Abstract: A liquid delivery apparatus is provided for depositing liquid materials onto prescribed areas. The apparatus includes a sensing and delivery pin and a photo sensor. The apparatus is sized to deliver a droplet of liquid material to the surface of a target area without coming into contact with the target surface. The apparatus is also capable of drawing geometric features, such as lines and grids of liquid material. The photo sensor measures the intensity of light during a processing cycle. Measured reflected-light intensity can be compared in real-time to a reference curve which is based on test process cycles representing the light intensity expected when the process proceeds in the preferred fashion to produce a normal spot having an expected droplet size. The light intensity measurements can also be fitted with a mathematical function such as an asymmetric double sigmoidal curve.

Abstract: A firing inhibition system for a firearm includes an electromechanical actuator electrically connected to a dynamic grip recognition module including at least one sensor and a microcontroller, wherein the at least one sensor is located in a portion of a firearm operable to receive grip pressure from a user and wherein the at least one sensor is operable to transmit a signal to the microcontroller, wherein the microcontroller is operable to receive programming comprising grip pressure of an authorized user and is operable to interpret whether the grip pressure of the user matches the grip pressure of the authorized user, and to send a signal to the electromechanical actuator to actuate or to not actuate.

Abstract: A liquid delivery apparatus is provided for depositing liquid materials onto prescribed areas. The apparatus includes a sensing and delivery pin and a photo sensor. The apparatus is sized to deliver a droplet of liquid material to the surface of a target area without coming into contact with the target surface. The apparatus is also capable of drawing geometric features, such as lines and grids of liquid material. The photo sensor measures the intensity of light during a processing cycle. Measured reflected-light intensity can be compared in real-time to a reference curve which is based on test process cycles representing the light intensity expected when the process proceeds in the preferred fashion to produce a normal spot having an expected droplet size. The light intensity measurements can also be fitted with a mathematical function such as an asymmetric double sigmoidal curve.

Abstract: Simultaneous pressure and position information is accurately measured in a sensor realized by utilizing first and second sensor elements that each exhibit a decreasing width over the length of the sensor element and that are arranged overlapping each other and in a substantially complementary orientation to one another with respect to the width so that the point of narrowest width of the first sensor element overlaps the point of the widest width of the second sensor element. Pressure applied to the sensor causes each sensor element to generate an electrical signal that is proportional to both the applied pressure and the surface area at the location of the applied pressure. As a result of the complementary orientation and overlapping for these sensor elements, the first and second sensor elements generate an asymmetric pair of signals that uniquely define the applied pressure by position and magnitude.

Abstract: A piezoelectric actuator that is capable of providing up to six degrees of positioning freedom. Specifically, the piezoelectric actuator is capable of providing positioning freedom in three linear directions (x, y, z) and three rotary angles (&phgr;, &thgr;, &psgr;). The piezoelectric actuator typically comprises a plurality of unit cells stacked on top of one another. Each unit cell comprises a base plate, a cruciform base, and a stack of piezoelectric plates. The base plate is used to support the cruciform base. The cruciform base comprises a piezoelectric cruciform-shaped body, a plurality of electrodes formed on the top surface of the cruciform-shaped body, and a ground plane formed on the bottom surface of the cruciform-shaped body. Each piezoelectric plate in the stack of piezoelectric plates comprises a piezoelectric plate body, a plurality of electrodes formed on the top surface of the plate body, and a ground plane formed on the bottom surface of the plate body.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device for generating ultra-high precision rectilinear movement based on aerostatic suspension and magnetic traction, the device including a nut, a leadscrew, a thrust bearing, a contactless motor, and feedback drive electronics. The contactless motor provides the actuation by turning the leadscrew which is made of magnetically soft materials and has a pitched helical groove machined on its surface. The leadscrew passes through the core of the nut which is free to move in a rectilinear motion on a aerostatically suspended guide. The nut, also made with magnetic material, has a matching helical groove in its core so that a closed magnetic circuit is formed between the grooves of the leadscrew and the nut. The closed circuit in turn provides the necessary magnetic traction to move the nut in a rectilinear fashion. A primary aerostatic suspension is utilized to stabilize and center the leadscrew and nut transversally.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for utilizing piezoelectric devices for precise positioning purposes without having to endure the detrimental effects of hysteresis. The apparatus and method involving driving a pair of piezoelectric stacks with complementary low amplitude, high frequency dither signals produced by an oscillating source. The complementary low amplitude, high frequency dither arrangement, referred to as an intermediate dither, is self-compensating so that no residual dither is transmitted to a load attached to one of the stacks. Furthermore, the dithering of each stack results in a virtual elimination of hysteresis in the material of the piezoelectric stacks.