Abstract: An ion energy for plasma processing of a dielectric substrate is determined by exposing the dielectric substrate to a plasma discharge and applying a pulsed voltage waveform. This waveform includes a sequence of pulses, each having a higher voltage interval and a lower voltage interval having a voltage slope. First pulses of the sequence having differing voltage slopes are generated and applied to the dielectric substrate. For each first pulse, the voltage slope and a corresponding output current are determined. For each first pulse, at least one coefficient of a mathematical relation between the voltage slope and the corresponding output current based solely on the voltage slope and the output current determined for one or more of the first pulses is determined. A test function is applied and an optimal voltage slope value corresponding to the at least one coefficient making the test function true is selected.

Abstract: A power conversion and energy storage device is provided that includes port A, port B, port C, port D, an internal battery cell Bt1 having a negative pole connected to port C and a positive pole connected to port D, internal nodes N1 and internal node N2, an inductor L1 having a negative terminal connected node N1 and a positive terminal connected to node N2, a switch S1 configured to open or close an electrical connection between port A and the node N1, a switch S3 configured to open or close an electrical connection between port C and node N1, a switch S2 configured to open or close an electrical connection between port B and node N2, and a switch S4 configured to open or close an electrical connection between port D and node N2, where a modular battery unit is formed.

Abstract: The extended commutation cell (ECC) is a four-port, four-switch cell that allows for bidirectional energy transport in two orthogonal directions throughout the cell. By cascading multiple cells, a multilevel converter can be constructed with a high number of levels. The voltage across each cell capacitor can be adjusted independently of the load, resulting in high flexibility in output levels. Improved fault tolerance is also provided.

Abstract: The extended commutation cell (ECC) is a four-port, four-switch cell that allows for bidirectional energy transport in two orthogonal directions throughout the cell. By cascading multiple cells, a multilevel converter can be constructed with a high number of levels. The voltage across each cell capacitor can be adjusted independently of the load, resulting in high flexibility in output levels. Improved fault tolerance is also provided.

Abstract: A method of producing a cutting (30) edge on a layer (20) of diamond or other ultra-hard material includes the steps of providing a plate of the material, which plate has major flat surface (D1, D2) on opposite sides thereof, laser cutting the plate transverse to the major surfaces (D1, D2) to produce two or more layers (20) each having a cutting edge (30) defined on a surface (26) produced by the laser cut and exposing the cutting edge (30) to an ion bombardment etch. The layer of diamond or other ultra-hard material having an edge produced in this manner is useful as a tool insert, particularly a surgical blade.