An electrostatic rotating electrical machine employs axially extending electrically conductive electrodes on a rotor interacting with a corresponding set of axially extending electrodes on a stator, where the electrodes are supported at an outer surface of a dielectric sleeve which continues beneath the electrodes to provide a robust support and to minimize electrode weight.

A MEMS shutter including: a semiconductor substrate traversed by an aperture; a first semiconductor layer and a second semiconductor layer, which form a supporting structure fixed to the substrate; a plurality of deformable structures, each of which is formed by a corresponding portion of at least one between the first and second semiconductor layers; a plurality of actuators; a plurality of shielding structures, each of which is formed by a corresponding portion of at least one between the first and second semiconductor layers, the shielding structures being arranged angularly around the underlying aperture so as to provide shielding of the aperture, each shielding structure being further coupled to the supporting structure via a deformable structure. Each actuator may be controlled so as to translate a corresponding shielding structure between a first position and a second position, thus varying shielding of the aperture; the first and second positions of the shielding structures are such that, in at least one operating condition, pairs of adjacent shielding structures at least partially overlap one another.

A Static Electrostatic Generator (SEG) is disclosed which produces static charges at high voltage and low current. The SEG is capable of generating positive or negative charges on a metal sphere by reversing the polarity of a DC source. The conversion efficiency of the system is about 47% and its design is simple, lightweight, and easy to manufacture. The SEG is a static device and no mechanical movement is required to produce charges. Also, the design is easily scalable.

A Static Electrostatic Generator (SEG) is disclosed which produces static charges at high voltage and low current. The SEG is capable of generating positive or negative charges on a metal sphere by reversing the polarity of a DC source. The conversion efficiency of the system is about 47% and its design is simple, lightweight, and easy to manufacture. The SEG is a static device and no mechanical movement is required to produce charges. Also, the design is easily scalable.

An actuator for moving a platform having electrical connections is provided. The actuator includes an outer frame connected to an inner frame by one or more spring elements that are electrically conductive. The actuator further includes one or more comb drive actuators that apply a controlled force between the outer frame and the inner frame. Each of the comb drive actuators includes one or more comb drives. Moreover, a method for moving a platform having electrical connections is also provided. The method includes connecting an outer frame to an inner frame using one or more spring elements that are electrically conductive. The method further includes generating a controlled force using one or more comb drive actuators. Each of the comb drive actuators includes one or more comb drives. In addition, the method includes applying the controlled force between the outer frame and the inner frame.

A dielectric fluid includes a first liquid having first dielectric constant and conductivity values. The dielectric fluid also includes a second liquid having second dielectric constant and conductivity values. The first dielectric constant value is greater than the second dielectric constant value and the second electrical conductivity value is less than the first electrical conductivity value. The first and second liquids form an immiscible mixture that has third dielectric constant and conductivity values between the first and second dielectric constant values and the first and second electrical conductivity values, respectively. The first liquid forms a high conductivity phase representative of the first conductivity value, and the second liquid forms a low conductivity phase representative of the second conductivity value. The low conductivity phase is continuous the high conductivity phase is a plurality of droplets non-homogeneously dispersed within, and separated by, the continuous low conductivity phase.

The present invention discloses a folding vibration microgenerator and a method of manufacturing the same. The microgenerator comprises a foldable sandwiched substrate, wherein the foldable substrate comprising two flexible insulating substrates and an induction electrode located between the two flexible insulating substrates, in which the induction electrode is constructed by two complementary comb-shaped electrodes. The foldable substrate has upper and lower surfaces, on which the first friction structure units and the second friction structure units are respectively periodically distributed, and the first friction structure units corresponds to the odd-numbered comb teeth of the induction electrode and the second friction structure units corresponds to the even-numbered comb teeth of the induction electrode. The foldable substrate is folding at gaps between two adjacent comb teeth of the induction electrode as a serrate shape, thereby forming a folding vibration microgenerator. The microgenerator is easy to be produced and largely increases output power per unit area. Due to inflexibility of the folding structure itself, the energy conversion efficiency of the microgenerator is effectively increased while output power being maintained.

Embodiments of the present invention provide an MEMS actuator with a substrate, at least one post attached to the substrate and a deflectable actuator body that is connected to the at least one post via at least one spring, wherein, during electrostatic, electromagnetic or magnetic force application, the actuator body takes a second position starting from a first position by a tilt-free translational movement, wherein the first position and the second position are different, and wherein in a top view of the MEMS actuator the actuator body is arranged outside an area spanned by the at least one post.

Systems and apparatuses are provided for increasing the possible force and/or travel generated in MEMS devices. For example, comb fingers may be utilized to form a strain actuator to generate larger forces. As another example, the force advantage of a parallel plate actuator is leveraged while also leveraging the travel advantage of comb drives to increase force and/or travel capable of being generated. The systems and apparatuses disclosed may utilize one or more comb drives operationally attached to one or more flexures and/or frames.

Power generated by a vibration power generator using an electret is efficiently supplied to a power supply load. A vibration power generator includes a first substrate and a second substrate configured to be moved relative to each other by external vibration while remaining opposite each other, a group of a plurality of electrets arranged in the relative movement direction on one surface side of the first substrate, and a group of a plurality of electrodes arranged in the relative movement direction on a surface side of the second substrate opposite to the group of electrets, the group of electrodes including first current collecting electrodes and second current collecting electrodes electrically connected to respective power supply loads to which power generated by the external vibration is supplied, and ground electrodes each provided between the first current collecting electrode and the second current collecting electrode and grounded.