Abstract: Techniques and systems are disclosed for locomoting fuel-free nanomotors in a fluid. In one aspect of the disclosed technology, a system for locomoting fuel-free nanomotors can include an electrically-driven nanowire diode formed of two or more segments of different electrically conducting materials, a fluid container, and a mechanism that produces an electric field to drive the nanowire diode to locomote in the fluid. In another aspect, a system for locomoting fuel-free nanomotors can include a magnetically-propelled multi-segment nanowire motor formed of a magnetic segment and a flexible joint segment, a fluid container, and a mechanism that generates and controls a magnetic field to drive the multi-segment nanowire motor to locomote in the fluid. The disclosed fuel-free nanomotors can obviate fuel requirements and can be implemented for practical in vitro and in vivo biomedical applications.

Abstract: An apparatus for converting mechanical vibrational energy into electrical power includes first and second collecting electrodes configured for connection to terminals of an electrical load, and an electret placed facing the first electrode. The electret is mounted so as to move relative to the first electrode in one degree-of-freedom in a plane. Relative movement between the electret and the first electrode induces a potential difference across the electrodes. The electret has a continuous layer and a series of protrusions, each of which extends perpendicular to the plane. These protrusions are distributed in the degree-of-freedom with a first pitch, which is smaller than the travel between the first electrode and the electret. The first electrode has faces facing the electret. These faces are distributed in the degree-of-freedom with a second pitch identical to the first pitch.

Abstract: High transfer sound pressure and high reception sensitivity are realized, and reliability is improved in terms of long term operation, in a capacitive detector-type ultrasonic transducer (CMUT).

Abstract: A system for and method of providing overload protection for an active material actuator and composing assembly, including a magnetically functioning mechanism comprising one or more permanent magnet, electromagnet, and/or magnetorheological fluid reservoir cooperatively configured to produce a tunable holding force.

Abstract: An apparatus for generating electricity includes a flexural member configured to flex upon being subject to a vibration. A plurality of weight displacement systems is disposed at the flexural member, each weight displacement system in the plurality being configured to displace a moveable weight upon receipt of a signal. A processor is configured to provide a signal to each weight displacement system in order to achieve a desired resonant frequency of the flexural member. And, an electricity generating device is coupled to the flexural member and configured to generate the electricity upon flexing of the flexural member.

Abstract: An electrostatic force generator is disclosed. The electrostatic force generator includes an RF AC voltage source, a capacitive module, a resonant capacitive-inductive bridge (CIB) module, a lock-in amplifier module, and a proportional-integral-derivative (PID) controller. The resonant capacitive-inductive bridge module converts the differential capacitance to a differential signal. The differential signal from the resonant capacitive-inductive bridge module is demodulated at the RF excitation frequency by the lock-in amplifier module. The PID controller receives the output signal from the lock-in amplifier module and generates two audio frequency AC signals to generate a compensation electrostatic force and maintain the capacitance balance inside the capacitive module.

Abstract: A vibration driven power generation element according to the present invention includes: a three dimensionally shaped movable comb tooth electrode comprising a plurality of comb teeth of which interiors are filled with an insulating material, and having an SiO2 layer into which alkali ions are injected provided upon its outer surface; and a fixed type comb tooth electrode provided with a plurality of comb teeth made from Si the interiors of which are doped so as to have low electrical resistance, being arranged with the three dimensionally shaped movable comb tooth electrode opposed thereto and interleaved thereinto.

Abstract: A MEMS structure and a method for operation a MEMS structure are disclosed. In accordance with an embodiment of the present invention, a MEMS structure comprises a substrate, a backplate, and a membrane comprising a first region and a second region, wherein the first region is configured to sense a signal and the second region is configured to adjust a threshold frequency from a first value to a second value, and wherein the backplate and the membrane are mechanically connected to the substrate.

Abstract: A vibration power generator including a first substrate; first electrodes disposed over one surface of the first substrate; a second substrate spaced from the first substrate and opposed to the one surface of the first substrate; and second electrodes disposed over one surface of the second substrate so as to be opposed to the first electrodes, wherein one of the first and second electrodes includes a film holding a charge; one of the first and second substrates is a vibratory substrate; and an overlapped area between the first and second electrodes becomes minimum and then maximum, or becomes maximum and minimum, and an electrostatic capacity Cp formed between the first and second electrodes when the overlapped area becomes maximum changes, and the change of Cp comprises an increase of Cp, while the vibratory substrate is displaced from the vibration center to the vibration end.

Abstract: One or more superconductive cells are connected in series to provide voltage arising from the Hall effect when cooled to superconductor temperatures and immersed in a magnetic field. The magnetic field causes the Hall-effect voltage to develop across the London penetration depth, normal to the surface of each superconductive cell. Conductors connect the back side of one cell with the front side of the adjacent cell. Each superconductive cell is at least the thickness of one London penetration depth.

Abstract: The electrical energy generating system of the present invention comprises a piece of alignment Buckypaper, an energy generator, a thin deposition and two contacts. The alignment Buckypaper is a thin sheet made from an aggregate of carbon nanotubes. The thin deposition is formed on at least one surface of the alignment Buckypaper by electrolysis to form a semimetal material. A contact is connected with the upper surface of the alignment Buckypaper and the other contact is connected with the lower surface of the alignment Buckypaper. In use, the energy generated by the generator is inputted to the alignment Buckypaper. The energy then ionizes the molecules contained in the alignment Buckypaper. The positive charges move to the upper contact and the negative charges move to the lower contact. Such electrical energy may then be fed to a load connected with the two contacts to do work on the load.

Abstract: The invention provides a transducer comprising conductors and a laminate. The laminate comprises a film of a dielectric polymer material arranged between first and second electrodes. Each electrode is in electrically conductive communication with at least one of the conductors to facilitate an electrical potential between the electrodes and thereby enable deflection of the polymer material in response to an electrical field. At least one of the conductors is an elastically deformable conductor comprising a compliant core which is electrically conductive. The core is enclosed in a containment having elastomeric properties.

Abstract: The disclosure generally relates to method and apparatus for forming three-dimensional MEMS. More specifically, the disclosure relates to a method of controlling out-of-plane buckling in microstructural devices so as to create micro-structures with out-of-plane dimensions which are 1×, 5×, 10×, 100× or 500× the film's thickness or above the surface of the wafer. An exemplary device formed according to the disclosed principles, includes a three dimensional accelerometer having microbridges extending both above and below the wafer surface.

Abstract: A thin film forming apparatus which automatically forms, on an electrode layer formed on a substrate, a functional thin film which is crystallized from a precursor layer is disclosed, including a water-repellant film forming unit which forms, on a region other than a region on which is to be formed the functional thin film on the electrode layer, a water-repellant film which includes a self-assembled monolayer; an inkjet coating unit which coats, on the region on which is to be formed the functional thin film on the electrode layer, the precursor layer by an inkjet method; and a controller which controls, to within a predetermined time, a time from forming the water-repellant film with the water-repellant film forming unit to coating the precursor layer with the inkjet coating unit.

Abstract: There is provided a polymer actuator including a first electrode layer as an active member layer made of a conductive polymer, a second electrode layer opposing to the first electrode layer, and an electrolyte placed between the first electrode layer and the second electrode layer, so that the polymer actuator is driven by a voltage applied between both the electrode layers, wherein the electrolyte is constituted by a first electrolyte layer having a sliding function and a second electrolyte layer having an insulation maintaining function.

Abstract: A first energy generating system comprises a ferromagnetic generator coupled to a voltage controlled switch. The ferromagnetic generator includes a ferromagnetic element generating a magnetic field and positioned within a pulse generating coil and near an explosive charge. Detonation of the explosive charge decreases the magnetic field and induces a pulse of electric energy in the pulse generating coil. When the magnitude of the electric energy reaches a certain level, the voltage controlled switch closes. A second energy generating system comprises a flux compression generator coupled to a voltage controlled switch. The flux compression generator includes a inductance coil generating a magnetic field within a metallic armature that includes an explosive charge. Detonation of the explosive charge changes the magnetic field and induces a pulse of electric energy in the inductance coil. When the magnitude of the electric energy reaches a certain level, the voltage controlled switch closes.

Abstract: An actuator comprises an electroactive polymer layer (402) and a stretchable electrode structure (403) disposed at a first side of the electroactive polymer layer and further a counter electrode layer (401) disposed on a second side of the electroactive polymer layer, wherein the ratio Yc/YEAP of the elastic modulus YC of the counter electrode layer and the elastic modulus YEAP of the electroactive polymer layer is at least 10. When compressed transversally by the electrodes, the electroactive polymer will expand tangentially and the actuator will relax into a shape wherein the interior of the electroded region is substantially recessed parallel to the plane of the device, while a substantial portion of the area increase is absorbed by out-of-plane bends arising at the electrode boundary (duck mode). The invention can be embodied as optically reflective or refractive devices with variable geometry.

Abstract: Paste which is prepared by any solid concentration and is excellent in terms of handleability, applicability, and storage stability; an electrolyte film or electrode film which is an even and highly flexible coating film formed in a desired thickness from the paste through a few repetitions of an application/drying step; and a polymer transducer which can be industrially and economically produced and shows excellent performance. The paste comprises: a solid polyelectrolyte (A) consisting of a block copolymer containing; a polymer block (a-1) which is represented by chemical formula (1) and a polymer block (a-2) which has substantially no ionic group and is rubbery at room temperature; an organic solvent (B) having a boiling point at 150° C. or higher; and non-dissociable particles (C) which are insoluble in the organic solvent (B) and have a major-axis length of 1-100 ?m and an aspect ratio of 5 or less.

Abstract: A contour mode disk resonator includes a substrate, a disk-shaped vibration plate, a pair of input electrodes, a pair of output electrodes, a supporting joist with one end, and an absorbing portion. The pair of input electrodes is disposed to face one another via the vibration plate in a planar view. The pair of output electrodes is disposed to face one another via the vibration plate in a direction intersecting with a direction where the pair of input electrodes faces one another in the planar view. The one end is integrally secured to a portion corresponding to a vibration node that occurs by a contour vibration in an outer periphery of the vibration plate. The supporting joist includes an absorbing portion configured to absorb strain energy generated by the contour vibration in the supporting joist.

Abstract: A magnetostrictive actuator comprises an assembly of at least two GMM rods (8, 9) spaced apart from each other on the same longitudinal axis, each rod being surrounded by a respective energising electromagnetic coil (10,11) 5 and being mounted between respective biasing permanent magnets (12, 13, 14), the assembly being mounted between mechanical pre-stressing means (20, 21) and a foot (3) adapted to couple the forces produced by the actuator into a surface.

Abstract: The invention presents a method for producing microstructured apparatuses for microelectromechanical systems (MEMS). In order to increase the maximum aspect ratio conditioned by physical or chemical microstructuring methods, it is proposed to design flat elements of the apparatus, which are structured such that they are movable relative to one another, to be laterally changeable from a first reference position relative to one another (structuring position) to a second reference position (operating position) in a permanent or irreversible manner. As a result, higher trench capacitances can be formed between structured wall sections. The reference position can be changed by means of integrated drives or by supplying energy from the outside and said change is effected in a direction which is substantially different from the measuring direction.

Abstract: A tunable tilting device is described. The device includes a tilting element and a suspension structure that has one or more flexures coupled to the tilting element. The suspension structure has a variable bending stiffness and configured to bend due to a tilting motion of the tilting element around a pivot axis. The suspension structure is responsive to a tuning force actuating a variation of an extension stress or a compression stress of the suspension structure, and thereby can vary the bending stiffness of the suspension structure.

Abstract: Systems are described for obtaining energy from water movements in shallow waters. Some systems use panels (4) that are pivotally mounted (13) near the sea floor in shallow water and that extend up to the sea surface, or that are pivotally mounted above the sea surface and extend down into the sea. Electricity is obtained by stretching and relaxing capacitor devices that each has a sheet (188) of elastomeric material and has electrodes (184, 186) at the sheet opposite faces. In one system, a pair of capacitor devices (180, 182) lie in a cylinder (152) that holds a piston head (160). Upper and lower ends (190, 194, 197, 199) of the devices are mounted so when one capacitor device is stretched (1806) the other is relaxed (182B).

Abstract: Devices having piezoelectric material structures integrated with substrates are described. Fabrication techniques for forming such devices are also described. The fabrication may include bonding a piezoelectric material wafer to a substrate of a differing material. A structure, such as a resonator, may then be formed from the piezoelectric material wafer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an actuator which can obtain a large displacement in a moving part, and suppresses the deterioration due to a counteracting force of the moving part in a stationary part. The actuator has a pair of electrode layers which contain a conductive material and a polymer, and an ionic conduction layer which is sandwiched between the pair of the electrode layers, wherein the content of the conductive material contained in the electrode layer is larger in the stationary part of the actuator than in the moving part of the actuator. The content of the conductive material contained in the electrode layer increases toward the stationary part of the actuator from the moving part.

Abstract: An electrostatic induction power generator includes a first base body and a second base body, which are configured to be able to reciprocate relative to each other and between which an annular clearance is formed. The electrostatic induction power generator further includes an electret provided on the first base body, and a first electrode and a second electrode provided on the second base body. The electret is formed by coating a charged dielectric material on a surface of a linear conducting wire and both of the first electrode and the second electrode are formed of a linear conducting wire.

Abstract: A variation in a resonance frequency due to variation in dimension accuracy of the supporting structure of the vibrating unit is reduced, and energy loss leaked from the supporting structure is reduced as much as possible. The electrostatic drive disk-type MEMS vibrator includes: a disk type vibrating unit; drive electrodes disposed at a prescribed gap g from the peripheral portion of the disk type vibrating unit and disposed at both sides of the vibrating unit so as to face each other; a unit for applying alternating current bias voltages of the same phase to the drive electrodes; and detection units that obtain outputs corresponding to the capacitance between the disk type vibrating unit and the drive electrodes. The disk type vibrating unit is supported by a pillar-shaped supporting structure disposed upright at the center of the disk and a transverse cross-sectional shape of the supporting structure is non-circular.

Abstract: A Micro-Electro-Mechanical System (MEMS) device and its manufacturing method are provided. Said device comprises a MEMS component and said component comprises a main body (10) and a movable electrode (20). Said main body (10) contains a fixed electrode (110) and a cavity (30) and is covered by a first dielectric layer (400) which seals said cavity (30) into an enclosure. Said movable electrode (20) is connected with said main body (10) flexibly by a fixing piece and overhangs in said enclosure. Vias (405) are formed in said first dielectric layer (400) and filled with a second dielectric layer (500). The patent enables effective packaging for a MEMS device.

Abstract: An actuator includes a pair of electrodes facing each other, an intermediate layer containing an ionic liquid and arranged between the pair of electrodes, the electrodes and the intermediate layer being deformed when a potential difference larger than a potential window of the ionic liquid is applied between the electrodes, and insulating layers that suppress direct contact between ions of the ionic liquid and the electrodes, the insulating layers being arranged between the intermediate layer and the electrodes.

Abstract: There is provided a vibration device and a haptic feedback device including the same. The vibration device includes: a first plate member; a vibration member attached to the first plate member to vibrate the first plate member; and a second plate member connected to the first plate member, wherein the first plate member includes a fixing unit used to fix a position of the vibration member or limit the position of the vibration member to be within a predetermined range.

Abstract: A varying capacitance rotating electrical machine provides capacitor elements, such as capacitor plates, that move with respect to each other as separated by a thin film of fluid, for example air, on which one capacitor element floats. In one embodiment, multiple plates provide for three-phase operation. Narrow gaps provided by the floating capacitor elements increase the power density of rotating electrical machine.

Abstract: A driving circuit for a gyroscope device provided with a micromechanical detection structure having a driving mass, which is driven in resonance condition and elastically coupled to which is a sensing mass for enabling detection of angular velocity; the driving circuit has: a set of driving electrodes, coupled to the driving mass; a driving stage supplying driving signals to the set of driving electrodes to cause oscillation in resonance condition of the driving mass; and a reading stage, which detects movement of the driving mass to implement a feedback control of the driving signals. In particular, the reading stage is selectively coupleable to the set of driving electrodes in a way temporally alternative to the driving stage, for discrete-time detection of the movement of the driving mass.

Abstract: According to one embodiment, a semiconductor device includes an electrostatic actuator including first and second lower electrodes, an upper electrode, and an insulating film provided between the upper electrode and the first and second lower electrodes, the first lower electrode and upper electrode configuring a first variable capacitance element, the second lower electrode and upper electrode configuring a second variable capacitance element, a first fixed capacitance element connected to the first lower electrode, a second fixed capacitance element connected to the second lower electrode, and a detection circuit connected to the upper electrode and configured to detect a charge amount stored in the insulating film.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for an electromechanical systems device. In one aspect, an electromechanical systems device may include a substrate and a movable layer positioned apart from the substrate. The movable layer and the substrate may define a cavity. The movable layer may be movable to increase the size of the cavity or to decrease the size of the cavity. The movable layer also may include a first anchor point attaching the movable layer to the substrate and a first feature associated with the first anchor point. The first feature may include a protrusion of the movable layer into or out from the cavity.

Abstract: A power generator comprises a first substrate 102, a second substrate 103 opposed to the first substrate, first electrodes 104L and 104R and a first electrode 106 which are formed on the first substrate, second electrodes 105L and 105R and a second electrode 107 which are formed on the second substrate, wherein electric charge of the same polarity is held by the first electrode and the second electrode, and the first substrate vibrates such that an angle formed between a segment connecting a centroid of the first electrode 104L (104R) and a centroid of the second electrode 105L (105R), and a half line extending from the centroid of the second electrode 105L (105R) toward the first electrode 104L (104R) in a stationary state in parallel to the main surface of the second substrate does not exceed 55 degrees while the first substrate 102 is stationary and vibrates.

Abstract: An actuator includes a first bending portion having a first electrode layer, a first electrolyte layer on a first surface of the first electrode layer, and a second electrode layer in contact with the first electrolyte layer; and a second bending portion having the first electrode layer, a second electrolyte layer on a second surface of the first electrode layer, the second surface facing the first surface, and a third electrode layer in contact with the second electrolyte layer, in which the first surface of the first electrode layer includes a region where the first electrolyte layer is not arranged, the second surface of the first electrode layer includes a region where the second electrolyte layer is not arranged, the first bending portion is adjacent to the second bending portion, and the bending direction of the first bending portion is opposite to the bending direction of the second bending portion.

Abstract: Capacitive micromachined ultrasonic transducers (CMUTs) having a pre-charged floating electrode are provided. Such CMUTs can operate without an applied DC electrical bias. Charge can be provided to the floating electrode after or during fabrication in various ways, such as injection by an applied voltage, and injection by ion implantation.

Abstract: Apparatus (10) for use as a motor or generator, comprising: a capacitor assembly (20) comprising: a first conductor part (36) defining a first conductor region (38) and a second conductor part (37) defining a second conductor region (39), the first and second conductor parts (36, 37) being spaced apart to define opposed sides of a passageway (40) extending between the first and second conductor regions (38, 39); and an inner part (50) moveable relative to at least one of the conductor parts along the passageway (40) extending between the first and second conductor regions (38, 39).

Abstract: To suggest an electromechanical transducer device with a high S/N ratio, an electromechanical transducer device includes a first substrate; electromechanical transducer elements two-dimensionally arrayed on a front surface of the first substrate and configured to provide conversion between acoustic waves and electric signals; an electric wiring substrate that is a second substrate electrically connected with a back surface of the first substrate; a first acoustic matching layer provided between the first substrate and the second substrate; an acoustic attenuating member arranged on a back surface of the second substrate; and a second acoustic matching layer provided between the second substrate and the acoustic attenuating member.

Abstract: An actuator apparatus is provided that includes at least one actuator device, each actuator device including an array of moving elements, each individual moving element is operative to be constrained to travel alternately back and forth along a respective axis responsive to an individual first electrostatic force operative thereupon, wherein each moving element has an at-rest position and is driven away from its at rest position solely by the first electrostatic force; and at least one electrode operative to apply a controlled temporal sequence of potential differences with at least one individual moving element from among the array of moving elements thereby to selectably generate the first electrostatic force; and a controller operative to receive the digital input signal and to control at least one of the at least one electrode and the individual moving element to apply the sequence of potential differences.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a device is provided that includes: a plurality of actuators arranged into a plurality of rows and a plurality of columns; a plurality of row conductors corresponding to the plurality of rows; a plurality of column conductors corresponding to the plurality of columns; and a controller configured to select at least one of the actuators in a row by raising a voltage on the corresponding row conductor to couple each selected actuator to its corresponding column conductor.

Abstract: A multiple degree of freedom actuator can have at least one first MEMS actuator configured to move a platform in translation and at least one second MEMS actuator configured to move the platform in a different direction, e.g., tangentially. The first MEMS actuator(s) can facilitate autofocus and/or zoom, for example. The second MEMS actuator(s) can facilitate optical image stabilization (OIS), for example.

Abstract: Disclosed is a highly reliable inductive vibration power generator wherein mechanical damping caused by the phenomenon of electrostatic pulling-in (stiction) and the like is suppressed even if the potential of an electret is increased and/or the gap between an electrode and the electret is reduced in order to increase the amount of power generation. The two surfaces of a movable substrate are respectively provided with first electrets and second electrets. By means of providing first electrodes and second electrodes to a lower substrate and an upper substrate and facing the respective electrets with a predetermined gap therebetween, electrostatic force is caused to arise on both sides of the movable substrate, and the pulling of the movable substrate in only one direction is prevented.

Abstract: A cascaded electrostatic actuator can be formed from a substantially planar substrate. The cascaded electrostatic actuator can be formed in a plane of the substrate. Various embodiments are described.

Abstract: An expansion and contraction actuator has a first long actuator portion and a second long actuator portion that face each other and connection members that connect the long sides of each of the first long actuator portion and the second long actuator portion to each other, in which a part of the first long actuator portion and a part of the second long actuator portion are apart from each other to thereby form a hollow structure, the first long actuator portion and the second long actuator portion each have a pair of long electrodes and a long electrolyte layer having an electrolyte, long internal electrodes thereof are the same cathode or anode electrodes, long external electrodes thereof are counter electrodes thereto, and the actuator expands and contracts in the direction of the screw axis by voltage application.

Abstract: Low temperature wafer bonding (temperature of 450° C. or less) is employed to fabricate CMUTs on a wafer that already includes active electrical devices. The resulting structures are CMUT arrays integrated with active electronics by a low-temperature wafer bonding process. The use of a low-temperature process preserves the electronics during CMUT fabrication. With this approach, it is not necessary to make compromises in the CMUT or electronics designs, as is typical of the sacrificial release fabrication approach. Various disadvantages of sacrificial release, such as low process control, poor design flexibility, low reproducibility, and reduced performance are avoided with the present approach. With this approach, a CMUT array can be provided with per-cell electrodes connected to the substrate integrated circuitry. This enables complete flexibility in electronically assigning the CMUT cells to CMUT array elements.

Abstract: An electromechanical transducer with less characteristic variation and a method of manufacturing the electromechanical transducer is provided. The electromechanical transducer has a plurality of cells constituted of a first electrode, a vibration film provided with a second electrode provided so as to face the first electrode through a gap, and a supporting portion supporting the vibration film. A structure configured to reduce an uneven flatness between the vibration film and the supporting portion is provided at an outer peripheral portion of a gap while a portion of the supporting portion is interposed between the structure and the gap.

Abstract: Provided are an actuator that is small, superior in terms of high-speed response, and capable of large displacement, and a manufacturing method that can easily manufacture the actuator. The actuator is configured by a laminated body including multiple electrodes, multiple cation-exchange resin films, and multiple anion-exchange resin films. The cation-exchange resin films and the anion-exchange resin films are stacked alternately, and each of the cation-exchange resin films and the anion-exchange resin films is sandwiched between two of the electrodes. A voltage is applied such that the electrodes between adjacent ones of the cation-exchange resin films and anion-exchange resin films have the same polarity.

Abstract: This disclosure provides systems, methods and apparatus for controlling a mechanical layer. In one aspect, an electromechanical systems device includes a substrate and a mechanical layer positioned over the substrate to define a gap. The mechanical layer is movable in the gap between an actuated position and a relaxed position, and includes a mirror layer, a cap layer, and a dielectric layer disposed between the mirror layer and the cap layer. The mechanical layer is configured to have a curvature in a direction away from the substrate when the mechanical layer is in the relaxed position. In some implementations, the mechanical layer can be formed to have a positive stress gradient directed toward the substrate that can direct the curvature of the mechanical layer upward when the sacrificial layer is removed.

Abstract: Provided is a power generation device having a dielectric body and an electret, where power is generated by varying the distance between the dielectric body and the electret. A first electrode is connected to the electret on a side not facing the dielectric body. The first electrode is connected to a grounding terminal via a load. A second electrode may be connected to the dielectric body on a side not facing the electret. The second electrode may be directly connected to the grounding terminal.