Abstract: A layered construction for use in decontaminating a surface or enclosed space is described. The construction is an electrochemical cell which includes a cathode, an electrolyte layer, an anode and a protective surface layer. A precursor compound that can be electrically decomposed to release an oxidant, on demand and over an extended period of time, is included in the layered structure, preferably in the electrolyte layer. The oxidant compounds react with various different chemical or biological contaminants in contact the protective layer, thereby deactivating, destroying or devitalizing the contaminants. The layered construction is suitable for application to a device or substrate, or placement in an enclosed space, and can be used on sensitive surfaces such as electronic components and human skin.

Abstract: A fast, electro-optically switched zoom lens system operates across a broad spectral and thermal range while correcting for birefringent aberrations by means of a polarizing system that preferably includes polarizing reticles.

Abstract: An electro-osmotic pump includes a pump chamber having a wall fabricated of an electric double layer material, the surface area of the electric double layer material being high relative to the volume of the chamber. An electric potential applied across the material causes a fluid in the chamber to be transported through the wall. A nastic actuator includes the electro-osmotic pump and an actuator chamber, having a variable volume, coupled to the pump chamber. A superabsorbent polymer is disposed in the pump and actuator chambers, such that transport of the fluid into the pump chamber results in absorption of the fluid by the superabsorbent polymer, causing the actuator chamber to increase in volume. When the electric potential is applied across the superabsorbent polymer, the superabsorbent polymer expands, further causing the actuator chamber to increase in volume.

Abstract: A method for forming a low defect density heterojunction between a first and a second compound, the first and second compounds each includes a group III element combined with a group V element in the periodic table, the method includes the steps of introducing in the deposition chamber the flux of the group III element for the first compound at substantially the same time while introducing in the deposition chamber a flux of the group V element for the second compound, stopping the flux of the group III element for the first compound after a first predetermined time period, stopping the flux of the group V element for the first compound after a second predetermined time period, and introducing in the deposition chamber a flux of the group III element the group V element for the second compound.

Abstract: The corrosion inhibiting activity of a coating is determined from the effect of corrosion inhibiting species released by the coating on the oxygen reduction current for a cathode placed very close to the coating. A rotating disk electrode or pumped solution flow is used to sweep the corrosion inhibiting species from the coating surface to the cathode. The oxygen reduction current is measured under conditions of oxygen diffusion control.

Abstract: Bayesian super-resolution techniques fuse multiple low resolution images (possibly from multiple bands) to infer a higher resolution image. The super-resolution and fusion concepts are portable to a wide variety of sensors and environmental models. The procedure is model-based inference of super-resolved information. In this approach, both the point spread function of the sub-sampling process and the multi-frame registration parameters are optimized simultaneously in order to infer an optimal estimate of the super-resolved imagery. The procedure involves a significant number of improvements, among them, more accurate likelihood estimates and a more accurate, efficient, and stable optimization procedure.

Abstract: Methods, apparatus, and systems for alternating quadratures differential binary phase shift keying (AQDBPSK) modulation and demodulation radically increase overall energy efficiency of a communication system due to the combined effect of efficient utilization of transmitter power, high noise immunity of modulation and demodulation, fast synchronization, and simple implementation.

Abstract: A vertical electrical device includes a region in a substrate extending from a surface of the substrate, the region having an inner wall and an outer wall circumscribing the inner wall. An inner electrically conductive layer is disposed on the inner wall and an outer electrically conductive layer is disposed on the outer wall, with an electrically insulative material disposed between the inner and outer layers. An electrical conductor in the substrate is bounded by the inner electrically conductive layer.

Abstract: A laser beam steering apparatus includes a beam steering cell with an adjustable shape, with the cell having opposing Fabry-Perot filters, and a steering mechanism coupled to the cell to adjust its shape so that the direction of a laser beam emitted from the cell is changed in response to a change in the cell shape.

Abstract: A low noise readout apparatus and method for CMOS image sensors having a photosensitive element configured to collect charge when light strikes the photosensitive element, a reset gate adjacent the photosensitive element and configured to drain excess charge from the photosensitive element, a first electrode, a second electrode and a third electrode, in series and adjacent the photosensitive element, the first electrode actuated to transfer a signal charge from the photosensitive element to the first electrode, the second electrode actuated to transfer the signal charge from the first electrode to the second electrode, the third electrode actuated to transfer the signal charge from the second electrode to the third electrode and onto a sense node, and a readout circuit coupled to the sense node, the readout circuit measures a voltage corresponding to the signal charge transferred to the sense node.

Abstract: A fast-settling line driver circuit capable of high-speed operation. The line driver is particularly well-suited for operation in a high-resolution imaging system. The line driver circuit comprises a signal amplifier that is configured in a negative feedback loop and connected to a bus line through a switch network. The switch network is disposed inside the feedback loop while the line driver is transmitting a signal onto the bus line. This configuration reduces the settling time of the line driver by substantially eliminating the effect of the switch resistance on the RC time constant. The line driver also comprises offset cancellation and presettle circuits that improve the integrity of the output signal and reduce the power consumption of the system.

Abstract: A multi-scale filter pyramid is applied to one or more components of a multi-component input image to produce a fused and enhanced image that can be mapped to a display, such as a color display.

Abstract: A two dimensional time delay integration CMOS image sensor having a plurality of pinned photodiodes, each pinned photodiode collects a charge when light strikes the pinned photodiode, a plurality of electrodes separating the plurality of pinned photodiodes, the plurality of electrodes are configured for two dimensional charge transport between two adjacent pinned photodiodes, and a plurality of readout nodes connected to the plurality of pinned photodiodes via address lines.

Abstract: A through-wafer via interconnect region is in a circuit portion of a wafer, the circuit portion including at least one electrically conducting metal layer and configured for use, after dicing of the wafer, as one of a plurality of layers stacked vertically to form a three dimensional integrated circuit. Within the metal layer in the circuit portion, the metal is removeably distributed such that the ratio of metal to nonmetal area, within the via region, varies by less than a predetermined amount from the ratio of metal to nonmetal area outside the via region.

Abstract: A method for forming a low defect density heterojunction between a first and a second compound, the first and second compounds each includes a group III element combined with a group V element in the periodic table, the method includes the steps of introducing in the deposition chamber the flux of the group III element for the first compound at substantially the same time while introducing in the deposition chamber a flux of the group V element for the second compound, stopping the flux of the group III element for the first compound after a first predetermined time period, stopping the flux of the group V element for the first compound after a second predetermined time period, and introducing in the deposition chamber a flux of the group III element the group V element for the second compound.

Abstract: A wafer-level manufacturing method produces stress compensated x-y gimbaled comb-driven MEMS mirror arrays using two SOI wafers and a single carrier wafer. MEMS structures such as comb drives, springs, and optical surfaces are formed by processing front substrate layer surfaces of the SOI wafers, bonding together the processed surfaces, and removing the unprocessed SOI layers to expose second surfaces of the front substrate layers for further wafer-level processing. The bonded SOI wafers are mounted to a surface of the carrier wafer that has been separately processed. Processing wafer surfaces may include formation of a stress compensation layer to counteract physical effects of MEMS mirrors to be formed in a subsequent step. The method may form multi-layered conductive spring structures for the mirrors, each spring having a first conducting layer for energizing a comb drive, a second conducting layer imparting a restoring force, and an insulating layer between the first and second conducting layers.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method adaptively compresses the dynamic range of an image from a sensor by rescaling the value of every pixel to fit within the dynamic range of a low dynamic range display while preserving local image contrast and global scene appearance.

Abstract: A transistor heterogeneously integrating a power amplifier or switch with a low-noise amplifier having a substrate wafer selected from a group consisting of Gallium Arsenide (GaAs), Indium Phosphate (InP) and Gallium Antimonide (GaSb), the substrate wafer having a first end and a second end, a conducting layer above the first end of the substrate wafer, an isolation implant providing lateral isolation in the conducting layer, a first active layer deposited above the conducting layer and configured for the low-noise amplifier, and a buffer layer deposited above the conducting layer and configured for the low-noise amplifier.

Abstract: A three dimensional integrated circuit and method for making the same. The three dimensional integrated circuit has a first and a second active circuit layers with a first metal layer and a second metal layer, respectively. The metal layers are connected by metal inside a buried via. The fabrication method includes etching a via in the first active circuit layer to expose the first metal layer without penetrating the first metal layer, depositing metal inside the via, the metal inside the via being in contact with the first metal layer, and bonding the second active circuit layer to the first active circuit layer using a metal bond that connects the metal inside the via to the second metal layer of the second active circuit layer.

Abstract: An imaging system implementing a scheme for enhancing the dynamic range of the device. An array of radiation detecting pixels produces an output in response to a stimulus. The signal from each pixel is read once for evaluation. If the voltage at an individual pixel satisfies a programmed condition, such as exceeding a predetermined threshold voltage at a particular time, that pixel is reset and begins producing an output signal anew. If the pixel output signal does not satisfy the condition, it is allowed to continue producing the signal without being reset. After the evaluation read, all of the pixels are then read row by row into a buffer and digitally processed. A memory register tracks which pixels have been reset, and the corresponding output signals are adjusted accordingly. This scheme allows the system to process input signals across a broader range of intensity without losing information due to pixel saturation or sacrificing sensitivity.