24924 results about "Electric current flow" patented technology

An object is to improve accuracy of tightening torque and to shorten time necessary for fastening a screw in an impact type screw fastening device that uses an electric motor as a rotation driving source. A control method for the impact type screw fastening device that uses an electric motor as a rotation driving source includes the steps of driving the motor to rotate by supplying current to the motor intermittently so that torque exerted on a load by rotation of the motor becomes like pulses on the time axis, and controlling the current of every time of each pulse so that an increment of every time of each pulse of the torque after the torque reaches a target approach torque TQN that is a first set value becomes smaller than that before it reaches the target approach torque TQN.

The present invention provides an apparatus and a method for producing a virtual electrode within or upon a tissue to be treated with radio frequency alternating electric current, such tissues including but not limited to brain, liver, cardiac, prostate, breast, and vascular tissues and neoplasms. An apparatus in accordance with the present invention includes a source of super-cooled fluid for selectively providing super-cooled fluid to the target tissue to cause a temporary cessation of cellular or electrical activity, a supply of conductive or electrolytic fluid to be provided to the target tissue, and alternating current generator, and a processor for creating, maintaining, and controlling the ablation process by the interstitial or surficial delivery of the fluid to a tissue and the delivery of electric power to the tissue via the virtual electrode. A method in accord with the present invention includes delivering super-cooled fluid to the target tissue to cause a temporary cessation of cellular or electrical activity, evaluating whether the temporary cessation of cellular or electrical activity is the desired cessation of cellular or electrical activity, and if so, delivering a conductive fluid to the predetermined tissue ablation site for a predetermined time period, applying a predetermined power level of radio frequency current to the tissue, monitoring at least one of several parameters, and adjusting either the applied power and / or the fluid flow in response to the measured parameters.

A system and method for transferring power does not require direct electrical conductive contacts. There is provided a primary unit having a power supply and a substantially laminar surface having at least one conductor that generates an electromagnetic field when a current flows therethrough and having an active area defined within a perimeter of the surface, the at least one conductor being arranged such that electromagnetic field lines generated by the at least one conductor are substantially parallel to the plane of the surface within the active area; and at least one secondary device including at least one conductor that may be wound about a core; wherein the active area has a perimeter large enough to surround the conductor or core of the at least one secondary device in any orientation thereof substantially parallel to the surface of the primary unit in the active area, such that when the at least one secondary device is placed on or in proximity to the active area in a predetermined orientation, the electromagnetic field induces a current in the at least one conductor of the at least one secondary device.

A system for efficient delivery of radio frequency (RF) energy to cardiac tissue with an ablation catheter used in catheter ablation, with new concepts regarding the interaction between RF energy and biological tissue. In addition, new insights into methods for coagulum reduction during RF ablation will be presented, and a quantitative model for ascertaining the propensity for coagulum formation during RF ablation will be introduced. Effective practical techniques a represented for multichannel simultaneous RF energy delivery with real-time calculation of the Coagulum Index, which estimates the probability of coagulum formation. This information is used in a feedback and control algorithm which effectively reduces the probability of coagulum formation during ablation. For each ablation channel, electrical coupling delivers an RF electrical current through an ablation electrode of the ablation catheter and a temperature sensor is positioned relative to the ablation electrode for measuring the temperature of cardiac tissue in contact with the ablation electrode. A current sensor is provided within each channel circuitry for measuring the current delivered through said electrical coupling and an information processor and RF output controller coupled to said temperature sensor and said current sensor for estimating the likelihood of coagulum formation. When this functionality is propagated simultaneously through multiple ablation channels, the resulting linear or curvilinear lesion is deeper with less gaps. Hence, the clinical result is improved due to improved lesion integrity.

Electrolytic capacitors having low equivalent series resistance and low leakage current are described. The electrolytic capacitors include a solid electrolyte layer of a conductive material in particular a conductive polymer, and an outer layer that includes binders, polymeric anions and conductive polymers (e.g., polythiophenes). Also described is a method of preparing electrolytic capacitors that involves forming the conductive polymer of the solid electrolyte layer in situ by means of chemical oxidative polymerization or electrochemical polymerization. Electronic circuits that include the electrolytic capacitors are also described.

Semi-autonomously executed routines accomplish the primary functions of electrosurgical energy delivery on a responsive basis for power control purposes and to adapt the delivered output waveform to perform new and better surgical procedures. The routines include and output voltage and output current sampling routine, a control routine for establishing the width of drive pulses used to create the output waveform, a pattern generation routine for establishing the pattern of drive pulses to be delivered in one mode cycle established by a selected mode of operation, a pattern delivery routine for repeatedly delivering sequences of the mode cycle pattern of drive pulses, and a power supply control routine for varying the voltage of the drive pulses in coordination with varying the width of the drive pulses.

It is important to ensure good selectivity of a single magnetic tunnel junction storage cell within a memory array without affecting nearby storage cells. For this purpose, this memory array of storage cells preferably comprises a) an array of electrically conducting bit lines and electrically conducting word lines which form intersections therebetween, b) a storage cell disposed at each of said intersections, each storage cell comprising at least one reversible magnetic region or layer characterized by a magnetization state which can be reversed by applying thereto a selected external magnetic field, said reversible magnetic layer comprising a material whose magnetization state is more easily reversed upon a change in the temperature thereof, and c) a temperature change generator for changing the temperature of said reversible magnetic layer of only a selected one of said array of storage cells at any moment. To select a cell, it is preferable to select a cell by using a brief pulse of tunnelling current between the intersecting bit and word lines at that cell in order to provide sufficient Joule heating to facilitate a change in the magnetization state of its reversible magnetic layer, which preferably comprises a ferrimagnetic material.

Embodiments of the invention include a method of forming a nonvolatile memory device that contains a resistive switching memory element that has improved device switching performance and lifetime, due to the addition of a current limiting component disposed therein. The electrical properties of the current limiting component are configured to lower the current flow through the variable resistance layer during the logic state programming steps by adding a fixed series resistance in the resistive switching memory element of the nonvolatile memory device. In some embodiments, the current limiting component comprises a varistor that is a current limiting material disposed within a resistive switching memory element in a nonvolatile resistive switching memory device. Typically, resistive switching memory elements may be formed as part of a high-capacity nonvolatile memory integrated circuit, which can be used in various electronic devices, such as digital cameras, mobile telephones, handheld computers, and music players.

A rechargeable battery energized unmanned aerial vehicle having surveillance capability and an ability to clandestinely collect propulsion and other energy needs from a conveniently located and possibly enemy owned energy transmission line. Energy collection is by way of a parked vehicle engagement with the transmission line in a current flow dependent, magnetic field determined, rather than shunt, voltage dependent, conductor coupling. Surveillance during both a parked or docked condition and during aerial vehicle movement is contemplated.

Single-channel thin film devices and methods for using the same are provided. The subject devices comprise cis and trans chambers connected by an electrical communication means. At the cis end of the electrical communication means is a horizontal conical aperture sealed with a thin film that includes a single nanopore or channel. The devices further include a means for applying an electric field between the cis and trans chambers. The subject devices find use in applications in which the ionic current through a nanopore or channel is monitored where such applications include the characterization of naturally occurring ion channels, the characterization of polymeric compounds, and the like.

An electroluminescent device having a plurality of current driven pixels arranged in rows and columns, such that when current is provided to a pixel it produces light, including each pixel having first and second electrodes and current responsive electroluminescent media disposed between the first and second electrodes; at least one chiplet having a thickness less than 20 micrometers; including transistor drive circuitry for controlling the operation of at least four pixels, the chiplet being mounted on a substrate and having connection pads; a planarization layer disposed over at least a portion of the chiplet; a first conductive layer over the planarization layer and connected to at least one of the connection pads; and a structure for providing electrical signals through the first conductive layer and at least one of the connection pads of the chiplet so that the transistor drive circuitry of the chiplet controls current to the four pixels.

A monitor for an electric arc welder as the welder performs a selected arc welding process by creating actual welding parameters, such as arc current and arc voltage, between an advancing welding wire and a workpiece, where the process involves an arc and is defined by a series of rapidly repeating wave shapes constituting a weld cycle with a cycle time, the wave shapes are each segmented into time states having command signals corresponding to the actual parameters and a time duration. The monitor selects a specific wave shape state, reads one of the actual parameters, compares the actual read parameter with a function of the command signal corresponding to the actual parameter, and uses-the comparison to generate a characteristic of the welding process during the selected state.

A vertical-cavity surface-emitting laser (VCSEL) comprising a low-loss thin metal contact and current spreading layer within the optical cavity that provides for improved ohmic contact and lateral current distribution, a substrate including a plano-concave optical cavity, a (Ga,In,Al)N multiple quantum well (MQW) active region contained within the optical cavity that generates light when injected by an electrical current, and an integrated micromirror fabricated onto the substrate that provides for optical mode control of the light generated by the active region. A relatively simple process is used to fabricate the VCSEL.

An improved efficiency thermoelectric system and method of making such a thermoelectric system are disclosed. Significant thermal isolation between thermoelectric elements in at least one direction across a thermoelectric system provides increased efficiency over conventional thermoelectric arrays. Significant thermal isolation is also provided for at least one heat exchanger coupled to the thermoelectric elements. In one embodiment, the properties, such as resistance or current flow, of the thermoelectric elements may also be varied in at least one direction across a thermoelectric array. In addition, the mechanical configuration of the thermoelectric elements may be varied, in one embodiment, according to dynamic adjustment criteria.

A magnetic forming system (10) for creating a fluid circuit joint between a tube and a fitting includes an induction coil (12). The induction coil (12) may form a first stage electromagnetic current. A field concentrator (132) may focus the first stage electromagnetic current to form a second stage electromagnetic current. An insert (136) may focus the second stage electromagnetic current to form an electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field forms the fluid circuit joint. The induction coil (12) may be insertable within the tube, generate an electromagnetic field, and impose the electromagnetic field on and to expand a portion of the tube within the fitting to form the fluid circuit joint. The system (10) may include a receptacle (54) that is external to the tube and the fitting. An insert (56) may be mechanically coupled within the receptacle (54) and limit the outward expansion of the tube and the fitting.

A display apparatus is provided which is capable of improving display quality by expanding the light-emission area of pixels by improving the layout of pixels and common power-feed lines formed on a substrate. Pixels including a light-emission element, such as an electroluminescence element or an LED element, are arranged on both sides of common power-feed lines so that the number of common power-feed lines is reduced. Further, the polarity of a driving current flowing between the pixels and the light-emission element is inverted so that the amount of current flowing through the common power-supply lines is reduced.

A system for use in supplying current to a plurality of power storage devices includes a first charging device configured to supply current to a first power storage device. At least one other charging device is coupled to the first charging device to form a network and is configured to supply current to at least one other power storage device of the plurality of power storage devices. When the first charging device possesses a network token, it determines a second charging parameter associated with said second charging device, and a second amount of current to be at least one of received from the electrical supply or supplied to the first power storage device, based at least in part on said determined first and second charging parameters.

An apparatus for generating focused currents in biological tissue is provided. The apparatus comprises an electric source capable of generating an electric field across a region of tissue and means for altering the permittivity of the tissue relative to the electric field, whereby a displacement current is generated. The means for altering the permittivity may be a chemical source, optical source, mechanical source, thermal source, or electromagnetic source.

An integrated circuit regulates current flowing from a battery to a load without requiring an external current sense resistor. The IC includes a primary charge pump; a model charge pump; a current sense circuit, a first control circuit to force a voltage level at the output of the model charge pump to be equal to a voltage level at the output of the primary charge pump; and, a second control circuit to force a model current put out by the model charge pump to be equal to a reference current. Current passing through the primary charge pump is regulated at a level established by the capacitance value of an external flying capacitor irrespective of input voltage variation of the battery power source.

Electroporation is performed in a controlled manner in either individual or multiple biological cells or biological tissue by monitoring the electrical impedance, defined herein as the ratio of current to voltage in the electroporation cell. The impedance detects the onset of electroporation in the biological cell(s), and this information is used to control the intensity and duration of the voltage to assure that electroporation has occurred without destroying the cell(s). This is applicable to electroporation in general. In addition, a particular method and apparatus are disclosed in which electroporation and / or mass transfer across a cell membrane are accomplished by securing a cell across an opening in a barrier between two chambers such that the cell closes the opening. The barrier is either electrically insulating, impermeable to the solute, or both, depending on whether pore formation, diffusive transport of the solute across the membrane, or both are sought. Electroporation is achieved by applying a voltage between the two chambers, and diffusive transport is achieved either by a difference in solute concentration between the liquids surrounding the cell and the cell interior or by a differential in concentration between the two chambers themselves. Electric current and diffusive transport are restricted to a flow path that passes through the opening.

An improved pump, reservoir and reservoir piston are provided for controlled delivery of fluids. A motor is operably coupled to a drive member, such as a drive screw, which is adapted to advance a plunger slide in response to operation of the motor. The plunger slide is removably coupled to the piston. A method, system, and an article of manufacture for automatically detecting a force sensor failure in a medication infusion pump is provided. The electrical current to an infusion pump is measured. Based on the current measurements, the infusion pump detects when the plunger slide is seated in the reservoir, and detects a problem with the force sensor when the force sensor independently fails to register a value indicating that the plunger slide is seated in the reservoir.

A micropower Maximum Power Point Tracker (μMPPT) suitable for use in low power applications to maximize the power output for a solar-power cell array. In one embodiment, a μMPPT comprises an electrical circuit which includes a microprocessor / microcontroller used to execute the μMPPT control algorithm, and a modulator controller to control the pulse width or frequency to a high speed switch. In addition, the electrical circuit may include an analog-to-digital (A / D) converter usable to measure the input voltage from a connected solar array, the current through an inductor of the circuit, and the voltage of an attached energy store / load. In another embodiment, the μMPPT may operates in at least two modes depending on the energy store / loads conditions.

A welding system having a welding implement with a self-contained trigger and trigger locking assembly. The self-contained trigger and trigger locking assembly has a trigger which, when operated, regulates the flow of current from a power source. The trigger lock of the assembly has a movable portion which includes a groove which can engage a complementary structure on the trigger to maintain the trigger in an operating position, thereby allowing continued flow of current from the power source.

An electrosurgical probe comprises a shaft having an electrode array (12) at its distal end and a connector at its proximal end. The array (12) includes a plurality of isolated electrode terminals, and an electrosurgical power supply (28) is provided with a multiplicity of independently limited or controlled current sources and a connector. The electrosurgical probe and the power supply may be connected through their respective connectors so that the independent current sources are connected to individual electric terminals. By applying very high frequency electrical energy to the electrode array, target tissue may be cut or ablated while heat dissipation through low impedance paths, such as blood and normal saline, will be minimized.

A method and system for providing a magnetic element that can be used in a magnetic memory is disclosed. The magnetic element includes first pinned, spacer, free, spin barrier, and second pinned layers. The spacer layer is nonmagnetic and resides between the pinned and free layers. The free layer can be switched using spin transfer when a write current is passed through the magnetic element. The free layer resides between the spacer and spin barrier layers. The spin barrier layer is between the free and second pinned layers. The spin barrier layer is configured to reduce an outer surface contribution to the free layer damping constant. In one aspect, the spin barrier layer has a high areal resistance and may substantially eliminate spin pumping induced damping. In another aspect, the magnetic element also includes a spin accumulation layer between the spin barrier and free layers. The spin accumulation layer has a high conductivity and may have a long spin diffusion length.

A touch-sensored display device 20 according to the present invention includes: a counter substrate 6 disposed on a viewer side of an active matrix substrate 8 via a display medium layer 4, the counter substrate 6 having a counter electrode 5 which opposes pixel electrodes; a display panel driving circuit 14 for supplying to the counter electrode 5 a common voltage which undergoes periodic inversion in polarity; a transparent conductive film 7 for position detection placed so as to oppose the counter electrode 5 via the counter substrate 6; a strobe signal generation circuit 32 for generating a strobe signal which is in synchronization with a polarity inversion period of the common voltage, and a noise-cut current signal generation circuit 30 for generating a noise-cut current signal which is obtained by eliminating based on the strobe signal a predetermined portion from a current flowing from a terminal connected to the transparent conductive film 7 for position detection.

The invention comprises use of Dynamically Switchable Bypass (DSB) elements in association with one or more Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs) in arrays for illumination circuits to provide rugged, reliable lighting. The DSBs are selected from Transient Voltage Suppressors, including Silicon, Metal Oxide Varistors, and Multi Layer Varistors as well as Zener Diodes. The DSBs are not used as circuit protecting devices, but rather as alternative paths for electric current to bypass failed LEDs. Bi-directional TVSs are used as alternative electric paths for circuits using Alternating Current (AC) and parallel LED arrays that light on both phases of AC. Zener Diodes are used in parallel to, but in the opposite polarity orientation to, one or more LEDs in DC or rectified AC circuits. The inventive paired DSB / LED elements overcomes the black-out problems of prior series LED illumination systems, making possible the use of robust LEDs in illumination systems where reliability, long life, low power consumption, low heat output, resistance to shock, vibration, and humidity, and self-diagnosis are important. The DSB elements have breakdown voltages slightly higher than the LED(s) they support, so that when an LED fails, the conduction through the DSB begins. Because the conduction voltage of the DSB so nearly matches the conduction voltage of the LED(s), the remainder of the circuit continues to function as normal. The system is self-diagnostic in that any LED failure presents itself as a dark LED rather than as a whole string of dark LEDs. DSBs may be used with incandescent bulbs.

Devices and methods for treating biological tissue using a plasma gas-discharge are disclosed herein. An electrode for igniting a gas flow to form a plasma gas-discharge, wherein the electrode is configured within the device such that upon encountering a surface of the biological tissue by the electrode, a path of current from the electrode to the surface of the biological tissue is formed, thereby igniting the gas flow and forming the plasma gas-discharge. In some embodiments, electromagnetic interactions between the treated biological tissue and the plasma gas discharge traversing the electromagnetic interaction gap shape the profile of the plasma gas discharge. According to some embodiments, the device includes an electrode for igniting gas of the gas flow, and electromagnetic interactions between the electrode and the skin determine, at least in part, the electromagnetic interactions that shape the profile of the plasma gas discharge. In some embodiments, the device further includes a housing for providing support for the electrode, wherein the electrode is disposed relative to the housing such that the electrode is substantially electrically unshielded by the housing, and the electrode is positioned to electromagnetically interact with a surface of the biological tissue to shape, at least in part, the plasma profile. According to some embodiments, the presently disclosed device includes a dual-purpose nozzle-electrode for gas delivery and for igniting the gas flow. A method of transdermal ion delivery of a plasma flux to biological tissue as a means of treating the biological tissue is also provided.

Building programmable resistive devices in contact holes at the crossover of a plurality of conductor lines in more than two vertical layers is disclosed. There are plurality of first conductor lines and another plurality of second conductor lines that can be substantially perpendicular to each other, though in two different vertical layers. A diode and / or a programmable resistive element can be fabricated in the contact hole between the first and second conductor lines. The programmable resistive element can be coupled to another programmable resistive device or shared between two programmable devices whose diodes conducting currents in opposite directions and / or coupled to a common conductor line. The programmable resistive memory can be configured to be programmable by applying voltages to conduct current flowing through the programmable resistive element to change its resistance for a different logic state.