntosh

Steven R Patterson

Philip E Mauger

Winfield Hill

Gene A Goodman

A cup lid dispenser assembly includes a base that is positionable on a support surface. A tube is coupled to and extends upwardly from the base and a plurality of beverage cup lids is stacked in the tube. The tube has a dispensing opening therein for accessing one of the beverage cup lids. A pair of stops is each coupled to the tube such that the beverage cup lids rest on the stops when the beverage cup lids are positioned in the tube. A dispenser is coupled to the tube and the dispenser is aligned with a respective one of the stops. The dispenser is turned on when a user approaches the tube and engages a respective one of the beverage cup lids thereby urging the respective beverage cup lid to disengage from the stops. Thus, the respective beverage cup lid falls downwardly in the tube and exit the dispensing opening. In this way the dispenser dispenses the respective beverage cup lid for the user.

Cup lid dispenser assembly

A transducer comprising at least one planar capacitor with a thin coverlayer of material selected to maximize electric field coupling between cooperating capacitor electrodes within a region external to a principal surface of the coverlayer. Preferred coverlayer materials have low values of moisture absorption, surface free energy, permittivity, dielectric dissipation, and electrical conductance. According to one embodiment of the invention, a driven shield further enhances electric field coupling over and in a region external to the principal surface. The transducer also can promote a physical change in specific adsorbates and materials and simultaneously detect and measure an effect of the induced change. Applications for the transducer of the invention include the measurement of the moisture content of grain and bulk stored commodities, humidity, a dew point temperature, the onset of condensation and rates of adsorption and desorption.

Planar capacitive transducer

A micro-opto-electro-mechanical transducer in which an optical element is angularly positioned by electrical field coupling. Movable electrodes of two orthogonally disposed, differential variable capacitors are coupled to the optical element constrained by structural means to angular displacement around two free-axes of rotation. Cooperating stationary capacitor electrodes with surface contoured regions facing the movable electrodes are affixed to the structural means. A thin dielectric layer of high permittivity material provides a region of fixed spacing between the capacitor electrodes. The surface contoured regions constrain the approach of the movable electrodes with angular displacement of the optical element. Both the open-loop gain and the equilibrium voltage-angle response of the transducer is largely independent of displacement. Electrostatic force feedback maintains the optical element at voltage programmed positions of static equilibrium over a wide angular range of tip and tilt. In simpler embodiments, the optical element is angularly positioned in one direction around one axis of rotation. A preferred method of control allows an electrode of each variable capacitor to be electrically grounded.

Apparatus and method to angularly position micro-optical elements

A transducer with at least one variable-area capacitor comprising a flexible electrode with a surface facing a surface of a cooperating rigid electrode and an electret affixed to a portion of one of said surfaces, wherein said surface of said rigid electrode has a contoured region selected to increase a region of substantially fixed capacitance spacing as said flexible electrode deflects in response to an applied stress.

Electret transducer

A method to construct a capacitive transducers comprising the steps of forming over and in a planar surface of a substrate at least one rigid electrode of a variable-area capacitor electrically connected to a location on said substrate reserved for electrode attachment; providing a cooperating flexible electrode with a dielectric layer; and bonding said flexible electrode to said substrate in a surface region surrounding said rigid electrode.

Method to construct variable-area capacitive transducers

A method to maintain a movable electrode of a variable capacitor in fixed relationship with a stationary electrode by electrostatic force feedback when one capacitor electrode is grounded. The invention exploits the high quiescent capacitance and capacitance-load sensitivity of a variable-area capacitance transducer in combination with the advantage of controlling the flexible electrode with a low voltage compared to transducers with parallel-plate capacitors. The invention can be used to accurately control the position of a surface, stylus, inertial mass, valve, electrical contact, electrical component; or an optical component such as a mirror, lens, grating, filter, or holographic element.

Method to force-balance capacitive transducers

A differential transconductance amplifier detects changes of the variable capacitor in a low-impedance, bridge circuit and feeds back current to balance the bridge. The voltage that controls the feedback current is proportional to capacitance over a wide dynamic range.

Linear capacitance detection circuit

A variable area capacitor with a flexible electrode responsive to a physical effect and a rigid electrode with a predetermined surface contour. The surface contour is dimensioned to provide a specific change in capacitance with deflection of the flexible electrode. A thin dielectric layer maintains a substantially fixed spacing between the two electrodes. Preferred embodiments include a pressure sensor, microphone and accelerometer. A differential transconductance amplifier detects changes of the variable capacitor in a low-impedance, bridge-like circuit and feeds back current to balance the bridge. The voltage that controls the feedback current is proportional to capacitance over a wide dynamic range.

Wide dynamic range capacitive transducer

A flexible metal hose assembly includes a corrugated tube surrounded by a braid. A modified braid ring is mechanically interconnected with an annular hex member. The modified braid ring is then located at the ends of the tube braid and welded to a fitting. The annular hex member of the modified braid ring still provides wrench flats to facilitate make up of the fitting.

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Alexandria, VA, United States of America

Robert B McIntosh