A semiconductor structure includes an optical component and a thermal control mechanism adjacent to the optical component and configured to control a temperature of the optical component. The thermal control mechanism includes a conductive structure, a first thermoelectric member and a second thermoelectric member opposite to the first thermoelectric member. The first thermoelectric member and the second thermoelectric member are electrically connected to the conductive structure. The first thermoelectric member and the second thermoelectric member have opposite conductive types. The semiconductor structure further includes a first dielectric layer surrounding the optical component and a portion of the thermal control mechanism, wherein the conductive structure is over the first dielectric layer, and the first thermoelectric member and the second thermoelectric member are surrounded by the first dielectric layer. The semiconductor structure further includes a first via extending through the first dielectric layer and electrically connected to the conductive structure.

An imager pixel comprising a micro-platform supported by phononic nanowires, the nanowires providing an extreme-level of thermal isolation from a surrounding substrate. The micro-platform in embodiments comprises thermal sensors sensitive to heat from absorbed incident longwave/shortwave photonic irradiation. In embodiments, the pixel photonic sensing structure comprises both a thermal sensor together with a separate photodiode/phototransistor/photogate for sensing RGB and NIR wavelengths. Some embodiments comprise a micro-platform with an integral Peltier thermoelectric element permitting in situ refrigeration to cryogenic temperatures.

The vehicle electrostatic propulsion system has two connected sections. A direct current section comprising an array of supercapacitors and an electrostatic repulsion motor; they are powered by wind and solar energies. This direct current section is connected to an alternating current section comprising a 3-phase induction generator and a 3-phase induction motor, the generator is powered by the electrostatic repulsion motor. The 3-phase induction motor power the wheels of the vehicle. The propulsion system will give a long range to a vehicle.

The purpose of the present invention is to provide a highly accurate and highly reliable physical quantity sensor wherein an error due to stress applied to a sensor element of the physical quantity sensor is reduced. This physical quantity sensor device is provided with: a hollow section formed in a Si substrate; an insulating film covering the hollow section; and a heating section formed in the insulating film. The sensor device is also provided with a detection element that detects the temperature of the insulating film above the hollow section, the detection element is provided with a first silicon element and a second silicon element, and the first silicon element and the second silicon element are doped with different impurities, respectively.

The present disclosure is directed to materials, devices, and methods for resonant ambient thermal energy harvesting. Thermal energy can be harvested using thermoelectric resonators that capture and store ambient thermal fluctuations and convert the fluctuations to energy. The thermal resonators can include heat engines disposed between masses of varying sizes or diodes. The masses or diodes can be made of high and ultra-high effusivity materials to transfer thermal energy through the resonator and optimize power output. The masses or diodes of the resonator can be tuned to the dominant frequency of the temperature waveform to maximize the amount of energy being converted. The resonators can be added to existing structures to supply or generate power, and, in some embodiments, the structures themselves can be a mass of the thermal resonator. Methods for constructing and/or using such devices are also provided, as are methods for formulating ultra-high effusivity materials.

A coating liquid includes aluminum phosphate, a nonionic surfactant, and water and/or water-soluble solvent that dissolves or disperses the aluminum phosphate and the nonionic surfactant. An amount of the nonionic surfactant is preferably 1 vol % or more and 10 vol % or less. The nonionic surfactant is preferably at least one selected from the group consisting of ester, ether, alkylglycoside, octylphenol ethoxylate, pyrrolidone, and polyhydric alcohol. Applying such a coating liquid to a surface of a thermoelectric member, and drying and firing the coating liquid enables formation of a dense antioxidant film containing aluminum phosphate on the surface of the thermoelectric member.

An electronic device including a first substrate, a second substrate, a light-emitting element, and a piezoelectric element is provided. The light-emitting element is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The piezoelectric element is disposed between the first substrate and the second substrate. The piezoelectric element includes a piezoelectric layer having an opening, and the light-emitting element is disposed in the opening.

The disclosure generally relates to wireless sensing nodes, energy harvesting, and energy charging. The disclosure also generally relates to reporting data gathered by the wireless sensing nodes to one or more network services.

A system and method of determining three-dimensional coordinates is provided. The method includes, with a projector, projecting onto an object a projection pattern that includes collection of object spots. With a first camera, a first image is captured that includes first-image spots. With a second camera, a second image is captured that includes second-image spots. Each first-image spot is divided into first-image spot rows. Each second-image spot is divided into second-image spot rows. Central values are determined for each first-image and second-image spot row. A correspondence is determined among first-image and second-image spot rows, the corresponding first-image and second-image spot rows being a spot-row image pair. Tach spot-row image pair having a corresponding object spot row on the object. Three-dimensional (3D) coordinates of each object spot row are determined on the central values of the corresponding spot-row image pairs. The 3D coordinates of the object spot rows are stored.

An apparatus for removably receiving a container is disclosed. The apparatus has a structural assembly having a cavity configured to removably receive the container, a renewable power source supported by the structural assembly, an electrical component including a power storage supported by the structural assembly, a thermal assembly disposed at the cavity and configured to heat or cool the container when the container is received in the cavity, and an elongated support member attached to the structural assembly and configured to be inserted into the ground.