Abstract:
The present invention relates to a fuel cell having an anode; a cathode opposing the anode; a first electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode; a second electrolyte membrane disposed between the anode and the cathode; and an A/C junction electrode disposed between the first electrolyte membrane and the second electrolyte membrane, the A/C junction electrode comprising a first gas diffusion layer; a second gas diffusion layer; a current collector disposed between the first gas diffusion layer and the second gas diffusion layer; a first catalyst layer disposed between the first electrolyte membrane and the first gas diffusion layer; and a second catalyst layer disposed between the second electrolyte membrane and the second gas diffusion layer.
Abstract:
An integrated heterostructure material is achieved by combining the attributes of two perovskite oxide film growth methods, RF sputtering and the metallo-organic solution deposition (MOSD) technique, in combination with employing a novel integrated material design consisting of a SrTO3 thin film layer which serves as a template to achieve a property enhanced, BST-based thin film overgrowth. In specific the integrated materials design consists of a thin RF sputtered SrTiO3 film (lower layer) which underlies a substantially thicker MOSD over-growth Mg doped BST-based film (upper layer). The inventive material design and combinational film growth fabrication method thereof enables beneficial critical material/device characteristics which include enhanced dielectric permittivity in concert with low loss; low leakage current density; high voltage breakdown strength; high tunability; controlled and optimized film microstructure; and a smooth surface morphology with minimal surface defects. The invention enables miniature highly (voltage) tunable frequency agile devices and/or charge mediated voltage controlled magnetic devices for RF/microwave communications, RADAR, and electronic warfare applications.
Abstract:
High-density thermodynamically stable nanostructured copper-based metallic systems, and methods of making, are presented herein. A ternary high-density thermodynamically stable nanostructured copper-based metallic system includes: a solvent of copper (Cu) metal; that comprises 50 to 95 atomic percent (at. %) of the metallic system; a first solute metal dispersed in the solvent that comprises 0.01 to 50 at. % of the metallic system; and a second solute metal dispersed in the solvent that comprises 0.01 to 50 at. % of the metallic system. The internal grain size of the solvent is suppressed to no more than 250 nm at 98% of the melting point temperature of the solvent and the solute metals remain uniformly dispersed in the solvent at that temperature. Processes for forming these metallic systems include: subjecting powder metals to a high-energy milling process, and consolidating the resultant powder metal subjected to the milling to form a bulk material.
Abstract:
A ferroelectric mechanical memory structure comprising a substrate, a MEMS switch element movable between a first position and at least one second position, the MEMS switch element comprising first and second electrodes, a layer of ferroelectric material positioned between the first and second electrodes so that upon application of voltage between the first and second electrodes the MEMS switch element moves between the first position and the second position, and a switch contact which contacts the first electrode only when the MEMS switch element is in the first position, wherein the ferroelectric material is selected so that the remanent strain within the layer of ferroelectric material is controlled by the history of the voltage potential applied to the ferroelectric material by the first and second electrodes, and wherein the remanent strain is sufficient to retain the MEMS switch element in the first or second position upon removal of the voltage.
Abstract:
A system for trapping particles in a gas comprising a chamber; an intake for intake of a gas containing at least one particle to be trapped and released, and an outlet for exit of the gas out of the chamber containing at least one particle; a first passage operatively connected to the intake operating to create a flow of a gas containing at least one particle into the chamber, a second passage operatively connected to the outlet for flow of the gas; a third passage operatively connected to a gaseous flow for creating a flow of fluid in a direction substantially opposite to the transfer of gas from the first passage so as to counteract the flow of gas from the first passage; an image sensor for recording an image; and a laser for generating a light beam for forming a photophoretic trap between the first and third passages.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus for predicting vehicle speed during an indirect vision driving task. A further method and apparatus for optimizing the display of a camera return during an indirect vision driving task based on operator perceived vehicle speed as set by the display characteristics and the field-of-view of the camera. A further method and apparatus for using the perceived speed as a driving task aid, in particular, as an electronic aider for optimizing the driving scene display characteristics of scene compression and camera field-of view. In this manner, the invention adjusts the perceived speed in order to match the operator's cognitive flow to the control dynamics needed from the operator for the task. The invention has application to autonomous driving where manual intervention is incorporated during critical events for particular tasks; and with limited display space within the vehicle, the display format is adjusted by the invention according to the operator's task needs.
Abstract:
A method and apparatus is provided for determining aggregated value of risk and resilience metrics of critical nodes in a network of computer nodes, comprising determining a status of each node in a plurality of nodes, computing one or more effectiveness attributes for each node in the plurality of nodes, ranking the plurality of nodes based upon at least the one or more effectiveness attributes of each node, determining one or more nodes as critical nodes based on the ranking and computing a criticality surface of the one or more critical nodes as the aggregated value of risk and resilience metrics, wherein the criticality surface is an aggregation of the one or more effectiveness attribute for each of the one or more critical nodes.
Abstract:
Embodiments of present inventions relate to low-profile, tapered cavity broadband antennas. One important aspect of the invention (although not the only) is the incorporation of a tapered lateral sidewalls in the antenna cavity. More particularly, according to various embodiments, a low-profile, tapered cavity antenna may comprise: an aperture defining an opening to a cavity; and an interior space defined by the cavity which is formed of a flat bottom wall defining a ground plane, and a pair of spaced-apart, tapered lateral sidewalls extending away from the flat bottom wall in opposite directions toward the aperture. The tapered shape of the tapered lateral sidewalls are specifically configured to maintain a constant resonance frequency within the cavity. In some embodiments, an isotropic high index medium material is at least partially loaded within the tapered cavity. Also, antenna may include a single or two-input port.
Abstract:
A transparent armor construction having a laminate structure with at least two layers. The layers are constructed of two different materials selected from the group of glass, ceramic, resin, polymeric material, and plastic and in which the at least two layers include different coefficients of thermal expansion. The layers are bonded together and a planar frame having an open central section and an outer border is then bonded to the laminate structure. The material for the planar frame is selected so that it has a coefficient of thermal expansion less than the coefficient of thermal expansion of the laminate layer to which it is bonded.
Abstract:
Rate-dependent, elastically-deformable devices according to various embodiments can be stretched and recovered at low elongation rates. Yet they become stiff and resistive to stretching at high elongation rates. In one embodiment, a rate-dependent, elastically-deformable device includes an elastically-deformable confinement member; one or more filaments placed inside the elastically-deformable confinement member; and a fluid that substantially fills the remaining volume inside the elastically-deformable confinement member. The resistance force to extension of the device is designed to increase as the extension rate of the device increases. At low elongation rates the filaments can readily slide past each other. At high elongation rates, the fluid transforms to a less flowable material that greatly increases the force and energy required for elongation; or transforms to a non-flowable material that resists elongation. The devices thus can be stretched and recovered at low elongation rates, but become extremely stiff and resistive to stretching at high elongation rates.