Abstract: Described herein are battery modules comprising integrated module converters, electric-vehicle battery systems comprising such modules, and methods of operating thereof. An electric-vehicle battery system comprises a high-voltage battery pack and high-voltage contactors that controllably isolate the pack's high-voltage area from other areas in the vehicle. The pack comprises multiple battery modules with battery cells and a primary module converter constantly connected to these cells. Each module has a lower voltage than the entire pack. The power output from the primary module converters is used to operate a battery controller and to close/activate the contactors in response to the switch position (e.g., an ignition switch). The primary module converters can be either constantly activated or controllably activated in response to the switch moving into an activated position. For example, a secondary module converter, with a lower power rating, can be used for this primary module converter activation.

Abstract: A power management device for intelligently splitting and controlling a high power outlet is described. The device includes a housing, power input, outlets, power sensor, and a controller. The housing has an internal compartment configured to hold components of the device and an exterior surface. The device has a plurality of outlets on the exterior surface of the housing. Each outlet is configured to connect to an appliance. Each outlet has a power sensor configured to sense current draw and/or power use at the outlet. The controller of the device is contained within the internal compartment of the housing and monitors the usage of each outlet via readings from the power sensors. The controller determines, based on the monitored usage and appliance parameters, one or more outlets to provide current to, and causes current to be provided to the determined outlet(s).

Abstract: A microdeposition system and method includes a head with a plurality of nozzles. A controller generates nozzle firing commands that selectively fire the nozzles to create a desired feature pattern. Configuration memory stores voltage waveform parameters that define a voltage waveform for each of the nozzles. A digital to analog converter (DAC) sequencer communicates with the configuration memory and the controller and outputs a first voltage waveform for a first nozzle when a nozzle firing command for the first nozzle is received from the controller. A resistive ladder DAC receives the voltage waveforms from the DAC sequencer. An operational amplifier (opamp) communicates with the resistive ladder DAC and amplifies the voltage waveforms. The nozzles fire droplets when the voltage waveforms received from the opamp exceed a firing threshold of the nozzle.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a liquid includes a chamber holding a supply of liquid, an annular conduit substantially filled with liquid from the chamber, and a thermoelectric transducer near one end of the annular conduit. Upon application of electrical current to the thermoelectric transducer, the transducer operates to cause boiling of a quantity of liquid in the annular conduit. Expansion of a resulting bubble forces liquid out the end of the annular conduit. The dispenser may include battery powered electronic control circuit that includes a supercapacitor. The liquid may be dispensed in periodic bursts. In one application, the dispenser is especially suited to automatically and unobtrusively dispense a fragrance, perfume, or other personal care liquid worn by a person. In some applications, the dispenser may be worn on or under an article of clothing, or attached to an article of jewelry.

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a liquid includes a chamber holding a supply of liquid, an annular conduit substantially filled with liquid from the chamber, and a thermoelectric transducer near one end of the annular conduit. Upon application of electrical current to the thermoelectric transducer, the transducer operates to cause boiling of a quantity of liquid in the annular conduit. Expansion of a resulting bubble forces liquid out the end of the annular conduit. The dispenser may include battery powered electronic control circuit that includes a supercapacitor. The liquid may be dispensed in periodic bursts. In one application, the dispenser is especially suited to automatically and unobtrusively dispense a fragrance, perfume, or other personal care liquid worn by a person. In some applications, the dispenser may be worn on or under an article of clothing, or attached to an article of jewelry.

Abstract: A microdeposition system and method includes a head with a plurality of nozzles. A controller generates nozzle firing commands that selectively fire the nozzles to create a desired feature pattern. Configuration memory stores voltage waveform parameters that define a voltage waveform for each of the nozzles. A digital to analog converter (DAC) sequencer communicates with the configuration memory and the controller and outputs a first voltage waveform for a first nozzle when a nozzle firing command for the first nozzle is received from the controller. A resistive ladder DAC receives the voltage waveforms from the DAC sequencer. An operational amplifier (opamp) communicates with the resistive ladder DAC and amplifies the voltage waveforms. The nozzles fire droplets when the voltage waveforms received from the opamp exceed a firing threshold of the nozzle.

Abstract: A microdeposition system (20) and method includes a head with a plurality of nozzles (230). A controller (22) generates nozzle firing commands that selectively fire the nozzles to create a desired feature pattern. Configuration memory stores voltage waveform parameters that define a voltage waveform (280) for each of the nozzles. A digital to analog converter (DAC) sequencer communicates with the configuration memory and the controller and outputs a first voltage waveform for a first nozzle when a nozzle firing command for the first nozzle is received from the controller (22). A resistive ladder DAC receives the voltage waveforms from the DAC sequencer. An operational amplifier (opamp) communicates with the resistive ladder DAC and amplifies the voltage waveforms. The nozzles fire droplets when the voltage waveforms received from the opamp exceed a firing threshold of the nozzle (230).

Abstract: A dispenser for dispensing a liquid includes a chamber holding a supply of liquid, an annular conduit substantially filled with liquid from the chamber, and a thermoelectric transducer near one end of the annular conduit. Upon application of electrical current to the thermoelectric transducer, the transducer operates to cause boiling of a quantity of liquid in the annular conduit. Expansion of a resulting bubble forces liquid out the end of the annular conduit. The dispenser may include battery powered electronic control circuit that includes a supercapacitor. The liquid may be dispensed in periodic bursts. In one application, the dispenser is especially suited to automatically and unobtrusively dispense a fragrance, perfume, or other personal care liquid worn by a person. In some applications, the dispenser may be worn on or under an article of clothing, or attached to an article of jewelry.

Abstract: An improved electrographic writing head employs interleaved arrays of writing nibs and small geometry, high impedance, thick film resistors and semiconductor driver circuits fabricated on separate glass epoxy substrates disposed in adjacent back to back relation. The writing head achieves significant savings in manufacturing costs by using low cost printed circuit and thick film technology. Power consumption may be reduced by more than half over prior art devices due to the high impedance of each thick film pull up resistor coupled with an associated writing nib. A ground plane is disposed between the adjacent substrates and between adjacent arrays of writing nibs. The ground plane prevents electrical interaction between the substrates and prevents the formation of parasitic nib-to-nib capacitance by shunting parasitic capacitance currents to ground. The ground plane thus reduces the possibility of flaring and substantially eliminates inadvertent writing by adjacent nibs.

Abstract: A device for providing extremely accurate tracking and control of a continuous belt or web driven by at least one roller such as a paper transport belt for an electrostatic plotter, printer or the like includes a method for cancelling out the effect of belt edge irregularities by sampling the irregularities in the edge of a belt at precise positional intervals for an initial rotation of the belt and storing the sampled values as elements in a reference array. The reference array is corrected to include an error component representative of linearly increasing measurement of error for each of said array elements due to lateral shifting of the belt. During subsequent operation, the lateral displacement of the belt is continuously scanned for each of said positional intervals with respect to a corresponding element of the array.