Abstract: A composite coating material for passive vibration damping is provided. The composite coating material includes a polymer matrix, and a piezoelectric ceramic filler and an electrically conductive filler dispersed in the polymer matrix. Particles of the piezoelectric ceramic filler have an average particle size of greater than about 100 microns (?m).

Abstract: A vibration control system includes a plurality of spatially distributed transducer elements, a switching circuit, one or more vibration control circuits, and a controller circuit. The switching circuit is connected to each of the transducer elements. The one or more vibration control circuits are configured to perform vibration control, each of the one or more vibration control circuits being connected to the switching circuit. The controller circuit is configured to control the one or more vibration control circuits and the switching circuit. The switching circuit is configured to interconnect selected ones of the transducer elements based on a switching signal provided by the controller circuit, the switching signal being in response to a vibration condition, to adaptively form a group of interconnected transducer elements.

Abstract: A fluid jet dispenser using at least two multilayer piezoelectric actuators is provided. The fluid jet dispenser includes a dispensing head and an electrical driver. The dispensing head includes at least two d31-mode multilayer piezoelectric actuators, a displacement magnifying element mechanically coupled to the d31-mode multilayer piezoelectric actuators, a piston, and a nozzle. More preferably, the two d31-mode multilayer piezoelectric actuators operate in an anti-phase condition. The electrical driver is electrically coupled to the d31-mode multilayer piezoelectric actuators for displacing the actuators in directions substantially perpendicular to polarization of piezoelectric layers in the d31-mode multilayer piezoelectric actuators in response to charging and discharging of the actuators by the electrical driver, to generate a fast movement of the piston to jet a pressurized fluid out of the nozzle of the dispensing head.

Abstract: In a first aspect, a system for analysing a fluid sample is provided, comprises: a container configured to receive the fluid sample; a first light source optically coupled to the container and configured to project a first light having a first wavelength; a second light source optically coupled to the container and configured to project a second light having a second wavelength different from the first wavelength; one or more photo-sensors optically coupled to the container and configured to analyse the fluid sample in response to a first scattered light generated in response to projecting the fluid sample with the first light source and a second scattered light generated in response to projecting the fluid sample with the second light source. In a preferred embodiment, the nutritious compositions (such as the concentration of fats and protein) of milk samples are identified based on the scattering of the first and second light source by the milk sample.

Abstract: A fluid jet dispenser using at least two multilayer piezoelectric actuators is provided. The fluid jet dispenser includes a dispensing head and an electrical driver. The dispensing head includes at least two d31-mode multilayer piezoelectric actuators, a displacement magnifying element mechanically coupled to the d31-mode multilayer piezoelectric actuators, a piston, and a nozzle. More preferably, the two d31-mode multilayer piezoelectric actuators operate in an anti-phase condition. The electrical driver is electrically coupled to the d31-mode multilayer piezoelectric actuators for displacing the actuators in directions substantially perpendicular to polarization of piezoelectric layers in the d31-mode multilayer piezoelectric actuators in response to charging and discharging of the actuators by the electrical driver, to generate a fast movement of the piston to jet a pressurized fluid out of the nozzle of the dispensing head.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a photo-sensor comprising: an optically transparent substrate; an electrode pair; and a photoactive film with electrical polarization located between the optically transparent substrate and the electrode pair, wherein the optically transparent substrate is configured to transmit incident radiation received by the optically transparent substrate to the photoactive film and wherein the electrode pair is configured to receive charge carriers generated by the photoactive film in response to the transmitted incident radiation.

Abstract: According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a photo-sensor comprising: an optically transparent substrate; an electrode pair; and a photoactive film with electrical polarization located between the optically transparent substrate and the electrode pair, wherein the optically transparent substrate is configured to transmit incident radiation received by the optically transparent substrate to the photoactive film and wherein the electrode pair is configured to receive charge carriers generated by the photoactive film in response to the transmitted incident radiation.

Abstract: A self-powered photodetector is provided including: a photovoltaic sensor element for generating an electrical charge under exposure to electromagnetic radiation; a charge storage section for accumulating the electrical charge generated by the photovoltaic sensor element; an electrical load configured to be powered by the accumulated electrical charge from the charge storage section and outputs a signal in response thereto, the signal being analyzable to determine a measurement of the electromagnetic radiation; and a switch for controlling a flow of the accumulated electrical charge from the charge storage section to the electrical load for powering the electrical load. There is also provided a wireless receiver for analyzing a signal from the self-powered photodetector to provide a measurement of the electromagnetic radiation, a photodetector system including the self-powered photodetector and the wireless receiver, and a method of fabricating the self-powered photodetector.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting skin penetration. The system comprises an invasive component for penetrating the skin; a dummy electrode for making contact with the surface of the skin; at least one penetrating electrode disposed in the invasive component; and a Wheatstone bridge circuit; wherein a resistance across the dummy electrode and the penetrating electrode constitutes one of the resistive legs of the Wheatstone bridge circuit and skin penetration of the invasive component is detected based on a differential output voltage from the Wheatstone bridge circuit.

Abstract: A photovoltaic UV detector configured to generate an electrical output under UV irradiation. The photovoltaic UV detector comprises a first layer comprising an electrically polarized dielectric thin layer configured to generate a first electrical output under the UV irradiation; and a second, layer configured to form an electrical energy barrier at an interface between the second layer and the first layer so as to generate a second electrical output under the UV irradiation, the second electrical output having a same polarity as the first electrical output, the electrical output of the photovoltaic UV detector being a sum of at least the first electrical output and the second electrical output. The electrically polarized dielectric thin layer may be a ferroelectric thin film, which may comprise PZT or PZLT. The second layer may be a metal and the electrical energy barrier may be a Schottky barrier.

Abstract: A photoelectrode including at least one polymer layer is provided. The at least one polymer layer defines the surface of the photoelectrode, or it defines an interlayer within the photoelectrode. The polymer layer can be made of a non-conductive polymer and have a thickness of 100 nm or less.

Abstract: A system and method for detecting skin penetration. The system comprises an invasive component for penetrating the skin; a dummy electrode for making contact with the surface of the skin; at least one penetrating electrode disposed in the invasive component; and a Wheatstone bridge circuit; wherein a resistance across the dummy electrode and the penetrating electrode constitutes one of the resistive legs of the Wheatstone bridge circuit and skin penetration of the invasive component is detected based on a differential output voltage from the Wheatstone bridge circuit.

Abstract: A UV light detector is disclosed that has a UV sensing element comprising a substrate and a thin film layer formed on the substrate. The thin film layer is for receiving and converting UV light into electricity for a photovoltaic output. First and second electrodes are formed on one surface of the thin film layer and are configured to form an electric polarization in the thin film layer between the first and second electrodes and to collect the photovoltaic output. There is also an amplifier and an output display. The UV sensing element is configured to collect the photovoltaic output, the amplifier being configured to receive the photovoltaic output from the UV sensing element, the output display being configured to provide a display when UV light is received at the one surface, the display being derived from the photovoltaic output. A UV dosimeter is also disclosed.