Abstract: An arrangement for powering a mobile device with a fast charge discharge power source such as a supercapacitor without reliance on resistors to protect device electronics from comparatively high supercapacitor current discharge rates. The arrangement protects device electronics by coordinating a switch with a charge controller to balance recharge of a battery electronically coupled to the supercapacitor. The arrangement and techniques utilized result in a substantially continuous trickle charging of the battery from the supercapacitor. In this way, the battery is continuously charged so long as the supercapacitor holds power and the battery remains the safe medium through which device electronics are powered.

Abstract: A device which measures both the thickness of a thin film and the concentration of selected elements within the thin film. An X-ray source is utilized to irradiate the thin film sample and two detectors, an energy dispersive detector and a wavelength dispersive detector, provide the film thickness and element concentration measurements respectively.