Did You Know...
...that Kleenex tissue was originally designed to be a gas mask filter? It was developed at the beginning of World War I to replace cotton, which was then in short supply as a surgical dressing.
PatentStorm News
Make the Most of Our Site
See this month's Top Inventors and Most Cited Patents.
Stay on top of the latest innovations by subscribing to an RSS feed.
Registered users: Manage your profile.
| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 7940040 | Foil-leaf electrometer for static field detection with triggered indicator An apparatus for detecting a static field includes two surfaces of conductive material that are: (i) electrically coupled to each other, and (ii) adjacent to each other. The two surfaces repel each other in the presence of a static field. A rupturable indicator brid... | 05/10/2011 |
| 7777478 | Touch and auditory sensors based on nanotube arrays A sensor including at least one sensor probe including a pair of electrodes; a vertically aligned nanotube disposed between the pair of electrodes; optionally a piezoelectric polymer on the nanotube; and optionally, a field source for generating a field, the field s... | 08/17/2010 |
| 7372278 | Electric potential measuring apparatus electrostatic capacitance measuring apparatus, electric potential measuring method, electrostatic capacitance measuring method, and image forming apparatus An electric potential measuring apparatus includes a detecting electrode, a modulator for changing an electrostatic capacitance between a measurement object and the detecting electrode by mechanical vibration, a charge detector for detecting the amount of charges el... | 05/13/2008 |
| 7321232 | Charge amount measurement method, shift value measurement method of charged beam, charge amount measuring device and shift value measuring device of charged beam A charge amount measurement method comprises: interposing a measurement subject between a first substance and a second substance having a through hole; measuring a first collision position where a charged beam passed through the through hole and vicinity of the meas... | 01/22/2008 |
| 7256063 | Nanoelectromechanical transistors and switch systems Nanoelectromechanical switch systems (NEMSS) that are structured around the mechanical manipulation of nanotubes are provided. Such NEMSS can realize the functionality of, for example, automatic switches, adjustable diodes, amplifiers, inverters, variable resistors,... | 08/14/2007 |
| 7242882 | Electric potential measuring device using oscillating device, image forming apparatus, and electric potential measuring method To provide an electric potential measuring device which is useful in realizing size reduction, high sensitivity, and high reliability. The electric potential measuring device includes: an oscillating device which includes torsion springs, and an oscillating body axi... | 07/10/2007 |
| 7199498 | Electrical assemblies using molecular-scale electrically conductive and mechanically flexible beams and methods for application of same Electromechanical systems utilizing suspended conducting nanometer-scale beams are provided and may be used in applications, such as, motors, generators, pumps, fans, compressors, propulsion systems, transmitters, receivers, heat engines, heat pumps, magnetic field ... | 04/03/2007 |
| 7196450 | Electromechanical assemblies using molecular-scale electrically conductive and mechanically flexible beams and methods for application of same Electromechanical systems utilizing suspended conducting nanometer-scale beams are provided and may be used in applications, such as, motors, generators, pumps, fans, compressors, propulsion systems, transmitters, receivers, heat engines, heat pumps, magnetic field ... | 03/27/2007 |
| 7161486 | Electrostatic sensors A sensor 10 comprises an array of electrostatic sensor elements 12, each centred at a respective sensing position 14. Each element produces a respective output signal at 16. The outputs 16 can be used to drive respective pixels of ... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7112533 | Plasma etching system and method A system and a process for plasma etching a semiconductor device. The technique comprises periodically applying a heightened voltage bias during the plasma etching process so as to reduce accumulated charge on the surface of the semiconductor device during plasma et... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7113321 | Optical deflection apparatus and manufacturing method thereof, optical deflection array, imaging apparatus, and image projection display apparatus A miniaturized and highly integrated optical deflection apparatus is realized in which the number of electrodes for driving the optical deflection apparatus is reduced. The optical deflection apparatus implements a sheet member that is electrically floating and plur... | 09/26/2006 |
| 7074191 | Method and device for non-intrusive measurement of blood pressure in a circuit of a dialysis machine A method for the non-intrusive measurement of blood pressure in a circuit of a dialysis machine, using a device provided with a sleeve forming a portion of the blood circuit and having at least one part which moves according to the pressure difference between the in... | 07/11/2006 |
| 6998832 | High-voltage indicating apparatus and method A digital voltage indicator includes a probe having a first electrode including a hollow portion and a probe tip projecting from the hollow portion, a second electrode extending into the hollow portion and spaced therefrom, and dielectric material disposed between t... | 02/14/2006 |
| 6989664 | RF power sensor for measuring an RF signal power using capacitance An RF power sensor for measuring power for an RF signal using capacitance includes a substrate preferably formed of a semiconductor, such as silicon or of a dielectric substance, a fixture part fixed to the substrate and forming a signal line and ground lines that t... | 01/24/2006 |
| 6972686 | Radiated field detector A testing device is operative to sense or monitor a radiated field emitted by an igniter for heating equipment such as an oil burner and to indicate the detection corresponding to a normal operating state of the igniter. ... | 12/06/2005 |
| 6941813 | Noninvasive pressure sensing assembly An optical noninvasive pressure sensing assembly capable of accurately indicating relatively minute pressure changes. The present invention generally includes a light source, such as a Light Emitting Diode (LED) or normal room illumination, positioned to reflected l... | 09/13/2005 |
| 6939726 | Via array monitor and method of monitoring induced electrical charging An electrical monitor comprising a via array and method for determining and reducing an electrically charged state of a semiconductor process wafer the method including providing a metal filled via array including a plurality of interspersed electrically isolated du... | 09/06/2005 |
| 6853201 | Method for testing a capacitive actuator A capacitive actuating element is driven using a control signal of duration T1. This duration T1 is related to prescribed or measured values for charging, discharging and open periods T2, T3 and T4: (T1+T3−T2−T4)≦|X| and is compared with a magnitude (li... | 02/08/2005 |
| 6690178 | On-board microelectromechanical system (MEMS) sensing device for power semiconductors An on-board micro-electromechanical (MEMS) isolator is provided on board a power semiconductor device for measuring voltage, current, or both. In particular, the power semiconductor may comprise a plurality of transistors connected in parallel, such that ... | 02/10/2004 |
| 6661232 | Electric potential sensor and electronic apparatus using the same An electric potential sensor comprises a tuning fork having two legs; a detecting electrode provided on one leg of the tuning fork so as to face a surface of which an electric potential is to be detected; a driving piezoelectric member provided on at leas... | 12/09/2003 |
| 6628114 | High linearity, low offset interface for hall effect devices A Hall effect sensor or device may be used in a variety of embodiments, such as measuring current within an associated conductor by helping to measure flux density within a gap of a ferromagnetic power meter core, such as in a power meter. A high linearit... | 09/30/2003 |
| 6361645 | Method and device for compensating wafer bias in a plasma processing chamber Disclosed is a method and device for compensating a bias voltage on a wafer disposed over an electrostatic chuck in a processing chamber of a plasma processing system. The plasma processing system includes an electrostatic and RF power supplies that are c... | 03/26/2002 |
| 6316942 | Electrical potential sensor An electric potential sensor includes a piezoelectric tuning fork provided with a vibrating body of tuning fork type, a driving piezoelectric element provided on a first arm of said vibrating body, and a feedback piezoelectric element provided on a second... | 11/13/2001 |
| 6300756 | Micro-mechanical probes for charge sensing A method and apparatus for measuring a charge on a surface, such as on a semiconductor wafer, arising during plasma processing is provided. Such a charge may be measured on an insulating film applied to such a wafer. By the present invention, the charge o... | 10/09/2001 |
| 6246224 | Apparatus for detecting presence of piezoelectric material An apparatus (2) comprising one substantially transparent electrode (12), a second shielded electrode (10) where the document (26) is to be placed between the first and second electrodes (12, 10), an optical device (18) capable of generating a rapid optic... | 06/12/2001 |
| 6104180 | Transformers of voltage meters based on mechanical waves Transformers of electric voltage meters based on mechanical waves. The invention is based on the generation of elastic waves in transformers which are composed of a transmitter, a receiver, a dielectric body and a mechanical connection, whereby the transm... | 08/15/2000 |
| 5886532 | Nanometer distance regulation using electromechanical power dissipation A convenient, non-optical method for scanning probe microscopy tip-to-sample distance control based on the impedance change in a shear-force dither piezo. This is accomplished by determining the tip-sample distance by measuring the impedance change in a s... | 03/23/1999 |
| 5886528 | Electrostatic voltage metering apparatus A handheld fieldmeter is implemented with an automatic function to drive the voltage on an output node of signal processing circuitry to circuit ground while a sensing electrode is disposed in a static-free environment. In response to a binary signal indi... | 03/23/1999 |
| 5747993 | Movement actuator/sensor systems A movement actuator includes an elongate filament made of a flexible material, and a strip of shape memory alloy disposed on the surface of one side of the filament. The shape memory alloy is responsive to actuation signals, heat or electrical signals, fo... | 05/05/1998 |
| 5539319 | Surface potential electrometer An electrometer having small width size and stable characteristics includes a chopper portion for chopping electric line of force emitted from an object to be measured. The chopper portion is constituted with a tuning fork type bending vibrator including ... | 07/23/1996 |
| 5517123 | High sensitivity integrated micromechanical electrostatic potential sensor The invention is a method and apparatus for electrostatic potential sensing by using electromechanical microstructures. The mechanical microstructure may be fabricated by either surface micromachining or bulk-micromachining. The sensor comprises a movable... | 05/14/1996 |
| 5488301 | Electrostatic voltmeter employing a differential cascode An electrostatic voltmeter suitable for use in a non-contacting, positive or negative potential sensing, type electrostatic voltmeter. The invention enables a flexible, low cost electrostatic voltmeter to be produced using high-voltage field-effect transi... | 01/30/1996 |
| 5428296 | Probe assembly for measuring resistivity of a soil, and method thereof A probe assembly for measuring resistivity of a soil is connected to a measuring apparatus capable of generating a constant DC current signal into two electric leads. The probe assembly includes a short circuit connector; double-pole double-throw switch h... | 06/27/1995 |
| 5365163 | Sensor array for circuit tracer A circuit tracer for determinating the location of a conductor, such as a wire, which is either an open or closed circuit, and which may lie underground. The tracer includes a transmitter which is connected to the conductor, a hand-held probe, and a recei... | 11/15/1994 |
| 5300889 | Ground-free electrostatic measurement device with electrical charge storing capacitor A ground-free device for measurement of electrostatic potentials on objects. The device is based on the fundamental concept that the static charge on most objects can be estimated by means of a discharge terminal equipped with a capacitor.... | 04/05/1994 |
| 5296816 | Integrated circuit sensor and detector and spectrometers incorporating the sensor A sensor for electrical charge fabricated as an integrated circuit and including an electrode (1) for receiving charge, a potential-sensitive switching device (2) for generating a pulse whenever the charge received on the electrode (1) is sufficiently gre... | 03/22/1994 |
| 5191293 | Park and ride method for determining photoreceptor potentials An electrostatic voltmeter adjacent to the surface of a photoreceptor belt or drum between, for example, the electrostatographic imaging station and developing station. A surface of the photoreceptor is charged at a charging station and the charged area i... | 03/02/1993 |
| 5185675 | Electro optic modulator systems for fiber optic information transmission A system for transducing a signal voltage into an optical signal, transmitting the optical signal via an optical fiber to a remote location in the form of light attenuation frequency and interpreting the light frequency at the remote location to the ampli... | 02/09/1993 |
| 4973910 | Surface potential analyzer The invention is an instrument for determining the work functions (unbiased) or absolute surface potentials (biased) of conducting sample surfaces. These values are inferred from measured surface potential differences between the sample and the instrument... | 11/27/1990 |
| 4931740 | Electrostatic field gradient sensor A sensor for measuring disturbances to an electrostatic field caused by the intrusion of a charged body or a charge producing body. The sensor employs at least two probes displaced from each other which have attached beads of radioactive material to provi... | 06/05/1990 |
