Abstract: A galvanically isolated voltage sensor is provided which includes a mechanically integral piezoelectric transformer assembly coupled to a modulation circuit. The modulation circuit receives a source voltage signal to be measured and modulates that signal at a frequency equal to a resonance frequency of the transformer assembly and transmits the modulated to signal to the transformer assembly. The transformer assembly generates an output signal that is identical to the modulated signal subject to the transformer gain. The output signal is then demodulated and filtered so as to recreate the source voltage signal for analysis.

Abstract: A non-contact, current sensor includes a gapped magnetic core configured to circumscribe a current carrying conductor. A magnetostrictive element is mechanically coupled to the gapped magnetic core. Current flowing in the current carrying conductor induces a magnetic field in the magnetic core that flows through the magnetostrictive element. The gapped magnetic core is provided with mounting sections to which the magnetostrictive element is mechanically coupled. The mounting sections have a geometry that increases magnetic flux in the magnetostrictive element. A strain gauge is mechanically coupled to the magnetostrictive element to measure displacement in the element induced by the magnetic flux.

Abstract: A non-contact, current sensor includes a gapped magnetic core configured to circumscribe a current carrying conductor. A magnetostrictive element is mechanically coupled to the gapped magnetic core. Current flowing in the current carrying conductor induces a magnetic field in the magnetic core that flows through the magnetostrictive element. The gapped magnetic core is provided with mounting sections to which the magnetostrictive element is mechanically coupled. The mounting sections have a geometry that increases magnetic flux in the magnetostrictive element. A strain gauge is mechanically coupled to the magnetostrictive element to measure displacement in the element induced by the magnetic flux.

Abstract: An intrinsic piezoelectric transformer circuit a piezoelectric transformer circuit is provided that has a primary side component including first and second electrodes, a secondary side component including first and second electrodes, and at least one tertiary component including first and second electrodes. A power bridge is provided which includes one or more switches, each switch has a gate terminal that is directly connected to the second electrode of the tertiary component of the piezoelectric transformer. The first electrode of the tertiary component of the piezoelectric transformer is connected to a reference for the one or more switches of the power bridge. The first electrode of the primary component of the piezoelectric transformer is electrically connected to a power bridge output and the second electrode of the primary component of the piezoelectric transformer is connected to a ground terminal.

Abstract: A process that permits existing thick film printing technology to be utilized with existing conductive adhesives to form multi-layer dielectric devices, more specifically to form multi-layer ferroelectric devices, and more specifically to form multilayer piezoelectric devices. A conductive paste is applied to a first surface of a piezoelectric element in a desired pattern. The disclosed process utilizes conductive paste, which replaces the usual adhesive requirement for bonding while still acting as the conductive layer between the individual elements of the stacked sintered substrates. An isolating filler paste is applied to the first surface of the piezoelectric element in a manner that electrically isolates the conductive pattern as to enable multiple distinct, possibly unequal, regions of electric potential. This paste also may assist bonding and will prevent shorting between the electrically non-equivalent regions of the overall electrode pattern.

Abstract: An intrinsic piezoelectric transformer circuit a piezoelectric transformer circuit is provided that has a primary side component including first and second electrodes, a secondary side component including first and second electrodes, and at least one tertiary component including first and second electrodes. A power bridge is provided which includes one or more switches, each switch has a gate terminal that is directly connected to the second electrode of the tertiary component of the piezoelectric transformer. The first electrode of the tertiary component of the piezoelectric transformer is connected to a reference for the one or more switches of the power bridge. The first electrode of the primary component of the piezoelectric transformer is electrically connected to a power bridge output and the second electrode of the primary component of the piezoelectric transformer is connected to a ground terminal.

Abstract: A system for converting kinetic wave energy from a dynamic fluid into electrical power, the system including a structural housing containing a piezokinetic assembly having a plurality of electromechanical coupled elements, and a dynamic assembly, coupled to the piezokinetic assembly; and charge storage devices or power consumption devices in an electronics module coupled to the piezokinetic assembly. When the exposed to the dynamic fluid medium, the dynamic fluid medium's wave energy couples with the structural housing causing a resulting displacement of the dynamic assembly contained therein. The displacement of the dynamic assembly causes a plurality of the electromechanical coupled elements to simultaneously flex, generating an electrical charge which may be either stored in the charge storage device or which may directly power the power consumption device.

Abstract: A system for converting kinetic wave energy from a dynamic fluid into electrical power, the system including a structural housing containing a piezokinetic assembly having a plurality of electromechanical coupled elements, and a dynamic assembly, coupled to the piezokinetic assembly; and charge storage devices or power consumption devices in an electronics module coupled to the piezokinetic assembly. When the exposed to the dynamic fluid medium, the dynamic fluid medium's wave energy couples with the structural housing causing a resulting displacement of the dynamic assembly contained therein. The displacement of the dynamic assembly causes a plurality of the electromechanical coupled elements to simultaneously flex, generating an electrical charge which may be either stored in the charge storage device or which may directly power the power consumption device.

Abstract: Disclosed is high efficiency power multiplying piezo transformer architecture having at least one piezo transformer assembly, the at least one piezo transformer assembly including of a plurality of piezo transformers circuits including a first outer and last outer piezo transformer circuits, each of the piezo transformer circuits having a primary side having a positive and negative electrode or terminal and a secondary side having a positive and a negative electrode or terminal. Each of the plurality of piezo transformer circuits forming the piezo transformer assembly is coupled to an adjacent piezo transformer circuit wherein the positive electrode of the primary side of each the piezo transformer circuit is coupled to a first node and each negative electrode of the primary side of each piezo transformer circuit is coupled to a second node.

Abstract: A low-profile, actively-controllable flexible piezo-composite actuator with flexibly mated drive, control, and power circuit architecture is presented. The low-profile, functionally-integrated actuator package retains the flexible nature of the actuator while not increasing the overall footprint of the device. The functionally integrated package incorporates flexible structural sensors and embedded control as to enable either active or autonomous control of a unified flexible package that can be installed conformally to non-planar structures. Integral flexible sensors include strain, normal stress, shear stress, pressure, velocity, and acceleration. The invention has immediate applicability to vibration and noise abatement, strain-based compensation, shape control, and structural damping within a variety of aircraft, ships and ground vehicles.

Abstract: A power control circuit is presented. The circuit includes a pair of parallel optocoupler/logic stages and a pair of parallel voltage-to-current driver stages electrically coupled to a halfbridge stage in the order described. An input signal is communicated to the optocoupler/logic stage and processed therein to produce two distinctly separate but complimentary waveforms. Complimentary waveforms are communicated to the voltage-to-current driver stage to drive a paired arrangement of JFET switches. Thereafter, the JFET switches communicate with the halfbridge stage to control function of BJT switches. BJT switches are sequenced to produce a high power output. The present invention has immediate applicability to power conditioning, control, and distribution systems, as well as other applications which include or rely on silicon power transistors.

Abstract: A high-frequency switch circuit is presented. The invention includes a pair of switches, a pair of inductors, and a pair of diodes. Inductors are electrically connected in series between the switches which are thereafter electrically coupled to a power source. Switches are electrically connected to gate drivers so as to control and coordinate the cycling of switches between ON and OFF states. Inductors are also electrically connected to an output thereby communicating a voltage waveform thereto. In some embodiments, it may be desired to electrically connect the inductors to an output circuit to further modify the waveform. Diodes are likewise electrically connected about the switches and inductors. The present invention is applicable to a variety of circuits having a totem pole arrangement of switches sequentially cycled ON and OFF, examples including but not limited to half-bridge, full-bridge, and hybrid configurations.

Abstract: A gate drive circuit capable of providing both positive and negative drive from a DC power supply is presented. The circuit includes an isolator stage, a driver stage, an optional tuning stage, an offset stage, a shaping stage, and a switching stage, each electrically coupled in the order described. The isolator stage provides electrical isolation from signal level circuitry. The driver stage boosts the power within the signal from the isolator stage. The tuning stage slows rising and falling edges along the signal from driver. The offset stage shifts the unipolar gate drive signal from the tuning stage into the negative voltage range. The shaping stage modifies the signal from the offset stage so as to ensure squared transitions. The switching stage enables voltage control. The described circuit is applicable to electronics utilizing a variety of voltage controlled switching devices.