We introduce symmetric comb-electrode structures for the electrostatic vibrational MEMS energy harvester to lower the electrostatic constraint force attributed to the built-in electret potential, ...thereby allowing the harvester device to operate in a small acceleration range of 0.05 g or lower (1 g = 9.8 m s−2). Given the same device structure, two different potentials for the electret are tested to experimentally confirm that the output induction current is enhanced 4.2 times by increasing the electret potential from −60 V to −250 V. At the same time, the harvester effectiveness has been improved to as high as 93%. The device is used to swiftly charge a 470 µF storage capacitor to 3.3 V in 120 s from small sinusoidal vibrations of 0.6 g at 124 Hz.
Wrinkles on thin film/elastomer bilayer systems provide functional surfaces. The aspect ratio of these wrinkles is critical to their functionality. Much effort has been dedicated to creating ...high-aspect-ratio structures on the surface of bilayer systems. A highly prestretched elastomer attached to a thin film has recently been shown to form a high-aspect-ratio structure, called a ridge structure, due to a large strain induced in the elastomer. However, the prestretch requirements of the elastomer during thin film attachment are not compatible with conventional thin film deposition methods, such as spin coating, dip coating, and chemical vapor deposition (CVD). Thus, the fabrication method is complex, and ridge structure formation is limited to planar surfaces. This paper presents a new and simple method for constructing ridge structures on a nonplanar surface using a plastic thin film/elastomer bilayer system. A plastic thin film is attached to a stress-free elastomer, and the resulting bilayer system is highly stretched one- or two-dimensionally. Upon the release of the stretch load, the deformation of the elastomer is reversible, while the plastically deformed thin film stays elongated. The combination of the length mismatch and the large strain induced in the elastomer generates ridge structures. The morphology of the plastic thin film/elastomer bilayer system is experimentally studied by varying the physical parameters, and the functionality and the applicability to a nonplanar surface are demonstrated. Finally, we simulate the effect of plasticity on morphology. This study presents a new technique for generating microscale high-aspect-ratio structures and its potential for functional surfaces.
•Epilepsy can be detected using EEG signals.•The entropy indicates the complexity of the EEG signal.•Various entropies are used to diagnose epilepsy.•Unique ranges for various entropies are proposed.
...Epilepsy is the neurological disorder of the brain which is difficult to diagnose visually using Electroencephalogram (EEG) signals. Hence, an automated detection of epilepsy using EEG signals will be a useful tool in medical field. The automation of epilepsy detection using signal processing techniques such as wavelet transform and entropies may optimise the performance of the system. Many algorithms have been developed to diagnose the presence of seizure in the EEG signals. The entropy is a nonlinear parameter that reflects the complexity of the EEG signal. Many entropies have been used to differentiate normal, interictal and ictal EEG signals. This paper discusses various entropies used for an automated diagnosis of epilepsy using EEG signals. We have presented unique ranges for various entropies used to differentiate normal, interictal, and ictal EEG signals and also ranked them depending on the ability to discrimination ability of three classes. These entropies can be used to classify the different stages of epilepsy and can also be used for other biomedical applications.
This paper presents an innovative high-frequency- based biosensor, which combines both microwave detection and microfluidic network for time-efficient and accurate biological analysis. It is composed ...of a coplanar waveguide with a microfluidic channel placed on top. With the help of an appropriate de-embedding technique and modeling of the measurements, the relative effective permittivity of human umbilical vein endothelial cells has been evaluated successfully. Furthermore, experiments have been performed with the sensor on various cell concentrations in suspension, which validates its use in bioengineering applications such as cell quantification and counting in solution. This sensor requires no direct contact or use of labels on the cells, contrary to other usual types of biosensors (optical, mechanical or dc/low-frequency-detection-based ones).
The gamma strength function and level density of 1^{-} states in ^{96}Mo have been extracted from a high-resolution study of the (pover →, pover →^{'}) reaction at 295 MeV and extreme forward angles. ...By comparison with compound nucleus γ decay experiments, this allows a test of the generalized Brink-Axel hypothesis in the energy region of the pygmy dipole resonance. The Brink-Axel hypothesis is commonly assumed in astrophysical reaction network calculations and states that the gamma strength function in nuclei is independent of the structure of the initial and final state. The present results validate the Brink-Axel hypothesis for ^{96}Mo and provide independent confirmation of the methods used to separate gamma strength function and level density in γ decay experiments.
We consider a boundary value problem for a system of two linear partial differential equations of parabolic type describing the behavior of temperature and vapor density in a spherical droplet and ...its vicinity during the evaporation process. To study this problem, we construct a variant of the Fourier series in a spherical domain for functions with spherical symmetry. Using this series, we prove the existence and uniqueness of the solution of the problem under consideration with an unusual coupling condition for the equations, which is characteristic of evaporation.
This paper presents a digital current regulator for H-bridge pulsewidth modulation (PWM) converters, whose sampling frequency equals quadruple of the switching frequency. The current regulator ...detects the ac current and manipulates the voltage reference not only at the upper and lower peaks of the PWM triangle carrier but also at its zero crossings. This paper theoretically discusses the switching sequence of the H-bridge PWM converter, and reveals the amount of the voltage error and the condition where the voltage error occurs. A modified deadbeat current regulator is proposed to suppress the current oscillation induced by the voltage error, based on the theoretical analysis. Experimental results are shown to verify the control performance of the proposed current regulator. Moreover, a proposed current regulator is applied to a single-phase active power filter to demonstrate the effectiveness in harmonic compensation.
This paper discusses a shunt active filter intended for installation on a power distribution system. The active filter has an additional capability to regulate the distribution-line voltage by means ...of adjusting reactive power. Theoretical analysis investigates the dynamic performance of combined harmonic damping and voltage regulation. As a result, harmonic damping makes it possible to improve the stability of the control loop for voltage regulation, and the combined harmonic damping and voltage regulation lead to good voltage regulation performance. Experimental results are shown to verify the effectiveness of the combined harmonic damping and voltage regulation
PDF
