A circuit for providing temperature compensation to a sense signal having a first temperature coefficient includes a temperature compensation circuit receiving a temperature sense signal indicative of a temperature associated with the sense signal where the temperature compensation circuit is digitally configurable by at least one digital signal to generate a compensating impedance signal having a second temperature coefficient. The compensating impedance signal provides an impedance value in response to the temperature sense signal. The compensating impedance signal is applied to modify the sense signal to provide a modified sense signal having substantially zero temperature coefficient over a first frequency range. The circuit further includes an amplifier circuit receiving the modified sense signal and generating an output signal indicative of the sense signal where the output signal has substantially zero temperature coefficient over the first frequency range.

A speaker capable of active cooling includes a basin frame, and a vibration system and a magnetic circuit system accommodated in the basin frame. The vibration system includes a diaphragm and a voice coil fixed on the diaphragm through a top end of a winding portion thereof. The magnetic circuit system includes a T-iron, a magnet and a washer, wherein the washer and the magnet are located above the T-iron, a magnetic gap is formed between the washer and the magnet and the T-iron, and the voice coil moves up and down in the magnetic gap. The speaker further comprises an active cooling module fixed to a back of the T-iron, and the active cooling module cools the magnetic circuit system by means of heat conduction.

An electrically-powered device, structure and/or component is provided that includes an attached electrical power source in a form of a unique, environmentally-friendly energy harvesting element or component. The energy harvesting component provides a mechanism for generating autonomous renewable energy, or a renewable energy supplement, in the integrated circuit system, structure and/or component. The energy harvesting element includes a first conductor layer, a low work function layer, a dielectric layer, and a second conductor layer that are particularly configured in a manner to promote electron migration from the low work function layer, through the dielectric layer, to the facing surface of the second conductor layer in a manner that develops an electric potential between the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer. The energy harvesting component includes a plurality of energy harvesting elements electrically connected to one another to increase an electrical power output.

Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus that uses a brine from a well that is used to both generate electricity and recover valuable minerals present in the brine. The method and apparatus uses a hydrophobic membrane to separate water vapor from the brine to concentrate the brine that is then used to recover the minerals.

Better thermoelectric characteristics of a thermoelectric material containing nanoparticles are achieved. The thermoelectric material contains a plurality of nanoparticles distributed in a mixture of a first material having a band gap and a second material different from the first material. The first material contains Si and Ge. A concentration of atoms of the second material and a composition ratio of Si to Ge satisfy relational expressions in expressions (1) and (2) below with c representing a concentration of atoms (unit of atomic %) of the second material in the thermoelectric material and r representing the composition ratio of Si to Ge:
r0.62c0.25(1)
r0.05c0.06(2).

A unique, environmentally-friendly energy harvesting element is provided for generating autonomous renewable energy, or a renewable energy supplement, in electronic systems, electronic devices and electronic system components. The energy harvesting element includes a first conductor layer, a low work function layer, a dielectric layer, and a second conductor layer that are particularly configured in a manner to promote electron migration from the low work function layer, through the dielectric layer, to the facing surface of the second conductor layer in a manner that develops an electric potential between the first conductor layer and the second conductor layer. Electric leads are provided to connect the energy harvesting element to a load to power the load with the energy harvesting element. An energy harvesting component is also provided that includes a plurality of energy harvesting elements electrically connected to one another to increase a power output of the electric harvesting component.

Devices for generating electrical energy along with methods of fabrication and methods of use are disclosed. An example device can comprise one or more layers of a transition metal dichalcogenide material. An example device can comprise a mechano-electric generator. Another example device can comprise a thermoelectric generator.

Disclosed herein is a method and apparatus that uses a brine from a well that is used to both generate electricity and recover valuable minerals present in the brine. The method and apparatus uses a hydrophobic membrane to separate water vapor from the brine to concentrate the brine that is then used to recover the minerals.

Thermal management systems and corresponding use methods are described herein. A thermal management system includes components of a computing device. The computing device includes a housing. The housing includes an outer surface and an inner surface. The computing device also includes a heat generating component supported by the housing. The computing device includes a phase change device adjacent or physically connected to the heat generating component. The phase change device includes a first side and a second side. The first side is closer to the heat generating component than the second side. The second side is opposite the first side. The phase change device is compressible, such that when a force is applied to the outer surface of the housing, the inner surface of the housing flexes towards the second side of the phase change device and the phase change device is compressed.

A laminate includes, on a substrate, a first buffer layer substantially made of zirconium oxide or stabilized zirconia, a second buffer layer substantially made of yttrium oxide, a metal layer substantially made of at least one among platinum, iridium, palladium, rhodium, vanadium, chromium, iron, molybdenum, tungsten, aluminum, silver, gold, copper, and nickel, and a magnesium oxide layer substantially made of magnesium oxide, in this order.