Abstract: A microwave antenna apparatus comprises an electrically conductive ground element defining an aperture, an electrically conductive elongated element extending through the aperture and terminating at a distal end, and one or more dielectric elements. The one or more of the dielectric elements electrically insulate the elongated element and the ground element from one another. The microwave antenna apparatus may be configured for use in radiating microwave energy into surface tissue of a uterine cervix so as to provide a therapeutic effect in one or more regions of the uterine cervix, such as one or more regions of the cervix infected with human papillomavirus (HPV) and/or diagnosed with cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) or so as to create the correct biological response in one or more such regions.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a cascaded radar system includes transmitting first radar transmission signal from a radar device. First radar reflection signals corresponding to the respective first radar transmission signal reflected from calibration target are received at each of the radar devices. The first radar reflection signals are demodulated to generate first baseband signals at each of the radar devices. A second radar transmission signal is modulated with respect to the first radar transmission signal at the respective one of the radar devices. The second radar transmission signal is transmitted from the respective one of the radar devices and are received as second radar reflection signals at each of the radar devices. The second radar reflection signals are demodulated to generate second baseband signals at each of the radar devices, and each of the radar devices are calibrated based on the first and second baseband signals.

Abstract: Core-coil devices operate by electromagnetic induction and include inductors, transformers, and electromagnets. Cooled core-coil devices include a magnetic core having a channel through it, and a coil wound around the core. Cooled core-coil devices additionally include a coolant loop that carries ferrofluid coolant through the channel and forms a loop with the channel that extends outside the core. Ferrofluid coolant circulates in the loop without a pump due to a thermo-magnetic response to the device's thermal and magnetic field gradients and thereby cools the core while simultaneously adding to the device's inductance.

Abstract: To predict a failure condition in a power module of a vehicle, it is determined whether a discontinuity in statistical data characterizing physical measurements of the power module meets a threshold criterion. Responsive to the discontinuity meeting the threshold criterion, a data offset in the physical measurements is computed at the discontinuity. A shift correction is applied to the physical measurements in accordance with the computed data offset responsive to a determination that the discontinuity is attributable to a restart of the power module. Other statistical data characterizing the shift-corrected physical measurements are computed and the statistical data and the other statistical data are provided to a machine learning processor that predicts the failure condition in the power module.

Abstract: A triboelectric generator includes a resiliently-deformable hexagonal housing including a first housing wall and a second housing wall positioned opposite the first housing wall. A first electrode resides along the first housing wall, and a second electrode resides along the second housing wall. A dielectric contact layer is positioned in intimate contact with the first electrode and between the first electrode and the second electrode. The dielectric contact layer is spaced apart from the second housing wall. The first housing wall is coupled to the second housing wall such that at least one of the first housing wall and the second housing wall is resiliently movable toward the other one of the first housing wall and the second housing wall so as to enable contact between the dielectric contact layer and the second electrode during operation of the triboelectric generator.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, systems and articles of manufacture to compensate radar system calibration are disclosed. A radio-frequency (RF) subsystem having a transmit channel, a receive channel, and a loopback path comprising at least a portion of the transmit channel and at least a portion of the receive channel, a loopback measurer to measure a first loopback response of the RF subsystem for a first calibration configuration of the RF subsystem, and to measure a second loopback response of the RF subsystem for a second calibration configuration of the RF subsystem, and a compensator to adjust at least one of a transmit programmable shifter or a digital front end based on a difference between the first loopback response and the second loopback response to compensate for a loopback response change when the RF subsystem is changed from the first calibration configuration to the second calibration configuration.

Abstract: Core-coil devices operate by electromagnetic induction and include inductors, transformers, and electromagnets. Cooled core-coil devices include a magnetic core having a channel through it, and a coil wound around the core. Cooled core-coil devices additionally include a coolant loop that carries ferrofluid coolant through the channel and forms a loop with the channel that extends outside the core. Ferrofluid coolant circulates in the loop without a pump due to a thermo-magnetic response to the device's thermal and magnetic field gradients and thereby cools the core while simultaneously adding to the device's inductance.

Abstract: A vehicle component includes a first volume of phase change material and a second volume of phase change material spaced apart from the first volume of phase change material. The first volume of phase change material contains a greater mass of phase change material than the second volume of phase change material. The component also includes a thermally-conductive structure in direct contact with both the first volume of phase change material and the second volume of phase change material, so as to facilitate heat transfer between the first volume of phase change material and the second volume of phase change material.

Abstract: Cooling loops and vehicles including cooling loops include a power module, a cooling loop including a cooler thermally coupled to the power module, a working fluid housed within the cooler, where the working fluid absorbs thermal energy from the power module, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the cooler, a pump in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and the cooler, and a vehicle component thermally coupled to the cooling loop, where the working fluid from the cooler is selectively directed to the vehicle component.

Abstract: A triboelectric generator includes a resiliently-deformable hexagonal housing including a first housing wall and a second housing wall positioned opposite the first housing wall. A first electrode resides along the first housing wall, and a second electrode resides along the second housing wall. A dielectric contact layer is positioned in intimate contact with the first electrode and between the first electrode and the second electrode. The dielectric contact layer is spaced apart from the second housing wall. The first housing wall is coupled to the second housing wall such that at least one of the first housing wall and the second housing wall is resiliently movable toward the other one of the first housing wall and the second housing wall so as to enable contact between the dielectric contact layer and the second electrode during operation of the triboelectric generator.

Abstract: A method for predicting a failure of a power control unit of a vehicle is provided. The method includes obtaining data from a plurality of sensors of the power control unit of a vehicle subject to simulated multi-load conditions, implementing a machine learning algorithm on the data to obtain machine learning data, obtaining new data from the plurality of sensors of power control unit of the vehicle subject to real multi-load conditions, implementing the machine learning algorithm on the new data to obtain test data, predicting a failure of the power control unit based on a comparison between the test data and the machine learning data.

Abstract: A vehicle component includes a first volume of phase change material and a second volume of phase change material spaced apart from the first volume of phase change material. The first volume of phase change material contains a greater mass of phase change material than the second volume of phase change material. The component also includes a thermally-conductive structure in direct contact with both the first volume of phase change material and the second volume of phase change material, so as to facilitate heat transfer between the first volume of phase change material and the second volume of phase change material.

Abstract: A cooling system includes a diaphragm, at least one conductor layer disposed on the diaphragm, at least one dielectric film layer, and a controller. The controller is programmed to operate the cooling system in a contact mode and in a non-contact mode. In the contact mode, the diaphragm is controlled to oscillate at a first amplitude such that the conductor layer contacts the dielectric film layer. In the non-contact mode, the diaphragm is controlled to oscillate at a second amplitude such that the conductor layer does not contact the dielectric film layer while the diaphragm oscillates.

Abstract: A cooling system includes a diaphragm, at least one conductor layer disposed on the diaphragm, at least one dielectric film layer, and a controller. The controller is programmed to operate the cooling system in a contact mode and in a non-contact mode. In the contact mode, the diaphragm is controlled to oscillate at a first amplitude such that the conductor layer contacts the dielectric film layer. In the non-contact mode, the diaphragm is controlled to oscillate at a second amplitude such that the conductor layer does not contact the dielectric film layer while the diaphragm oscillates.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating electric power using low grade thermal energy from a vehicle. The methods may include surrounding at least a portion of a coolant conduit system with a flexible thermo-electrochemical cell including a nanoporous cathode electrode, a nanoporous anode electrode, and an electrolyte. A coolant fluid may be circulated through the coolant conduit system, which is in thermal communication with a power generating unit, such as an internal combustion engine or fuel cell stack. The method includes maintaining a temperature gradient in the electrolyte solution by contacting the anode electrode with the coolant conduit system, and exposing the cathode electrode to a temperature lower than a temperature of the coolant conduit system. Generated electrical charges can be collected for subsequent use.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system of bonded substrates may include a first substrate, a second substrate, and a composite bonding layer positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate. The composite boding layer may include an interior bond region, an exterior bond region, and a metal matrix. The material of the interior bond region may have a greater elastic modulus than the material of the exterior bond region. A portion of the metal matrix may be in the interior bond region and a portion of the metal matrix may be in the exterior bond region. The composite bonding layer may also include a plurality of soft material members positioned in the portion of the metal matrix in the exterior bond region, or a plurality of hard material members positioned in the portion of the metal matrix in the interior bond region, or both.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a system of bonded substrates may include a first substrate, a second substrate, and a composite bonding layer positioned between the first substrate and the second substrate. The composite boding layer may include an interior bond region, an exterior bond region, and a metal matrix. The material of the interior bond region may have a greater elastic modulus than the material of the exterior bond region. A portion of the metal matrix may be in the interior bond region and a portion of the metal matrix may be in the exterior bond region. The composite bonding layer may also include a plurality of soft material members positioned in the portion of the metal matrix in the exterior bond region, or a plurality of hard material members positioned in the portion of the metal matrix in the interior bond region, or both.

Abstract: Cooling loops and vehicles including cooling loops are disclosed herein. In one embodiment, a vehicle includes a power module, a cooling loop including a cooler thermally coupled to the power module, a working fluid housed within the cooler, where the working fluid absorbs thermal energy from the power module, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the cooler, a pump in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and the cooler, and at least one of a battery pack assembly and a heater core thermally coupled to the cooling loop, where the battery pack assembly provides electrical power to the vehicle and the heater core facilitates heating of a cabin of the vehicle.

Abstract: Cooling loops and vehicles including cooling loops include a power module, a cooling loop including a cooler thermally coupled to the power module, a working fluid housed within the cooler, where the working fluid absorbs thermal energy from the power module, a heat exchanger in fluid communication with the cooler, a pump in fluid communication with the heat exchanger and the cooler, and a vehicle component thermally coupled to the cooling loop, where the working fluid from the cooler is selectively directed to the vehicle component.

Abstract: Systems and methods are provided for generating electric power using low grade thermal energy from a vehicle. The methods may include surrounding at least a portion of a coolant conduit system with a flexible thermo-electrochemical cell including a nanoporous cathode electrode, a nanoporous anode electrode, and an electrolyte. A coolant fluid may be circulated through the coolant conduit system, which is in thermal communication with a power generating unit, such as an internal combustion engine or fuel cell stack. The method includes maintaining a temperature gradient in the electrolyte solution by contacting the anode electrode with the coolant conduit system, and exposing the cathode electrode to a temperature lower than a temperature of the coolant conduit system. Generated electrical charges can be collected for subsequent use.