Abstract: Described are concepts, systems, circuits and techniques directed toward methods and apparatus for generating one or more pulse width modulated (PWM) waveforms with the ability to dynamically control pulse width and phase with respect to a reference signal.

Abstract: An inchworm actuator particularly adapted to implementation of robotic muscles through loosening and tightening of tendon-like structures, including a piezoelectric stack which expands and contracts the actuator, and one or more paired sets of clamps which are engaged and disengaged by means of piezoelectric stacks. Some embodiments are IM2R, which manipulate non-looped tendons, and IM2B, which manipulate looped tendons in a ‘bridgelike’ structure.

Abstract: An actuated or mobile device such as a mobile robot or robotic muscle is provided, wherein mobility may be enabled by means of novel models of inchworm actuator positioned to tighten, loosen, move, or pull on one or more strings or tendons to directly or indirectly effect motion. The clamp elements of the inchworm actuator may include the novel optimization of being H-shaped and/or including a ‘beak’ element. Inchworm actuators tightening and/or loosening strings or tendons may cause ‘foot’ elements to rotatably extend from or tuck into a surface of the device, enabling the device to pull itself along. The device may include one or more moveable joints implemented as a bow joint. One or a grouped set of inchworm actuators pulling tendons may be used to rotate an axle, particularly for implementing a robotic joint around the axle.

Abstract: A method is disclosed wherein two sheets of a flexible, inelastic substance are sealed along a periphery thereof, creating an interior reservoir preferably containing two or more elongate chambers, organized normal to an axis of traction. The disclosed axis of traction is an axis along which the disclosed device reduces length as a medium is introduced into the reservoir. Further disclosed is a method by which one or more bladders of flexible, inelastic substance are woven through two or more preferably parallel strips or strings. The bladders are adapted to receive a preferably gaseous or liquid medium. As the medium is moved into the bladders, the flexible strips or stings are deformed to cause the strips or strings to have a reduced length along the axis of traction.

Abstract: Described are concepts, systems, circuits and techniques directed toward methods and apparatus for generating one or more pulse width modulated (PWM) waveforms with the ability to dynamically control pulse width and phase with respect to a reference signal.

Abstract: Described are concepts, systems, circuits and techniques directed toward methods and apparatus for generating one or more pulse width modulated (PWM) waveforms with the ability to dynamically control pulse width and phase with respect to a reference signal.

Abstract: A method is disclosed wherein two sheets of a flexible, inelastic substance are sealed along a periphery thereof, creating an interior reservoir preferably containing two or more elongate chambers, organized normal to an axis of traction. The disclosed axis of traction is an axis along which the disclosed device reduces length as a medium is introduced into the reservoir. Further disclosed is a method by which one or more bladders of flexible, inelastic substance are woven through two or more preferably parallel strips or strings. The bladders are adapted to receive a preferably gaseous or liquid medium. As the medium is moved into the bladders, the flexible strips or stings are deformed to cause the strips or strings to have a reduced length along the axis of traction.

Abstract: A method is disclosed wherein two sheets of a flexible, inelastic substance are sealed along a periphery thereof, creating an interior reservoir preferably containing two or more elongate chambers, organized normal to an axis of traction. The disclosed axis of traction is an axis along which the disclosed device reduces length as a medium is introduced into the reservoir. Further disclosed is a method by which one or more bladders of flexible, inelastic substance are woven through two or more preferably parallel strips or strings. The bladders are adapted to receive a preferably gaseous or liquid medium. As the medium is moved into the bladders, the flexible strips or stings are deformed to cause the strips or strings to have a reduced length along the axis of traction.

Abstract: Described are concepts, systems, circuits and techniques directed toward methods and apparatus for generating one or more pulse width modulated (PWM) waveforms with the ability to dynamically control pulse width and phase with respect to a reference signal.

Abstract: Described are concepts, systems, circuits and techniques directed toward methods and apparatus for generating one or more pulse width modulated (PWM) waveforms with the ability to dynamically control pulse width and phase with respect to a reference signal.

Abstract: A method is disclosed wherein two sheets of a flexible, inelastic substance are sealed along a periphery thereof, creating an interior reservoir preferably containing two or more elongate chambers, organized normal to an axis of traction. The disclosed axis of traction is an axis along which the disclosed device reduces length as a compressed medium is introduced into the reservoir. Further disclosed is a method by which one or more bladders of flexible, inelastic substance are woven through two or more preferably parallel strips or strings. The bladders are adapted to receive a preferably gaseous or liquid compressed medium. As the compressed medium is moved into the bladders, the flexible strips or stings are deformed to cause the strips or strings to have a reduced length along the axis of traction.

Abstract: Described is a phase-switched phase-switched, impedance modulation amplifier (PSIM). The PSIM has an input that can be coupled to a source and an output that can be coupled to a load. The PSIM includes one or more phase-switched reactive elements and a controller. The controller provides a control signal to each of the one or more phase-switched reactive elements. In response to one or more control signals provided thereto, each phase-switched reactive element provides a corresponding selected reactance value such that an impedance presented to an input or output port of an RF amplifier may be varied.

Abstract: Described are concepts, systems, circuits and techniques directed toward methods and apparatus for generating one or more pulse width modulated (PWM) waveforms with the ability to dynamically control pulse width and phase with respect to a reference signal.

Abstract: A method is disclosed wherein two sheets of a flexible, inelastic substance are sealed along a periphery thereof, creating an interior reservoir preferably containing two or more elongate chambers, organized normal to an axis of traction. The disclosed axis of traction is an axis along which the disclosed device reduces length as a medium is introduced into the reservoir. Further disclosed is a method by which one or more bladders of flexible, inelastic substance are woven through two or more preferably parallel strips or strings. The bladders are adapted to receive a preferably gaseous or liquid medium. As the medium is moved into the bladders, the flexible strips or stings are deformed to cause the strips or strings to have a reduced length along the axis of traction.

Abstract: Described is a phase-switched phase-switched, impedance modulation amplifier (PSIM). The PSIM has an input that can be coupled to a source and an output that can be coupled to a load. The PSIM includes one or more phase-switched reactive elements and a controller. The controller provides a control signal to each of the one or more phase-switched reactive elements. In response to one or more control signals provided thereto, each phase-switched reactive element provides a corresponding selected reactance value such that an impedance presented to an input or output port of an RF amplifier may be varied.

Abstract: Described is a phase-switched tunable impedance matching network (PS-TMN). The PS-TMN has an input that can be coupled to a source and an output that can be coupled to a load. The PS-TMN includes one or more phase-switched reactive elements and a controller. The controller provides a control signal to each of the one or more phase-switched reactive elements. In response to one or more control signals provided thereto, each phase-switched reactive element provides a corresponding selected reactance value.

Abstract: A system comprising a laser emitting an ultrashort pulse beam; and a dielectric bulk medium having a refractive index depending on intensity, the bulk medium broadening the laser beam homogeneously versus transversal spatial coordinates, and a method for compressing high energy femtosecond laser pulses, comprising propagating the laser beam inside a dielectric bulk medium having a refractive index depending on the beam intensity, the bulk medium broadening the laser beam homogeneously versus transversal spatial coordinates; and compressing a resulting broadened spectrum.

Abstract: A method is disclosed wherein two sheets of a flexible, inelastic substance are sealed along a periphery thereof, creating an interior reservoir preferably containing two or more elongate chambers, organized normal to an axis of traction. The disclosed axis of traction is an axis along which the disclosed device reduces length as a compressed medium is introduced into the reservoir. Further disclosed is a method by which one or more bladders of flexible, inelastic substance are woven through two or more preferably parallel strips or strings. The bladders are adapted to receive a preferably gaseous or liquid compressed medium. As the compressed medium is moved into the bladders, the flexible strips or stings are deformed to cause the strips or strings to have a reduced length along the axis of traction.

Abstract: Described is a phase-switched phase-switched, impedance modulation amplifier (PSIM). The PSIM has an input that can be coupled to a source and an output that can be coupled to a load. The PSIM includes one or more phase-switched reactive elements and a controller. The controller provides a control signal to each of the one or more phase-switched reactive elements. In response to one or more control signals provided thereto, each phase-switched reactive element provides a corresponding selected reactance value such that an impedance presented to an input or output port of an RF amplifier may be varied.

Abstract: Described is a phase-switched tunable impedance matching network (PS-TMN). The PS-TMN has an input that can be coupled to a source and an output that can be coupled to a load. The PS-TMN includes one or more phase-switched reactive elements and a controller. The controller provides a control signal to each of the one or more phase-switched reactive elements. In response to one or more control signals provided thereto, each phase-switched reactive element provides a corresponding selected reactance value.