Abstract: The present invention relates to a transducer arrangement, particularly a transducer arrangement for acquiring tissue information, a method for using a transducer arrangement for acquiring tissue information and a glove which comprises a transducer arrangement. The transducer arrangement 21 for analysing material 40 comprises: a first transducer element 51 for inducing and receiving mechanical displacements in the material to be analysed 40; and an analysing unit 30.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a piezoelectric bimorph switch, specifically a cantilever (single clamped beam) switch, which can be actively opened and closed. Piezoelectric bimorph switch are known from the prior art. Such a switch may be regarded as an actuator. Actuators are regarded as a subdivision of transducers. They are devices, which transform an input signal (mainly an electrical signal) into motion. Electrical motors, pneumatic actuators, hydraulic pistons, relays, comb drive, piezoelectric actuators, thermal bimorphs, Digital Micromirror Devices and electroactive polymers are some examples of such actuators. The switch of the invention comprises piezoelectric stack layers (121, 122), which form a symmetrical stack, wherein an electric field is always applied in the same direction as the poling direction of the piezoelectric layers.

Abstract: A method of operating a micro-electromechanical system, comprising a resonator; an actuation electrode; and a first detection electrode, to filter and mix a plurality of signals. The method comprises applying a first alternating voltage signal to the actuation electrode, wherein an actuation force is generated having a frequency bandwidth that is greater than and includes a resonant bandwidth of a mechanical frequency response of the resonator, and wherein a displacement of the resonator is produced which is filtered by the mechanical frequency response and varies a value of an electrical characteristic of the first detection electrode. The method also comprises applying a second alternating voltage signal to the first detection electrode, wherein the second voltage signal is mixed with the varying value to produce a first alternating current signal. The first alternating current signal is detected at the first detection electrode.

Abstract: The invention relates to electronic device having an operation temperature range, wherein the electronic device comprises a tunable capacitor (CST) comprising a first electrode (BE), a second electrode (TE), and a dielectric (FEL) arranged between the first electrode (BE) and the second electrode (TE). The dielectric (FEL) comprises dielectric material (FEL) having a value of a relative dielectric constant (?r) varying at least within the operation temperature range. The electronic device further comprises a temperature varying means (RES) being thermally coupled to the tunable capacitor for providing a temperature of the dielectric (FEL) causing a predetermined capacitance of the tunable capacitor (CST). The invention, which relies on the idea of varying temperature to vary a capacitance of a capacitor stack, provides an alternative tunable capacitor type for the known types.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a MEMS, being developed for e.g. a mobile communication application, such as switch, tunable capacitor, tunable filter, phase shifter, multiplexer, voltage controlled oscillator, and tunable matching network. The volume change of phase-change layer is used for a bi-stable actuation of the MEMS device. The MEMS device comprises at least a bendable cantilever, a phase change layer, and electrodes. A process to implement this device and a method for using is given.

Abstract: A transducer (800) is provided where a membrane (830) is formed over a front substrate (615); and a piezoelectric layer (820) is formed over the membrane (830) at an active portion (821) and peripheral portions located adjacent the active portion (821). A patterned conductive layer including first and second electrodes (840, 845) is formed over the piezoelectric layer (820). Further, a back substrate structure is provided having supports (822, 824) located at the peripheral portions adjacent the active portion (821). The height (826) of the supports (822, 824) is greater than a combined height (828) of the patterned piezoelectric layer and the patterned conductive layer. Many transducers may be connected to form an array, where a controller may be provided for controlling the array, such as steering a beam of the array, and processing signals received by the array, for presence or motion detection and/or imaging, for example.

Abstract: A capacitive ultrasound transducer includes a first electrode, a second electrode, and a third electrode, the third electrode including a central region disposed in collapsibly spaced relation with the first electrode, and a peripheral region disposed outward of the central region and disposed in collapsibly spaced relation with the second electrode. The transducer further includes a layer of a high dielectric constant material disposed between the third electrode and the first electrode, and between the third electrode and the second electrode. The transducer may be operable in a collapsed mode wherein the peripheral region of the third electrode oscillates relative to the second electrode, and the central region of the third electrode is fully collapsed with respect to the first electrode such that the dielectric layer is sandwiched therebetween. Piezoelectric actuation, such as d31 and d33 mode piezoelectric actuation, may further be included.

Abstract: A MEMS tunable capacitor comprises first and second opposing capacitor electrodes (10,12), wherein the second capacitor electrode (12) is movable by a MEMS switch to vary the capacitor dielectric spacing, and thereby tune the capacitance. A tunable dielectric material (14) and a non-tunable dielectric material are in series between the first and second electrodes. The tunable dielectric material occupies a dimension gd of the electrode spacing, and the non-tunable dielectric material occupies a dimension g of the electrode spacing. A third electrode (20) faces the movable second electrode (12) for electrically controlling tunable dielectric material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a ferroelectric varactor (400) that comprises a dielectric-layer stack (408) between electrodes (406, 410). The dielectric-layer stack comprises an alternating layer sequence of at least three dielectric layers. At cc least two first dielectric layers of the dielectric-layer stack are made of a non-single-crystalline first dielectric material having a first dielectric constant, at least one second dielectric layer of the dielectric-layer stack is made of a non-single-crystalline second dielectric material with a second dielectric constant that differs from the first dielectric constant. One of the first and second dielectric materials exhibits a weaker ferroelectric hysteresis. The dielectric material with the weaker ferroelectric hysteresis makes up more than 20% of the total volume of the dielectric-layer stack.

Abstract: The invention relates to a high frequency component with a substrate constructed of a plurality of dielectric layers and, between them, electrode layers having conducting track structures, in which substrate at least one capacitive element and at least one inductive element is formed, whereby at least one arrangement of opposed conducting track 5 structures is provided, these realizing simultaneously a capacitive and an inductive element, whereby the common-mode impedance and the push-pull impedance between the opposing conducting track structures are adjusted to differ by a factor of at least 2.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device and method for delivering a fluid in the form of a high-speed micro-jet. In order to provide a small and low-cost device for delivering a fluid in the form of a high-speed micro-jet, a device (1) is suggested comprising a container (2) for accommodating a fluid which is to be delivered through an orifice (3) of said container (2), and further comprising an actuator (5) cooperating with said container (2), characterized in that said actuator (5) comprises a thin-film transducer membrane (6), wherein the transducer membrane (6) is divided into at least two transducer elements (15), said transducer elements (15) forming a transducer array in which each transducer element (15) corresponds to a certain portion of the transducer membrane (6).

Abstract: The invention relates to a high frequency component with a substrate constructed of a plurality of dielectric layers and, between them, electrode layers having conducting track structures, in which substrate at least one capacitive element and at least one inductive element is formed, whereby at least one arrangement of opposed conducting track 5 structures is provided, these realizing simultaneously a capacitive and an inductive element, whereby the common-mode impedance and the push-pull impedance between the opposing conducting track structures are adjusted to differ by a factor of at least 2.

Abstract: A process for treating an impure thermoplastic polymer, including raw and recycled polymers, during extrusion to separate low molecular weight compounds therefrom, including: introducing a separating agent into plasticized impure thermoplastic polymer passing through a first high pressure zone, the low molecular weight compounds of the plasticized polymer being at least partially soluble in the separating agent; extracting at least a part of the low molecular weight compounds from the plasticized polymer into the separation agent during passage of the plasticized polymer through an extraction zone; removing the separating agent charged with low molecular weight compounds from the extruder as the plasticized polymer passes through a low pressure zone having a residual pressure, P, which is lower the introductory pressure, P.sub.e, and for which 1 bar.gtoreq.P.gtoreq.P.sub.

Abstract: Starting from a process for producing a rod-like preform, in particular for optical fibers, in which a tubular blank whose refractive index changes, viewed in the radial direction is fed to a heating zone, is softened there, and in the softened state is shaped to give the preform, a method is described for producing preforms which are hyperpure and low in defects, in which the blank used is one whose refractive index decreases, viewed in the radial direction, from the outside inwards, starting from at least one interface which is at a sufficient distance from the outer surface of the blank, of which that part which has been softened in the heating zone is introverted apart from an outer skin, and by which the preform is formed in the longitudinal axis of the tubular blank, counter to the direction in which the latter is fed to the heating zone, and in which the remaining outer skin is drawn off as a rod in the feed direction of the blank.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for the separation of viscous mixtures, comprising charging the mixture with solvent to form a dispersion before extraction to improve the extraction over a simple solvent extraction. The mixture to be treated is charged with solvent before the extraction and is then sprayed into the extraction column where it is dispersed. This treatment provides extraction of highly viscous, pasty materials. The charging with solvent can take place until the mixture is saturated with the solvent, and favorable temperature and pressure conditions for charging may be provided in a charging column that is separate from the extraction column.

Abstract: A process is known for the tool-free reshaping of a tubular hollow body of amorphous, especially vitreous material to a rod by pressure constriction wherein a pressure depression below atmospheric pressure is sustained in the tubular part by continual evacuation during the constriction, while the hollow body is continually fed horizontally, at a given speed of rotation, to a heating zone, and there its viscosity is so lowered that, as a result of the pressure difference between the absolute value of pressure below atmospheric pressure in the hollow body and the external pressure acting on the hollow body, the hollow body becomes constricted to form a rod in the closing zone and the rod is continually pulled from the closing zone at a given rotatory speed; in order by such a process to produce homogeneous, rod-shaped bodies from hollow bodies in a single procedure and at reasonable cost, the outside dimensions and inside dimensions of the hollow body, the viscosity of the vitreous material in the closing zone,

Abstract: A process for the continuous extraction of mixtures of organic substances including high boiling point constituents and/or constituents which do not boil but which melt with at least one solvent in the supercritical state, selected from the group consisting of CO.sub.2, propane, butane, pentane, petroleum ether, water, and having a critical temperature, T.sub.k, and a critical pressure, P.sub.

Abstract: Granular silicon dioxide is placed in a treatment chamber which is heated to a temperature ranging from 700.degree. to 1300.degree. C. The chamber is then rotated for a prescribed period of time to mix the grains while a gaseous atmosphere of chlorine and/or hydrogen chloride is passed through the treatment chamber. The mixing period is followed by a resting period which is at least ten times longer than the mixing time. During the resting period the grains are exposed to a constant electric field having a strength of 600 to 1350 V/cm applied across the chamber. The foregoing cycle is repeated several times. For working the process a device is used which includes a quartz glass rotary tube into which hollow silicon carbide electrodes extend.

Abstract: Process for separating solid substances from liquid mixtures of substances, wherein the liquid substances contained in the mixture are separated from the solid substances by countercurrent extraction with a solvent which, during the extraction process, is in a liquid or supercritical state and which, under standard conditions, is gaseous. The solvent is fed to a cylindrical extraction chamber at the lowest point of the extraction chamber. The solvent leaves the nozzles with a Reynold's number of 40,000 and flows upward in the extraction chamber with a Reynold's number of 2,700 to 8,000.

Abstract: Apparatus for separating solid substances from liquid mixtures of substances, wherein the liquid substances contained in the mixture are separated from the solid substances by countercurrent extraction with a solvent which, during the extraction process, is in a liquid or supercritical state and which, under standard conditions, is gaseous. The solvent is fed to a cylindrical extraction chamber at the lowest point of the extraction chamber. The solvent leaves the nozzles with a Reynold's number of 40,000 and flows upward in the extraction chamber with a Reynold's number of 2,700 to 8,000.