Abstract: An optical assembly includes a lens unit capable of being moved along an optical axis of the optical assembly. The lens unit includes a lens mount for holding at least one lens. The optical assembly further includes a sleeve for receiving the lens mount. The lens mount is in sliding contact with and movable in relation to the sleeve as the lens unit is moved along the optical axis. The lens mount is formed of or comprises at its outer surface a self-lubricating material, and/or the sleeve is formed of or comprises at its inner surface a self-lubricating material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a vacuum capacitor (1, 30) comprising an enclosure (9) to contain a vacuum dielectric medium, a first electrode (12) and a second electrode (13) separated by said vacuum dielectric medium, the enclosure (9) comprising a first conductive collar (2) in electrical contact with the first electrode (12) and a second conductive collar (3) in electrical contact with the second electrode (13), the first conductive collar (2) and the second conductive collar (3) being separated by an insulating element (4) of the enclosure (9), wherein the enclosure (9) exhibits at least one protruding edge (6), said protruding edge (6) being in electrical contact with the closest of the first conductive collar (2) or the second conductive collar (3), wherein the vacuum capacitor (1, 30) comprises at least one protection means (7, 37) covering on the outside of the vacuum enclosure the protruding edge (6), wherein the protection means (7, 37) is made at least partially of an elastomer, wherein at least

Abstract: A high-voltage capacitor includes a gas-tight enclosure containing interleaved electrodes. The dielectric of the capacitor is a pressurized gas at a pressure of at least 6 bar, and preferably 10 or 15 bar. In order to withstand this level of internal pressure, the insulating body section of the capacitor may be formed of a high-strength polymeric material.

Abstract: A single motor system for automatically changing the height and tilt angle of handlebars on a vehicle. The inventive system includes a first shaft; a solenoid for translating the first shaft along a first axis from a first position to a second position; a first motor for rotating the shaft about the axis in the first and the second positions; an arrangement for rotating the payload about a second axis, in response of the rotational motion of the shaft, when the shaft is in the first position; and a gear set for converting the rotational motion of the shaft in the second position to translational motion of a payload coupled thereto along a third axis.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for liquid purification using regenerating heat exchange are disclosed. An apparatus, in one embodiment, includes a liquid receptacle, a heat exchanger, a heating mechanism, a compressor, and a condenser. While the liquid receptacle is able to receive a stream of liquid such as water, a heat exchanger pushes the liquid through the heat exchanger to increase temperature of the liquid. The heating mechanism is capable of facilitating phase transition of the liquid from liquid to vapor. The compressor is operable to guide the vapor and the condenser is configured to condense the vapor into liquid or purified liquid.

Abstract: An open-close type compact electronic device includes a first housing and a second housing connected so that they can move relative to each other. The first housing is provided with a first display on its front surface while the second housing is provided with a second display on its front surface. The first and second housings can move relative to each other between a closed state where a front surface of the first display is covered by the second housing while a front surface of the second display is exposed and an open state where the front surfaces of the first and second displays are arranged on generally the same plane to be exposed. The first and second housings include respective contact surfaces, which are pressed against each other in the open state, thereby maintaining a posture of the second housing relative to the first housing.

Abstract: A shape of longitudinal section of a side wall of an insulation tube is formed into an arch. With this shape, as compared with a mere cylindrical insulation member, it is possible to elongate a creepage distance without extending a length in an axial direction of the insulation tube (a spatial distance between both conductive members) and to improve the insulation withstanding voltage characteristic against the shunt current. In addition, a surface area on an arch surface becomes large, thereby facilitating heat absorption on an arch surface on an inner peripheral surface side of the side wall and facilitating heat radiation on an arch surface on an outer peripheral surface side of the side wall.

Abstract: A variable position sensor has a stationary portion and a moveable portion. A plurality of plates are positioned on one of the members with the surfaces of the plates forming segments of a larger surface. A single plate is mounted on the other of the two members. One pole of an electric potential is applied to a first of the plurality of plates on the one member and the second pole of the electric potential is applied to the single plate on the other member. Similarly a pole of an electric potential is separately applied to each of the other of the parallel plates and to the one plate. When the one plate is positioned adjacent one of the plurality of plates a capacitance is formed between the adjacent plates, and by detecting the capacitance the position of the one plate can be determined.

Abstract: First and second varactors are disposed on a surface of a P-type substrate. The first varactor includes an N well disposed in the surface of the P-type substrate, a gate insulator disposed on the N well, and an N-type polysilicon layer disposed on the gate insulator. The second varactor includes an N well disposed in the surface of the P-type substrate, a gate insulator disposed on the N well, and a P-type polysilicon layer disposed on the gate insulator. The N-type polysilicon layer and P-type polysilicon layer are connected to a gate terminal. The N wells are connected to an SD terminal via P+ diffusion layers. The N-type polysilicon layer and P-type polysilicon layer have different work functions.

Abstract: A system and method are provided for thermal dissipation from a heat producing electronic device. The system includes a substrate for fabricating integrated circuits, the substrate having a first face and a second face. The second face is disposed substantially parallel to the first face having an electronic device disposed therein. A metallized crack stop is disposed in the first face surrounding the electronic device. A plurality of first metal conduits extend through the substrate from the second face thereof to the crack stop, wherein each first metal conduit is in thermal contact with the crack stop to provide a thermal drain from the electronic device to the second face.

Abstract: In a solenoid valve, a boss portion is formed integrally with an attracting portion of a stator core at an outer peripheral side of the attracting portion. The boss portion has a tapered outer peripheral surface and a tapered inner peripheral surface. A plunger has a communication passage, which extends through the plunger generally along a central axis of the plunger.

Abstract: A capacitor having a bottom plate, a top plate and a support connected to the center portion of the top plate for positioning the top plate over the bottom plate and separated therefrom by a gap. The outer portion of the top plate moves relative to the bottom plate when a potential is applied between the plates. The outer portion may be connected to the center portion of the top plate by springs such that the movement of the top plate relative to the bottom plate is accommodated by bending at least one of the springs. The capacitor may also include an insulating layer between the top and bottom plates disposed so as to prevent the top plate from shorting to the bottom plate. A spacer for setting the minimum distance between the outer portion of the top plate and the bottom plate may also be included.

Abstract: An improved vacuum variable capacitor can include one or more characteristics that provide advantages over previous vacuum variable capacitors. In particular, the vacuum variable capacitor can be constructed so as to enable the capacitance to be adjusted more easily, reduce parasitic electrical characteristics that degrade the performance of the vacuum variable capacitor, increase the strength of the capacitor plates of the vacuum variable capacitor, reduce the size of the vacuum variable capacitor, and/or make the shape of the vacuum variable capacitor more easily integrated into a system of which the vacuum variable capacitor is part.

Abstract: A microcomponent including a capacitive component, wherein the capacitive component consists of at least two elementary capacitors (C1, C2, C3, C4) connected in series, each elementary capacitor comprising two plates, namely:

Abstract: An input device for a personal computer or the like has an elastic member, a slider horizontally movable on the elastic member, and a key top operatively connected to the elastic member through the slider. The elastic member 5 has a coupling portion provided with a flange which vertically movably fits in a fit hole formed in the slider. A horizontal movement of the key top causes the wall of the fit hole of the slider to press the flange, which in turn causes deformation of the flange and of the movable electrode, with the result that the size of the gap and, hence, capacitive value between the movable electrode and the fixed electrode are changed, whereby the direction of movement of the key top is detected with a high degree of accuracy.

Abstract: A windowed shutter on a micro-electro-mechanical system improves output current of a non-contacting electrostatic voltmeter. The output current is increased by increasing the area modulated by the micro-electro-mechanical shutter system and by increasing the speed of that modulation. The increase in the area modulated by the windowed shutter is in direct proportion to the number of windows used. Moreover, the speed of the modulation is increased by increasing the resonant frequency of the system. Less shutter mass increases the frequency thus increasing shutter movement over time.

Abstract: A variable external capacitor produces greater functionality for NMR probes by reducing the size of components and efficiently arranging the components. The variable external capacity has a cavity that allows adjustment tools to be extended through the variable external capacitor to adjust additional components that may be stacked above the variable external capacitor. The cavity may be used to house reactance such as a fixed capacitor or inductor connected in parallel with the variable external capacitor. The variable external capacitor includes a polytetrafluoroethylene housing configured to minimize its size and reduce lead lengths of the NMR circuit. A silver deposit plate on the polytetrafluoroethylene housing constitutes a stationary capacitor plate. A drum disposed inside the cavity and movably spaced from the stationary capacitor plate functions as a movable capacitor plate. An anti-rotation rail supports the drum to prevent rotation.

Abstract: A capacitive bend sensor includes a first element having a comb-patterned portion of conducting material, and a second element having a comb-patterned portion of conducting material. A dielectric material is disposed between the comb-patterned portion of the first element and the comb-patterned portion of the second element. The first element is bonded to the second element such that the comb-patterned portion of the first element slides relative to the comb-patterned portion of the second element when the first and second elements are bent. Bend angle is measured according to the alignment of the comb-patterned portion of the first element and the comb-patterned portion of the second element. The sensor may be coupled to a human finger to measure bend angle of the finger, or may be coupled to a joint of a human body to measure bend angle of the joint.

Abstract: Resonator systems with controlled quality factors including a resonator having a plurality of ports and a first quality factor greater than the system quality factor, and an amplifier providing negative feedback among the ports to render the system quality factor independent of the resonator quality factor.

Abstract: A rotation sensing device for detecting a fine displacement of a handle and control system for use in an electrical power steering device in vehicles and a motor driving device in industrial machines. The rotation sensing device has a fixing member with a support plate and a plurality of polarity plates fixed to one side of the support plate at a predetermined interval, and a dielectric member with a plurality of dielectric plates fixed to one side of a handle shaft of the handle at a predetermined interval and movingly inserted into the interval between each of the polarity plates. Therefore, the capacitance of the dielectric member can be variable based on a mechanical displacement of the handle.

Abstract: Mechanically movable microstructure fabricated from a single crystal such as silicon and actuator structures for providing a high degree of controlled, precision motion of nanometer-scale variable impedances.

Abstract: A position detecting device comprises a movable member, a first electrode movable with the movement of the movable member, and a second electrode disposed at a location opposed to the first electrode. The edge of at least one of the first and second electrodes are inclined with respect to the direction of movement of the first electrode, whereby the area over which the first electrode and the second electrode overlap each other is varied by the relative movement of the two electrodes and an electrostatic capacity provided by the two electrodes is also varied to make the detection of the absolute position of the movable member possible and to change a position detection accuracy in accordance with a position of the first electrode.

Abstract: A microstrip IMPATT circuit tuning mechanism for use with RF producing IMPATT diode combinations including a microstrip circuit board and a external load line connected by a coupling spring attached to the load line and separated from the microstrip circuit by a dielectric layer, the coupling spring being manipulated by a dielectric screw inserted through the housing containing the microstrip board and further having a metallic frequency controlling screw extending through the housing and terminating before the microstrip board.

Abstract: A variable electronic component for use in a subminiature electronic circuit and adapted to provide a desired range of impedance characteristics. The variable electronic component may take the form of a variable trimmer capacitor, a variable resistor, and the like constructed to include an eccentric whose rotational motion imparts reciprocal movement to an impedance varying member. The eccentric is operative by engagement with an implement such as a screwdriver and the like.

Abstract: Apparatus for an adjustable low-loss capacitor, which can withstand the application of high shock forces without a corresponding change in a preselected value of capacitance, is described. This capacitor has two sets of hollow cylindrical electrodes which are coaxially interleaved, with, more particularly, one set attached to a rotor unit and the other to a stator unit, all contained within a housing. The capacitance is varied by longitudinal, i.e., axial, movement of the rotor unit with respect to the stator unit. The rotor unit is threadedly inserted into a bushing. In addition, the rotor unit includes a frictional locking mechanism which comprises a threaded member which is inserted into a hole cut into the rotor unit and oriented substantially parallel to the center axis of the rotor. As this threaded member is turned, one portion of the rotor unit moves, with respect to another portion, in a longitudinal direction substantially parallel to a center axis of the rotor unit.

Abstract: A variable air trimmer capacitor has its annular interfitting electrodes movable axially with respect to each other by the helical threads of the rotor moving through the coils of a spring. Adjacent ones of the coils of the spring are axially offset from each other. The spring is confined in the barrel of a bushing which is of smaller diameter than the spring when in its relaxed state, and the coils of the spring are urged toward axial alignment when moved onto the threads of the rotor, thus assuring positive electrical contact between the rotor, spring and bushing.

Abstract: A rotor for an adjustable low loss capacitor having a hollow cylindrical stator with an internally threaded bushing at one end, an axially adjoining insulative cylindrical body, a conductive end member and concentric radially spaced conductive tubes inside said insulative cylindrical body, comprises a rotatable cylindrical screw body having externally threaded portions for engaging internal threading of the bushing. The threaded portions are axially separated by an unthreaded intermediate portion of reduced diameter formed with three slots whose inner edges define an equilateral triangle axially of the screw body. The slots define three resilient springy webs each extending 120.degree. circumferentially of the screw body. Corners of each web are disposed in registration with the other two webs axially of the screw body. The intermediate portion is deformed slightly to misalign the two threaded portions of the screw body.

Abstract: A variable electric capacitor has two electrode units consisting of a plurality of plates or a single spirally wound plate with several turns. The plates or turns have opposite lateral edges, one of which is free and the other is fixed to a support. The plates or turns of the two electrode units are interleaved and to change their mesh, one electrode unit is movable relative to the other. Each electrode unit has locating elements for the free lateral edge of plate or turn of the other electrode unit. These locating elements adjoin the supports of the electrode unit concerned and are formed to hold the free lateral edge of each plate or turn of the other electrode unit in a predetermined position when both electrode units are in their maximum mesh position.

Abstract: A low loss capacitor having hollow cylindrical electrodes which are coaxially interleaved. The capacitance is varied by rotation of the rotor electrodes which are mounted on a screw member for axial displacement with respect to the stator electrodes when the screw member is turned. The scew member has a frictional locking means.