Abstract: An apparatus includes a first circuit path including a series combination of a primary winding of a transformer and a first secondary winding of the transformer and a second circuit path including a second secondary winding of the transformer. The primary winding of the transformer is magnetically coupled to the first and second secondary windings of the transformer and the primary winding of the transformer is detachably coupled to each of the first and second secondary windings of the transformer. The primary winding of the transformer is operative to generate a portion of an output current based on energy received from the primary winding of the transformer, and the second secondary winding of the transformer is operative to generate a remaining portion of the output current based on energy received from the second secondary winding of the transformer.

Abstract: A method of operating a vibrational energy harvesting system includes providing an energy harvester and an energy storage module. The energy storage module is coupled to the energy harvester to transfer energy to the energy storage module. The method also includes determining whether the energy transferred exceeds a predetermined threshold. The method further includes limiting the energy transferred to the energy storage module by a passive device when the energy transferred exceeds the predetermined threshold.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide a flexible and stretchable textile composite including an electrophoretic film. According to one embodiment, a textile composite material can comprise a textile base layer, a first flexible, optically transparent film layer deposited onto and affixed to the textile base layer, and an electrophoretic film layer disposed onto the first flexible, optically transparent film layer on a side of the first flexible, optically transparent film layer opposite the textile base layer. The electrophoretic film layer can comprise a plurality of relief cuts therein. The plurality of relief cuts can allow the electrophoretic film layer to flex or stretch in at least one direction.

Abstract: Methods include receiving at least one electronic device including a sensor or an emitter, placing a cover over the sensor or emitter, placing the electronic device, including the cover, into a transfer mold system, encapsulating the electronic device with charge material, and removing a portion of the encapsulating charge material and the cover to expose the sensor or emitter to the environment.

Abstract: A planar antenna can include one or more high permeability objects that are added near the planar coil's tips. Further, the planar antenna includes a coil having two or more layers, with each layer having two or more turns. The planar antenna also has a restricted conductor arrangement, where there are a maximum number of turns arranged in any horizontal layer. A turn's conductor could be a single conductor or could be two (2) or more conductors arranged in parallel.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing a pallet for use during manufacture of a printed circuit board assembly includes determining optimal solder flow for establishing connections between lead pins of a plurality of pin-through-hole components arranged on a circuit board, designing a pallet to include geometries configured to provide the optimal solder flow when the pallet, supporting the circuit board thereon, is passed through a wave solder machine, and creating the pallet based on the design. Pallets configured for optimal solder flow and methods of manufacturing printed circuit board assemblies using such pallet are also provided.

Abstract: An antimicrobial metallized thin film is provided that can be quickly and easily attached to surfaces of objects. This film includes a polymer substrate onto which a metallized layer is formed. The metallized layer comprises an exposed antimicrobial metal physical contact surface. Ions from this physical contact surface destroy the viral coating and ribonucleic acid of contacting viruses rendering the viruses inactive and noninfectious. The film can be attached via an adhesive layer disposed between and in contact with the polymer substrate and the communal surface. This arrangement allows the film to economically refurbish communal surfaces with a film overlay rather than completely replacing communal surfaces with antimicrobial materials. The film mitigates the likelihood of viruses such as coronaviruses, noroviruses, rhinoviruses, and the like from spreading due to contact with the refurbished communal surfaces.

Abstract: A rectifier includes a first input and a second input that receive an unrectified signal, a first circuit portion including a first transistor coupled to the second input, a second circuit portion including a second transistor coupled to the first input, a third circuit portion including a third transistor coupled to the first input, a fourth circuit portion including a fourth transistor coupled to the second input. The first, second, third, and fourth circuit portions are operable to convert the unrectified signal into a rectified signal. The rectifier includes a first adjustment circuit coupled to a gate of the third transistor, and a second adjustment circuit coupled to a gate of the fourth transistor. The first adjustment circuit and the second adjustment circuit are configured to control a dead time between an on-state of the third transistor and an on-state of the fourth transistor.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for a garment comprising a fabric layer, a plurality of biometric sensors integrated into the fabric layer, and a connectivity layer integrated into the fabric layer. The connectivity layer can comprise signal conductors and power conductors coupled with each of the plurality of biometric sensors. The garment can further comprise a power source coupled with each of the power conductors and providing, via the power conductors of the connectivity layer, electrical power to each of the plurality of biometric sensors, a signal monitor coupled with the connectivity layer and receiving, via the signal conductors of the connectivity layer, a signal comprising biometric information from each of the plurality of biometric sensors, and a gateway coupled with the signal monitor, the gateway receiving the biometric information from the signal monitor and providing the biometric information to an external computer system.

Abstract: Methods include receiving at least one electronic device including a sensor or an emitter, placing a cover over the sensor or emitter, placing the electronic device, including the cover, into a transfer mold system, encapsulating the electronic device with charge material, and removing a portion of the encapsulating charge material and the cover to expose the sensor or emitter to the environment.

Abstract: An electronic system includes a plurality of heat sources. At least two of the plurality of heat sources vary in height and each of the plurality of heat sources includes a first side and a second side. The electronic system also includes a substrate having a first side and a second side. The second side of each of the plurality of heat sources is positioned adjacent to the first side of the substrate. The electronic system further includes a cover member provided above the plurality of heat sources and a sintering thermal interface material provided between the cover member and the first side of one of the at least two heat sources that vary in height.

Abstract: A set of headphones include a zone that is sensitive to electromagnetic radiation, a first earpiece including a first directional antenna operable at a first frequency and having a first radiation pattern radiating away from the zone, and a second earpiece including a second directional antenna operable at the first frequency and having a second radiation pattern radiating away from the zone.

Abstract: An automatic injection device with flow regulation is disclosed. The automatic injection device has an insertion needle configured to be inserted into a patient and a drug container which contains a pharmaceutical product and includes a plunger. The automatic injection needle also has a fluid path which fluidly connects the drug container to the patient via an insertion device, a potential energy source, and a regulator configured to restrict release of potential energy and restrict linear movement of the plunger and the pharmaceutical product into the fluid path at a proscribed pace. The regulator includes a clock escapement mechanism. The potential energy source may be a spring that surrounds the drug container and may be magnetically coupled to the plunger. The clock escapement mechanism is configured to control the spring at a regulated rate over a time interval using a gearbox and rotational-to-linear translator comprising a rack and a pinion.

Abstract: Recent progress related to energy harvesting solutions and printed electronics is opening the opportunity for a smart label to combine chemical/physical color change technology with an electronic based reader architecture, which can be achieved with printed electronics technologies and can be suitable for monitoring applications that are very cost sensitive. The smart label provides an innovative product architecture to achieve a very low cost solution to monitor packaged items during storage and shipment. Exemplary applications of the smart label include, but are not limited to, cold chain monitoring, food monitoring, and in-package control of sensitive devices, such as electronic components.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for producing and using a plaited fabric comprising a low-melt yarn for adhering the fabric without a glue adhesive. According to one embodiment, a knitted fabric can comprise a first polymeric yarn of a first material, the first polymeric yarn forming a base of the knitted fabric, and a second polymeric yarn of a second material. The second material can be different from the first material and can have a lower melting temperature than the first material. The first polymeric yarn can be knitted with the second polymeric yarn to form the fabric. Upon an application of heat to the knitted fabric, the second polymeric yarn can form an adhesive and cohesive mechanical attachment to itself and form a tight-knit structural bond within the fabric without the use of a glue adhesive.

Abstract: Embodiments of the disclosure provide systems and methods for wearable dry electrodes for collecting biometric information. According to one embodiment, a dry electrode bio-sensor can comprise one or more conductive pads comprising electrodes of the dry electrode bio-sensor and one or more connectivity traces coupled with each of the one or more conductive pads. The connectivity traces can provide electrical connections for one or more of power to the one or more conductive pads or signals comprising biometric information from the one or more conductive pads. A backing can be coupled with and can retain the one or more conductive pads and the one or more connectivity traces. The dry electrode bio-sensor can comprise an electrocardiography (ECG) sensor, a respiration sensor, a PhotoPlethysmoGram (PPG) sensor, a temperature sensor, an electromyography (EMG) sensor, or another biometric sensor.

Abstract: An automatic injection device with flow regulation. The automatic injection device has an insertion needle configured to be inserted into a patient and a drug container which contains a pharmaceutical product and includes a plunger. The automatic injection device also has a fluid path which fluidly connects the drug container to the patient via an insertion device, a potential energy source, and a regulator configured to restrict release of potential energy and restrict linear movement of the plunger and pharmaceutical product into the fluid path at a proscribed pace. The regulator includes a clock escapement mechanism and a wire and pulley system including a wire coupled to at least one pulley. The potential energy source may be a spring that surrounds the drug container and may be directly coupled to the plunger and the wire such that movement of the spring and the wire is restricted over time.

Abstract: A multi-board mid-plane includes a disk backplane board (DBB) having a front side and a rear side. Venting holes are provided within the DBB extending between the front side of the DBB and the rear side of the DBB. The multi-board mid-plane also includes a controller backplane board (CBB) having a front side and a rear side. The front side of the CBB includes venting holes provided within the CBB extending between the front side of the CBB and the rear side of the CBB. A top fabric plane board (TFPB) and a bottom fabric plane board (BFPB) are provided for connecting the DBB with the CBB. A combination of the DBB and the CBB has a venting ratio that is equal to a lower of the venting ratio of the DBB and the venting ratio of the CBB.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a switching circuit, a resonant circuit coupled to an output of the switching circuit, a rectification circuit coupled between the resonant circuit and an output of the apparatus, and a controller coupled to the switching circuit. The controller, during a soft start-up operation of the power supply, is configured to switch a plurality of switches with a variable limited maximum duty cycle at a minimum frequency and after the variable limited maximum duty cycle reaches the limited maximum duty cycle at the minimum frequency, simultaneously switch the frequency to a maximum frequency and switch the duty cycle to a minimum duty cycle at the maximum frequency for a same on-time as the limited maximum duty cycle at the minimum frequency.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a switching circuit, a resonant circuit coupled to an output of the switching circuit, a rectification circuit coupled between the resonant circuit and an output of the apparatus, and a controller coupled to the switching circuit. The controller, during a soft start-up operation of the power supply, is configured to switch a plurality of switches with a variable limited maximum duty cycle at a minimum frequency and after the variable limited maximum duty cycle reaches the limited maximum duty cycle at the minimum frequency, simultaneously switch the frequency to a maximum frequency and switch the duty cycle to a minimum duty cycle at the maximum frequency for a same on-time as the limited maximum duty cycle at the minimum frequency.