Abstract:
A forming tool with one or more embossing tooth, and preferably, a plurality of such embossing teeth, arranged on a substantially planar substrate, is disclosed. Each embossing tooth is configured for forming a sacrificial layer to provide a contoured surface for forming a microelectronic spring structure. Each embossing tooth has a protruding area corresponding to a base of a microelectronic spring, and a sloped portion corresponding to a beam contour of a microelectronic spring. Numerous methods for making a forming tool are also disclosed. The methods include a material removal method, a molding method, a repetitive-stamping method, tang-bending methods, and segment-assembly methods.
Abstract:
An in-canal hearing device includes a receiver, battery, and microphone assembly with a housing. The housing has an air and sound opening which is covered with a structure to inhibit the entry of cerumen and moisture. The structure may be in the form of an end cap having passages with walls which are both hydrophobic and oleophobic to prevent the entry of water, cerumen and other liquids. The structure may also include a flexible tube or a rigid perforated shell surrounding the passages that inhibit the deposition of solid cerumen and other debris onto the passages.
Abstract:
In one example, the present invention is directed to a wound-healing patch including a flexible substrate, at least one wound electrode, at least one guard electrode and at least one return electrode. The guard electrode is positioned between the wound and return electrodes in the electrical path of current traveling between the return and wound electrodes on the surface of the skin, sinking the surface current and force the wound current to travel deeper into the tissue. In the invention, the wound electrode(s) is positioned on a portion of the flexible substrate designed to be placed over wounded tissue and the return electrode is positioned on a portion of the substrate substantially surrounding the wound and guard electrodes and is designed to be placed over healthy tissue.
Abstract:
A method and system for determining properties of a fluid involves interacting the fluid with a standing wave in a first state to establish the standing wave in a second state, analyzing an electric signal associated with the standing wave to determine a characteristic associated with the second state, and determining the property of the fluid by comparing the characteristic with a function that associates a plurality of properties with a corresponding plurality of characteristics. The characteristic can include a maximum phase slope, a phase slope associated with a resonant frequency, a maximum magnitude associated with the resonant frequency, the value of the resonant frequency, or any combination thereof.
Abstract:
A method and system for determining properties of a fluid involves interacting the fluid with a standing wave in a first state to establish the standing wave in a second state, analyzing an electric signal associated with the standing wave to determine a characteristic associated with the second state, and determining the property of the fluid by comparing the characteristic with a function that associates a plurality of properties with a corresponding plurality of characteristics. The characteristic can include a maximum phase slope, a phase slope associated with a resonant frequency, a maximum magnitude associated with the resonant frequency, the value of the resonant frequency, or any combination thereof.
Abstract:
An in-canal hearing device includes a receiver, battery, and microphone assembly with a housing. The housing has an air and sound opening which is covered with a structure to inhibit the entry of cerumen and moisture. The structure may be in the form of an end cap having passages with walls which are both hydrophobic and oleophobic to prevent the entry of water, cerumen and other liquids. The structure may also include a flexible tube or a rigid perforated shell surrounding the passages that inhibit the deposition of solid cerumen and other debris onto the passages.
Abstract:
In one example, the present invention is directed to a wound-healing patch including a flexible substrate, at least one wound electrode, at least one guard electrode and at least one return electrode. The guard electrode is positioned between the wound and return electrodes in the electrical path of current traveling between the return and wound electrodes on the surface of the skin, sinking the surface current and force the wound current to travel deeper into the tissue. In the invention, the wound electrode(s) is positioned on a portion of the flexible substrate designed to be placed over wounded tissue and the return electrode is positioned on a portion of the substrate substantially surrounding the wound and guard electrodes and is designed to be placed over healthy tissue.
Abstract:
The present invention is directed to small, low profile, antenna-transmitter systems that attach to exterior of the body and focus electromagnetic (EM) wave energy onto one or more precise regions inside the body. The antenna-transmitter system may also deliver energy to the surface of the body without focusing. The present invention is further directed to a method of focusing energy, such as electromagnetic radiation, onto a single nerve to effect selective neurostimulation, super- or sub-threshold, using a small, low profile, antenna-transmitter system that attaches to the body exterior and focuses electromagnetic wave energy onto the nerve.
Abstract:
An electronic component is disclosed, having a plurality of microelectronic spring contacts mounted to a planar face of the component. Each of the microelectronic spring contacts has a contoured beam, which may be formed of an integral layer of resilient material deposited over a contoured sacrificial substrate, and comprises a base mounted to the planar face of the component, a beam connected to the base at a first end of the beam, and a tip positioned at a free end of the beam opposite to the base. The beam has an unsupported span between its free end and its base. The microelectronic spring contacts are advantageously formed by depositing a resilient material over a molded, sacrificial substrate. The spring contacts may be provided with various innovative contoured shapes. In various embodiments of the invention, the electronic component comprises a semiconductor die, a semiconductor wafer, a LGA socket, an interposer, or a test head assembly.