Abstract: The basic invention uses a portable device that can contain a camera, a database, and a text, voice or visual entry to control the storage of an image into a database. Furthermore, the stored image can be associated with text, color, visual or audio. The stored images can be used to guide the user towards a target that the user does not recall its current location. The user's commands can be issued verbally, textually or by scrolling through the target images in the database until the desired one is found. This target can be shoes, pink sneakers, a toy or some comparable items that the user needs to find.

Abstract: A reconfigurable system is described that can optimize the performance of the system. Substrates can be detached, levitated, moved, dropped and reattached as desired by the use of Coulomb forces generate between Coulomb islands. Thus, a system using a first set of substrates for a given frequency range can be exchanged with a second set of substrates operable at a different frequency range by the use of Coulomb forces. Making this exchange in an RF system can improve the selectivity and decrease the power dissipation of the system. One of the exchanges can involve inductor to shift the frequency of oscillation, for example. A control unit can be used to control the movement and replacement of all substrates. The formation of minimal energy potentials of Coulomb forces are determined to move a substrate over an underlying substrate.

Abstract: The basic invention uses biometric signals to help identify the name of a family member, acquaintance or newly met individual. The biometric signals include facial and voice recognition. In addition, the invention can interactively produce the name of an individual met for the first time just after that individual shakes your hand and introduces themselves. Most people forget this name since they are concentrating on maintaining a conversation. An earphone plug can physically connect the handheld unit to the ear canal of the user and the identity of the individual is electronically passed over the wire to the user. A handheld unit identifies the individual and whispers their name into the ear canal. An earphone is physically connected to the handheld unit via a wire. This allows the identity of the individual to be electronically passed over the wire to the user. By touching the portable unit which is inserted into the ear canal, the name is whispered into the canal.

Abstract: A movable substrate is placed over a bottom substrate where both substrates contain Coulomb islands. The Coulomb islands can be adjusted in charge and are used to develop a force between two opposing Coulomb islands. Information from sensors is applied to a control unit to control the movement of the movable substrate. Coulomb islands are formed in the juxtaposed edges of a first substrate and second substrate, respectively. The islands generate edge Coulomb forces. These edge Coulomb forces can be used to detach, repel, move, attract and reattach the edges of substrates into new configurations. One possibility is to combine a plurality of individual substrates into one large planar substrate.

Abstract: A LoC (Lab on a Chip) is described to analyze surface properties of fluid drops. Substrates with cavities near the edge are filled with fluids that have a contact angle greater than 90°. The surfaces of two different drops can be brought in contact with one another by using Coulomb forces. Several experiments can be carried out while the drops are in contact: the concentration of the fluid in each drop can be altered, tangential and normal forces can be applied to the contact surface, voltage differences across and current flow through the contact surface can be monitored. MEMS pumps can be used to mix reagents or buffers with the fluid to determine the protein concentration or to extract DNA from whole cells, respectively. Substrates holding optical components can be used to align fibers with either lasers or receivers. The alignment is automatic and controlled by a control unit.

Abstract: A multi layered substrate structure can be formed where the substrates are coupled together using surface Coulomb forces. Connect substrates electrically connects signals and DC voltages between the substrates. The connect substrates bypass output/input buffers between two communicating substrates. The capacitor substrates provide a fully charged capacitor that provides additional energy to a levitated substrate if the capacitor substrate is connected to the levitated substrate. VLSI systems can also be build on each of the substrates.

Abstract: A system is described that connects the surface of a first substrate to the edge of a second substrate. The surfaces of additional substrates can be placed on the remaining edges of the second substrate to form a 3-D structure. Rigid support substrates can be connected to the first substrate to provide support for the first and additional substrates. The second substrate can be used to carry heat, fluids, electrical power or signals between first and additional substrates besides providing a mechanical support.

Abstract: The basic invention uses a portable device that can contain a camera, a database, and a text, voice or visual entry to control the storage of an image and its location into a database. The database can be distributed over several memory arrays in different devices. Furthermore, the stored image can be associated with text, color, visual or audio data. The stored images can be used to guide the user towards a target if the user does not recall the current location. The user's commands can be issued verbally, textually or by scrolling through the target images in the database until the desired one is found. This target can be shoes, pink sneakers, a toy or some comparable items, etc. that the user desires to find.

Abstract: Coulomb forces are used to create various metallic shapes within substrates. These shapes are formed by coupling a plurality of substrates together where each substrate contains a metallic pattern. The substrates are assembled together on a mother substrate and the substrates can be positioned either parallel to a planar surface or perpendicular to an edge of the mother substrate. Thus, metallic shapes can be formed that are orthogonal to each other. Such a capability is a desirable feature for antenna construction. The various metal shapes can be used to construct: dipole, patch, Yagi, monopole, bow-tie, meanderline and MIMO antennas. Furthermore, the antenna can be reassembled to adjust the physical dimensions of the antenna while in the consumer product to better match the antenna to a different frequency band.

Abstract: Coulomb islands are charged to create Coulomb forces which are applied between a first and second substrate. The Coulomb islands are used to levitate the first substrate over the second substrate into an equilibrium position. A processing unit monitors the values of capacitors formed between the substrates to provide feedback information to maintain the first substrate in this equilibrium position. The first substrate can be an accelerometer that can be used to calculate the direction and magnitude of a deceleration. The processing unit sends the digital information to a bus coupled to a plurality of air bags. The digital information identifies the appropriate air bags that need to be enabled to minimize the impact of a crash. Vertical changes in acceleration can also be detected making this invention applicable for flight vehicles.

Abstract: A stealth mode technique records information onto the sound track of a camcorder without the knowledge of the user. Infrasound is continuously generated by an array of audio sources placed in a geographical position that potentially encompasses the location of the recording device. A database stores the known characteristics of all audio sources. Once the recorded media is released to the public, a post analysis using a processing unit can decompose the recording back into a set of reconstructed audio sounds. An analysis can be performed to determine which audio sounds match the reconstructed audio sounds so that an estimate of the set of parameters associated with the sound track can be obtained. The set of parameters includes the geographical location and local time of the recording. The geographic location provides the opportunity to capture the terrorists and free the hostages.

Abstract: A substrate is levitated a first distance over a mother substrate when a first group of Coulomb islands are charged. A second group of Coulomb islands are charged and increase a separation to a second distance. When the magnitude of the potential of all Coulomb islands is decreased, the separation decreases from the second distance to the first distance. All potentials associated with the Coulomb islands have decreased yet the distance of separation equals to the first distance. Increasing the number of Coulomb islands in a substrate can reduce the magnitude of potentials applied to the Coulomb islands thereby reducing the concern of voltage stress.

Abstract: At least one non-volatile device is coupled to a first Coulomb island. The floating gates of these non-volatile devices are connected to the island and can charge the Coulomb islands. One device can charge the island positively while a second device can be used to charge the island negatively. The Coulomb island can have a small probe opening where a charge can be introduced by using mechanical means such as an external probe or a MEMS switch. A fully charged capacitor formed in a first substrate can provide additional energy to a levitated substrate if the first substrate is connected to the levitated substrate. Bonding wires can be attached to a substrate that is attached to a mother substrate. Then, Coulomb forces can levitate the substrate from the mother substrate and the bonding wires can provide a source of power to the levitated substrate.

Abstract: A system is described that can assemble substrates over one another to form a stacked substrate. The various layers of the stacked substrate can be separated from each other by using Coulomb forces. In addition, a beam substrate can be used to increase the separation. In addition, a first substrate can be flipped around and connected to the edge of a second substrate. The instructions for assembly and a FSM (Finite State Machine) can be included in the stacked substrate to pave the way for a self-constructing 3-D automaton. The beam substrate can be used to carry heat, fluids, electrical power or signals between the various layers of the stacked cells besides providing a mechanical support. A stacked substrate can be assembled into 3-D structures. These structures can have applications in antennas and RF circuits, for example.

Abstract: Placing inductors or resistors in parallel causes the combined value of inductance or resistance to decrease according to the parallel combination rule. This invention decreases the parasitic resistance of an inductor by placing several inductors in parallel. Furthermore, by careful placement of these inductors, the mutual inductance between these inductors can be used to increase the equivalent inductance value to a value near that of the original inductance value of a single inductor. Thus, it is possible to create an inductance with a much lower value of parasitic resistance. This invention allows the formation of high Q inductors and would be beneficial in any circuit design requiring inductances. Another aspect of this invention is that the coils can be partitioned to minimize eddy current losses. This invention can easily be implemented in a planar technology. Simulations of several tank circuits indicate that the power dissipation can be reduced 3 to 4 times when compared to conventional techniques.

Abstract: The basic invention uses biometric signals to help identify the name of a family member, acquaintance or newly met individual. The biometric signals include facial and voice recognition. In addition, the invention can interactively produce the name of an individual met for the first time just after that individual shakes your hand and introduces themselves. Most people forget this name since they are concentrating on maintaining a conversation. By touching the portable unit which is inserted into the ear canal, the name is whispered into the canal. All these identification procedures can be used to help eliminate an embarrassing moment which may occur if the user is unable to recall an individual's name.

Abstract: A system is described that can assemble substrates over one another to form a stacked substrate. The various layers of the stacked substrate can be separated from each other by using Coulomb forces. In addition, a beam substrate can be used to increase the separation. The instructions for assembly and a FSM (Finite State Machine) can be included in the stacked substrate to pave the way for a self-constructing 3-D automaton. The beam substrate can be used to carry heat, fluids, electrical power or signals between the various layers of the stacked cells besides providing a mechanical support. A stacked substrate can be assembled into a cylindrical coil, a transformer or a coupled transformer depending on the construction of the beam structure. The magnetic coupling of the transformer can be altered by changing the distance between the separated substrates.

Abstract: CMOS LC tank circuits and flux linkage between inductors can be used to distribute and propagate clock signals over the surface of a VLSI chip or processor. The tank circuit offers an adiabatic behavior that recycles the energy between the reactive elements and minimizes losses in a conventional sense. Flux linkage can be used to orchestrate a number of seemingly individual and distributed CMOS LC tank circuits to behave as one unit. In one example, the distribution of a 45° separated multi-phase balanced oscillations over the surface of die 1.6 cm×1.6 cm at 10 GHz is expected to dissipate under 10 W and offers a potential to significantly reduce the road map predictions of 100 W. Simulations of several CMOS tank circuits indicate that the power dissipation can be reduced an order of magnitude when compared to conventional techniques. A passive flux linkage, mechanical, and finite state machine technique of frequency adjustment of an oscillator are described.

Abstract: CMOS LC tank circuits and flux linkage between inductors can be used to distribute and propagate clock signals over the surface of a VLSI chip or ?processor. The tank circuit offers an adiabatic behavior that recycles the energy between the reactive elements and minimizes losses in a conventional sense. Flux linkage can be used to orchestrate a number of seemingly individual and distributed CMOS LC tank circuits to behave as one unit. Several frequency-adjusting techniques are presented which can be used in an distributed clock network environment which includes an array of oscillators. A passive flux linkage, mechanical, and finite state machine technique of frequency adjustment of oscillators are described.

Abstract: CMOS LC tank circuits and flux linkage between inductors can be used to distribute and propagate clock signals over the surface of a VLSI chip or ?processor. The tank circuit offers an adiabatic behavior that recycles the energy between the reactive elements and minimizes losses in a conventional sense. Flux linkage can be used to orchestrate a number of seemingly individual and distributed CMOS LC tank circuits to behave as one unit. Several frequency-adjusting techniques are presented which can be used in an distributed clock network environment which includes an array of oscillators. A finite state machine technique of frequency adjustment of oscillators is described. In addition, two methods of increasing the physcial layout and decreasing the power dissipation of an oscillator are described.