Abstract: A seat belt retractor including a fixed frame connected to a vehicle body; a spool mounted on the fixed frame so as to be rotatable about a shaft arranged in a predetermined direction, in which a seat belt is wound around the spool; a control disc connected to the shaft about which the spool rotates to rotate together with the spool, and having external teeth; a vehicle sensor unit for detecting a change in acceleration of a vehicle by a fluctuation of an inertial member to prevent the control disc from rotating; and an installation member coupled to a housing which is coupled to one sidewall of the fixed frame, wherein the vehicle sensor unit is directly and rotatably coupled to the installation member.

Abstract: A content display method of a user terminal device including a bended touch screen divided into a main area and a sub area, includes displaying, on the main area, a first main content provided by a first application, and displaying, on the sub area, a first sub content associated with the first main content, receiving a user gesture input on the main area, and in response to receiving the user gesture, displaying, on the main area, a second main content provided by a second application, and displaying, on the sub area, a second sub content associated with the second main content.

Abstract: A battery pack includes a pack case, a plurality of batteries accommodated in the pack case, a first heat absorber disposed between the plurality of batteries, and a second heat absorber disposed on each of two side surfaces of each of the plurality of batteries. The first heat absorber and the second heat absorber each include an absorbent material impregnated with a liquid vaporized by heat generated from the battery, and an exterior material in which the absorbent material in a liquid-absorbed state is accommodated.

Abstract: A prismatic secondary battery includes a case; at least one or more battery cells accommodated within the case; and at least one or more heat-absorbing pouches in contact with the battery cells. Here, the heat-absorbing pouches include: an absorbent material impregnated with a liquid that vaporizes by absorbing the heat generated by the battery cells; and a pouch that seals and accommodates the absorbent material impregnated with the liquid.

Abstract: A venting device includes a fixed member provided with a through-hollow body, and provided with a first stepped part on an inner circumferential surface of an upper portion of the body; and a movable member inserted into and coupled to the inside of the fixed member, and provided with a plurality of venting holes; and a second stepped part on a lower outer circumferential surface facing the first stepped part; and a gap-maintaining member exerting a repulsive force between the fixed member and the movable member. The movable member is movable relative to the fixed member between a first position maintained by the repulsive force exerted by the gap-maintaining member, and a second position when an external force exceeding the repulsive force is applied. The number of venting holes in the movable member connecting with the outside in the first and second positions is different.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for implementing an array antenna having a combination of ferromagnetic and nonferromagnetic conductors in alternating multilayers. One such antenna device comprises an array of patch antennas on a substrate, wherein the patch antennas are formed of a combination of ferromagnetic and nonferromagnetic conductors in alternating multilayers; and a microstrip feeding line coupled to the array of patch antennas. Other systems, apparatuses, and methods are also presented.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various systems and apparatuses for a compact frequency reconfigurable array antenna and methods related thereto. An exemplary array antenna system comprises a substrate; an array of patch antennas positioned on the substrate; a plurality of PIN diodes placed on a top surface of the substrate, wherein individual PIN diodes are located in individual gaps between respective ones of the patch antennas; and a plurality of meander-line (ML) complementary split-ring resonator (CSRR) decouplers placed on a bottom surface of the substrate, wherein individual ML-CSRR decouplers are placed under individual patch antennas in a diagonal direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides wireless power transfer systems and methods. One such system includes a transmitter comprising a transmitter coil coupled to a power source and a transmitter metasurface slab positioned on a front side of the transmitter coil that is configured to amplify and focus a magnetic field generated by the transmitter coil towards a receiver in a non-contact manner. In such a system, the receiver comprises a receiver coil coupled to a load and a receiver metasurface slab positioned on a front side of the receiver coil configured to amplify and focus a magnetic field generated by the transmitter coil towards the receiver coil in a non-contact manner. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multifunctional probe that may be inserted into tissue (e.g. brain tissue) that includes an optical waveguide, a microfluidic channel and a plurality of carbon nanofiber electrodes. In another embodiment, the probe includes a shank onto which carbon nanofiber electrodes are disposed. Also disclosed are methods of making disclosed probes.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for meander line (ML) slots, which can be used for mutual coupling reduction. In one example, an antenna array includes first and second patch antenna elements disposed on a first side of a substrate, the first and second patch antenna elements separated by a gap. The antenna array can include a meander line (ML) slot formed in a ground plane disposed on a second side of the substrate. A plurality of ML slots can be aligned with the gap between the first and second patch antenna elements. In another example, a method includes forming first and second antenna elements on a first side of a substrate and forming a ML slot in a ground plane disposed on a second side of the substrate aligned with a gap between the first and second antenna elements.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to mutual coupling reduction between elements in antenna arrays. In one example, an antenna array includes patch antenna elements disposed on a first side of a substrate; and meander line (ML) slots formed in a ground plane disposed on a second side of the substrate. The ML slots can be disposed opposite a corresponding patch antenna element with the ML slot extending at an angle between first and second sides defining a corner that is adjacent to another patch antenna element. In another example, an antenna array includes first and second patch antenna elements disposed on a first side of a substrate and separated by a gap; and at least one meander line (ML) slots formed in a ground plane disposed on a second side of the substrate and aligned with the gap between the first and second patch antenna elements.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to electrochemical phosphate/pH (P/pH) sensors, systems and related methods. In one example, a P/pH sensor includes a substrate and collocated phosphate (P) electrode and pH electrode formed on a surface of the substrate. The P electrode includes a cobalt (Co) sensing window disposed on a first copper (Cu) sensor pad; and the pH electrode includes an antimony (Sb) sensing window disposed on a second Cu sensor pad. The P/pH sensor can include a reference electrode, and may also include other sensor electrodes such as, e.g., a nitrate electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides wireless power transfer systems and methods. One such system includes a transmitter comprising a transmitter coil coupled to a power source and a transmitter metasurface slab positioned on a front side of the transmitter coil that is configured to amplify and focus a magnetic field generated by the transmitter coil towards a receiver in a non-contact manner. In such a system, the receiver comprises a receiver coil coupled to a load and a receiver metasurface slab positioned on a front side of the receiver coil configured to amplify and focus a magnetic field generated by the transmitter coil towards the receiver coil in a non-contact manner. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods of fabricating a metamaterial-inspired dual-function loop antenna. One such antenna device comprises a loop antenna and a metamaterial slab integrated on top of the loop antenna. Accordingly, the metamaterial slab metamaterial has a negative refractive index value at a first frequency and a near zero refractive index at a second frequency, wherein the first frequency is less than the second frequency, each unit cell of the metamaterial slab is coupled to a capacitor in parallel, the first frequency is attributed to a capacitance value of the capacitor, and the second frequency is attributed to a dimension of the unit cell. As such, the antenna device is configured to receive wireless power transfer signals over the first frequency and wireless communication signals over the second frequency. Other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also presented.

Abstract: Various examples of methods and systems related to nanofibrous microstructures including carbon nanofibrous microelectrode arrays are provided. In one example, a method includes electrospinning photosensitive nanofibers on a patterned substrate; immersing the photosensitive nanofibers in a refractive index matching medium; and exposing the immersed photosensitive nanofibers to ultraviolet (UV) light through the patterned substrate or through a front side photomask. In another example, a microelectrode array includes a carbon thin film (CTF) trace pattern including a plurality of CTF electrode pads; and a plurality of carbon nanofiber (CNF) pillars disposed on the plurality of CTF electrode pads.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for meander line (ML) slots, which can be used for mutual coupling reduction. In one example, an antenna array includes first and second patch antenna elements disposed on a first side of a substrate, the first and second patch antenna elements separated by a gap. The antenna array can include a meander line (ML) slot formed in a ground plane disposed on a second side of the substrate. A plurality of ML slots can be aligned with the gap between the first and second patch antenna elements. In another example, a method includes forming first and second antenna elements on a first side of a substrate and forming a ML slot in a ground plane disposed on a second side of the substrate aligned with a gap between the first and second antenna elements.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes wireless power transfer systems and methods. One such system comprises a transmitter coil coupled to a power source; a receiver coil coupled to a load; and a metamaterial screen disposed between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil and configured to amplify and focus a magnetic field generated by the transmitter coil towards the receiver coil in a non-contact manner. Other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a smart pseudo-palate for use in a Smart Electropalatograph (EPG) for Linguistic and Medical Applications (SELMA) system. In one aspect, the pseudo-palate is constructed from a thin, flexible polymer membrane and having an embedded electrode array. The pseudo-palate is configured to detect tongue contacts during speech while causing minimal disturbance or interference with speech motion. The disclosed pseudo-palate in the SELMA system is integrated with a microcontroller, wireless electronic module, and external readout app. The disclosure, in another aspect, relates to integration of the pseudo-palate with a smart sports/health mouth guard containing a series of sensors for monitoring head impacts, body temperature, and heart rate.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for implementing an array antenna having a combination of ferromagnetic and nonferromagnetic conductors in alternating multilayers. One such antenna device comprises an array of patch antennas on a substrate, wherein the patch antennas are formed of a combination of ferromagnetic and nonferromagnetic conductors in alternating multilayers; and a microstrip feeding line coupled to the array of patch antennas. Other systems, apparatuses, and methods are also presented.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods of fabricating a metamaterial-inspired dual-function loop antenna. One such antenna device comprises a loop antenna and a metamaterial slab integrated on top of the loop antenna. Accordingly, the metamaterial slab metamaterial has a negative refractive index value at a first frequency and a near zero refractive index at a second frequency, wherein the first frequency is less than the second frequency, each unit cell of the metamaterial slab is coupled to a capacitor in parallel, the first frequency is attributed to a capacitance value of the capacitor, and the second frequency is attributed to a dimension of the unit cell. As such, the antenna device is configured to receive wireless power transfer signals over the first frequency and wireless communication signals over the second frequency. Other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also presented.