Abstract: A heat-sensitive variable-resistance insert device for use with a light bulb and socket, including: a heat-sensitive variable-resistance wafer for interconnecting the central contact of the socket with the central contact of the light bulb. An annular insulation member surrounds the edge of the wafer and electrically insulates it from the wall of the socket. A resilient contact is mounted on at least one side of the wafer for resiliently engaging the associated central contact and accommodating for variations in the distance between the central contacts.

Abstract: A heat-sensitive variable-resistance insert device for use with a light bulb and socket including: a thin, heat-sensitive variable-resistance wafer and a perimetrical insulation member surrounding the edge of the wafer and electrically insulating it from the wall of the socket. The wafer has a contact area on one side for engaging the central contact of the socket and on the other side thereof for engaging the central contact of the light bulb, and an adhesive paste on that other side within the perimetrical member for adhering the device to the base of a light bulb.

Abstract: A pumping device comprising: a housing; piezoelectric element having one end mounted to the housing and one end free; a generally planar impeller blade connected to the free end of the piezoelectric element and having its distal end unconstrained by the housing; the blade having a high Q factor, a high stiffness-to-weight ratio and a low mass per unit area substantially less than that of the piezoelectric element; a voltage is applied to the piezoelectric element for oscillating its free end perpendicular to its plane at or close to resonance and propagating a traveling wave along the blade to generate and shed vortices at the distal end of the blade.

Abstract: A piezoelectric circuit breaker including: a line terminal and a load terminal; contact means interconnected between the terminals; means responsive to an increase in load current between the terminals for generating a voltage indicative of an overload current; and piezoelectric bender means responsive to the voltage for deflecting and opening the contact means.

Abstract: A piezoelectric generator for converting acoustic energy in a predetermined frequency range to electric energy including: a piezoelectric bending element; means for mounting the piezoelectric bending element in an acoustic energy path; tuning means mounted to the piezoelectric bending element to set the resonant frequency of oscillation of the piezoelectric bending element within the predetermined frequency range.

Abstract: A magnetically detented piezoelectric relay including a piezoelectric bender element having a fixed portion and a movable portion; means for providing an actuating voltage to deflect the bender element; first contact means mounted on the movable portion; second stationary contact means remote from the bender element and proximate the first contact means for selective engagement therewith in response to deflection of the bender element; and magnetic circuit means including a magnet, pole means, and magnetic means on the movable portion of the bender element for magnetically adhering the movable portion to the pole means until the deflection force of the bender element exceeds the holding force of the magnetic circuit.

Abstract: A magnetically detented piezoelectric relay including a piezoelectric bender element having a fixed portion and a movable portion; means for providing an actuating voltage to deflect the bender element; first contact means mounted on the movable portion; second stationary contact means remote from the bender element and proximate the first contact means for selective engagement therewith in response to deflection of the bender element; and magnetic circuit means including a magnet; a first stationary pole member; and a second pole member on the movable portion for magnetically adhering the movable portion to the first pole member until the deflection force of the bender element exceeds the holding force of the magnetic circuit; one of the first and second pole members is convergingly tapered toward its face and has a face of reduced area relative to the area of the face of the other of the first and second pole members; at least one of the first and second pole members is movable toward and away from the othe

Abstract: A piezoelectric printer including: a frame; a plurality of printer units mounted on the frame; each unit including an asymmetric piezoelectric bender including one or more piezoelectric members and having a mounting portion and an actuating portion, the actuating portion being moveable in an actuating direction; the bender being tapered in its lateral dimension and being larger at the mounting portion and smaller at the actuating portion; first and second metal reinforcing layers externally mounted on said bender, the first on the side of the actuating direction, the second on the opposite side; and a printing element driven by the actuating portion; means for applying an actuating voltage to the bender in the poling direction for actuating the bender to drive the printing element to the printing position and guide means attached to the frame for guiding the printing elements; the printer units are arranged in sets of stacked arrays, which may be overlapped and may include holes in each of the inferior printe

Abstract: A piezoelectric rotary actuator including: a rotatable member; a spiral member fixed at its inner end to the rotatable member; one or more piezoelectric layers attached on one or both sides of the spiral member; means for rotatably supporting the rotatable member relative to the outer portion of the spiral member; and an electrode for applying a voltage across the piezoelectric layer or layers, to bend the spiral and rotate the rotatable member.

Abstract: A piezoelectric printer including: a frame; a plurality of printer units mounted on the frame; each unit including a piezoelectric multilam including at least two piezoelectric members and having a mounting portion and an actuating portion; the actuating portion moveable in an actuating direction and a cocking direction, the multilam being tapered in its lateral dimension and being larger at the mounting portion and smaller at the actuating portion; a weight carried by the multilam for increasing the energy transfer of the multilam; and a printing element driven by the actuating portion; means for applying a cocking voltage and an actuating voltage to the members, which voltages are less than the rupture voltage in the poling direction and less than the depoling voltage in the depoling direction, for cocking and actuating the multilam to drive the printing element to the printing position and guide means attached to the frame for guiding the printing elements; the printer units are arranged in sets of stacked

Abstract: A piezoelectric fluid-electric generator including: a piezoelectric bending element; means for mounting one end of the bending element in a fluid stream; means for driving the piezoelectric bending element to oscillate with the energy of the fluid stream; and electrode means connected to the piezoelectric bending element to conduct current generated by the oscillatory motion of the piezoelectric bending element.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator including a piezoelectric element; a snap-action device for exerting a positive force in opposition to the piezoelectric element and having a predetermined reaction force that must be overcome to cause the snap action; the piezoelectric element including piezoelectric means for providing an opposing force to the snap-action device in excess of the reaction force; and means for applying an electric field to the piezoelectric means to enable it to generate the opposing force and store energy in the snap-action device to enable occurrence of the snap action.

Abstract: A piezoelectric printer including: a frame; a plurality of printer units mounted on the frame; each unit including a piezoelectric multilam including at least two piezoelectric members and having a mounting portion and an actuating portion; the actuating portion moveable in an actuating direction and a cocking direction, the multilam being tapered in its lateral dimension and being larger at the mounting portion and smaller at the actuating portion; a weight carried by the multilam for increasing the energy transfer of the multilam; and a printing element driven by the actuating portion; means for applying a cocking voltage and an actuating voltage to the members, which voltages are less than the rupture voltage in the poling direction and less than the depoling voltage in the depoling direction, for cocking and actuating the multilam to drive the printing element to the printing position and guide means attached to the frame for guiding the printing elements; the printer units are arranged in sets of stacked

Abstract: A portable electronic safety flare including an elongate hollow tube, at least a portion of which is transparent; electronic strobe light circuit means in the tube; a strobe light mounted in the transparent portion of the tube and driven by the strobe light circuit means; a power supply disposed in the tube and interconnected with the strobe light circuit means; a push switch interconnected with the strobe light circuit means for actuating the strobe light; mounting means for supporting the push switch at a first end of the tube; first cap means for closing the first end of the tube; the first cap means having a flexible portion for permitting pressure to be applied through it to actuate the push switch; and second cap means for closing the second end of the tube.

Abstract: A seismic sensor for intrusion detection includes a base, a cantilever member of piezoelectric construction extending from the base, and a mass loading the end of the cantilever member remote from the base. The base defines a slot for receiving the end of the cantilever member, and holes, perpendicular to the slot, for receiving electrical conductors. These conductors are configured to orient the cantilever member at 45.degree. relative to the horizontal, providing a sensitivity in both the X direction and the Y direction. A housing encloses the sensor, and another leg extends from the housing at the end remote from the base, enhancing the mechanical coupling between the sensor and the surface on which it is supported.

Abstract: Disclosed is an impulse drive device that includes at least one stator having magnetic means to define an array of parallel spaced apart regions of magnetic field with a major component perpendicular to the plane of the stator; a slidor incorporating series-connected conductive strips in an array of similar spacing and orientation to the array of magnetic regions on the stator; and means for generating sequences of current pulses and for delivering those pulses to the conductive strips on the slidor. With appropriate timing and polarity, current pulses in the conductive strips on the slidor can be employed to both accelerate and decelerate the slidor with respect to the stator, thereby permitting rapid controlled movement of the slidor between predetermined positions in its plane.

Abstract: An acoustic switch for controlling at least two functions of an auxiliary device, such as a television receiver, coupled thereto. A monostable device and a bistable device are coupled to a single tuned transducer. The monostable device is switched from a stable state to an unstable state for a predetermined time interval in response to the reception of an acoustic signal by the transducer. The bistable device is enabled only during the time interval in which the monostable device is in its unstable state. If a second acoustic signal is received by the transducer during this time interval, it switches the bistable device from a first stable state to a second stable state to control one function of the auxiliary device (e.g., power on and off to the television receiver). If a second acoustic signal is not received by the transducer during the monostable time interval, the return of the monostable device to its stable state is used to control another function of the auxiliary device (e.g.

Abstract: A remote control unit for an electrical appliance includes a pair of photocells and one or more threshold devices connected to sense differential illumination of the photocells. The threshold devices, in turn, emit signals that initiate operation of a control device connected to the appliance. The threshold devices are preferably gaseous discharge lamps whose light outputs are sensed by radiation-response switching circuitry.

Abstract: A remote television control includes a hollow floating knob which is engaged on the television tuner shaft. Inside the knob is a torque-applying mechanism such as a unidirectional clutch or ratchet for imparting torque to the tuner shaft. A flexible coaxial force applying means extend between the torque-applying mechanism and a control including a solenoid which is actuated by means of an acoustical switch tuned to respond to an acoustical signal of a selected frequency emitted by a remote source. When the solenoid is actuated, it moves the force applying means which, in turn, reacts against the knob and activates the torque-applying mechanism inside the knob so that the tuner is rotated to change the channel of the television receiver. The control also includes a switch which is actuated when the knob is indexed to an unused channel position in order to turn the televison set off. Alternatively, the television set is turned on or off independently of the channel position of the tuner.