Abstract: An actuator assembly (1) comprising: a support structure (2); a movable part (10); a helical bearing arrangement (20) arranged to guide helical movement of the movable part relative to the support structure around a helical axis (H); a loading arrangement (50) arranged between the support structure and the movable part for loading the helical bearing arrangement; and at least one pair of actuator components (40) arranged, on actuation, to drive rotation of the movable part in opposite senses around the helical axis which the helical bearing arrangement converts into said helical movement; wherein the at least one pair of actuator components is arranged to apply an unloading torque about an axis perpendicular to the helical axis so as to reduce loading of the helical bearing arrangement.

Abstract: An energy conversion device for conversion of chemical energy into electricity. The energy conversion device has a first and second electrode. A substrate is present that has a porous semiconductor or dielectric layer placed thereover. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous catalyst material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous catalyst material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.

Abstract: An energy conversion device for conversion of chemical energy into electricity. The energy conversion device has a first and second electrode. A substrate is present that has a porous semiconductor or dielectric layer placed thereover. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous catalyst material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous catalyst material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.

Abstract: An energy conversion device for conversion of various energy forms into electricity. The energy forms may be chemical, photovoltaic or thermal gradients. The energy conversion device has a first and second electrode. A substrate is present that has a porous semiconductor or dielectric layer placed thereover. The substrate itself can be planar, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional, and possess internal and external surfaces. These substrates may be rigid, flexible and/or foldable. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous conductor material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous conductor material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.

Abstract: An energy conversion device for conversion of various energy forms into electricity. The energy forms may be chemical, photovoltaic or thermal gradients. The energy conversion device has a first and second electrode. A substrate is present that has a porous semiconductor or dielectric layer placed thereover. The substrate itself can be planar, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional, and possess internal and external surfaces. These substrates may be rigid, flexible and/or foldable. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous conductor material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous conductor material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.

Abstract: An electric vehicle is provided. A cloud is coupled to and in communication with the electric vehicle. The cloud includes a server. A plurality of private keys and private key pairs cryptographically secure sensitive information relative to the electric vehicle. The private keys perform one or more of: decryption; encryption: or signing data. A corresponding public key decrypts or verifies a signature of the data signed by its private key Public keys cannot be used to encrypt or sign data.

Abstract: An electric vehicle is coupled to an communicates with the cloud. The cloud is coupled to and communicates with the electric vehicle. The cloud includes a server. The electric vehicle is configured to distribute information between electric vehicles in a fleet. The electric vehicle has cloud connectivity and a second local wireless communication to communication information to the fleet of electric vehicles.

Abstract: An energy conversion device for conversion of various energy forms into electricity. The energy forms may be chemical, photovoltaic or thermal gradients. The energy conversion device has a first and second electrode. A substrate is present that has a porous semiconductor or dielectric layer placed thereover. The substrate itself can be planar, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional, and possess internal and external surfaces. These substrates may be rigid, flexible and/or foldable. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous conductor material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous conductor material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.

Abstract: An energy conversion device for conversion of various energy forms into electricity. The energy forms may be chemical, photovoltaic or thermal gradients. The energy conversion device has a first and second electrode. A substrate is present that has a porous semiconductor or dielectric layer placed thereover. The substrate itself can be planar, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional, and possess internal and external surfaces. These substrates may be rigid, flexible and/or foldable. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous conductor material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous conductor material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.

Abstract: An energy conversion device for conversion of chemical energy into electricity. The energy conversion device has a first and second electrode. A substrate is present that has a porous semiconductor or dielectric layer placed thereover. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous catalyst material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous catalyst material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.

Abstract: A security apparatus includes a first and second portion configured to be disposed in a first and second orientation, the first portion comprises a first loop for receiving electrical power and outputting magnetic fields, the second portion comprises a second loop for receiving the magnetic fields and for outputting induced electrical power to a battery, a reader device having a transceiver for transmitting reader data to a smart device, and for receiving a data token from the smart device, and a processor for authenticating the data token and for outputting an authorized command in response to the data token being authenticated, and a peripheral device for performing a user-perceptible change in response to the authorized command, wherein the batter powers the reader device and the peripheral device.

Abstract: A control system includes a reader device including a transceiver for scanning scan for ephemeral ID signals, for detecting an ephemeral ID signal from a smart-device of a user not permanently associated with the user, for outputting to the smart device, reader data, in response to the ephemeral ID signal, and for receiving from the smart-device a first authorization server token, a processor coupled to the transceiver for determining whether the first token is valid, and for determining user data in a payload portion of the first token, a transmitter for transmitting the user data to a peripheral control unit, wherein a data protocol is selected from a group consisting of: Wiegand and OSDP, and the peripheral control unit for directing a peripheral device to perform a user-perceptible action in response to the user data.

Abstract: An energy conversion device for conversion of chemical energy into electricity. The energy conversion device has a first and second electrode. A substrate is present that has a porous semiconductor or dielectric layer placed thereover. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous catalyst material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous catalyst material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.

Abstract: An energy conversion device for conversion of various energy forms into electricity. The energy forms may be chemical, photovoltaic or thermal gradients. The energy conversion device has a first and second electrode. A substrate is present that has a porous semiconductor or dielectric layer placed thereover. The substrate itself can be planar, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional, and possess internal and external surfaces. These substrates may be rigid, flexible and/or foldable. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous conductor material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous conductor material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.

Abstract: An energy conversion device for conversion of chemical energy into electricity. The energy conversion device has a first and second electrode. A substrate is present that has a porous semiconductor or dielectric layer placed thereover. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous catalyst material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous catalyst material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.

Abstract: An energy conversion device for conversion of chemical energy into electricity. The energy conversion device has a first and second electrode. A substrate is present that has a porous semiconductor or dielectric layer placed thereover. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous catalyst material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous catalyst material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.

Abstract: An energy conversion device for conversion of various energy forms into electricity. The energy forms may be chemical, photovoltaic or thermal gradients. The energy conversion device has a first and second electrode. A substrate is present that has a porous semiconductor or dielectric layer placed thereover. The substrate itself can be planar, two-dimensional, or three-dimensional, and possess internal and external surfaces. These substrates may be rigid, flexible and/or foldable. The porous semiconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous conductor material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous conductor material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.

Abstract: Methods of selectively and epitaxially forming a silicon-containing material on a substrate surface contained within a process chamber are provided. In one or more embodiments, the pressure in the process chamber is reduced during deposition of material on the substrate and increased during etching of material from the substrate. According to an embodiment, process gases are flowed into the chamber through first zone and a second zone to provide a ratio of the amount of gas flowed to the first zone and the amount of gas flowed to the second zone. In one or more embodiments, the first zone is an inner radial zone and the second zone is an outer radial zone, and ratio of inner zone gas flow to outer zone gas flow is less during deposition than during etching. According to one or more embodiments, the selective epitaxial process includes repeating a cycle of a deposition and then an etching process, and an optional purge until the desired thickness of an epitaxial layer is grown.

Abstract: Systems and apparatus are disclosed for adjusting the temperature of at least a portion of the surface of a reaction chamber during a film formation process to control film properties. More than one portion of the chamber surface may be temperature-modulated.

Abstract: An energy conversion device for conversion of chemical energy into electricity. The energy conversion device has a first and second electrode. A substrate is present that has a porous semiconductor or dielectric layer placed thereover. The porous semconductor or dielectric layer can be a nano-engineered structure. A porous catalyst material is placed on at least a portion of the porous semconductor or dielectric layer such that at least some of the porous catalyst material enters the nano-engineered structure of the porous semiconductor or dielectric layer, thereby forming an intertwining region.