Abstract: A mold sensor include a housing that defines an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes a substrate advancement mechanism that is configured to selectively move the substrate to expose a surface of the substrate within the chamber. The mold sensor includes a sensor configured to detect mold growth on the substrate within the chamber.

Abstract: A mold sensor is configured with an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes an optical sensor that is configured to measure optical properties in the enclosed chamber. A controller operates the optical sensor and is programmed to detect a presence of mold growing in the chamber based on the optical properties measured by the optical sensor.

Abstract: A mold sensor is configured with an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes a sensing system that is configured to measure properties of pressure waves within the enclosed chamber. A controller operates the sensing system and is programmed to detect a presence of mold growing in the chamber based on the characteristics of the pressure wave response within the chamber.

Abstract: A mold sensor is configured with an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes a sensor for measuring electrical properties of the substrate. The substrate includes conductive elements to interface with a controller to measure the electrical properties. The controller operates the sensor and is programmed to detect a presence of mold growing in the chamber based on the electrical properties.

Abstract: A modular container such as a mobile refrigerator is configured to attach to a larger in-home refrigerator. The modular container has an attachment feature configured to selectively attach and detach from a first attachment feature of the larger refrigerator to enable the modular container to be selectively attached and detached from the interior compartment of the larger refrigerator. A door of the modular container is configured to selectively enclose an interior of the modular container. The modular container has its own dedicated refrigeration system mounted thereon, enabling the modular container to act as its own refrigerator once removed from the larger refrigerator.

Abstract: A mold sensor is configured with an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes a sensing system that is configured to measure a property of the substrate that corresponds to a pH value of the substrate. A controller operates the sensing system and is programmed to detect a presence of mold growing in the chamber by estimating the pH value from the measured property.

Abstract: A system for detecting mold includes a housing defining a chamber and an opening through a surface. The system includes a movable grate for selectively covering the opening. The system includes a substrate treated to promote mold growth. The system includes a mechanism for moving the substrate to move previously unexposed portions into the chamber. The system includes a thermal control system to maintain predetermined environmental conditions in the chamber. The system includes a sensor configured to detect mold growth in the chamber. The system includes a mold suppressor to kill mold in the chamber when activated. The system includes a controller to coordinate operation of the components to detect mold growth in an environment.

Abstract: A modular deformable electronics platform is attachable to a deformable surface, such as skin. The platform is tolerant to surface deformation and motion, can flex in and out of a plane of the platform without hindering operability of electrical components included on the platform, and is formed via arrangement of discrete flexible tiles, with corners of adjacent tiles connected by a flexible connection material so that individual tiles can translate and rotate relative to each other. Interconnects disposed on bases of separate tiles electrically connect adjacent tiles via their connected corners, and electrically connect components disposed on different tiles. Each pair of adjacent corner connections defines an axis about which at least a portion of the platform can flex without deformation and without hindering connections between tiles. The flexible material and/or bases of the tiles can include Parylene.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a monitoring device to generate calibrated vital sign data using a calibration device includes positioning the monitoring device in a first position on a patient, generating vital sign data with a sensing assembly of the positioned monitoring device, and processing the vital sign data with the calibration device to determine if the vital sign data is calibrated vital sign data or uncalibrated vital sign data. The method also includes generating a calibrated data signal if the vital sign data is calibrated vital sign data, generating a reposition signal if the vital sign data is uncalibrated vital sign data, and repositioning the monitoring device on the patient until the calibrated data signal is generated.

Abstract: A flexible electronic system includes a flexible electronic substrate having a first and second contact pads opposed to each other, one of the first and second contact pads is electrically coupled to a battery. A protective cover is disposed on the flexible electronic substrate. The flexible electronic system further includes a base support fixedly attached to the flexible electronic substrate, the base support having an adhesive surface opposed to the flexible electronic substrate, and a foil having a first portion removably coupled to at least a portion of the adhesive surface and a second portion, wherein the foil configures to permit a removal of the second portion disposed between the first and second contact pads and wherein the removal of the second portion activates the system.

Abstract: A flexible electronic device includes a flexible electronic circuit and a flexible microfluidic sensor homogeneously integrated into the flexible circuit. The flexible sensor includes a flexible microfluidic structure, a first material, a second material, and an electrode arrangement. At least one of the first and second materials is a fluid. The structure defines at least one microfluidic chamber. The first and second materials are disposed in the chamber. The second material has a physical property and an electrical property different from the first material. The electrode arrangement includes at least one pair of electrodes spaced apart from each other with at least a portion of the at least one chamber located functionally directly therebetween such that at least one electronic property measured across the pair is based on a relationship between the second material and the electrode pair. The relationship is based on a physical condition of the microfluidic structure.

Abstract: A MEMS device, e.g., a flexible MEMS pressure sensor, is formed by disposing a sacrificial layer, such as photoresist, on a substrate. A first flexible support layer is disposed on the substrate, and a first conductive layer is disposed over a portion of the first support layer. A liquid or gel separator, e.g., silicone oil, is disposed on an internal region of the first conductive layer. A second flexible support layer encapsulates the first conductive layer and the separator. A second conductive layer disposed over the second support layer at least partially overlaps the first conductive layer and forms a parallel plate capacitor. A third flexible support layer encapsulates the second conductive layer and second support layer. Soaking the sensor in hot water releases the sensor from the sacrificial layer.

Abstract: A system for selectively carbonizing a polymer coating on a substrate includes a laser, a memory, and a controller. The memory stores data associated with at least one characteristic of a substrate having a coating that includes a polymer material. The controller is operatively connected to the laser, and is configured to control the laser based on the data such that, in an open-air environment, an interaction between the laser and the polymer material carbonizes a portion of the coating, but does not sustain combustion of the polymer material. A method of producing an article with a selectively carbonized coating includes controlling a laser system such that interaction between a laser and a polymer material forming a coating on a substrate carbonizes a portion of the coating, but does not sustain a combustion of the polymer material in an open-air environment.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a blood pressure monitoring system includes activating a reference monitor to perform a reference measurement of the blood pressure of a user as part of a calibration process. A wearable sensing device is activated to detect a parameter of user that is correlatable to the user's blood pressure. A processor of the user interface device processes the at least one parameter detected by the wearable blood pressure sensing device with reference to the reference measurement to determine a correlation factor that correlates the at least one parameter detected by the wearable blood pressure sensing device to the blood pressure of the user. The reference measurement includes an inflation phase, a measurement phase and a deflation phase. The processor is configured to only use the at least one parameter detected by the wearable blood pressure sensing device during the measurement phase in determining the correlation factor.

Abstract: A system for selectively carbonizing a polymer coating on a substrate includes a laser, a memory, and a controller. The memory stores data associated with at least one characteristic of a substrate having a coating that includes a polymer material. The controller is operatively connected to the laser, and is configured to control the laser based on the data such that, in an open-air environment, an interaction between the laser and the polymer material carbonizes a portion of the coating, but does not sustain combustion of the polymer material. A method of producing an article with a selectively carbonized coating includes controlling a laser system such that interaction between a laser and a polymer material forming a coating on a substrate carbonizes a portion of the coating, but does not sustain a combustion of the polymer material in an open-air environment.

Abstract: A sensor comprises a substrate having a first surface; a cap structure connected to the substrate, the cap structure configured to define a cavity between an inner surface of the cap structure and the first surface of the substrate, the cap structure configured to block infrared radiation from entering the cavity from outside the cap structure; a plurality of absorbers, each absorber in the plurality of absorbers being connected to the first surface of the substrate and arranged at a respective position within the cavity and configured to absorb infrared radiation at the respective position within the cavity; and a plurality of readout circuits, each readout circuit in the plurality of readout circuits being connected to a respective absorber in the plurality of absorbers and configured to provide a measurement signal that indicates an amount of infrared radiation absorbed by the respective absorber.

Abstract: A flexible electronic system includes a flexible electronic substrate having a first and second contact pads opposed to each other, one of the first and second contact pads is electrically coupled to a battery. A protective cover is disposed on the flexible electronic substrate. The flexible electronic system further includes a base support fixedly attached to the flexible electronic substrate, the base support having an adhesive surface opposed to the flexible electronic substrate, and a foil having a first portion removably coupled to at least a portion of the adhesive surface and a second portion, wherein the foil configures to permit a removal of the second portion disposed between the first and second contact pads and wherein the removal of the second portion activates the system.

Abstract: A blood pressure and cardiac monitoring system includes a sensing assembly, processor, memory, communication interface, and any suitable computer implemented modules communicatively coupled to each other via a bus. The sensing assembly comprises a first, second, and third sensor. The first sensor is located at a first axis of a target generating a first time-dependent motion waveform representative of one or more contractile properties of the target's heart, and the second sensor is located at a second axis of the target generating a second time dependent motion waveform representative of the target's blood flow. The processor is configured to receive the first waveform and the second waveform, and to determine a first time difference between a vital sign present in the first waveform and the second waveform.

Abstract: A blood pressure and cardiac monitoring system includes a sensing assembly, a processor, a memory, a communication interface, and any suitable computer implemented modules communicatively coupled to each other via a bus. The sensing assembly comprises of a first sensor (single or multi-axes) located at a first axis of a target generating a first time-dependent motion waveform representative of one or more contractile properties of the target's heart and a second sensor (single or multi-axes) located at a second axis of the target generating a second time dependent motion waveform representative of the target's blood flow. The first and second sensor can be integrated in a multi-axes sensor which sense both the axes. The processor is configured to receive the first time dependent motion waveform and the second time dependent motion waveform, and to determine a first time difference between a vital sign present in the first time dependent motion waveform and the second time dependent motion waveform.

Abstract: The sensor comprises a reference bolometer and a plurality of sensing bolometers. Each sensing bolometer is arranged adjacent to the reference bolometer. Each bolometer comprises (i) a substrate, (ii) a cap structure connected to the substrate, the cap structure configured to define a cavity between an inner surface of the cap structure and a first surface of the substrate, (iii) an absorber connected the substrate and arranged within the cavity, the absorber configured to absorb infrared radiation within the cavity, and (iv) a readout circuit connected to the absorber and configured to provide a signal that indicates an amount of infrared radiation absorbed by the absorber. The cap structure of the reference bolometer blocks infrared radiation from entering the cavity from outside the cap structure. The cap structure of each sensing bolometers allows infrared radiation to enter the cavity from outside the cap structure.