Abstract: A method for monitoring a select analyte in a sample in an electrochemical system. The method includes applying to the electrochemical system a time-varying potential superimposed on a DC potential to generate a signal; and discerning from the signal a contribution from the select analyte by resolving an estimation equation based on a Faradaic signal component and a nonfaradaic signal component.

Abstract: An anaerobic biological reactor comprising an anaerobic digester having a chamber configured to receive a microbial suspension, a chamber inlet configured to direct an organic waste stream into the digester, and ion-exchange fibers within the chamber in position to contact and chemically react with microbial suspension received into the chamber.

Abstract: A device for measuring activity of cultured cells includes a position detecting unit specifying a position of a cell to be measured, a microchamber controlling unit disposing in the culture container a microchamber which surrounds the cell and forms a measurement space, the measurement space being minute with respect to a volume of the culture container, and a measuring unit measuring environmental factors contained in the measurement space.

Abstract: The present invention relates to: a paper-based surface-enhanced Raman scattering (SERS) substrate comprising metal nanoparticles, which are uniformly distributed and adsorbed on a designed pattern and have a diameter of 1 nm to 100 nm; a point-of-care (POC) diagnostic kit, comprising the paper-based SERS substrate; and a method for preparing the paper-based SERS substrate.

Abstract: A system and machine readable medium for nucleic acid sequencing includes disposing template polynucleotide strands in defined spaces disposed on a sensor array, at least some of the template polynucleotide strands having a sequencing primer and a polymerase operably bound therewith; exposing the template polynucleotide strands to a series of flows of nucleotide species flowed according to a predetermined ordering; and determining, for each of the series of flows of nucleotide species, how many nucleotide incorporations occurred for that particular flow to determine a predicted sequence of nucleotides corresponding to the template polynucleotide strands, wherein the predetermined ordering (a) is not a series of consecutive repetitions of a 4-flow permutation of four different nucleotide species, (b) is not specifically tailored to a particular combination of a particular template polynucleotide strand to be sequenced and a particular sequencing primer to be used, and (c) comprises a phase-protecting flow orde

Abstract: A system and method for determining the purity level of hydrogen gas fuel provided to an anode side of a fuel cell stack, and then modifying models and algorithms used by the system based on the purity level. The method includes determining whether predetermined criteria have been met that are necessary to obtain an accurate hydrogen gas fuel purity level, and if so, comparing a measured voltage or current of the fuel cell stack to a modeled voltage or current of the fuel cell stack. If the comparison between the measured voltage or current and the modeled voltage or current is greater than a predetermined threshold, then the method adapts a hydrogen gas concentration value to a lower purity level to be used by downstream models.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to devices and instruments for detecting and individually analyzing biomolecules, biomolecular complexes and biomolecules with ligands attached thereon.

Abstract: A method of testing a system, which has at least one electrochemical sensor for detecting an analyte gas within a housing of the system, and the housing has an inlet, includes exhaling in the vicinity of the inlet of the housing of the system and measuring a response to exhaled breath to test one or more transport paths of the system. Measuring the response to exhaled breath may, for example, include measuring the response of a sensor within the housing of the system that is responsive to the presence of exhaled breath. The sensor responsive to the presence of exhaled breath may, for example, include an electrochemically active electrode responsive to a gas within exhaled breath. The electrochemically active electrode may, for example, be responsive to carbon dioxide or to oxygen.

Abstract: The inventions provided herein relate to detection reagents, compositions, methods, and kits comprising the detection reagents for use in detection, identification, and/or quantification of analytes in a sample. Such detection reagents and methods described herein allow multiplexing of many more labeled species in the same procedure than conventional methods, in which multiplexing is limited by the number of available and practically usable colors.

Abstract: A method of treating a gas sensor with an improved pulse discharge technique is provided by adding measurements of additional parameters, modification of the data processing algorithm, and establishing new calibration procedure in the low, intermediate and high concentration ranges of NOx. Additional measurements of the charge transfer during the charging pulses of the pulse discharge technique are made, and utilizing these data in combination with discharge rates during the pauses of the pulse discharge technique allows for combined measurements of O2 and NOx, in the combustion exhaust.

Abstract: Provided herein are methods and devices for characterizing a biomolecule parameter by a nanopore-containing membrane, and also methods for making devices that can be used in the methods and devices provided herein. The nanopore membrane is a multilayer stack of conducting layers and dielectric layers, wherein an embedded conducting layer or conducting layer gates provides well-controlled and measurable electric fields in and around the nanopore through which the biomolecule translocates. In an aspect, the conducting layer is graphene.

Abstract: A system and method for rapidly determining ambient temperature in a fluid-analyte meter. The meter includes a housing defining an interior space and an area for receiving a fluid sample. A processor and a first temperature sensor are disposed within the interior space of said the housing. A second temperature sensor is disposed on the housing. One or more processors are configured to determine a first temperature value from temperature data received from the first temperature sensor. The processor(s) are also configured to apply a variable current to a temperature-adjustment source such that the second temperature sensor is adjusted to a predetermined steady-state temperature value different from the first temperature value. The processor(s) are further configured to determine an ambient temperature of an exterior space of the housing based on the applied variable current, pre-determined steady-state temperature, and received first temperature values.

Abstract: Provided is a pulse operating method for an FET-type sensor having a horizontal floating electrode. The pulse operating method for an FET-type sensor includes a reading preparation step of applying one or more pre-bias voltage pulses (Vpre) to the control electrode and a reading step of applying one or more read-bias voltage pulses (VrCG) to the control electrode and applying a voltage pulse (VrDs) synchronized with the read-bias voltage pulse between a drain and a source. The reactivity and the recovery time can be improved according to the width or the magnitude of the pre-bias voltage pulse applied to the input terminal of the control electrode, and the oxidizing gas and the reducing gas can be distinguished. In addition, since current flows to the FET-type sensor only in the read-biasing period, power consumption can be greatly reduced.

Abstract: An object of the present invention is that variations in an applied membrane potential in the planar patch clamp device are suppressed to reduce a noise current, thereby enabling accurate measurement of an ion channel current. Disclosed is a planar patch clamp device including: an electrically insulative substrate provided with one or more fine through holes; a liquid reservoir that holds a conductive liquid provided on both surface sides of the through hole; and energizable electrode sections provided in the liquid reservoir; these electrode sections including: (a) an electrode vessel, at least part of which is made of an inorganic porous material, (b) an electrode in which a chloride NmCl layer is formed on the surface of a noble metal Nm, and (c) an electrode solution containing NmCl and an alkali metal chloride being dissolved therein at a saturated concentration.

Abstract: A method for contacting at least two metal electrodes, wherein the metal electrodes are located in a cavity of a basic body of sintered ceramic and frontal end faces of the metal electrodes. The metal electrodes are arranged essentially planparallel to an outer surface of the basic body. The method includes steps as follows: introducing a solder into at least one hole of the basic body, wherein the hole is so embodied that it leads to a rear portion of the metal electrode away from the frontal end face of the metal electrode wherein the solder can wet the rear portion of the metal electrode, wherein the metal electrodes are in their longitudinal direction shorter than the basic body, especially have only ? of the length of the basic body; introducing a cable into the hole at least until the cable extends into the solder; and heating the basic body with solder and cable above the solidification temperature of the solder.

Abstract: The invention relates to an electrochemical sensor for the determination of a concentration of at least one analyte in a medium, in particular a body tissue and/or a body fluid, to an apparatus that includes the electrochemical sensor, and to a use of the electrochemical sensor, and finally to a method for producing it. The electrochemical sensor has an isolation element and at least two electrodes. The at least two electrodes comprise at least one working electrode and at least one further electrode, in particular at least one counter electrode and/or at least one reference electrode. The at least two electrodes run parallel to one another and form an electrochemical measuring cell of the electrochemical sensor.

Abstract: A method of tracking an object including producing a guided surface wave with a guided surface waveguide probe, the guided surface wave having sufficient energy density to power object identification tags across an area of interest; receiving return signals from a tag of interest at plural receivers, the tag of interest associated with an object and the receivers that receive the return signals change over time as the tag moves with the associated object in the area of interest; and identifying a series of geolocations at which the object was present as a function of time according to the received reply signals from the tag.

Abstract: A personal blood glucose meter and a method for sensing abnormal measurement using the same are disclosed. A personal blood glucose meter includes: a sensor strip for collecting and applying a blood sample, wherein the sensor strip includes a reagent; an electrode unit including a plurality of electrodes for receiving the blood sample from the sensor strip to generate electric current based on potential differences; an MCU for measuring currents value generated from the electrode unit to determine whether a glucose value of the blood sample is normal or abnormal; a potential supply unit for applying a predetermined potential to the electrode unit; and a display unit displaying resultant output from the MCU.

Abstract: The present invention has an object of improving the measurement accuracy in a biological information measurement device, e.g., for measuring a blood glucose level. The device is configured to be able to change at least one of i) a voltage value to be applied to the second input terminal and the third input terminal (i.e., the blood component measurement counter electrode 7 and the blood component measurement working electrode 6) in the second biological information measurement mode D and ii) a voltage application time during which a voltage is applied to the second input terminal and the third input terminal in the second biological information measurement mode D based on the first biological information in the first biological information measurement mode A. A hematocrit value is measured in the first biological information measurement mode A, and a glucose value is measured based on the hematocrit value in the second biological information measurement mode D.

Abstract: A gas monitoring system and a gas monitoring method make it possible to identify plural gas sensors having a single specification and which are connected to one trunk line. Trunk line connectors have identification configurations for allowing information concerning positions where the trunk line connectors to be identified are arranged. Hydrogen sensors have a single specification (the same specification). When connectors of the hydrogen sensors are fitted to the trunk line connectors, the hydrogen sensors store the sensor IDs, which are assigned to the hydrogen sensors, in memory units based on the identification configurations of the trunk line connectors.

Abstract: A system for measuring a property of a sample is provided. The system comprises a diagnostic measuring device having a memory and a diagnostic test strip for collecting the sample. The strip has embedded thereon a pattern representative of at least first data and second data, the first data being data representing at least one of parameters related to measuring the property, codes usable for calibration of the diagnostic measuring device, or parameters indicating proper connection between the measuring device and the test strip and the second data usable for detecting and rejecting potential errors affecting the proper measurement of the property.

Abstract: A discharge device capable of maintaining a stable discharge performance even in a highly humid environment or an atmospheric environment containing salt includes a discharge electrode discharging when a voltage is applied thereto, a substrate supporting the discharge electrode, an induction electrode arranged apart from the discharge electrode, and an insulator enclosing all of the substrate and the induction electrode. The discharge electrode has a root portion supported by the substrate, a pointed end protruding from a surface of the insulator, and a taper portion tapering from the root portion toward the pointed end. An outer peripheral surface of the root portion is made of a material having an ionization tendency lower than that of hydrogen.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and other embodiments associated with gas detecting sensors. According to one embodiment, a gas sensor includes a metal layer, a barrier interlayer, a substrate layer, a first insulating layer, a conduction path, a contact pad, and a second insulating layer. The conduction path connects the metal layer to the contact pad. The second insulating layer prevents diffusion through the contact pad, the conduction path, or the metal layer. The sensor includes a wire bonded electrical connection to the contact pad such that voltage can be determined and/or applied.

Abstract: Representative embodiments provide a composition for printing a liquid or gel separator utilized to separate and space apart first and second conductors or electrodes of an energy storage device, such as a battery or a supercapacitor. A representative composition comprises a plurality of particles, typically having a size (in any dimension) between about 0.5 to about 50 microns; a first, ionic liquid electrolyte; and a polymer or polymeric precursor. In another representative embodiment, the plurality of particles comprise diatoms, diatomaceous frustules, and/or diatomaceous fragments or remains. Another representative embodiment further comprises a second electrolyte different from the first electrolyte; the plurality of particles are comprised of silicate glass; the first and second electrolytes comprise zinc tetrafluoroborate salt in 1-ethyl-3-methylimidalzolium tetrafluoroborate ionic liquid; and the polymer comprises polyvinyl alcohol (“PVA”) or polyvinylidene fluoride (“PVFD”).

Abstract: Lateral flow immunoassay devices for determining the concentration of an analyte in a sample and methods for measuring analyte concentration in sample using such lateral flow immunoassay devices.

Abstract: An energy storage device includes a printed current collector layer, where the printed current collector layer includes nickel flakes and a current collector conductive carbon additive. The energy storage device includes a printed electrode layer printed over the current collector layer, where the printed electrode layer includes an ionic liquid and an electrode conductive carbon additive. The ionic liquid can include 1-ethyl-3-methylimidazolium tetrafluoroborate (C2mimBF4). The current collector conductive carbon can include graphene and the electrode conductive carbon additive can include graphite, graphene, and/or carbon nanotubes.

Abstract: Various embodiments for methods and systems that allow for a more accurate analyte concentration with a biosensor by determining at least one physical characteristic of the sample containing the analyte and deriving one of a batch slope, sampling time, or combinations thereof to attain accurate glucose concentration.

Abstract: A method of measuring hematocrit (HCT) and a measurement device using in the method and depends on an electrode test specimen to create a capacitor charging effect and consequential change in discharge current for measurement of hematocrit. The method of measuring hematocrit comprises steps as follows: (a) Instill blood into a pair of test electrodes which is installed in the present invention and apply a voltage to the pair of test electrodes; (b) Remove the voltage applied to the pair of test electrodes and measure a discharge current value; (c) Refer to a predetermined decision rule and the discharge current to obtain a hematocrit value for blood. As such, the present invention which relies on an electrode test specimen in measurement of hematocrit corresponding to a discharge current value during electric discharge contributes to precision and reliability in contrast to conventional hematocrit tests.

Abstract: A diagnostic Electrochemical Impedance Spectroscopy (EIS) procedure is applied to measure values of impedance-related parameters for one or more sensing electrodes. The parameters may include real impedance, imaginary impedance, impedance magnitude, and/or phase angle. The measured values of the impedance-related parameters are then used in performing sensor diagnostics, calculating a highly-reliable fused sensor glucose value based on signals from a plurality of redundant sensing electrodes, calibrating sensors, detecting interferents within close proximity of one or more sensing electrodes, and testing surface area characteristics of electroplated electrodes. Advantageously, impedance-related parameters can be defined that are substantially glucose-independent over specific ranges of frequencies. An Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC) enables implementation of the EIS-based diagnostics, fusion algorithms, and other processes based on measurement of EIS-based parameters.

Abstract: Various methods for operating an oxygen sensor are provided. In one example, a method of operating an oxygen sensor comprises applying power to a heater of the oxygen sensor, and indicating whether water is in contact with the oxygen sensor based on a time rate of change of a temperature of the oxygen sensor.

Abstract: An abnormality determination device is applied to an electrostatic capacitance type fuel property sensor that has a sensing section that senses an electrostatic capacitance of a fuel to be detected. The abnormality determination device of the fuel property sensor acquires a first output that is an output when a predetermined voltage is applied to the sensing section and a second output that is an output when a voltage is not applied to the sensing section. The acquired first output and second output are compared and whether or not the fuel property sensor is abnormal is determined.

Abstract: An apparatus comprising: first and second aligned roller pairs each having a nip between the aligned rollers of each aligned roller pair, wherein each of the first and second roller pairs have parallel axes of rotation, wherein each of the first and second aligned roller pairs is configured to electrically excite a portion of the web passed through the nip and to measure an electrical property of the excited web, wherein the first and second aligned roller pairs are configured to electrically excite a portion of the web passed through their respective nips are configured to provide a line of charge parallel to the axes of rotation of the respective roller pairs, and wherein the rollers of the aligned roller pairs are each electrically insulated from each other and from the apparatus; and a processing unit configured to at least analyze the measured electrical properties.

Abstract: Apparatus (2) for sensing at least one parameter in water, which apparatus (2) comprises: (i) at least one electrode based sensor (4, 6) for sensing at least one parameter in water; and which apparatus (2) is such that: (ii) the electrode based sensor (4, 6) has a self-cleaning electrode; (iii) the electrode based sensor (4, 6) has a reference electrode; (iv) the self-cleaning electrode is stable in water; (v) the apparatus (2) is configured to operate by liberating chlorine from the water using a first waveform applied to the self-cleaning electrode; (VI) the apparatus (2) is configured to operate by liberating chlorine and oxygen from the water using a second waveform applied to the self-cleaning electrode; and (VII) the apparatus (2) is configured to preserve the condition of the reference electrode by periodically regenerating the reference electrode.

Abstract: The present invention has an object of improving the measurement accuracy in a biological information measurement device, e.g., for measuring a blood glucose level. The device is configured to be able to change at least one of i) a voltage value to be applied to the second input terminal and the third input terminal (i.e., the blood component measurement counter electrode 7 and the blood component measurement working electrode 6) in the second biological information measurement mode D and ii) a voltage application time during which a voltage is applied to the second input terminal and the third input terminal in the second biological information measurement mode D based on the first biological information in the first biological information measurement mode A. A hematocrit value is measured in the first biological information measurement mode A, and a glucose value is measured based on the hematocrit value in the second biological information measurement mode D.

Abstract: Techniques for performing bath metrology on electroplating mixtures are disclosed. In particular, the disclosed techniques can be used in conjection with traditional metrology methods such as cyclic voltammatric stripping (CVS), and are capable of detecting changes in bath components at a more sensitive level than CVS in some circumstances. In some instances, deviations in observed current values from potentiostatic methods vis-à-vis a calibration standard can provide indications of changes in the mixture, and provide an indicator when a depleted component has been sufficiently added to restore the mixture to a previous state.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a device substrate including an array of sensors. Each sensor of the array of sensors can include a electrode structure disposed at a surface of the device substrate. The apparatus further includes a wall structure overlying the surface of the device substrate and defining an array of wells at least partially corresponding with the array of sensors. The well structure including an electrode layer and an insulative layer.

Abstract: Systems and methods for discriminating between various gases, e.g., argon and helium, for enhanced safety of medical devices are provided. The present disclosure may take the form of a dedicated-use embodiment where a specific gas, helium for example, is expected, and an enabling or “Go” signal is issued when that gas is detected, or an inhibitory or “No-Go” signal when a gas is present that is not identified as helium. Alternately, a control line or input command can be used to select between helium and argon as the expected gas and then issue the appropriate “Go/No-Go” signal, depending on which gas is identified.

Abstract: A gas sensor utilizing carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is disclosed. The sensor can include a patch antenna, a feed line, and a stub line. The stub line can include a carbon nanotube (CNT) thin-film layer for gas detection. The CNTs can be functionalized to detect one or more analytes with specificity designed to detect, for example, environmental air contaminants, hazardous gases, or explosives. The sensor can provide extremely sensitive gas detection by monitoring the shift in resonant frequency of the sensor circuit resulting from the adsorption of the analyte by the CNT thin-film layer. The sensor can be manufactured using inkjet printing technologies to reduce costs. The integration of an efficient antenna on the same substrate as the sensor enables wireless applications of the sensor without additional components, for wireless standoff chemical sensing applications including, for example, defense, industrial monitoring, environmental sensing, automobile exhaust analysis, and healthcare applications.

Abstract: A method for assessing the quality of a membrane electrode assembly (MEA), the method comprising: applying a first voltage across the thickness of a first (MEA) passed through a nip of a first pair of rollers thereby providing a first charge to the first MEA; determining a first electrical figure of merit (FOM) of the first charged MEA at a first period of time; after the first period of time applying a second voltage across the thickness of the first (MEA) passed through a nip of a second pair of rollers thereby providing a second charge to the first (MEA); determining a second electrical (FOM) of the second charged first (MEA) at a second, later period of time; and calculating a total electrical (FOM) using the first and second electrical (FOM); and comparing the total electrical (FOM) to a predetermined quality value to assess the quality of the first (MEA).

Abstract: Described and illustrated herein are systems and exemplary methods of operating an analyte measurement system having a meter and a test strip. The methods and systems describe herein allow for trapping various errors during calculation of the analyte due to variations in the structure and materials making up the test strip and ambient temperatures.

Abstract: The electronic structure of nanowires, nanotubes and thin films deposited on a substrate is varied by doping with electrons or holes. The electronic structure can then be tuned by varying the support material or by applying a gate voltage. The electronic structure can be controlled to absorb a gas, store a gas, or release a gas, such as hydrogen, oxygen, ammonia, carbon dioxide, and the like.

Abstract: Sensor devices disclosed herein allow multiple analytes or organisms to be individually tagged and selectively detected. When a binding event occurs one or more nanoswitches close and the corresponding array resistance value produces a voltage imbalance in the Wheatstone Bridge. The voltage detected by the voltage meter will then exhibit unique value change corresponding to the particular nanoswitche(s) in the array that are closed due to a binding event. Similarly the same functionalization chemistry can be used on all nanoswitches so that the voltage detected by the voltage meter corresponds to concentration levels of the target analyte. Multiple functionalization chemistries on each switch can also be used to improve selectivity for more complex analytes. In some disclosed embodiments, the Wheatstone bridge voltage is tied to a predetermined resistance change rather than to smaller resistance changes that would occur from functionalization of one leg of a nanowire Wheatstone bridge.

Abstract: A sensing apparatus using a radio frequency and a manufacturing method thereof is provided. A sensing apparatus using a radio frequency includes a protecting layer configured to protect a substrate from migration of electrons occurring as the radio frequency is applied to a first electrode and a second electrode, a channel forming layer configured to form a channel based on a field between the first electrode and the second electrode, the channel forming layer using a polarized carbon-based nano material to form the channel, and a sensing layer configured to sense glucose using a medium material that is attached on the carbon-based nano material.

Abstract: If incorporated in a cleaning system using persulfuric acid, the invention serves for continuous cleaning while increasing the persulfuric acid concentration adequately to ensure enhanced cleaning performance. The invention provides a feeding apparatus that feeds persulfuric acid to a cleaning apparatus. The cleaning system uses an electrolysis reactor 10 that regenerates the persulfuric acid solution by performing electrolytic reaction to produce persulfate ions from sulfate ions contained in the solution, and a circulation line 4, 5, 6 that circulates the persulfuric acid solution between the cleaning vessel 1 and the electrolysis reactor 10. Configured as above, the invention can provides a feeding apparatus. The cleaning system comprises said configuration and a cleaning vessel 1 that cleans objects 30 using a persulfuric acid solution 2 as cleaning fluid.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a sensor for detecting hydrogen ions in an aqueous solution comprising a support, a reference electrode, a working electrode and a counter electrode supported by said support, the reference electrode being made of a material comprising silver and silver chloride, the counter electrode being made of a conductive material. The working electrode comprises a substrate and a layer made of an inherently electrically conductive polymer of the polythiophene or polyaniline (PANI) or polypyrrole class.

Abstract: An improved qualitative or semi-quantitative diagnostic test for low levels of any analyte, such as hCG, in a biological sample, such as urine. The test comprises of a test device containing reagents for the detection of the monitored analyte and an electronic reader that measures color development at a detection area of the device. The color development is converted to an electronic or digital signal. Improvements were made to the detection process to optimize the detection of a valid fluid front, increase the detection limit without compromising the reliability and accuracy of the test system, and improve the determination of test result validity.

Abstract: A measuring arrangement for registering an analyte concentration in a measured medium includes a three electrode arrangement having a working electrode, a reference electrode and a counter electrode. The working electrode includes an analyte-insensitive, redox mediator, and the reference electrode a pH-sensitive electrode. The counter electrode can be formed of an inert, electrically conductive material. The measuring arrangement can be embodied to provide a desired voltage between the working electrode and the reference electrode and to register the electrical current flowing, in such case, through the measured medium, between the counter electrode and the working electrode.

Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure include a sensor configured to store in memory indications of sensor use information and formulas or indications of formulas for determining the useful life of a sensor from the indications of sensor use information. A monitor connected to the sensor monitors sensor use and stores indications of the use on sensor memory. The monitor and/or sensor compute the useful life of the sensor from the indications of use and the formulas. When the useful life of the sensor is reached, an indication is given to replace the sensor.

Abstract: Methods are provided for carrying out DNA sequencing on a device having upper and lower conductive layers separated by an insulative layer. Holes in the upper conductive layer create discrete attachment sites for DNA fragments. Voltage is applied to the surface to control affinity between the attachment sites and the DNA fragments, and to compact the DNA fragments for discrete optical detection.

Abstract: A method for fabricating an optically transparent conductor including depositing a plurality of metal nanowires on a substrate, annealing or illuminating the plurality of metal nanowires to thermally or optically fuse nanowire junctions between metal nanowires to form a metal nanowire network, disposing a graphene layer over the metal nanowire network to form a nanohybrid layer comprising the graphene layer and the metal nanowire network, depositing a dielectric passivation layer over the nanohybrid layer, patterning the dielectric passivation layer using lithography, printing, or any other method of patterning to define an area for the optically transparent conductor, and etching the patterned dielectric passivation layer to define the optically transparent conductor.