Abstract: A plasma generator includes a cathode, an anode, and a stabilizing electrode. The stabilizing electrode stabilises a region of plasma within a fluid. Methods of plasma generation and uses thereof are also provided.

Abstract: In an electret element 100 including a substrate 101, an electrically-conductive electrode 103, and an electret layer 107 including a first dielectric layer 104 and a second dielectric layer 105, when electrical charge charged in the electret layer 107 is negative, a bottom Ec of conductive band of the second dielectric layer 105 is lower than a bottom Ec of the first dielectric layer 104, and when the electrical charge is positive, a top Ev of valence band of the second dielectric layer 105 is higher than a top Ev of the first dielectric layer 104; and a concave portion 106 is formed in a surface of the first dielectric layer 104; and the second dielectric layer 105 is formed to cover the entire of the bottom face 106a and at least a part of the side wall 106b of the concave portion.

Abstract: A patterned electret structure (21) on a substrate (10) comprises a dielectric structure comprising at least one non-patterned dielectric layer (22), and a charge pattern (14) in the dielectric structure and/or at a surface of a dielectric layer that is part of the dielectric structure and/or at an interface between dielectric layers that are part of the dielectric structure. By the presence of the non-patterned dielectric layer (22), the influence of the presence of a conductive substrate (10) on the charges (14) of the electret structure (21) is alleviated, hence increasing the charge stability over time. Moreover, in embodiments of the present invention, the charge stability is substantially independent of the width (W1, W2, W3) of the charge pattern. A method for manufacturing such patterned electret structure (21) is also provided.

Abstract: In an electret element 100 including a substrate 101, an electrically-conductive electrode 103, and an electret layer 107 including a first dielectric layer 104 and a second dielectric layer 105, when electrical charge charged in the electret layer 107 is negative, a bottom Ec of conductive band of the second dielectric layer 105 is lower than a bottom Ec of the first dielectric layer 104, and when the electrical charge is positive, a top Ev of valence band of the second dielectric layer 105 is higher than a top Ev of the first dielectric layer 104; and a concave portion 106 is formed in a surface of the first dielectric layer 104; and the second dielectric layer 105 is formed to cover the entire of the bottom face 106a and at least a part of the side wall 106b of the concave portion.

Abstract: A method of evaluating the condition of a laminated core of an electric machine including positioning a magnetic flux injection excitation yoke extending between a pair of teeth of the laminated core, and the excitation yoke being wound with an excitation winding defining an electrical circuit for producing a magnetic flux excitation. Power is supplied to an excitation winding wound around the yoke to produce a magnetic flux in the yoke and to form a magnetic circuit through the yoke and the laminated core. A characteristic of the electrical circuit of the excitation winding is measured to identify a fault in the magnetic circuit corresponding to an eddy current between individual laminations in the laminated core.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating the condition of a laminated core of an electric machine, and including a first yoke wound with a first winding and having a first pair of arms spanning between a first pair of teeth of the laminated core, and a second yoke wound with a second winding and having a second pair of arms spanning between a second pair of teeth. A power supply provides power to an electrical circuit defined by one of the first and second windings to produce a magnetic flux in the yoke corresponding to the one of the first and second windings and defining an excitation yoke. A monitoring module provides a measurement of a characteristic of an electrical circuit defined by the other one of the first and second windings to identify a fault corresponding to an eddy current between individual laminations in the laminated core.

Abstract: Disclosed are thermoelectric systems and methods for manufacturing thermoelectric systems. In one embodiment, a thermoelectric system include a flexible structure and at least one thermocouple unit integrated in or attached to the flexible structure, where each thermocouple unit comprises at least one thermocouple and at least one flexible radiator element thermally connected to a first end of the at least one thermocouple. In another embodiment, a method includes providing a flexible structure, forming at least one thermocouple unit comprising at least one thermocouple and at least one flexible radiator element thermally connected to a first end of the at least one thermocouple, and integrating the at least one thermocouple unit in or attaching the at least one thermocouple unit to the flexible structure.

Abstract: A method of evaluating the condition of a laminated core of an electric machine including positioning a magnetic flux injection excitation yoke extending between a pair of teeth of the laminated core, and the excitation yoke being wound with an excitation winding defining an electrical circuit for producing a magnetic flux excitation. Power is supplied to an excitation winding wound around the yoke to produce a magnetic flux in the yoke and to form a magnetic circuit through the yoke and the laminated core. A characteristic of the electrical circuit of the excitation winding is measured to identify a fault in the magnetic circuit corresponding to an eddy current between individual laminations in the laminated core.

Abstract: A method and system for evaluating the condition of a laminated core of an electric machine, and including a first yoke wound with a first winding and having a first pair of arms spanning between a first pair of teeth of the laminated core, and a second yoke wound with a second winding and having a second pair of arms spanning between a second pair of teeth. A power supply provides power to an electrical circuit defined by one of the first and second windings to produce a magnetic flux in the yoke corresponding to the one of the first and second windings and defining an excitation yoke. A monitoring module provides a measurement of a characteristic of an electrical circuit defined by the other one of the first and second windings to identify a fault corresponding to an eddy current between individual laminations in the laminated core.

Abstract: A patterned electret structure (21) on a substrate (10) comprises a dielectric structure comprising at least one non-patterned dielectric layer (22), and a charge pattern (14) in the dielectric structure and/or at a surface of a dielectric layer that is part of the dielectric structure and/or at an interface between dielectric layers that are part of the dielectric structure. By the presence of the non-patterned dielectric layer (22), the influence of the presence of a conductive substrate (10) on the charges (14) of the electret structure (21) is alleviated, hence increasing the charge stability over time. Moreover, in embodiments of the present invention, the charge stability is substantially independent of the width (W1, W2, W3) of the charge pattern. A method for manufacturing such patterned electret structure (21) is also provided.

Abstract: An articulated walking device, configured for movement across a surface, includes a frame and a plurality of leg assemblies movably engaged with the frame. Each leg assembly includes a leg member configured to rotate with respect to the frame about first and second axes at least generally transverse to one another. A drive mechanism operatively engaged with the plurality of leg assemblies actuates each of the leg members in like, predetermined, repeatable cycles of movement. The leg members are out of phase with one another, such that sufficient leg members are always supporting the toy device in an upright manner and immediately adjoining leg members do not move together in parallel.

Abstract: A toy vehicle has a chassis with road wheels movement including one or two each mounted to pivot about a general vertical axis to steer. A steering mechanism includes a turning member mounted so as to pivot about the generally vertical axis and supporting one road wheel for rotation about a horizontal axis for movement of the vehicle and about the generally vertical axis to steer the vehicle. A control member slides across the chassis. A magnetic body pivots on a pivot axis extending front and rear. The magnetic body has a central axis perpendicular to the pivot axis with opposite magnetic poles of the body locate along the central axis on opposite sides of the pivot axis. A crank is connected at one end with the magnetic body and at an opposite end with the elongated opening of the control member. A coil surrounds the magnetic body and rotates the magnetic body by the passage of an electric current in a selected direction through the coil thereby pivoting each road wheel connected with the control member.

Abstract: A method for manufacturing thermopile carrier chips comprises forming first type thermocouple legs and second type thermocouple legs on a first surface of a substrate and afterwards removing part of the substrate form a second surface opposite to the first surface, thereby forming a carrier frame from the substrate and at least partially releasing the thermocouple legs from the substrate, wherein the thermocouple legs are attached between parts of the carrier frame. First type thermocouple legs and second type thermocouple legs may be formed on the same substrate or on a separate substrate. In the latter approach both types of thermocouple legs may be optimised independently. The thermocouple legs may be self-supporting or they may be supported by a thin membrane layer. After mounting the thermopile carrier chips in a thermopile unit or in a thermoelectric generator, the sides of the carrier frame to which no thermocouple legs are attached are removed.

Abstract: A toy vehicle includes a central housing having first and second oppositely disposed sides. A first wheel is rotatably mounted on the first side of the housing, and a second wheel is rotatably mounted on the second side of the housing. Each of the first and second wheels has a central hub and a plurality of individual vanes rotatably attached to the hub. Each hub has a center disposed along a first axis of rotation. Each vane is rotatable about a second vane axis extending transversely with respect to the first axis. An end of each vane distal to the hub forms a circumferential surface portion of one of the first and second wheels.

Abstract: A thermoelectric generator (TEG) and a method of fabricating the TEG are described. The TEG is designed so that parasitic thermal resistance of air and height of legs of thermocouples forming a thermopile can be varied and optimized independently. The TEG includes a micromachined thermopile sandwiched in between a hot and a cold plate and at least one spacer in between the thermopile and the hot and/or cold plate. The TEG fabrication includes fabricating the thermopiles, a rim, and the cold plate.

Abstract: A toy vehicle comprises a lift mechanism which allows the toy vehicle to be lifted from a support surface in a lifting motion and roll end over end over end. The lift mechanism includes a lift arm pivotally mounted to a housing of the toy vehicle. A lift arm actuating motor is coupled to a lift arm drive screw that is in threaded engagement with a lift arm drive nut. A strut is coupled between the drive nut and the lift arm. In operation, the lift arm actuating motor drives the lift arm drive screw and causes the lift arm drive nut to drive the strut and move the lift arm into an extended position, causing the lift arm to engage a support surface to lift the toy vehicle. In the extended position, the toy vehicle is sufficiently rounded to permit the vehicle to roll end over end over end.

Abstract: A toy vehicle has a chassis with road wheels movement including one or two each mounted to pivot about a general vertical axis to steer. A steering mechanism includes a turning member mounted so as to pivot about the generally vertical axis and supporting one road wheel for rotation about a horizontal axis for movement of the vehicle and about the generally vertical axis to steer the vehicle. A control member slides across the chassis. A magnetic body pivots on a pivot axis extending front and rear. The magnetic body has a central axis perpendicular to the pivot axis with opposite magnetic poles of the body locate along the central axis on opposite sides of the pivot axis. A crank is connected at one end with the magnetic body and at an opposite end with the elongated opening of the control member. A coil surrounds the magnetic body and rotates the magnetic body by the passage of an electric current in a selected direction through the coil thereby pivoting each road wheel connected with the control member.

Abstract: A hybrid energy scavenger comprising a thermopile unit and photovoltaic cells is provided, wherein the hybrid energy scavenger may generate a good output power when operating in conditions of small temperature difference between a heat source and a heat sink, and/or either receiving the heat from a heat source with high thermal resistance or dissipating it into a heat sink with high thermal resistance such as a human body or a body of any other endotherm, or a fluid such as air, and wherein the photovoltaic cells are part of a heat dissipating structure for connection to the heat sink.

Abstract: The present invention provides a TEG device comprising a first unit comprising a thermopile unit and a second unit comprising a cold plate and/or a radiator. One of the first and second units is adapted for being embedded or implanted into a body, while the other of the first and second units is adapted for being placed at the outer surface of the body, i.e. in a fluid. The first and second units are adapted for being thermally connected to each other through the surface between the body and the fluid when in use.