A construction component for detecting the application of energy and responding to the energy input wherein a plurality of particles are distributed throughout the component with each particle being configured to sense component state information. The component includes at least one processor configured to receive sensing information from the plurality of particle sensors. The processor configured to receive component state information and to process the information to determine a response to selectively alter attributes of the construction component to affect the behavior of the component. The plurality of particles capable of converting a portion of the energy applied to the construction component into an alternative form of energy, wherein the converted energy is harvested for utilization elsewhere.

The present invention discloses, inter alia, a micro-electromechanical device (MEMD) for sensing and for harvesting electrical energy responsive to being subjected to mechanical forces, comprising at least one first conductive element fixedly mounted on a first support, wherein the at least one first conductive element is chargeable with electrons; and at least one second conductive element inertia-mounted on a second support such that the first and second supports are electrically isolated from each other.

An electrostatic microgenerator having electret films which are arranged above one another in a double layer and each have a metal layer arranged on one side thereof as an electrode. The films are embedded in a hermetically sealed casing in a loosely wound manner. Applying pressure to a first desired pressure surface, which is provided on the outside parallel to the capacitor plates formed in this manner, makes it possible to generate an electrical voltage by changing the distance between the capacitor plates.

A microelectromechanical system includes a membrane of amorphous carbon having a thickness between 1 nm and 50 nm, and for example between 3 nm and 20 nm.

A method for manufacturing package structure is provided, including: providing a substrate having recesses; forming first MEMS chips on the substrate, each with a through-substrate via, and a first sensor or microactuator on the lower surface, located in one of the recesses; forming first intermediate chips on the substrate, each respectively on one of the first MEMS chips, having a through-substrate via, and including a signal conversion unit, a logic operation unit, control unit, or a combination thereof; forming second MEMS chips on the first intermediate chips, each with a through-substrate via, having a second sensor or microactuator on its upper surface, wherein the package structure includes at least one of the first sensor and the second sensor; and forming first capping plates on the second MEMS chips, each providing a receiving space for the second sensor or microactuator on the upper surface of each second MEMS chip.

A device for converting the kinetic energy of molecules into useful work includes an actuator configured to move within a fluid or gas due to collisions with the molecules of the fluid or gas. The actuator has dimensions that subject it to the Brownian motion of the surrounding molecules. The actuator utilizes objects having multiple surfaces where the different surfaces result in differing coefficients of restitution. The Brownian motion of surrounding molecules produce molecular impacts with the surfaces. Each surface then experiences relative differences in transferred energy from the kinetic collisions. The sum effect of the collisions produces net velocity in a desired direction. The controlled motion can be utilized in a variety of manners to perform work, such as generating electricity or transporting materials.

A construction component for detecting the application of energy and responding to the energy input wherein a plurality of particles are distributed throughout the component with each particle being configured to sense component state information. The component includes at least one processor configured to receive sensing information from the plurality of particle sensors. The processor configured to receive component state information and to process the information to determine a response to selectively alter attributes of the construction component to affect the behavior of the component. The plurality of particles capable of converting a portion of the energy applied to the construction component into an alternative form of energy, wherein the converted energy is harvested for utilization elsewhere.

Some embodiments are directed to a system comprising a MEMS based actuator unit and a control electric circuit. The actuator unit comprising one or more MEMS actuators, each comprising a stator and a rotor and configured to define a payload position in response to electric potential between said stator and rotor. The electric circuit comprising one or more amplifiers configured to provide electric control signal to the one or more MEMS actuators to selectively vary position of said payload. The electric circuit comprises a sensing circuit configured for providing an alternating carrier signal and for monitoring said carrier signal to generate data on impedance of said one or more MEMS actuators indicative of position of the rotor with respect to the stator of said one or more MEMS actuators.

In at least one illustrative embodiment, a microelectromechanical system (MEMS) includes a composable piezoelectric actuator electrically coupled to a terminal. In response to a voltage applied across electrodes of the actuator, a piezoelectric rod moves from an initial position to a displaced position. In an embodiment, the MEMS includes two terminals, a resistive element is coupled between the terminals, and when in the displaced position the rod contacts one of the terminals. In an embodiment, the MEMS includes three terminals, and when a threshold voltage is applied to one of the terminals, the rod moves to the displaced position and allows current to flow between the other two terminals. In an embodiment, the MEMS includes a primary set of actuators that are mechanically but not electrically connected to a secondary set of actuators. An output terminal is coupled to the second set of actuators. Other embodiments are described and claimed.

In a method for manufacturing a micro vibration body having a three-dimensional curved surface, a mold defining a recess part is prepared, and a plate-shaped reflow material is arranged on the mold so as to cover the recess part. Pressure of a space defined by the recess part covered with the reflow material is reduced, and the reflow material is deformed by heating from an upper surface side opposite to a lower surface facing the recess part and by means of the pressure reduced. When the reflow material is deformed, a part of the mold is heated and/or cooled. As another example, when the reflow material is deformed, a mold having a different heat capacity portion is used to generate a temperature gradient in the mold.