A chip of thermoelectric conversion material may have a concave portion and may be capable of realizing high joining properties to an electrode. Such a chip of thermoelectric conversion material may have a concave on at least one surface of the chip of thermoelectric conversion material. The shape of such chips of may be rectangular parallelepiped, cubic, and/or columnar shape.

Various implementations of the invention correspond to an improved vortex flux generator. In some implementations of the invention, the improved vortex flux generator includes a magnetic circuit configured to produce a magnetic field; a quench controller configured to provide a variable current; a vortex material configured to form and subsequently dissipate a vortex in response to the variable current, wherein upon formation of the vortex, a magnetic field density surrounding the vortex is urged to decrease, and wherein upon subsequent dissipation of the vortex, the urging to decrease ceases and the magnetic field density increases prior to a reformation of the vortex, and wherein the decrease of the magnetic field density and the increase of the magnetic field density correspond to a modulation of the magnetic field; an inductor disposed in a vicinity of the vortex such that the modulation of the magnetic field induces an electrical current in the inductor; and a dissipation superconductor electrically disposed in parallel with the vortex material and configured to carry, without quenching, an entirety of the variable current during dissipation of the vortex in the vortex material.

Methods and system for processing shopping activity for a retail store are provided. One example method includes associating a plurality of sensor devices to monitor a shelf of the retail store. The shelf having one or more physical items and each of the physical items is capable of being associated with a state change in response to user interaction. The method includes detecting user interaction by a user in the retail store with a physical item of the one or more physical items. The user interaction causes the state change in a sensor device associated with the shelf, and responsive to the state change transmitting a message related to the state change over a network to an end node. The end node is configured to receive the message causing processing of an action based on the message. The one or more physical items are offered for sale in the store and data regarding the user interaction of the physical item is associated to a user account of the user. The user interaction is one of the physical item being touched, being lifted from the shelf, being moved from the shelf, or being released from the shelf of the retail store.

A linear displacement device includes at least one artificial muscle actuator, an arm attached to the at least one artificial muscle, a body that is restricted to move along a line, and a stationary channel that restricts the motion of the body to linear motion. The at least one artificial muscle actuator causes the body to move along the line. The body is further restricted to move along a surface of the arm and the at least one artificial muscle actuator is a rotational muscle actuator. Additionally, the arm rotates in concert with the at least one artificial muscle actuator.

A downhole electrical power generation device is provided that includes at least one magnetic element, an electrically conductive element, and a member configured to be positioned within downhole fluid and to vibrate when the downhole fluid flows across a surface of the member. One of the magnetic element and the electrically conductive element is positioned on the member, and the other is configured to be positioned such that the electrically conductive element is located in a magnetic field produced by the at least one magnetic element to generate electrical power on vibration of the member. A method of generating electrical power downhole is further provided.

A generation, enhancement, and absorption system for the acquisition of energy from a predetermined chosen environment. The generation, enhancement, absorption system absorbs energy through a process whereby magnetic/electrical fields interact and interlace to create, develop, and support a platform magnetic/electrical energy field that assists and supports in the acquisition of energy from an environment to the generation, enhancement, and absorption system. Coils are used to create magnetic/electrical fields. Ions are placed with the particles in the space surrounding within and without the generation, enhancement, and absorption system. The method of interacting and interlacing of fields creates a platform magnetic/electrical field that moves in a particular direction. The platform magnetic/electrical field starts to access an environmental energy field. The platform magnetic/electrical energy field acquires energy from the environment and transfers to the Magnetic Field Generation with Particle Enhancement with Charge-based Absorption system.

A linear displacement device includes at least one artificial muscle actuator, an arm attached to the at least one artificial muscle, a body that is restricted to move along a line, and a stationary channel that restricts the motion of the body to linear motion. The at least one artificial muscle actuator causes the body to move along the line. The body is further restricted to move along a surface of the arm and the at least one artificial muscle actuator is a rotational muscle actuator. Additionally, the arm rotates in concert with the at least one artificial muscle actuator.

A passive electric generator system that does not require solar energy or fossil fuels to operate. The system comprises of a copper housing, a first rubber plug that is attached to a first open end of the copper housing, at least one metal wire that has a length that has a length that is at least two inches greater than the copper housing, at least one perforated plastic wire cover that covers the at least one metal wire, an ionic liquid is housed within the copper housing, a second rubber plug that attaches to a second open end of the copper housing so that the at least one metal wire and the at least one plastic wire cover are in the copper housing and the at least one metal wire pierces through the second rubber plug so that an end of the at least one metal wire rests outwardly from a top side of the second rubber plug, and at least one electrical conductive wire that is fixedly attached to an outer surface of the copper housing. The at least one metal wire and the at least one electric conductive wire number the same in the electric generator.

A system, device and method are provided for continuously generating more than 0.01 watt of electrical energy by harnessing mechanical or kinetic energy from a reciprocating motion of a user's torso during breathing. The reciprocating motion causes reciprocating lateral and medial translation of two chambers of the device housing. That reciprocating lateral and medial translation rotates a gear, which in turn, drives a dynamo to produce electrical energy. Since the conversion from the mechanical energy of the spinning rod to power is direct, the energy-conversion efficiency may be up to 90% or higher. The device may further comprise one or more charging means for providing electrical energy to one or more peripheral electronic devices. In some embodiments, additional integrated functions may include auxiliary energy storage, backup energy, emergency power, mini-MP3 player, data recorder, GPS interface, miniature video recorder, speaker, abdomen muscle exercise, timing, Bluetooth interface, and heath information analyzer.

A thermoelectric conversion element includes: a thermoelectric member that is columnar; an insulator formed around the thermoelectric member; and a metal layer formed continuously on an edge surface of the thermoelectric member and an edge surface of the insulator. An edge portion of the thermoelectric member and an edge portion of the insulator define a gap covered with the metal layer. The inner portion of the gap covered with the metal layer is a void.