Abstract: An uninterrupted power supply system incorporates a plurality of lithium batteries as a back-up power supply to an AC power supply. In the event that there is an interruption in the AC power supply, a power output switch is automatically activated by a power control system to draw power from a lithium battery pack. In an embodiment, a battery pack is monitored by a battery management system that is coupled to battery monitoring modules couple to each battery. The battery management system may be configured to monitor the voltage and/or temperature of each battery. In another embodiment, an uninterrupted power supply system comprises a battery unit balancing system that maintains each battery within a battery unit below a threshold voltage value. A charging circuit and discharging circuit are used to maintain the batteries in a ready state of charge when not being used for the output power.

Abstract: Control hubs and solar power systems are disclosed. One example photovoltaic (PV) system includes a plurality of PV modules and a control hub coupled to the plurality of PV modules. The control hub includes a plurality of interface modules and a processing device coupled to the interface modules. Each of the interface modules includes a power converter coupled to a different one of the plurality of PV modules. The processing device is configured to control each of the power converters to control the PV module associated with the power converter.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for intelligently inverting DC power from DC sources such as photovoltaic (PV) solar modules to single-phase or three-phase AC power to feed the power grid for electricity generation. A power inverter with multiple input channels or input ports that can connect to multiple DC sources is disclosed.

Abstract: A demagnetizing device includes, in one embodiment, a demagnetizer. The demagnetizer is operable to generate a corrective magnetic field. The corrective magnetic field is operable to act upon a ferrite-based core to maintain suitable performance of a network-connected device which includes such core.

Abstract: The wireless power supply system includes a power transmitting unit that transmits electric power. The wireless power supply system includes a power receiving unit that receives the electric power output from the power transmitting unit. The wireless power supply system according to the first embodiment can detect a foreign matter based on the power transmission frequency.

Abstract: A power-supply-side coil receives an alternating current from an AC power source to produce a magnetic flux. A power-supply-side capacitor is connected in parallel with the power-supply-side coil. A power-supply-side filter circuit includes a reactor and a capacitor, which are connected in series between the AC power source and the power-supply-side coil. A power-receiving-side coil is interlinked with a magnetic flux produced by the power-supply-side coil to produce an alternating current. The power-supply-side filter circuit, the power-supply-side capacitor, and the power-supply-side form a circuit having an impedance having a frequency characteristic, in which a frequency of a minimum point formed on a high-frequency side relative to a maximum point is greater than a frequency of a fundamental wave of an alternating current supplied from the AC power source and is less than a frequency of a third order wave of the fundamental wave.

Abstract: A Cable Assembly for supplying power includes wiring for carrying alternating electrical current, a plurality of Source Inductive Elements spaced at intervals along the wiring to provide power by induction; and an encapsulation layering that provides electrical insulation.

Abstract: The non-contact electric power reception device includes an electric power reception portion and an electric load device. The electric power reception portion is configured such that best transmission efficiency at a power supply frequency of the power supply portion used for non-contact electric power transmission is achieved when the electric power reception portion is arranged with its position being displaced from a position of the electric power transmission portion. Preferably, the electric power reception portion is configured such that a peak frequency at which transmission efficiency at the time of change in power transmission frequency exhibits a peak and a power supply frequency match with each other when the electric power reception portion is arranged with positions in a horizontal direction of a central axis of the electric power reception portion and a central axis of the electric power transmission portion being displaced from each other.

Abstract: A power transmission apparatus includes a power transmission unit and a power supply unit. A wireless power reception apparatus includes a power reception unit capable of wirelessly receiving electric power from the power transmission unit, and a control unit performing control for positional alignment between the power reception unit and the power transmission unit and for reception of electric power after the positional alignment. The magnitude of electric power received by the power reception unit from the power transmission unit is used for positional alignment between the power reception unit and the power transmission unit. The control unit sets a parameter of a power transmission and reception path so that a power receivable range that can be received by the power reception unit at any time while positional alignment is done is wider than that when electric power is received after the positional alignment.

Abstract: A power on/off control system includes a microcontroller, a setting module connected to the microcontroller, a photoelectric coupler connected to the microcontroller, and a relay connected to the microcontroller. The setting module is used to set parameters, and the parameters include a power-on time and a power-off time. The relay is used to receive alternating current and connected to an electronic device. When the power-on time is ended, the microcontroller is used to send a power-off signal to the photoelectric coupler for turning on the relay, and the relay stops supplying power to the electronic device. When the power-off time is ended, the microcontroller is further configured to send a power-on signal to the photoelectric coupler for turning off the relay, to supply power for the electronic device. The disclosure further offers a power on/off control method.

Abstract: An integrated circuit arrangement (100, 200, 600) has a first circuit part (102, 202, 602) which can be supplied with a first supply voltage (106, 206, 606), and a second circuit part (104, 204, 604) which can be supplied with a second supply voltage (108, 208, 608). The first circuit part and the second circuit part are arranged in a manner spatially separate from one another. The first circuit part has a first conduction element (110, 210, 310, 410, 610), and the second circuit part has a second conduction element (112, 212, 312, 412, 612). The integrated circuit arrangement also has a third conduction element (114, 214, 314, 414, 614), the third conduction element being arranged between the first conduction element and the second conduction element in such a manner that the third conduction element is arranged adjacent to the first conduction element and the third conduction element is also arranged adjacent to the second conduction element.

Abstract: Example method, apparatus, and computer program product embodiments are disclosed for wireless powering of passive objects contained in a functional exchangeable cover of an apparatus. Example embodiments of the invention include a method comprising: receiving, by an apparatus, a signal indicating that a functional exchangeable cover attached to the apparatus requests optical powering, the signal being at least one of a mechanical signal, an electrical signal, or a wireless signal; switching on, by the apparatus, an optical energy source in the apparatus in response to received signal; and transmitting, by the apparatus, from the optical energy source, optical power to the functional exchangeable cover attached to the apparatus.

Abstract: An integrated electromagnetic energy conversions device is provided that includes a synchronous or brushless linear (SoBL) motor, and a transformer, where the transformer is integrated electromagnetically and topologically with the SoBL motor, where an electromagnetic field orientation of the transformer is perpendicular to an electromagnetic field orientation of the SoBL motor, where a magnetic-field decoupling between the SoBL motor and the transformer is provided and a position independent magnetic coupling of the transformer is provided, where the integrated SoBL motor and the transformer operate simultaneously in a motor and transformer mode.

Abstract: An ornithopter engine and method of generating an iterative flapping motion are disclosed. The engine includes a structural frame, having at least two swinging member mounting portions, a driving magnetic member shaft mounting portion and a driving magnetic members shaft. The driving magnetic members shaft is rotatable relatively to the structural frame. The engine includes at least two driving magnetic members, affixed to the driving magnetic member shaft and at least two swinging members, pivotally mounted onto the structural frame. The engine further includes at least one driven magnetic member, affixed to the swinging member and a motor coupled to the shaft.

Abstract: A galvanoscanner including: a rotor including a shaft as a rotational center, and permanent magnets disposed around the shaft and polarized to a plurality of poles in a circumferential direction of the shaft; and a stator disposed in the outside of the rotor through a clearance and including coils, a yoke, and an outer casing so that the rotor swings in a predetermined angle range; wherein: the permanent magnets are provided with grooves which are formed in a direction of the rotation shaft so as to straddle circumferentially adjacent magnetic poles of the permanent magnets; and the permanent magnets are parted into at least two parts per pole by parting lines. Thus, the ratio of the torque constant to the moment of inertia can be improved so that the current required for driving can be reduced and reduction of power consumption at driving time can be attained.

Abstract: A galvanoscanner including: a rotor including a shaft as a rotational center, and permanent magnets disposed around the shaft and polarized to a plurality of poles in a circumferential direction of the shaft; and a stator disposed in the outside of the rotor through a clearance and including coils, a yoke, and an outer casing so that the rotor swings in a predetermined angle range; wherein: the permanent magnets are provided with grooves which are formed in a direction of the rotation shaft so as to straddle circumferentially adjacent magnetic poles of the permanent magnets; and the permanent magnets are parted into at least two parts per pole by parting lines. Thus, the ratio of the torque constant to the moment of inertia can be improved so that the current required for driving can be reduced and reduction of power consumption at driving time can be attained.

Abstract: A motor includes a motor assembly, an end cap, a flexible insulating sleeve, and a flexible enclosure. The motor assembly includes a stator, a rotor, and wiring connected to the stator. The end-cap is coupled to the motor assembly to produce first sub-assembly. In addition, the end-cap includes an electrical fitting for feeding the wiring externally of the motor. The flexible insulating sleeve fits over at a least a portion the first sub-assembly to produce a second sub-assembly. The flexible enclosure includes a formed housing section and a connecting section. The formed housing section loosely fits over the second sub-assembly prior to tightening of the connecting section and, when the connecting section is tightened, the formed housing section tightly fits over the second sub-assembly compressing the flexible insulating sleeve to produce an insulating seal.

Abstract: An aluminum wire body, in which an aluminum or aluminum alloy electric wire and a metal to be joined are joined by solder, wherein the solder includes an oxide glass including vanadium and a conducting particle. Preferably, the conducting particle contained in the solder is 90% by volume or less and the oxide glass is 20% by volume to 90% by volume. Further preferably, the oxide glass includes 40% by mass or more of Ag2O in terms of oxides and the glass transition point is 180° C. or less.

Abstract: An electromagnetic switch is provided which includes: a coil generating magnetomotive force; a frame accommodating the coil and generating a flux path; a resin cover covering an opening of the frame; and a current-supply terminal member energizing the coil. The current-supply terminal member includes: a blade-shaped terminal whose end is connected to the coil and whose another end is drawn out of the resin cover in the axial direction of the electromagnetic switch; and a plate-shaped external connection terminal whose end is joined to an end of the blade-shaped terminal and whose another end is drawn out in the direction intersecting the axial direction. A portion between the ends of the external connection terminal is insert-molded in a terminal anchor block provided with the resin cover. A female terminal of a power supply connector provided at an electric supply line is fitted and electrically connected to the external connection terminal.

Abstract: An electric motor, including a motor assembly having a rotor and a stator, and a switching assembly adapted to switch the motor assembly between a wye configuration, a delta configuration, and a neutral configuration. The switching assembly may include a plurality of actuators configured to move at least two movable contact members so as to select which configuration of the motor assembly is active.

Abstract: A DC electric motor (10) comprises a rotor (30) rotably attached to a stator (20). The rotor (30) comprises an output shaft (31) and a rotor core (33), and a plurality of winding coils (35) wound on the rotor core (33) and electrically connected to a commutator (34) on the output shaft (31). An insulating sleeve (32) is disposed between the output shaft (31) and rotor core (33), forming a capacitor between the output shaft (31) and rotor core (33), thereby reducing the EMI caused by the fluctuating current in the winding coils (35).

Abstract: An electric rotational damper includes a generator which including a stator and a rotor; a damper housing having a housing attachment, wherein the stator is connected with the damper housing, and wherein the housing attachment and the stator in fixed rotative relationship with the damper housing; a transmission connecting a coupling lever with the rotor of the transmission of the rotational damper; a housing part connected with and co-rotating with the transmission, wherein the housing part is in surrounding relationship with the rotor, and wherein the housing attachment is in surrounding relationship with the housing part; and a centrifugal brake arranged between the housing part and the housing attachment.

Abstract: With this patent design, I am challenging one of the foundations of modern engineering and physics, specifically a clause in the Conservation of Linear Momentum, which basically states that no object can gain linear momentum unless it pushes off of another object. This clause stems from Newton's Third Law of Motion, and is self evident for a point mass. However, I believe it to be impossible to account for all the infinite possible variations of propulsion machines that happen to have some dimension and real world properties. I think the people that drafted it, simply treated the change of momentum as a summation of forces on a point mass, and avoided the complexities that come with dimension and real bodies. This patent design will be a counter example for the aforementioned clause. It will open up the world up to new possibilities.

Abstract: A vehicular drive system is provided with at least one electric motor and a bevel gear portion which are accommodated within a casing formed by a plurality of casing members fixed to each other, wherein: said casing includes a first casing member to which a stator of each of said at least one electric motor is fixed, and a second casing member which is fixed to said first casing member so as to cooperate with said first casing member to form a space accommodating said at least one electric motor and which has a support portion supporting said bevel gear portion; and a rotor of said each electric motor is rotatably supported at opposite ends thereof by said first casing member and said second casing member, respectively, while said bevel gear portion is rotatably supported by said second casing member through said support portion.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for correcting variations of parameters of components of active magnetic bearing and/or assembly of active magnetic bearing as a whole. At the latest before starting to operate the active magnetic bearing are detected mechanical and/or electrical and/or installation variations and/or other variations of parameters of at least one component of the active magnetic bearing and/or of the whole active magnetic bearing assembly, whereupon the detected variations and/or correction values based on the variations are recorded in memory (M), which is an integral part of the active magnetic bearing assembly, and subsequently these variations and/or correction values are used from the memory (M) for adjustment of system for detecting position of the rotating working means in the active magnetic bearing during operation of the active magnetic bearing.

Abstract: The earth's magnetic field has not been mined as a source of energy for electric vehicles. With average field strength of 0.5 Tesla around the world it is easy to understand why it has been overlooked. A disruptive technology is needed to mine the earth's magnetic field for powering electric vehicles. Such a technology, graphene, is now at an early stage of development with excellent properties in the form of high conductivity, low resistivity sheets that are durable, light weight, and low cost. Electrical properties of multiple sheets of graphene provide a significant multiplier to earth's weak magnetic field yielding a feasible source of ecologically clean power for electric vehicles. Graphene based EcoCharge systems can be mounted on a vehicles drive shaft and axles putting graphene in motion to mine the earth's magnetic field. Estimates show that EcoCharge can generate 15.1 kW at 60 mph while weighing only 10 oz.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a radial and axial flux motor using integrated windings, which includes a rotor which includes a rotor core having a shape of a hollow cylindrical case, and permanent magnets for an inner lateral surface and permanent magnets for a ceiling surface that are coupled to the inner lateral surface and the ceiling surface of the rotor core respectively, and which is rotated about a shaft, and a stator which includes a stator core and windings coupled to the stator core and which is installed in the rotor. Therefore, a radial flux motor and an axial flux motor are integrated into one motor to be able to increase both efficiency and output.

Abstract: A magnet-embedded rotor includes a cylindrical rotor core that rotates together with a rotating shaft; and permanent magnets embedded in the rotor core. The rotor core includes core members, and each core member includes a tubular portion into which the rotating shaft is inserted and projecting portions formed to project in a radial direction of the tubular portion from an outer periphery of the tubular portion and arranged apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the tubular portion. The rotor core is formed by assembling the core members such that the tubular portions are arranged on one straight line and the projecting portion of the core member and the projecting portion of the other core member are adjacent to each other in a circumferential direction of the rotor core. The permanent magnet is embedded in each projecting portion of each core member.

Abstract: A rotor comprises laminations with a plurality of rotor bar slots with an asymmetric arrangement about the rotor. The laminations also have magnet slots equiangularly spaced about the rotor. The magnet slots extend near to the rotor outer diameter and have permanent magnets disposed therein creating magnetic poles. The magnet slots may be formed longer than the permanent magnets disposed therein and define one or more magnet slot apertures. The permanent magnets define a number of poles and a pole pitch. The rotor bar slots are spaced from adjacent magnet slots by a distance that is at least 4% of the pole pitch. Conductive material is disposed in the rotor bar slots, and in some embodiments, may be disposed in the magnet slot apertures.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a rotor is configured by a rotor core and magnetic poles. Two or more types of permanent magnets are used such that each product of coercivity and thickness in the magnetization direction becomes different. A stator is located outside the rotor with air gap therebetween and configured by an armature core winding. At least one permanent magnet is magnetized by a magnetic field by a current of the armature winding to change a magnetic flux content thereof irreversibly. A short circuited coil is provided to surround a magnetic path portion of the other permanent magnet excluding the magnet changed irreversibly and a portion adjacent to the other permanent magnet where the magnetic flux leaks. A short-circuit current is generated in the short circuited coil by the magnetic flux generated by conducting a magnetization current to the winding. A magnetic field is generated by the short-circuit current.

Abstract: A coil includes: a coil main body in which one coil end in an axial direction is bent to an inner peripheral side of a stator core including a tooth having an protrusion preventing portion configured to prevent the coil from protruding to the inner peripheral side of the stator core; and a relief portion provided for a portion of the coil main body that is bent to the inner peripheral side of the stator core. The relief portion is configured to release the protrusion preventing portion of the tooth when the coil main body is inserted into a slot of the stator core in the axial direction from one coil end in the axial direction that is bent to the inner peripheral side of the stator core.

Abstract: A flux-regulated permanent magnet machine (PMM) includes a stationary portion and a rotating portion. The stationary portion includes a plurality of stator/armature windings. The rotating portion includes a plurality of permanent magnets and a control/field winding that is supplied with current to control the magnetic flux presented to the stator/armature windings.

Abstract: A stator of an electric machine of the power saving interval may include a stator core having a plurality of slots, and a stator winding wound around the slot, wherein the stator winding has a plurality of winding portions connected in parallel with one another for each phase, and each of the winding portions has a segment conductor inserted into three or more slots for each pole. As a result, it may be possible to increase the number of rotations and reduce the external size thereof while maintaining the same output.

Abstract: A wound member for manufacturing a coil is a wound member for manufacturing a coil for manufacturing a coil wound around a slot of a stator core. The wound member for manufacturing a coil includes: a first side to be an end side at one side of a coil end disposed at an inner peripheral side of the stator core; a second side disposed opposite to the first side, the second side being to be an end side at another side of a coil end disposed at an outer peripheral side of the stator core; and a third side and a fourth side that respectively couple the first side and the second side. The first side has a length shorter than a length of the second side.

Abstract: A wound member for manufacturing a coil for manufacturing a coil wound around a slot of a stator core, the wound member for manufacturing a coil includes: a first side and a second side disposed opposite one another so as to be end sides of coil ends; and a third side and a fourth side that respectively couple the first side and the second side, wherein at least one of the first side and the second side is wrapped such that a side end at an outer peripheral side is shifted to an outer peripheral side to form a side end at an outer peripheral side to be an approximately flat surface when the first side and the second side become end sides of the coil ends.

Abstract: A reluctance motor has: a stator provided with drive coils to which multiphase drive currents are inputted; and a rotor provided with a plurality of salient poles which receive primary rotating force when magnetic fluxes generated in the drive coils are interlinked with the rotor, and the rotor has: inductor pole coils which are placed on magnetic paths on which spatial harmonic components superimposed on the magnetic fluxes generated in the drive coils are interlinked with the rotor side so that induced currents can be generated in the inductor pole coils due to the spatial harmonic components of the magnetic fluxes; rectifier elements which rectify the induced currents generated in the inductor pole coils; and electromagnet coils as defined herein, and the inductor pole coils and the electromagnet coils do not serve for each other's purposes but are placed on the rotor individually.

Abstract: The invention comprises a squirrel cage rotor, in particular for use in an asynchronous machine, with a shaft, a laminated rotor core with cage bars and short-circuiting rings arranged within it, at least part of a short-circuiting ring consisting of a disk stack, which is built up in layers from disks with clearances, through which the ends of the cage bars extend out from the laminated rotor core, wherein the disks of a short-circuiting ring have, starting from the lateral surface as the outside face, over the outer circumference at least one bevel or step, which is directed radially inward, and wherein, by their respective bevels or steps, neighboring disks form in the disk stack a slot, in which there is a joining connection, at least in certain portions. The invention also concerns individual parts of a squirrel cage rotor and also a method for the production thereof.

Abstract: A commutator (10) comprising a plurality of commutator bars (12) formed from a graphite structure (30) and a metal sheet (20) having soldered to the graphite structure (30) includes a brazing process followed by a soldering process. The brazing process includes applying a brazing material the graphite structure (30) and brazing at an elevated temperature to form a brazing layer (40). The soldering process includes applying a solder material to the brazing layer (40), placing the metal sheet (20) on the solder material, and soldering to form a solder layer (50) affixing the metal sheet (20) to the graphite structure (30). A plurality of grooves (70) are cut in the graphite structure (30) and the metal sheet (20) to form the commutator bars (12) arranged in an intermittent ring or circle.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, there is disclosed an electrical component. The electrical component includes a substrate, a MEMS device on the substrate. The MEMS device includes a first electrode fixed on the substrate, a second electrode above the first electrode opposed to the first electrode and configured to be movable, an anchor member on the substrate and configured to support the second electrode, and a spring member continuously formed from a region on an upper surface of the second electrode to a region on an upper surface of the anchor member and configured to connect the second electrode and the anchor member. The electrical component includes a reinforcing member provided on a lower surface of the spring member and configured to reinforce strength of the spring member.

Abstract: A system for generating electrical energy includes a thermal source, an electric field source, a stress source, a piezoelectric component, and a cycle controller coupled to the thermal source, the electric field source, and the stress source. The cycle controller provides control signals to the thermal source, the electric field source, and the stress source to repeatedly cycle the piezoelectric component through the sequence: (a) application of: a first temperature, a first electric field, and a first stress; (b) application of: the first temperature, a second electric field greater than the first electric field, and the first stress; (c) application of: a second temperature, the second electric field, and a second stress greater than the first stress; and (d) application of: the second temperature, the first electric field, and the second stress.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides a piezoelectricity ceramic material. The piezoelectricity ceramic material includes main components that are represented by a general chemical formula of PbZraTib(Nb2/3Ni1/3)1-a-bpl O3+c%BaW0.5Cu0.5O3 d%SiO2 and satisfy the following condition: 0.1?a?0.4, 0.2?b?0.5, 0.1?c?3, and 0.05?d?1. The low-temperature sintering adopted by the present disclosure reduces energy consumption and reduces the volatilization of PbO, which avoids the fluctuation and deviation of the ceramic components, reduces the pollution to then environment caused by volatilization, and reduces the corrosion to the sintering machine as well. Furthermore, the present disclosure provides a piezoelectricity ceramic sinter and a method for processing the same, as well as a piezoelectricity ceramic device. In a multi-layer device, the device cost is greatly reduced.

Abstract: A SAW device includes an IDT which is provided on the principal surface of a quartz crystal substrate having Euler angles (?1.5°???1.5°, 117°???142°, |?|90°×n (where n=0, 1, 2, 3)) and excites a Rayleigh wave (wavelength: ?) in a stopband upper end mode. Inter-electrode-finger grooves are recessed between electrode fingers of the IDT. An IDT line occupancy ? and an inter-electrode-finger groove depth G satisfy a predetermined relationship in terms of the wavelength ?, such that the SAW device has a frequency-temperature characteristic of a cubic curve having an inflection point between a maximum value and a minimum value in an operation temperature range. The inflection point is adjustable to a desired temperature or a desired temperature range depending on the IDT line occupancy ? within an operation temperature range.

Abstract: There is provided a vibration generating apparatus including a vibration transferring member transferring vibrations to outside the vibration generating apparatus, an elastic member having one or more end portions fixed to the vibration transferring member, a mass body vibrating in response to vibrations of the elastic member, and a piezoelectric element installed on one surface of the elastic member so as to be disposed to face the mass body. A lower surface of the mass body has step parts in order to prevent contact between the mass body and the piezoelectric element. The lower surface of the mass body in which the step parts are formed and the piezoelectric element are disposed so as to be spaced apart from each other by a predetermined distance.

Abstract: A piezoelectric element drive circuit includes an H bridge circuit, an LPF-attached differential amplifier circuit, an amplifier circuit, and an inverter circuit. First and second drive signals output from the H bridge circuit and having opposite phases are applied to a piezoelectric element. A voltage between opposite ends of a resistor connected to a first output terminal of the H bridge circuit is input to the LPF-attached differential amplifier circuit. A differential signal output from the LPF-attached differential amplifier circuit has a lower slew rate because harmonic components are suppressed by the function of a low pass filter. Accordingly, respective slew rates of first and second control signals input to first and second input terminals of the H bridge circuit are also reduced. Hence the first and second control signals are each provided as a signal having a step-like waveform and including harmonic components that have been suppressed.

Abstract: A small linear ultrasonic motor includes: a vibration element generating ultrasonic vibrations by applying high frequency drive voltage; a slider against which vibration element is pressed and which is relatively moved by the ultrasonic vibrations; a vibration element supporting member retaining the vibration element and relatively moving with respect to the slider; a guide portion guiding a moving direction of the relative movement of the vibration element supporting member; and a pressurizing portion pressing the vibration element against the slider, wherein the guide portion is arranged sandwiching a position at which the vibration element is pressed against the slider, in a plane that includes the moving direction and intersects with a pressurizing direction of a pressurizing force exerted by the pressurizing portion, and at least each part of the pressurizing portion and the guide portion is disposed at a position equidistant from the plane in the pressurizing direction.

Abstract: This invention concerns a piezoelectric energy harvesting device or actuator comprising a piezoelectric material (12) on a substrate (14). The piezoelectric material is divided into a plurality of discrete regions to provide a plurality of piezoelectric elements (16) on the substrate which are electrically insulated from each other. The elements are preferably disposed along the length of a cantilevered beam. The piezoelectric layer may be divided or further divided with an insulating gap extending in the longitudinal direction of the beam for energy harvesting in torsional mode(s) of beam vibration as well as bending modes.

Abstract: A piezoelectric thin-film element includes a substrate, a lower electrode layer formed on the substrate, a piezoelectric thin-film layer that is formed on the lower electrode layer and includes potassium sodium niobate having a perovskite structure represented by the composition formula of (K1-xNax)NbO3 (0.4?x?0.7), and an upper electrode layer formed on the piezoelectric thin-film layer. The piezoelectric thin-film layer is formed such that a value of (Ec?+Ec+)/2 is not less than 10.8 kV/cm and a value of (Pr?+Pr+)/2 is not more than ?2.4 ?C/cm2 where Ec? and Ec+ are intersection points of a polarization-electric field hysteresis loop and the x-axis indicating an electric field and Pr? and Pr+ are intersection points of the polarization-electric field hysteresis loop and the y-axis indicating polarization.

Abstract: A piezoelectric thin-film multilayer body includes a substrate, an adhesive layer on the substrate, a lower electrode layer on the adhesive layer, and a lead-free piezoelectric thin-film layer on the lower electrode layer. The lead-free piezoelectric thin-film layer is composed of lithium potassium sodium niobate (composition formula (NaxKyLiz)NbO3, 0<x<1, 0<y<1, 0?z?1, x+y+z=1). The maximum height Rz of a roughness of an adhesive-layer-facing surface of the substrate is 2 nm or less. The adhesive layer is composed of a non-crystalline oxide of a Group 4 element or a non-crystalline oxide of a Group 5 element. The adhesive layer has a thickness of 1 nm or more and 2 nm or less and is equal to or more than the maximum height Rz of the roughness of the surface of the substrate.

Abstract: The invention relates to a ceramic material, comprising lead zirconate titanate, which additionally contains K and optionally Cu. The ceramic material can be used in an electroceramic component, for example a piezoelectric actuator. The invention also relates to methods for producing the ceramic material and the electronic component.

Abstract: In one embodiment, an electric motor includes at least three bearings. The ball bearing utilized in the three bearings may be sized based on benchmark surface areas associated with the ball bearing utilized in a conventional electric motor having two bearings. Moreover, a technique may be implemented to reduce the diameter at a point on the shaft where a backup or second bearing makes contact with the shaft. When the motor begins to operate, for example, at a first time, the at least three bearings together handle a the load coming through the motor. When the front-most bearing degrades to a predetermined point or fails, for example, at a second time, the load transitions from the front most bearing to the second or backup bearing in the front plate.