Abstract: A ground switch apparatus for grounding a power source having a high voltage and/or current. The ground switch apparatus is a passive mechanical device and marine compatible, and includes components having low moisture absorption properties and corrosion resistant. The ground switch apparatus includes a grounding assembly that engages a connection mechanism to ground the power source that is electronically coupled to the ground switch. The ground switch apparatus can be configured, for example by physically moving components within the ground switch, to provide a grounded or ungrounded/open circuit configuration. To provide ground, a grounding assembly connects smoothly to a connection mechanism, for example using a pin-and-socket connection. The ground switch apparatus includes sealed components, anodized parts, and selected materials to avoid galvanic coupling and achieve marine environment compatibility.

Abstract: A zooming display system has multiple numbered zones, and is controlled to select the zones by zone number or by an arrow/navigation key. The zones are zoomed to a larger size. When zoom mode is selected, the system can automatically select a zone based on what is being done on the display at the time of the selection.

Abstract: Scroll wheels have simplified the movement of cursors and changes in focus as a users navigate their way through menus, lists, tables, and other objects typically found in graphical user interfaces. Also typical of navigation schemes driven by scroll wheels is the ability of the user to accelerate the rate of movement of the cursor or focus by spinning the scroll wheel faster. One issue with this behavior is that a user who over accelerates the scroll wheel will often wind up overshooting his intended target and reversing the direction of the scroll wheel several times. The embodiment addresses this problem by giving control of the speed of the cursor or focus movement to the object being navigated. If the granularity of the list, table, menu, or other objects become smaller, the object has the ability to filter the speed input of the scroll wheel.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention includes a copper substrate; a catalyst on top of the copper substrate surface; and a thermal interface material that comprises a layer containing carbon nanotubes that contacts the catalyst. The carbon nanotubes are oriented substantially perpendicular to the surface of the copper substrate. A Raman spectrum of the layer containing carbon nanotubes has a D peak at ˜1350 cm?1 with an intensity ID, a G peak at ˜1585 cm?1 with an intensity IG, and an intensity ratio ID/IG of less than 0.7 at a laser excitation wavelength of 514 nm. The thermal interface material has: a bulk thermal resistance, a contact resistance at an interface between the thermal interface material and the copper substrate, and a contact resistance at an interface between the thermal interface material and a solid-state device. A summation of these resistances has a value of 0.06 cm2K/W or less.

Abstract: One embodiment involves an article of manufacture that includes: a copper substrate plug with a front surface and a back surface; a catalyst on top of a single surface of the copper substrate plug; and a thermal interface material on top of the single surface of the copper substrate plug. The thermal interface material comprises: a layer of carbon nanotubes that contacts the catalyst, and a filler material located between the carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes are oriented substantially perpendicular to the single surface of the copper substrate plug. The copper substrate plug is configured to be incorporated in a peripheral structure of a heat spreader or a heat sink. In another embodiment, the thermal interface material is on top of both the top and bottom surfaces of the copper substrate plug.

Abstract: One aspect of the invention includes a copper substrate; a catalyst on top of the copper substrate surface; and a thermal interface material that comprises a layer containing carbon nanotubes that contacts the catalyst. The carbon nanotubes are oriented substantially perpendicular to the surface of the copper substrate. A Raman spectrum of the layer containing carbon nanotubes has a D peak at ˜1350 cm?1 with an intensity ID, a G peak at ˜1585 cm?1 with an intensity IG, and an intensity ratio ID/IG of less than 0.7 at a laser excitation wavelength of 514 nm. The thermal interface material has: a bulk thermal resistance, a contact resistance at an interface between the thermal interface material and the copper substrate, and a contact resistance at an interface between the thermal interface material and a solid-state device. A summation of these resistances has a value of 0.06 cm2K/W or less.

Abstract: Scroll wheels have simplified the movement of cursors and changes in focus as a users navigate their way through menus, lists, tables, and other objects typically found in graphical user interfaces. Also typical of navigation schemes driven by scroll wheels is the ability of the user to accelerate the rate of movement of the cursor or focus by spinning the scroll wheel faster. One issue with this behavior is that a user who over accelerates the scroll wheel will often wind up overshooting his intended target and reversing the direction of the scroll wheel several times. The embodiment addresses this problem by giving control of the speed of the cursor or focus movement to the object being navigated. If the granularity of the list, table, menu, or other objects become smaller, the object has the ability to filter the speed input of the scroll wheel.

Abstract: One embodiment involves an article of manufacture that includes: a copper substrate plate with a front surface and a back surface; a blocking (barrier) layer on top of a single surface of the copper substrate; and a thermal interface material (TIM) on top of the single surface of the copper substrate. The thermal interface material comprises: a layer of carbon nanotubes that contains catalyst nanoparticles and, a filler material between and in contact with the carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes are oriented substantially perpendicular to the single surface of the copper substrate and strongly attached to a blocking (barrier) layer. The TIM made of CNT array plus the elastic filler material is interposed between copper plate and the hot surface of a solid-state device. The TIM composite material adjusts to variable gap thickness to make optimal thermal contact area between opposing surfaces.

Abstract: One embodiment involves an article of manufacture that includes: a copper substrate plug with a front surface and a back surface; a catalyst on top of a single surface of the copper substrate plug; and a thermal interface material on top of the single surface of the copper substrate plug. The thermal interface material comprises: a layer of carbon nanotubes that contacts the catalyst, and a filler material located between the carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes are oriented substantially perpendicular to the single surface of the copper substrate plug. The copper substrate plug is configured to be incorporated in a peripheral structure of a heat spreader or a heat sink. In another embodiment, the thermal interface material is on top of both the top and bottom surfaces of the copper substrate plug.

Abstract: One embodiment includes: a copper substrate; a catalyst on top of a single surface of the copper substrate; and a thermal interface material on top of the single surface of the copper substrate. The thermal interface material comprises: a layer of carbon nanotubes that contacts the catalyst, and a filler material located between the carbon nanotubes. The carbon nanotubes are oriented substantially perpendicular to the single surface of the copper substrate. The thermal interface material has: a bulk thermal resistance, a contact resistance between the thermal interface material and the copper substrate, and a contact resistance between the thermal interface material and a solid-state device. The summation of the bulk thermal resistance, the contact resistance between the thermal interface material and the copper substrate, and the contact resistance between the thermal interface material and the solid-state device has a value of 0.06 cm2K/W or less.

Abstract: Carbon nanotube-based structures and methods for removing heat from solid-state devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, a copper substrate has thermal interface materials on top of front and back surfaces of the copper substrate. Each thermal interface material (TIM) comprises a layer of carbon nanotubes and a filler material located between the carbon nanotubes. The summation of the thermal resistance of the copper substrate, the bulk thermal resistance of each TIM, the contact resistance between each TIM and the copper substrate, the contact resistance between one TIM and a solid-state device, and the contact resistance between the other TIM and a heat conducting surface has a value of 0.06 cm2K/W or less.