Abstract: Implementations of wax ester compositions may include: a product of transesterifying oleyl oleate, stearyl stearate, and behenyl behenate using one of a chemical or an enzyme catalyst. The ratio of the oleyl oleate to stearyl stearate to behenyl behenate in the mixture prior to transesterification is one of 65%/23%/12%, 56%/29%/15%, or 36%/34%/30%, respectively, measured by weight. The product may demonstrate a substantially equivalent physical property to a physical property of a transesterified wax ester composition including a jojoba ester.

Abstract: Implementations of wax ester compositions may include: a product of transesterifying oleyl oleate, stearyl stearate, and behenyl behenate using one of a chemical or an enzyme catalyst. The ratio of the oleyl oleate to stearyl stearate to behenyl behenate in the mixture prior to transesterification is one of 65%/23%/12%, 56%/29%/15%, or 36%/34%/30%, respectively, measured by weight. The product may demonstrate a substantially equivalent physical property to a physical property of a transesterified wax ester composition including a jojoba ester.

Abstract: Implementations of wax ester compositions may include: a product of transesterifying oleyl oleate, stearyl stearate, and behenyl behenate using one of a chemical or an enzyme catalyst. The ratio of the oleyl oleate to stearyl stearate to behenyl behenate in the mixture prior to transesterification is one of 65%/23%/12%, 56%/29%/15%, or 36%/34%/30%, respectively, measured by weight. The product may demonstrate a substantially equivalent physical property to a physical property of a transesterified wax ester composition including a jojoba ester.

Abstract: Implementations of wax ester compositions may include: a product of transesterfying oleyl oleate, stearyl stearate, and behenyl behenate using one of a chemical or an enzyme catalyst. The ratio of the oleyl oleate to stearyl stearate to behenyl behenate in the mixture prior to transesterification is one of 65%/23%/12%, 56%/29%/15%, or 36%/34%/30%, respectively, measured by weight. The product may demonstrate a substantially equivalent physical property to a physical property of a transesterified wax ester composition including a jojoba ester.

Abstract: The invention provides a sanitizing composition in the form of a viscous liquid or gel suitable for use as a handwash composition comprising alcohol, water and a thickener wherein the viscous liquid or gel has particles suspended therein, wherein said particles provide the composition with a granular texture and are capable of being worn away when rubbed. The particles may deliver one or more agents to the skin e.g. antimicrobial, antibacterial or antiviral agents, emollients and/or moisturizers, fragrances, colorings or UV markers.

Abstract: The invention provides a sanitizing composition in the form of a viscous liquid or gel suitable for use as a handwash composition comprising alcohol, water and a thickener wherein the viscous liquid or gel has particles suspended therein, wherein said particles provide the composition with a granular texture and are capable of being worn away when rubbed. The particles may deliver one or more agents to the skin e.g. antimicrobial, antibacterial or antiviral agents, emollients and/or moisturizers, fragrances, colorings or UV markers.

Abstract: Various embodiments provide compositions for exfoliating particles and methods for their manufacture. In one exemplary embodiment, the exfoliating particles may comprise a derivative of a botanically-sourced emollient, stearyl stearate, and at least one of: candelilla wax, is bran wax, sunflower wax, jojoba esters, carnauba wax, bees wax, corn wax, a saturated wax-ester, castor wax, ouricury wax, hydrogenated lanolin, and a hydrogenated triglyceride wax, Exemplary methods for producing the exfoliating particles may comprise melting, combining, and/or homogenizing the components of the exfoliating particles and cooling the resultant mixture in a process to form particles of a desired shape and/or size. The exfoliating particles may be for topical use and may be stable in personal care compositions.

Abstract: A three-quarter bridge power converter includes a first switch configured to selectively couple a switch node to a higher voltage. The power converter also includes a second switch configured to selectively couple the switch node to a lower voltage. The power converter further includes a third switch configured to selectively cause a third voltage to be provided to the switch node when the first and second switches are not coupling the switch node to the higher and lower voltages. The third switch may be configured to selectively couple the switch node to an energy storage or energy source, such as a capacitor. The third switch may also be configured to selectively couple an energy storage or energy source to ground, where the energy storage or energy source is coupled to the switch node.

Abstract: Human sebum mimetics and methods for producing human sebum mimetics are provided. In one exemplary embodiment, a human sebum mimetic comprises a wax ester derived from interesterification of refined botanical oil comprising palmitoleic acid and refined jojoba oil, a phytosterol, phytosqualene, and/or phytosteryl macadamiate. Method for producing a human sebum mimetic comprises mixing refined macadamia oil and refined jojoba oil, interesterifying the refined macadamia oil and the refined jojoba oil, adding a phytosterol, adding phytosteryl macadamiate, and adding phytosqualene after the interesterifying.

Abstract: A method for providing feed forward compensation in a drive signal for a rapid resonant frequency change due to a rapid LASER intensity change upon a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) mirror and/or a surrounding MEMS structure in a MEMS scanner causing a mirror temperature change is provided. The method includes determining an intensity factor for at least one laser beam projected onto the MEMS scanner and adjusting a drive frequency of the drive signal based on the intensity factor. The intensity could represent a single intensity factor for multiple laser beams projected onto the MEMS scanner. The method could also include delaying the adjustment of the drive frequency to allow the resonant frequency change to take affect in the MEMS scanner. Delaying the adjustment could include delaying delivery of the intensity factor such that the intensity factor is provided coincident with the resonant frequency change of the MEMS scanner.

Abstract: A method for generating a drive signal for a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) scanner is provided. The method includes generating the drive signal for the MEMS scanner using a direct digital synthesis, numerically-controlled oscillator. For a particular embodiment, the drive signal is generated by receiving a summation of (i) an initial control word and (ii) an accumulated correction signal generated based on a comparison of a horizontal drive signal for the MEMS scanner and a horizontal sensor signal received from the MEMS scanner. The summation is added to a phase accumulator output, an address is extracted from the phase accumulator output, and a digital lookup table output is addressed based on the extracted address. The digital lookup table output is converted into an analog signal with a digital-to-analog converter, the analog signal is filtered to generate the drive signal, and the horizontal drive signal is generated based on the drive signal.

Abstract: A system for suppressing undesirable oscillations in a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) scanner is provided. The system includes a tunable notch filter and a MEMS scanner. The tunable notch filter is operable to receive an original drive signal and to generate a compensated drive signal based on the original drive signal. The MEMS scanner, which is coupled to the tunable notch filter, is operable to receive the compensated drive signal and to be driven by the compensated drive signal without oscillating at a first mode resonance frequency.

Abstract: A three-quarter bridge power converter includes a first switch configured to selectively couple a switch node to a higher voltage. The power converter also includes a second switch configured to selectively couple the switch node to a lower voltage. The power converter further includes a third switch configured to selectively cause a third voltage to be provided to the switch node when the first and second switches are not coupling the switch node to the higher and lower voltages. The third switch may be configured to selectively couple the switch node to an energy storage or energy source, such as a capacitor. The third switch may also be configured to selectively couple an energy storage or energy source to ground, where the energy storage or energy source is coupled to the switch node.

Abstract: A method for operating a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) scanner on a resonant mode frequency is provided. The method includes generating a drive signal for a MEMS scanner. A sensor signal is received from the MEMS scanner. The drive signal is compared to the sensor signal. An accumulated correction signal is generated based on the comparison of the drive signal and the sensor signal. The drive signal for the MEMS scanner is then adjusted based on the accumulated correction signal.

Abstract: A method for providing feed forward compensation in a drive signal for a rapid resonant frequency change due to a rapid LASER intensity change upon a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) mirror and/or a surrounding MEMS structure in a MEMS scanner causing a mirror temperature change is provided. The method includes determining an intensity factor for at least one laser beam projected onto the MEMS scanner and adjusting a drive frequency of the drive signal based on the intensity factor. The intensity could represent a single intensity factor for multiple laser beams projected onto the MEMS scanner. The method could also include delaying the adjustment of the drive frequency to allow the resonant frequency change to take affect in the MEMS scanner. Delaying the adjustment could include delaying delivery of the intensity factor such that the intensity factor is provided coincident with the resonant frequency change of the MEMS scanner.

Abstract: A correction circuit for use in a switched power supply wherein the correction circuit provides a correction signal indicating a duty cycle adjustment necessary to modify pulse width modulation of the power supply such that the output inductor current matches the load current drawn by a load connected to the power supply. The correction circuit may be used in conjunction with feed forward and/or feed back control circuits. The correction circuit may be implemented using either digital or analog circuit components.

Abstract: A circuit for transitioning between a discontinuous and a fixed frequency continuous conduction mode (DCM) and (CCM) of a power converter having a driver receiving PWM signals and controlling a switching stage comprises a control switch and a sync switch connected at a common switching node for driving a load.

Abstract: Systems and methods are described for providing information associated with a particular product to a customer possessing a sample of the particular product. An identifier that is provided with the sample of the particular product and that uniquely identifies the product is received at a server. The information associated with the particular product is obtained based upon the received identifier. The information is provided from the server to the customer to thereby allow the customer to use the particular product that is in the customer's possession. The information provided may include safety information (e.g., a material safety data sheet (MSDS)) and usage information associated with the particular product. Such systems and methods may be particularly useful providing information relating to chemical components, such as those used in cosmetic, personal care or other industries.

Abstract: The invention provides a sanitizing composition in the form of a viscous liquid or gel suitable for use as a handwash composition comprising alcohol, water and a thickener wherein the viscous liquid or gel has particles suspended therein, wherein said particles provide the composition with a granular texture and are capable of being worn away when rubbed. The particles may deliver one or more agents to the skin e.g. antimicrobial, antibacterial or antiviral agents, emollients and/or moisturizers, fragrances, colourings or UV markers.

Abstract: Apparatus for minimizing power losses associated with dead time between ON times of two series connected switches of a power converter connected across a supply potential, the apparatus comprising a control arrangement for monitoring a selected parameter associated with power loss during the dead time of the converter; the control arrangement changing the dead time from a first dead time to a second dead time and comparing the selected parameter associated with power loss for the first and second dead times and determining which of the power losses associated with the two dead times is smaller; a dead time implementing stage for implementing the two dead times; and the control arrangement selecting the dead time associated with the smaller power loss and providing a signal to the dead time implementing stage to set the selected dead time, wherein the control arrangement comprises a module sampling a signal related to the selected parameter associated with power loss at selected instants in time corresponding