Abstract: Devices and methods for dispensing material from a dental handpiece. In one example, the method includes receiving an input that indicates that an amount of the material is to be dispensed from the container of the dental handpiece. The method also includes rotating an electric motor to rotate an imbalanced mass to vibrate a vibration transmission element that vibrates the material in the container. The method also includes dispensing the amount of the material from the container with a piston based on the input.

Abstract: Vibration generator for generating mechanical vibrations for a dental handpiece, comprising a rotation driving means, a vibration generating element rotationally coupled to the rotation driving means and comprising an imbalanced vibrating portion and a vibrating element in mechanical communication with the vibration generating element, wherein the rotation of the vibration generating element causes the imbalanced vibrating portion to generate vibrations of the vibrating element and the vibrating element is configured to deliver the vibrations to an object.

Abstract: Devices and methods for dispensing material from a dental handpiece. In one example, the method includes receiving an input that indicates that an amount of the material is to be dispensed from the container of the dental handpiece. The method also includes rotating an electric motor to rotate an imbalanced mass to vibrate a vibration transmission element that vibrates the material in the container. The method also includes dispensing the amount of the material from the container with a piston based on the input.

Abstract: A flat panel display assembly includes an array of micromachined incandescent lamps. According to one aspect of the invention, the array of lamps is placed on a gas filled enclosure to enable the filaments to be operated at higher temperatures with extended lifetimes. According to another aspect of the invention, each lamp (or groups of lamps) may be formed in its own gas filled pocket. In some embodiments, a diode is connected in series with each lamp filament. This arrangement enables the array to be operated such that power is applied to the row (column) at a time and to selected columns. The effective brightness of each lamp may be controlled by determining the length of time each lamp is turned-on.

Abstract: An electromagnetic radiation (EMR) responsive detector includes an array of multi-layered cantilevers with each cantilever having at least a first layer for absorbing EMR signals and a second layer for reflecting light incident on the second layer. Each cantilever is formed so it can absorb EMR which gets converted into heat which then causes the cantilever to bend proportionately to the amount of EMR energy it absorbs. The amount of EMR absorbed by each cantilever of the array is optically read-out (sensed) by illuminating the cantilevers of the array and sensing the light reflected from each cantilever. Various schemes for projecting light onto the array and sensing the reflected light are disclosed. The optical read-out of the array eliminates the need for electronic read-out circuitry and accessing wires to be formed on the array.