A zero-power plasmonic microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device is capable of specifically sensing electromagnetic radiation and performing signal processing operations. Such devices are highly sensitive relays that consume no more than 10 nW of power, utilizing the energy in detected electromagnetic radiation to detect and discriminate a target without the need of any additional power source. The devices can continuously monitor an environment and wake up an electronic circuit upon detection of a specific trigger signature of electromagnetic radiation, such as vehicular exhaust, gunfire, an explosion, a fire, a human or animal, and a variety of sources of radiation from the ultraviolet to visible light, to infrared, to terahertz radiation.

A temperature-sensing tape including a flexible, electrically insulating substrate, a plurality of temperature-sensing elements disposed on the substrate, wherein a temperature-sensing element includes a bimetallic switch.

Thermal switch technology is disclosed. In one example, a thermally activated switch can include an electronic substrate base, and first and second electrical contacts coupled to the electronic substrate base. The first and second electrical contacts can be movable relative to one another due to thermal expansion or contraction of a material to facilitate contact or separation of the first and second electrical contacts.

A device comprising a gate pad, a source pad and a passive actuator arranged to form a reversible mechanical and electrical connection between the gate pad and the source pad only if the temperature in the passive actuator exceeds a threshold value.

Embodiments of the invention include a physiological sensor system. According to an embodiment the sensor system may include a package substrate, a plurality of sensors formed on the substrate, a second electrical component, and an encryption bank formed along a data transmission path between the plurality of sensors and the second electrical component. In an embodiment the encryption bank may include a plurality of portions that each have one or more switches integrated into the package substrate. In an embodiment each sensor transmits data to the second electrical component along different portions of the encryption bank. In some embodiments, the switches may be piezoelectrically actuated. In other embodiments the switches may be actuated by thermal expansion. Additional embodiments may include tri- or bi-stable mechanical switches.

The present disclosure discloses an infrared sensor structure, comprises a cantilever switch array, the cantilever switch array comprises cantilever switches, and each cantilever switch comprises a cantilever beam and a switch corresponding to the cantilever beam, vertical heights from the cantilever beams to the switches in different cantilever switches are different from each other, when the cantilever beams are deformed towards the switches and connect to the switches, the switches turn on; wherein, deformations of different cantilever beams produced by absorbing infrared signal are different from each other, the intensity of the infrared signal can be quantified by number of the switches on, so as to realize detection of the infrared signal. The manufacturing of the infrared sensor structure in the present disclosure can be compatible with the existing semiconductor CMOS process.

The present application relates to compositions and methods of making flexible composite materials that are capable of moving, on a micro- or macro-scale, in response to an applied magnetic field and localized heat from a heat source. The present disclosure further provides systems and methods of using the flexible composite material as an actuator for performing a mode of actuation. In one embodiment, the flexible composite material forms a wireless actuator that, when irradiated with light, is capable of micro- and macro-scale motion acting through the interplay of optically absorptive elements and low-Curie temperature magnetic particles.

The present disclosure discloses an infrared sensor structure, comprises a cantilever switch array, the cantilever switch array comprises cantilever switches, and each cantilever switch comprises a cantilever beam and a switch corresponding to the cantilever beam, vertical heights from the cantilever beams to the switches in different cantilever switches are different from each other, when the cantilever beams are deformed towards the switches and connect to the switches, the switches turn on; wherein, deformations of different cantilever beams produced by absorbing infrared signal are different from each other, the intensity of the infrared signal can be quantified by number of the switches on, so as to realize detection of the infrared signal. The manufacturing of the infrared sensor structure in the present disclosure can be compatible with the existing semiconductor CMOS process.

A zero-power plasmonic microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device is capable of specifically sensing electromagnetic radiation and performing signal processing operations. Such devices are highly sensitive relays that consume no more than 10 nW of power, utilizing the energy in detected electromagnetic radiation to detect and discriminate a target without the need of any additional power source. The devices can continuously monitor an environment and wake up an electronic circuit upon detection of a specific trigger signature of electromagnetic radiation, such as vehicular exhaust, gunfire, an explosion, a fire, a human or animal, and a variety of sources of radiation from the ultraviolet to visible light, to infrared, to terahertz radiation.

A zero-power plasmonic microelectromechanical system (MEMS) device is capable of specifically sensing electromagnetic radiation and performing signal processing operations. Such devices are highly sensitive relays that consume no more than 10 nW of power, utilizing the energy in detected electromagnetic radiation to detect and discriminate a target without the need of any additional power source. The devices can continuously monitor an environment and wake up an electronic circuit upon detection of a specific trigger signature of electromagnetic radiation, such as vehicular exhaust, gunfire, an explosion, a fire, a human or animal, and a variety of sources of radiation from the ultraviolet to visible light, to infrared, to terahertz radiation.