Abstract: Control circuitry is disclosed for use with a tankless water heater system including a plurality of water conduits connected in series. The control circuitry includes a plurality of water heater elements, one each associated with each of the plurality of water conduits. A controller includes a central processing unit (CPU) with an operating program and each of the plurality of water heater elements are coupled to the CPU. The CPU is programmed to individually activate one of the water heater elements to a predetermined power level in response to a demand for heated water. The number of water heater elements activated and the power level of the activation is determined by the demand for heated water.

Abstract: Vehicle positioning apparatus for facilitating the positioning of a vehicle in a specific position within an enclosure having an automatic door opening device with concurrently activated light source is disclosed. The vehicle positioning apparatus includes a light generating device mounted to the enclosure for generating a targeting mark. A photovoltaic cell generates electrical power from light emitted by the light source when the automatic door opening device is activated. The photovoltaic cell is coupled to the light generating device to provide electrical power for the generation of the targeting mark when the light is illuminated.

Abstract: An optical subassembly includes a substrate, a heat spreader, and a submount. The submount has a submount mounting surface and a component mounting surface with either the submount mounting surface or the component mounting surface including an angle. The submount is positioned on either the heat spreader or the substrate such that the component mounting surface is positioned at the angle relative to the substrate. An optoelectric device is positioned on the component mounting surface and coupled to interconnects on the substrate. The optoelectric device is thermally coupled to the heat spreader through the submount to provide a low thermal resistance between the optoelectric device and the heat spreader. An encapsulant structure is mounted on the substrate and hermetically encloses the optoelectric device. The encapsulant structure includes a window positioned to pass light between the optoelectric device and an externally mounted optical fiber.

Abstract: A hanger apparatus is fabricated of a strand of material that is formed into a plurality of coils of incrementally decreasing diameter to fabricate a tapered, hollow helix. A hook or other engagement means is integrally formed at one end of the helix. The helix is compressively or frictionally engaged with an opening in a selected substrate to provide a hanger assembly for receiving and holding a selected object.

Abstract: A golf accessory apparatus includes an elongated trough coupled to an elongated rod. The elongated trough is configured to receive a golf club so that its handle end is held off the ground when a first end of the elongated rod is coupled to the ground. The elongated trough can be pivotally coupled to the elongated rod and it can frictionally engage the golf club. The elongate trough has one or both of its ends shaped so that it can be easily inserted into a golf bag.

Abstract: A highly efficient flame arrester adapted for use in preventing an external flame from backflashing upstream in a pipe, or a conduit, or a stream carrying a flammable substance. The flame arrester comprises a contained layer of nested ellipsoids formed from expanded metal sheets made from magnesium alloy foil. The arrester is useful in fuel tanks, combustion systems, sea-going tankers, hot water or space heaters, and the like.

Abstract: A method of forming a hermetically sealed MEMS package includes a step of providing a supporting GaAs substrate with at least one contact for the MEMS device on the surface of the supporting substrate and forming a cantilever on the surface of the supporting substrate positioned to come into electrical engagement with the contact in one orientation. A metal seal ring is fixed to the surface of the supporting substrate circumferentially around the contact and the cantilever. A cavity is etched in a silicon chip to form a cap member. A metal seal ring is fixed to the cap member around the cavity. The package is hermetically sealed by reflowing a solder alloy, positioned between the two seal rings, in an inert environment without the use of flux.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (10) includes a semiconductor substrate (11) that has a top surface (32) for forming a dielectric region (14) with a trench (40) and one or more adjacent cavities (16). A conductive material such as copper is disposed within the trench to produce an inductor (50). A top surface (49) of the inductor is substantially coplanar with an interconnect surface (31) of the semiconductor substrate, which facilitates connecting to the inductor with standard integrated circuit metallization (57).

Abstract: An electric turbine includes a fan with a plurality of blades each with a tip having a permanent magnet positioned in the tip. The fan is mounted for rotation about an axis with the blades extending radially outwardly from the axis of rotation and with the tips adjacent an outer extremity. An electromagnet and a magnetic sensor are each positioned to be magnetically aligned with the permanent magnet in the tip of each blade during one complete rotation of the fan. A controller supplies a pulse of current, in response to reception of a sensor signal from the magnetic sensor, to the electromagnet at a time when the electromagnet is magnetically aligned with the permanent magnet in one blade of the fan. A solar panel supplies power to the controller.