A micromachined tunable capacitor. A pair of first and second MEMS fabricated flexures are flexibly coupled to a piezo actuator drive element configured wherein a stress or strain induced by the piezo actuator drive element urges a first movable capacitor plate element a predetermined distance toward or away from a second capacitor plate element proportional to a predetermined voltage signal.

A micromachined tunable capacitor. A pair of first and second MEMS fabricated flexures are flexibly coupled to a piezo actuator drive element configured wherein a stress or strain induced by the piezo actuator drive element urges a first movable capacitor plate element a predetermined distance toward or away from a second capacitor plate element proportional to a predetermined voltage signal.

Deformable electrodes, deformable supercapacitors comprising the deformable electrodes, and electric circuits comprising the supercapacitors are provided. Methods of using the supercapacitors to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy are also provided. The supercapacitors include a liquid electrolyte disposed between two electrodes, at least one of which is reversibly deformable when it is compressed. The liquid electrolyte is infused into the deformable electrode and the supercapacitors are characterized in that the deformation of the deformable electrodes causes the interfacial area between the electrolyte and the deformable electrode to decrease when the electrode is deformed.

Deformable electrodes, deformable supercapacitors comprising the deformable electrodes, and electric circuits comprising the supercapacitors are provided. Methods of using the supercapacitors to convert mechanical energy to electrical energy are also provided. The supercapacitors include a liquid electrolyte disposed between two electrodes, at least one of which is reversibly deformable when it is compressed. The liquid electrolyte is infused into the deformable electrode and the supercapacitors are characterized in that the deformation of the deformable electrodes causes the interfacial area between the electrolyte and the deformable electrode to decrease when the electrode is deformed.

A new composition of matter, and more specifically a new compound, includes two or more highly resistive materials integrated into the chemistry of the grain boundary of an internal barrier layer capacitor material. This new compound includes a high permittivity and high resistivity dielectric compound. This new compound has high permittivity, high resistivity, and low leakage current. In certain examples the new compound can be used to create a dielectric energy storage device that is a battery with very high energy density, high operating voltage per cell, and an extended battery life cycle.

A new composition of matter, and more specifically a new compound, includes two or more highly resistive materials integrated into the chemistry of the grain boundary of an internal barrier layer capacitor material. This new compound includes a high permittivity and high resistivity dielectric compound. This new compound has high permittivity, high resistivity, and low leakage current. In certain examples the new compound can be used to create a dielectric energy storage device that is a battery with very high energy density, high operating voltage per cell, and an extended battery life cycle.

A variable capacitor is disclosed. The variable capacitor includes a multi-layer ceramic capacitor member, and a capacitance varying mechanism. The multi-layer ceramic capacitor member includes one or two external electrode(s), a ceramic dielectric, and a plurality of electrode layers positioned inside the ceramic dielectric. The capacitance varying mechanism includes an electrical conductor positioned aside and approximate to the ceramic dielectric. The electrical conductor is deformable responsive to a pressure applied thereon, and an area of the electrical conductor in contact with the ceramic dielectric varies in accordance with the pressure, thus varying a capacitance value between the external electrode(s) and the electrical conductor. In general, the external electrode(s) of the multi-layer ceramic capacitor member serve(s) as fixed electrode(s) of the variable capacitor.

A variable capacitor is disclosed. The variable capacitor includes a multi-layer ceramic capacitor member, and a capacitance varying mechanism. The multi-layer ceramic capacitor member includes one or two external electrode(s), a ceramic dielectric, and a plurality of electrode layers positioned inside the ceramic dielectric. The capacitance varying mechanism includes an electrical conductor positioned aside and approximate to the ceramic dielectric. The electrical conductor is deformable responsive to a pressure applied thereon, and an area of the electrical conductor in contact with the ceramic dielectric varies in accordance with the pressure, thus varying a capacitance value between the external electrode(s) and the electrical conductor. In general, the external electrode(s) of the multi-layer ceramic capacitor member serve(s) as fixed electrode(s) of the variable capacitor.

An active metamaterial array of the present disclosure includes: a substrate; a plurality of metamaterial structures disposed on the substrate and spaced apart from each other; a conductivity variable material layer formed between each of the plurality of the metamaterial structures so as to selectively connect the metamaterial structures; an electrolyte material layer formed on the metamaterial structures and the conductivity variable material layer; and a gate electrode disposed at one end of the substrate so as to be in contact with one region of the electrolyte material layer, and when an external voltage is applied to the gate electrode, the gate electrode changes the conductivity of the conductivity variable material layer by controlling the migration of ions contained in the electrolyte material layer.

A chip capacitor and a method for manufacturing the chip capacitor, where the chip capacitor includes a substrate, a first external electrode disposed on the substrate, a second external electrode disposed on the substrate, capacitor elements formed on the substrate and connected between the first external electrode and the second external electrode, and fuses that are formed on the substrate, are each interposed between the capacitor elements and the first external electrode or the second external electrode, and are capable of disconnecting each of the capacitor elements.