Abstract: Systems and methods to provide welding-type arc starting and stabilization with reduced open circuit voltage are disclosed. An example welding-type power supply includes: power conversion circuitry configured to convert input power to welding-type power; and control circuitry configured to: control the power conversion circuitry to output a voltage pulse at a first voltage; determine whether the power conversion circuitry outputs current during the voltage pulse; in response to determining that there is less than a threshold output current during the voltage pulse, control the power conversion circuitry to turn off an output or output a second voltage that is less than the first voltage; and in response to determining that the power conversion circuitry outputs at least the threshold output current during the voltage pulse, control the power conversion circuitry to output the welding-type power.

Abstract: A switchable adhesion device combines two concepts: the surface tension force from a large number of small liquid bridges can be significant (capillarity-based adhesion) and these contacts can be quickly made or broken with electronic control (switchable). The device grabs or releases a substrate in a fraction of a second via a low voltage pulse that drives electroosmotic flow. Energy consumption is minimal since both the grabbed and released states are stable equilibria that persist with no energy added to the system. The device maintains the integrity of an array of hundreds to thousands of distinct interfaces during active reconfiguration from droplets to bridges and back, despite the natural tendency of the liquid towards coalescence. Strengths approaching those of permanent bonding adhesives are possible as feature size is scaled down. The device features compact size, no solid moving parts, and is made of common materials.

Abstract: An oscillating liquid lens and imaging system and method employing the lens are provided. The liquid lens includes a substrate with a channel opening extending through the substrate. A liquid drop is disposed within the channel and is sized with a first droplet portion, including a first capillary surface, protruding away from a first substrate surface, and a second droplet portion, including a second capillary surface, protruding away from a second substrate surface. The liquid lens further includes an enclosure at least partially surrounding the substrate, and including a chamber. The liquid drop resides within the chamber, and the liquid lens includes a second liquid disposed within the chamber in direct or indirect contact with the liquid drop, and the liquid lens further includes a driver for oscillating the liquid drop within the channel.

Abstract: A non-oscillating liquid lens and imaging system and method employing the lens are provided. The liquid lens includes a substrate with a channel opening extending through the substrate. A liquid lens drop is held within the channel and is sized with a first droplet portion, including a first capillary surface, protruding away from a first substrate surface, and a second droplet portion, including a second capillary surface, protruding away from a second substrate surface. The liquid lens further includes an enclosure at least partially surrounding the substrate, and which includes a chamber. The liquid lens drop resides within the chamber, and the liquid lens includes a second liquid disposed within the chamber in direct or indirect contact with the liquid lens drop, and an actuator which facilitates adjusting configuration of the liquid lens drop within the channel, and thus, a focal distance of the liquid lens.

Abstract: A switchable adhesion device combines two concepts: the surface tension force from a large number of small liquid bridges can be significant (capillarity-based adhesion) and these contacts can be quickly made or broken with electronic control (switchable). The device grabs or releases a substrate in a fraction of a second via a low voltage pulse that drives electroosmotic flow. Energy consumption is minimal since both the grabbed and released states are stable equilibria that persist with no energy added to the system. The device maintains the integrity of an array of hundreds to thousands of distinct interfaces during active reconfiguration from droplets to bridges and back, despite the natural tendency of the liquid towards coalescence. Strengths approaching those of permanent bonding adhesives are possible as feature size is scaled down. The device features compact size, no solid moving parts, and is made of common materials.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus includes a housing defining a channel, a plunger slidably engaged with an inner surface of the channel, a substrate with one or more passages each having two or more openings, a liquid in each of the one or more passages, at least one fluid, and a force application system. The substrate is disposed in the channel on one side of the plunger. The liquid in each of the one or more passages has a volume which exceeds an internal volume of each the one or more passages and forms a liquid drop around each of the openings. The liquid drops are fluidly connected to one another and each of the liquid drops is individually adjustable between two or more sizes. Each of the sizes and a location of each of the liquid drops define one of two or more switch positions. The fluid is located in the channel on the one side of the plunger and substantially surrounding the liquid drops.

Abstract: A non-oscillating liquid lens and imaging system and method employing the lens are provided. The liquid lens includes a substrate with a channel opening extending through the substrate. A liquid lens drop is held within the channel and is sized with a first droplet portion, including a first capillary surface, protruding away from a first substrate surface, and a second droplet portion, including a second capillary surface, protruding away from a second substrate surface. The liquid lens further includes an enclosure at least partially surrounding the substrate, and which includes a chamber. The liquid lens drop resides within the chamber, and the liquid lens includes a second liquid disposed within the chamber in direct or indirect contact with the liquid lens drop, and an actuator which facilitates adjusting configuration of the liquid lens drop within the channel, and thus, a focal distance of the liquid lens.

Abstract: An oscillating liquid lens and imaging system and method employing the lens are provided. The liquid lens includes a substrate with a channel opening extending through the substrate. A liquid drop is disposed within the channel and is sized with a first droplet portion, including a first capillary surface, protruding away from a first substrate surface, and a second droplet portion, including a second capillary surface, protruding away from a second substrate surface. The liquid lens further includes an enclosure at least partially surrounding the substrate, and including a chamber. The liquid drop resides within the chamber, and the liquid lens includes a second liquid disposed within the chamber in direct or indirect contact with the liquid drop, and the liquid lens further includes a driver for oscillating the liquid drop within the channel.

Abstract: A dispensing apparatus includes a housing defining a channel, a plunger slidably engaged with an inner surface of the channel, a substrate with one or more passages each having two or more openings, a liquid in each of the one or more passages, at least one fluid, and a force application system. The substrate is disposed in the channel on one side of the plunger. The liquid in each of the one or more passages has a volume which exceeds an internal volume of each the one or more passages and forms a liquid drop around each of the openings. The liquid drops are fluidly connected to one another and each of the liquid drops is individually adjustable between two or more sizes. Each of the sizes and a location of each of the liquid drops define one of two or more switch positions. The fluid is located in the channel on the one side of the plunger and substantially surrounding the liquid drops.

Abstract: A switching device includes a substrate with one or more passages and a force application system. Each of the passages has two or more openings, a force application system, and a liquid in the one or more passages in the substrate whose volume exceeds an internal volume of the one or more passages to form a liquid drop around each of the openings. The liquid drops are connected to one another by the liquid, each of the liquid drops is adjustable between two or more sizes and configurations, and each of the sizes and configurations of each of the liquid drops defines one of two or more switch positions. The force application system applies a force on the liquid to control switching between the two or more switch positions.

Abstract: A printer forms three-dimensional objects from a powder by selectively applying a binder liquid to incremental layers of the powder. The binder binds layers of the powder into solid two-dimensional cross sections of the desired object provided from memory. The printer can use dithering and halftoning techniques to shade the object and can also print in color. A filtration system removes airborne powder and recirculates the clean air. The printer also includes additional features to manage excess and airborne powder.

Abstract: A printer forms three-dimensional objects from a powder by selectively applying a binder liquid to incremental layers of the powder. The binder binds layers of the powder into solid two-dimensional cross sections of the desired object provided from memory. The printer can use dithering and halftoning techniques to shade the object and can also print in color. A filtration system removes airborne powder and recirculates the clean air. The printer also includes additional features to manage excess and airborne powder.

Abstract: An orbital assist module and an interstage for a launch vehicle. The orbital assist module includes a cylindrical outer wall and a support structure secured to an inner surface of the cylindrical outer wall. The support structure defines a plurality of fuel tank supporting zones, at least one of the zones supporting a fuel tank by means of securing formations. A plurality of nozzles are connected to the fuel tanks by means of fuel lines and a plurality of valves are mounted in the fuel lines. The interstage comprises a cylinder having a leading and a trailing end and an explosive connector at the leading end for connecting the interstage to a trailing end of a launch vehicle motor. A connecting bracket is secured to the trailing end of the cylinder for connecting a second launch vehicle motor to the cylinder.

Abstract: A launch vehicle system includes at least one primary solid fuel motor, a shroud for housing a payload and an attitude control system. The attitude control system is connected intermediate the primary solid fuel motor and the shroud. It has a circular outer wall and liquid fuel motors for exerting thrust along a longitudinal axis of the rocket system, and for controlling pitch, roll and yaw of the shroud. The attitude control system includes a support structure defining three pairs of fuel tank supporting zones, each zone having laterally extending supporting brackets connected to the outer wall. The attitude control system also includes connecting tubing for connecting outlets of sets of fuel tanks consisting of one, two and three pairs of fuel tanks to the liquid fuel motors.