Abstract: A fluidic structure includes a channel, a portion of which can contain fluid. Light can propagate in the portion, such as in response to illumination. The refractive index of material at the portion's boundary can be higher than that of the fluid, and more than approximately 10% of intensity of light propagating longitudinally occurs in the fluid, possibly approximately 90%. An IC can be positioned along the portion, with a set of cells of a photosensor array on the IC sensing photons emanating in response to the propagating light. The light can enter through a light-transmissive component along the channel's boundary, then pass obliquely through a portion of the channel that contains air before passing through a bounding component and obliquely into the portion that can contain fluid. The light can couple to an anti-resonant waveguide mode.

Abstract: Devices that emit sound audible to nearby animals can include a deflection structure or other support structure and, connected to it, at least one whistle structure. The deflection structure can, for example, be a rain guard, an insect deflector, or a rock deflector. It can, for example, have an air flow surface across which air flows when the vehicle on which it is mounted moves at normal operating speeds, and whistle structures can be activated by the air flow.

Abstract: A fluidic structure includes a channel and along the channel is a series of sensing components to obtain information about objects traveling within the channel, such as droplets or other objects carried by fluid. At least one sensing component includes a set of cells of a photosensor array. The set of cells photosense a range of photon energies that emanate from objects, and include a subset of cells that photosense within subranges. A processor can receive information about objects from the sensing components and use it to obtain spectral information. The processor can perform an initial analysis using information from one set of sensing components and, based on the results, control a fluidic device in the channel, such as a gate, to retain objects, such as for concentration and more detailed analysis by other sensing components, or to purge objects from the channel.

Abstract: Light to be sensed is spreaded across an entry surface of a transmission structure with a laterally varying energy transmission function. For example, the light could be output from a stimulus-wavelength converter, provided through an optical fiber, or it could come from a point-like source or broad area source. Output photons from the transmission structure can be photosensed by photosensing components such as an array, position sensor, or array of position sensors. Wavelength information from the light can be obtained in response to the photosensing component. Spreading can be performed by air, gas, transparent material, or vacuum in a gap, by a region or other part of a lens, or by an optical fiber end surface. If the light comes from more than one source, a propagation component can both spread the light and also keep light from the sources separate.

Abstract: A chip-size wavelength detector includes a film with laterally varying transmission properties and a position-sensitive detector. The film transmits a different wavelength as a function of lateral position across the film. The position of a spot of light transmitted through the film will shift, depending on the wavelength of the light. The shift is measured by the position-sensitive detector.

Abstract: Lasers, such as in laser structures, can include two or more semiconductor structures that are substantially identical or that include the same semiconductor material and have substantially the same geometry, such as in closely spaced dual-spot two-beam or quad-spot four-beam lasers. The lasers can also include differently structured current flow or contact structures or different wavelength control structures. For example, current flow or contact structures can be differently structured to prevent or otherwise affect phase locking, such as by causing different threshold currents and different operating temperatures.

Abstract: An integrated circuit (IC) includes a photosensor array, some cells of which are reference cells that photosense throughout an application's energy range, while other cells of which are subrange cells that photosense within respective subranges. For example, the subrange cells can receive photons in their respective subranges from a transmission structure that has laterally varying properties, such as due to varying optical thickness. The reference cells may be uncoated or may also receive photons through a transmission structure such as a gray filter. Subrange cells and reference cells may be paired in adjacent lines across the array, such as rows. Where photon emanation can vary along a path, quantities of incident photons photosensed by subrange cells along the path can be adjusted based on quantities photosensed by their paired reference cells, such as with normalization.

Abstract: Various structures or components can include plated surfaces or other parts. For example, an article can include a base and a plated part with a limit artifact that results from plating adjacent a non-plateable surface; the limit artifact can be disposed away from the base. Exemplary limit artifacts include lack of protrusions, smooth upper surfaces, and curved surfaces, where a curved surface can transition between a smooth upper surface and an irregular side surface. Exemplary plated structures can be tube-shaped or cup-shaped, with an opening at a top end and, around the opening, a lip with a limit artifact. Wall-like structures can similarly have limit artifacts at their top end. If plating on a mold's side surface, the non-plateable surface can be the lower surface of an overhanging polymer disk or structure positioned on the mold. Plated tubes and wall-like structures can be employed in microfluidic structures.

Abstract: Boat hulls or assemblies have sequences of groups of downward-facing sections such as planing sections. A sequence includes a lowermost group and supplemental groups above it. Each group could, for example, be a pair, and the pairs could be port-starboard symmetrical. The lower surface is shaped so that the boat hull, in a series of speed ranges, planes on successively lower groups, planing on the lowermost group in the highest range. The trim angle can be between 3.0° and 6.0° in a speed range. The boat hull can be structured so that, when planing on one of the groups, the next higher group dries out. For example, each pair of sections can have an outward angle not smaller than the next inward pair's. The lowermost group can have a maximum width approximately equal to an ideal beam width for a set of displacement characteristics and its target maximum speed.

Abstract: A device to hold and release a bowstring includes a part that can be locked, held in position, or caused to move with a user-held portion such as a handle. A back tension release device can, for example, include a handle portion; a release assembly on the handle portion with a part of the release assembly able to pivot relative to the handle portion; and a locking mechanism. A user holding the handle portion, with the release assembly holding a bowstring, can control the locking mechanism. When unlocked, the locking mechanism allows the part to pivot, but, when locked, the locking mechanism locks it so that the part moves with the handle portion. The part can, for example, be a pawl head that, when locked, moves with the handle and releases a sear element.