| Patent application number | Description | Published |
|---|
| 20090053998 | APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR REDUCING POWER CONSUMPTION BY MOBILE ELECTRONIC DEVICES DURING RADIO COMMUNICATION - An apparatus comprising an energy-harvesting means and a radio frequency (RF) communication means. Said energy-harvesting means is configured to capture mechanical energy from the human motion and convert it to useful electrical energy. Said RF communication means is configured to establish RF communication with the mobile electronic devices in its vicinity using low-power, short-range RF communication signals. Said RF communication means is further configured to retransmit the information received through said short range RF communication signals using high-power long-range communication signals, thereby allowing said mobile electronic devices to establish a long-range RF communication with the remote recipient substantially utilizing the energy derived from the energy-harvesting means rather than the energy predominantly derived from said mobile electronic devices themselves | 02-26-2009 |
| 20090242036 | Directed-flow conduit - Device including channel having channel input and output. Channel has interior channel surface extending along channel path from channel input to output. In one implementation, channel includes plurality of channel sections in serial communication along channel path. Each of channel sections includes first internal circumference spaced apart along channel path from second internal circumference, in each of channel sections the first and second internal circumferences being substantially different. Each of channel sections includes sub-surface of interior channel surface. At least region of sub-surface of each channel section includes distribution of raised micro-scale features. As another implementation, at least first region of interior channel surface includes distribution of raised micro-scale features interrupted by plurality of raised barriers spaced apart along channel path on interior channel surface. Each raised barrier extends on interior channel surface in directions partially transverse to and partially parallel to longitudinal axis. Method also provided. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090242175 | Thermal energy transfer device - Device having first wick evaporator including first membrane and plurality of first thermally-conductive supports. First membrane has upper and lower surfaces. First membrane also has plurality of pores with upper pore ends at upper surface of first membrane and with lower pore ends at lower surface of first membrane. Each of first thermally-conductive supports has upper and lower support ends. Upper support ends of first thermally-conductive supports are in contact with first membrane. Each of first thermally-conductive supports has longitudinal axis extending between the upper and lower support ends, average cross-sectional area along axis, and membrane support cross-sectional area at upper support end, the membrane support cross-sectional area effectively being smaller than average cross-sectional area. First thermally-conductive supports are configured to conduct thermal energy from lower support ends of first thermally-conductive supports to first membrane. Process includes providing wick evaporator, providing liquid working fluid in contact with lower or upper surface of membrane, and causing liquid working fluid to be evaporated from liquid-vapor interface in membrane. | 10-01-2009 |
| 20090274580 | METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR CONTROLLING THE MOVEMENT OF A LIQUID ON A NANOSTRUCTURED OR MICROSTRUCTURE SURFACE - A method and apparatus is disclosed wherein the movement of a droplet disposed on a nanostructured or microstructured surface is determined by at least one characteristic of the nanostructure feature pattern or at least one characteristic of the droplet. In one embodiment, the movement of the droplet is laterally determined by at least one characteristic of the nanostructure feature pattern such that the droplet moves in a desired direction along a nanostructured feature pattern. In another embodiment, the movement of the droplet is determined by either at least one characteristic of the nanostructure feature pattern or at least one characteristic of the droplet in a way such that the droplet penetrates the feature pattern at a desired area and becomes substantially immobile. | 11-05-2009 |
