Abstract: An energy harvesting circuit for use with a logic circuit includes an induction coil positioned near conductive elements of the logic circuit and configured to extract energy from the magnetic fields produced by transient currents associated with state changes within the logic circuit.

Abstract: An ambient-heat engine has a substantially thermally-conductive housing whose interior is divided into a high-pressure chamber and a low-pressure chamber by a substantially gas-impermeable barrier. An ionically-conductive, electrical-energy-generating mechanism forms at least a portion of the barrier. First hydrogen-storage medium is disposed within the high-pressure chamber and second hydrogen-storage medium is disposed within the low-pressure chamber. An electrical-energy storage device connected to the ionically-conductive, electrical-energy-generating mechanism is operable between a charge condition and a discharge condition. In a charge condition, hydrogen atoms within the high-pressure chamber are converted to hydrogen ions and conducted through the electrical-energy-generating mechanism to the low-pressure chamber causing electrical-energy to be generated to the electrical-energy storage device.

Abstract: An ambient-heat engine has a substantially thermally-conductive housing whose interior is divided into a high-pressure chamber and a low-pressure chamber by a substantially gas-impermeable barrier. An ionically-conductive, electrical-energy-generating mechanism forms at least a portion of the barrier. First hydrogen-storage medium is disposed within the high-pressure chamber and second hydrogen-storage medium is disposed within the low-pressure chamber. An electrical-energy storage device connected to the ionically-conductive, electrical-energy-generating mechanism is operable between a charge condition and a discharge condition. In a charge condition, hydrogen atoms within the high-pressure chamber are converted to hydrogen ions and conducted through the electrical-energy-generating mechanism to the low-pressure chamber causing electrical-energy to be generated to the electrical-energy storage device.

Abstract: There is disclosed an electrochemical conversion system (40) for energy management which includes multi-electrochemical cells. The system 40 includes a conduit system (41), an electrical system (42), first electrochemical cell (43), a second electrochemical cell (44), a third electrochemical cell (45), a first recuperative heat exchanger (RHX) (46), and a second recuperative heat exchanger (47). The conduit system, electrical system (42), heat exchangers, and electrochemical cells are all constructed and function in the same manner as previously described. The system (40) also includes an additional, second recuperative heat exchanger (47) (RHX) to thermally isolate the third electrochemical cell from the other two. As shown, the electrochemical cells are electrically and pneumatically connected in series so that the electrical current flow and the proton flow through the electrochemical cells are balanced.

Abstract: A thin film ceramic proton conducting electrolyte assembly (10) is provided having a includes a nanoporous, copper supporting substrate (11), a temporary substrate pore filler material (12), and a ceramic electrolyte layer (13) positioned upon the substrate (11). The ceramic electrolyte layer may be made of a yttrium doped strontium zirconate. To produce the electrolyte the substrate pores (14) are filled with the pore filler material to provide a smooth surface upon which the electrolyte layer is deposited. The filler material is then removed from the pores and the substrate and electrolyte layer are annealed.

Abstract: A method of producing a passivated thin film material is disclosed wherein an insulating thin film layer (10), having pinholes (12) therein, is positioned upon an underlying electrically conductive substrate (11). The thin film layer is then electroplated so that the pinholes are filled with a reactive metal. The thin film layer and substrate are then immersed within a silicon doped tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solution. Excess silica within the solution precipitates onto the top surfaces of the aluminum plugs (13) to form an electrically insulative cap which electrically insulates the top of the aluminum plug. As an alternative, the previously described metal plugs may be anodized so that at least a portion thereof becomes an oxidized metal which is electrically insulative.

Abstract: A method of producing a passivated thin film material is disclosed wherein an insulating thin film layer (10), having pinholes (12) therein, is positioned upon an underlying electrically conductive substrate (11). The thin film layer is then electroplated so that the pinholes are filled with a reactive metal. The thin film layer and substrate are then immersed within a silicon doped tetramethylammonium hydroxide (TMAH) solution. Excess silica within the solution precipitates onto the top surfaces of the aluminum plugs (13) to form an electrically insulative cap which electrically insulates the top of the aluminum plug. As an alternative, the previously described metal plugs may be anodized so that at least a portion thereof becomes an oxidized metal which is electrically insulative.

Abstract: A portable multimedia projection system includes a portable housing, a DVD player, a channel tuner, an image projection device, a controller and a remote control receiver. The image projection device externally projects images. The controller is electrically coupled to the channel tuner and the image projection device. The controller directs video signals from the channel tuner to the image projection device.

Abstract: An reversible engine (10) is disclosed having a conduit system (11), a first electrochemical cells (12), and a second electrochemical cell (13). The conduit system (11) includes a first conduit (15) extending from the first electrochemical cell (12) to the second electrochemical cell (13), and a second conduit (16) extending from the second electrochemical cell (13) to the first electrochemical cell (12). The heat engine (10) also includes a heater (18) mounted in thermal communication with the conduit system (11) adjacent the second electrochemical cell (13), a cooler (19) mounted in thermal communication with the conduit system (11) adjacent the first electrochemical cell (12), and a regenerative heat exchanger (20) thermally coupled to the first and second conduits (15) and (16) for the transfer of heat therebetween.

Abstract: A portable multimedia projection system includes a portable housing, a DVD player, a channel tuner, an image projection device, a controller and a remote control receiver. The image projection device externally projects images. The controller is electrically coupled to the channel tuner and the image projection device. The controller directs video signals from the channel tuner to the image projection device.

Abstract: A portable multimedia projection system includes a portable housing, a channel tuner, an image projection device and a controller. The image projection device externally projects images. The controller is electrically coupled to the channel tuner and the image projection device. The controller directs video signals from the channel tuner to the image projection device.

Abstract: A nanomachined and micromachined electrode (10) is disclosed that is produced by providing a layer of aluminum (11) positioned upon a conductive substrate (12), anodizing the layer of aluminum to produce a layer of aluminum oxide (13) having an array of pores (14), depositing a sacrificial metal (17) within the pores of the aluminum oxide layer, etching the aluminum oxide layer so as to leave an array of sacrificial metal rods (18), depositing a layer of electrode material (19) between the array of sacrificial metal rods, and etching the sacrificial metal rods so that a layer of copper remains having an array of pores (20) where the sacrificial metal rods had existed. The layer of copper is the electrode (10).

Abstract: A portable multimedia projection system includes a portable housing, a media player disposed, a sound system, an image projection device, a controller and a vibration dampening device. The sound system has at least one internally-mounted speaker. The image projection device externally projects images. The controller is electrically coupled to the media player, the sound system and the image projection device. The controller directs audio signals from the media player to the sound system and directs video signals from the media player to the image projection device. The vibration dampening device is coupled between the housing and at least one of the media player, the at least one internally-mounted speaker and the image projection device.

Abstract: A launcher (10) is provided having a separation unit (15) and a launch tube (16) in fluid communication with the separation unit (15). The separation unit (15) has a pressure sensing chamber (23) for sensing the pressure within the separation unit (15), a separation chamber (24) in fluid communication with the pressure sensing chamber (23), and a combustion chamber (26) in fluid communication with the separation chamber (24). The combustion chamber (26) is in fluid communication with the launch tube (16) through opening (28). The rocket launcher (10) also includes a hydrogen separation circuit (21) and an ignition circuit (22). The hydrogen separation circuit (21) includes a battery pack (44) electrically coupled to a fuel cell (45) which when powered separates water into hydrogen gas and oxygen gas. The ignition circuit (22) includes a piezoelectric spark generator (61) for igniting the hydrogen gas produced by the fuel cell and contained within the combustion.

Abstract: A toy figurine 10 is disclosed having a torso 13, a right arm 14, a left arm 15, a right leg 16, a left leg 17 and a head 18. Each arm 14 has a right shoulder portion (22, 29), an elbow portion (23, 30) and a wrist portion (24 31). The shoulder portions are coupled to the elbow portions by upper arm pneumatic cylinders (25, 32). The elbow portions 23 are coupled to the wrist portions by lower arm pneumatic cylinders (26, 33). Each leg (16, 17) has a thigh portion (36, 43), a knee portion (37, 44) and a foot portion (38, 45). The thigh portions are coupled to the knee portions by upper leg pneumatic cylinders (39, 46). The knee portions are coupled to the foot portions by a lower leg pneumatic cylinder (40, 47). The figurine also includes an internally mounted manual air pump (50) positioned within an internally mounted pressure tank (51).

Abstract: A water gun (10) is provided having a storage tank (18), a expandable pressure tank (19) having an elastic bladder (30) encased within an outer shell (29), and a pump (32) for conveying liquid from the storage tank to the expandable pressure tank. The conveyance of liquid into the expandable pressure tank causes the liquid to be pressurized by the biasing force of the elastic bladder. The pressurized liquid is released through a nozzle (21) coupled to the expandable pressure tank by actuation of a trigger (17).

Abstract: A method of producing a layer of lithiated material is provided wherein a mixture of Li(acac) and Co (acac)3 is dissolved in an aqueous solvent to produce a solution. The solution is deposited upon a substrate by atomizing the solution, passing the atomized solution into a heated gas stream so as to vaporize the solution, and directing the vaporized solution onto a substrate.

Abstract: A rocket launcher (10) is provided having a manual air pump (11) coupled to a base unit (12) through an elongated pressure tube (13) having a pressure release valve or trigger (20). The base unit has a pressure chamber (24), a launch tube (25), and an orientation sensitive safety mechanism (32) coupled to the end of the pressure tube. The safety mechanism is coupled to an internal pressure tube (33) which extends to a pressure sensitive release valve (34) that controls the release of pressurized air from the launch tube. The orientation sensitive safety mechanism prevents the launching of projectiles should the launch tube be offset from a vertical orientation and depressurizes the launcher should an operator attempt to fire the launcher while in an offset orientation.

Abstract: A water gun (10) is provided having a storage tank (18), a expandable pressure tank (19) having an elastic bladder (30) encased within an outer shell (29), and a pump (32) for conveying liquid from the storage tank to the expandable pressure tank. The conveyance of liquid into the expandable pressure tank causes the liquid to be pressurized by the biasing force of the elastic bladder. The pressurized liquid is released through a nozzle (21) coupled to the expandable pressure tank by actuation of a trigger (17).