Tdk Corporation

Microsonic Systems Inc.

University of Hawai'i

Michigan Technological University

Microsoft Systems Inc.

Vibhu Vivek

Ryan Griswold

John Sze

Babur B Hadimioglu

Ratnakar Dadi

Rakesh Sethi

Yi Zeng

Eun Sok Kim

Antonio D Lucero

Amitabh Narain

Soroush Sepahyar

Sreenivasa Rao

Michael Travis

Smriti Sharma

Kapil Dev

Ishita Jain

Poonam Sansanwal

Divya Kamlesh Pandya

Babur Hadimioglu

Sensor modules mountable on a wheel are described. A sensor module mountable adjacent to a rim of a wheel includes a first set of one or more piezoelectric sensors; and a first elastic support with the first set of one or more piezoelectric sensors coupled thereon so that the first set of one or more piezoelectric sensors are spaced apart from the rim of the wheel. A wheel that includes a rim and the sensor module is also disclosed. A method includes receiving a force on a tire mounted on a rim of a wheel. The tire is in contact with an elastic support with one or more piezoelectric sensors coupled thereon so that the force causes strain in the elastic support and the one or more piezoelectrical sensors. The method also includes, in response to receiving the force, generating electrical signals from the one or more piezoelectric sensors.

Devices and methods for overloading protection of piezoelectric material mounted on wheels

Systems and methods for an energy harvester coupled to a rotatable component of a vehicle are disclosed. In some embodiments, an energy harvester system includes at least one energy harvesting component configured to be attached to a wheel of a vehicle, wherein the at least one energy harvesting component includes a piezoelectric component configured to be directly attached to a staging surface of the wheel, wherein the piezoelectric component is configured to deform in response to a mechanical strain imparted on the piezoelectric component as the wheel rotates and generate an electric signal.

Smart wheel energy harvester

Piezoelectric devices mountable on a rigid mechanical structure are described. A piezoelectric device includes one or more piezoelectric elements and one or more supporting structures. A respective supporting structure of the one or more supporting structures has a flat or non-flat surface and is mechanically coupled with a piezoelectric element of the one or more piezoelectric elements so that a mechanical force on the one or more supporting structures is converted into an electrical signal by the one or more piezoelectric elements. A piezoelectric device system including two or more piezoelectric devices and a method for generating electrical signals are also described.

Piezoelectric energy harvesters and sensors based on strain in mechanical structures

Systems and methods for an energy harvester proximate to a rotatable component of a vehicle's wheel are disclosed. In some embodiments, an energy harvester system includes: a plurality of energy harvesting components configured to be coupled to a rotatable component in a ring formation along a circumference of the rotatable component, wherein each of the plurality of energy harvesting components includes: a substrate configured to be attached to a surface of the rotatable component; a piezoelectric component coupled to a surface of the substrate, wherein the piezoelectric component is configured to deform in response to a mechanical strain imparted on the piezoelectric component as the rotatable component rotates and generate an electric signal; and an interconnect coupled to the piezoelectric components and configured to conduct the electric signal from the piezoelectric components to a device coupled to the rotatable component.

A cooling module for an electronic device includes a body having formed therein a plurality of channels, a micro-structured boiling surface, a piezoelectric transducer, an inlet header, and an outlet header. Each channel of the plurality of channels is defined by a first channel surface and opposing lateral channel surfaces cooperatively defining a rectangular cross section normal to a channel axis. The micro-structured boiling surface is positioned adjacent the first channel surface of each channel. The piezoelectric transducer is in acoustic communication with one of the opposing lateral channel surfaces of each channel and configured to direct acoustic waves on the micro-structured boiling surface. The inlet header is in fluid communication with each channel of the plurality of channels. The outlet header is in fluid communication with each channel of the plurality of channels.

Nucleation control system and method leading to enhanced boiling based electronic cooling

Electrical connector assemblies mountable on a tire of a wheel of a vehicle are described. An electrical connector assembly may include one or more electrical conductors, a respective electrical conductor extending from an inside surface of the tire to an outside surface of the tire. Tire assemblies including at least partially embedded electrical connector assemblies and wheel assemblies including such tire assemblies are also described.

Interconnects for electrical components positioned adjacent to vehicle tires

A method of dissociating single cells from a biological tissue sample is described herein, along with systems for performing such methods. The method includes generating one or more ultrasonic wave pulses using a transducer comprising one or more Fresnel Annular Sector Actuator (FASA) elements; and applying energy from the generated one or more ultrasonic wave pulses to a sample container holding the biological tissue sample through a coupling medium that couples the one or more FASA elements to the sample container to dissociate single cells from the biological tissue is described herein.

Method and system for dissociating biological tissue into single cells using ultrasonic energy

Systems and methods for an energy harvester proximate to a rotatable component of a vehicle's wheel are disclosed. In some embodiments, an energy harvester system includes: a substrate having a first surface configured to contact and interface with a surface of a wheel, and a second surface opposite the first surface; a piezoelectric component configured to produce energy in response to mechanical strain imparted on the piezoelectric component, wherein the piezoelectric component is configured to deform while experiencing the mechanical strain so as to contact at least a portion of the second surface.

Energy harvesting device

An apparatus includes a rim, a tire, and an energy harvesting component. The rim is configured to rotate and move. The tire is coupled to the rim. The tire when inflated is configured to transfer force to the rim resulting from compressive force acting on a portion of the tire making contact with a road. The energy harvesting component is positioned on the rim and configured to capture a kinetic energy in response to the compressive force acting on the portion of the tire making contact with the road as the rim rotates.

Rotating wheel and an energy harvesting system

Apparatus and methods to form high efficiency and uniform Fresnel lens arrays for ultrasonic liquid manipulation are provided. An ultrasonic transducer array may be fabricated by forming top and bottom electrodes on top and bottom surfaces of a sensor plate. The ultrasonic transducer array may generate ultrasonic energy to manipulate one or more samples. Each of the top and bottom electrodes may be coupled to a radio frequency source and arranged to form one of a solid shape or a pattern. Additional apparatus and methods are disclosed.

Methods and systems to form high efficiency and uniform fresnel lens arrays for ultrasonic liquid manipulation

Apparatus and methods for ultrasonic coupling between a coupling fluid and an object using micro surface tension and capillary effects are provided. The apparatus may include a chamber comprising a wall, a bottom, and a fluid inlet. The fluid inlet may allow a fluid to enter the chamber. Portions of the wall may have a number of slits with dimensions that allow a controlled overflow of the fluid to hold a top surface of the fluid in a stable contact with the object when the fluid is flowing into the chamber. The object may be located at a distance from the top of the wall. Additional apparatus and methods are disclosed.

Methods and apparatus for ultrasonic coupling using micro surface tension and capillary effects

Apparatus and methods for ultrasonic coupling using ultrasonic radiation pressure generating are provided. Ultrasonic energy is generated to propagate in the form of ultrasonic waves in a medium coupled to a second element. The ultrasonic energy is converged in the medium to couple the medium to an object located at a distance from the second element. Additional apparatus and methods are disclosed.

Methods and systems for ultrasonic coupling using ultrasonic radiation pressure

A Fresnel Annular Sector Actuator (FASA) for micromixing of fluids, utilizes a self-focusing acoustic wave transducer which focuses acoustic waves through constructive wave interference. In the transducer, RF power is applied between the electrodes (sandwiching a piezoelectric film) with its frequency preferably corresponding to the thickness mode resonance of the piezoelectric film. Strong acoustic waves are generated over the electrode area, and interfere with each other as they propagate in the fluid. By proper design of the electrodes, and forming various combinations of the electrodes, wave focusing can be achieved. The mixing can be further enhanced by providing selective actuation and sequencing of the different segments by an RF signal source.

Growing community of inventors

Santa Clara, CA, United States of America

Vibhu Vivek