Abstract: A method of manufacturing an ignition device is provided. The method includes patterning a plurality of resistors on a membrane to form heating elements and thermally isolating the heating elements from an external environment via a cavity disposed adjacent to the heating elements.

Abstract: A detector system for precursively identifying an electrical arcing event is provided. The system may include a transmission channel for transmitting a radio frequency signal to a zone where an arcing event may occur. The system may further include a reception channel for receiving a radio frequency signal resulting from an interaction of the transmitted radio frequency signal and an electric field which forms at the zone as a precursor to an arcing event. A pre-arc identification circuit may be coupled to process the resulting radio frequency signal. The identification circuit may be configured to generate a signal indicative of a pre-arc condition based on at least one parameter of the resulting radio frequency signal.

Abstract: A micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) current sensor for sensing a magnetic field produced by an electrical current flowing in a conductor includes a first fixed element and a moving element. The moving element is spaced away from the first fixed element and is movable relative to the fixed element responsive to a magnetic field produced by an electrical current flowing in a conductor for providing a mechanical indication of a strength of the magnetic field. The sensor also includes a tunneling current generator for generating a tunneling current between the first fixed element and the moving element and a tunneling current monitor for monitoring a change in the tunneling current responsive to the mechanical indication to provide an indication of a value of the electrical current in the conductor.

Abstract: A MEMS switch is provided including a substrate, a movable actuator coupled to the substrate and having a first side and a second side, a first fixed electrode coupled to the substrate and positioned on the first side of the movable actuator to generate a first actuation force to pull the movable actuator toward a conduction state, and a second fixed electrode coupled to the substrate and positioned on the second side of the movable actuator to generate a second actuation force to pull the movable actuator toward a non-conducting state.

Abstract: A method for controlling a laundering process includes determining a concentration of a detergent within a wash fluid during at least one cycle of an article laundering process, and dynamically adjusting at least one characteristic of the laundering process based at least in part upon the determined concentration of the detergent. An apparatus for controlling a laundering process includes a fluid chamber to contain a wash fluid, a sensor coupled to the fluid chamber to determine a detergent concentration within the wash fluid, and a controller coupled to the sensor and configured to dynamically adjust at least one characteristic of the laundering process based at least in part upon the determined detergent concentration.

Abstract: A switching system is provided. The switching system includes electromechanical switching circuitry, such as a micro-electromechanical system switching circuitry. The system may further include solid state switching circuitry coupled in a parallel circuit with the electromechanical switching circuitry, and a controller coupled to the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry. The controller may be configured to perform selective switching of a load current between the electromechanical switching circuitry and the solid state switching circuitry in response to a load current condition appropriate to an operational capability of a respective one of the switching circuitries.

Abstract: A system is presented. The system includes detection circuitry configured to detect occurrence of a zero crossing of an alternating source voltage or an alternating load current. The system also includes switching circuitry coupled to the detection circuitry and comprising a micro-electromechanical system switch. Additionally, the system includes control circuitry coupled to the detection circuitry and the switching circuitry and configured to perform arc-less switching of the micro-electromechanical system switch responsive to a detected zero crossing of an alternating source voltage or alternating load current.

Abstract: A method of forming a vertical MOSFET device includes forming a trench within a drift layer substrate, the drift layer comprising a first polarity type, the trench generally defining a well region of a second polarity type opposite the first polarity type. An ohmic contact layer is formed within a bottom surface of the trench, the ohmic contact layer comprising a material of the second polarity type. A layer of the second polarity type is epitaxially grown over the drift layer, sidewall surfaces of the trench, and the ohmic contact layer. A layer of the first polarity type is epitaxially grown over the epitaxially grown layer of the second polarity type so as to refill the trench, and the epitaxially grown layers of the first and second polarity type are planarized so as to expose an upper surface of the drift layer substrate.