Abstract: The present invention comprises a fabric-based sensor for monitoring vital signs or other electrical impulses of a subject. The sensor is woven or knitted from conductive fibers and, when in contact with the body, receives signals from the wearer and transmits them to a processing or monitoring device through a data-output terminal. The sensor may be integrated into the fabric of a garment or used independently as a conductive patch. Additionally, the sensor may provide bi-directional communication by both monitoring electrical impulses and sending them.

Abstract: Nanostructures and methods of fabricating nanostructures are disclosed. A representative nanostructure includes a substrate having at least one semiconductor oxide. In addition, the nanostructure has a substantially rectangular cross-section. A method of preparing a plurality of semiconductor oxide nanostructures that have a substantially rectangular cross-section from an oxide powder is disclosed. A representative method includes: heating the oxide powder to an evaporation temperature of the oxide powder for about 1 hour to about 3 hours at about 200 torr to about 400 torr in an atmosphere comprising argon; evaporating the oxide powder; and forming the plurality of semiconductor oxide nanostructures.

Abstract: A method and system for remotely inspecting the integrity of a structure. This can be performed by a method creating a vibratory response in the structure from a remote location and then measuring the vibratory response of the structure remotely. Alternatively, this can be performed by a system for remotely measuring the integrity of a structure using a vehicle and an artificial neural network, where the vehicle is equipped with a vibratory response device. The vibratory response can be produced by infrasonic and audio frequencies that can be produced by at least a vehicle, motor, or sound recording. The vibratory response can be measured with a laser vibrometer or an audio recording device.

Abstract: In one exemplary embodiment, a programmable analog array (PAA) contains a configurable analog matrix having two floating-gate field effect transistors (FETs). Also contained in the PAA is an interconnect circuit that is programmable to configure the configurable analog matrix to operate in one or more of several matrix modes. A few examples of such matrix modes include a switching matrix mode, a memory matrix mode, and a computing matrix mode. In an exemplary method of configuring the PAA. PAA, the the method includes programming an interconnection, for example, between a first terminal of the first floating-gate FET and a first terminal of the second floating-gate FET. The method further includes programming an interconnection, for example, between a gate terminal of the first floating-gate FET and a fixed voltage source, for setting a floating gate charge on the first floating-gate FET.

Abstract: A sensor is disclosed. A representative sensor includes a silicon substrate having a porous silicon region. A portion of the porous silicon region has a front contact is disposed thereon. The contact resistance between the porous silicon region and the front contact is between about 10 ohms and 100 ohms.

Abstract: A real-time system and method for measuring stickies by separating high molecular weight non-fibrous species from low molecular weight non-fibrous species and sensing the concentration of the high molecular weight species. Specifically, a fiber slurry containing stickies is filtered to remove fibers, fiber debris, and other large contaminant particles from the fiber slurry, after which the carbon content of the filtered sample is measured. Next, the filtrate is ultrafiltered to separate stickies having a high molecular weight from the filtrate, and subsequently, the carbon content of the ultrafiltered sample is measured. Finally, the carbon contents are used to determine the microstickies concentration in the fiber slurry.

Abstract: An apparatus for applying metered fluid such as sizing to an advancing individual yarn in a uniform manner. An elongated member includes at least one slot for receiving the advancing yarn and to bring the advancing yarn into contact with the metered fluid. The slot is defined by a width, a height and a length for affecting the distribution of the fluid on the advancing yarn. The length of the slot is dependent on the speed of the advancing yarn. The advancing yarn has a predetermined residence time in the slot as a function of the length of the slot and the speeding of the advancing yarn in the slot.

Abstract: Optical interconnect layers and methods of fabrication thereof are described. In addition, the optical interconnect layers integrated into devices such as backplane (BP), printed wiring board (PWB), and multi-chip module (MCM) level devices are described. A representative optical interconnect layer includes a first cladding layer, a second cladding layer, one or more waveguides having a waveguide core and an air-gap cladding layer engaging a portion of waveguide core, wherein the first cladding layer and the second cladding layer engage the waveguide.

Abstract: The present invention is a fully automated modified batch dyeing process that provides a process that reduces water consumption, reduces environmental pollution, and reduces the energy and chemical consumption of the conventional batch dyeing process through efficient reuse of spent dyebath. The invention provides a holding tank which stores the spent dyebath, and an analysis system which allows for the analysis of the dyebath in the holding tank so that the dyebath may be reconstituted and used in the batch dyeing process.

Abstract: The present invention provides a novel process and its required fluxable materials for building low-cost flip-chip interconnect structures. The novel process involves two fluxable materials, fluxable wafer-level compressive-flow underfill material (WLCFU) and fluxable tacky film, and applies these two materials on a wafer level. The two materials can provide sufficient fluxing capability during solder reflow and significant improvement of the fatigue life of the formed solder interconnects after fully cured.

Abstract: A method of joining electrically conductive materials comprises: Applying an electrically conductive adhesive to at least one electrically conductive material(s), wherein the electrically conductive adhesive is prepared from an epoxide-modified polyurethane, a cross-linking agent, an adhesion promotor and a conductive filler; and joining the electrically conductive material(s) with the applied adhesive to a substrate and curing the adhesive.

Abstract: An apparatus and process for dividing a nonwoven web into a plurality of ribbons. An assembly of converging ribbons receive and grip the incoming continuous web to create a travel distance differential. One portion of the continuous web is pulled through the assembly of belts at a different velocity than another adjacent portion of the continuous web. Because adjacent portions of the continuous web travel a different distance over a period of time, the orientation of fibers in the web between the two adjacent portions of the web is altered. As the fibers become oriented in the machine direction, the web begins to split into continuous ribbons of desired width.

Abstract: The present invention is generally directed to a system for lithiating alloys. In accordance with one aspect of the invention, a method is provided for performing vapor deposition of a lithium alloy on a substrate comprising the steps of vaporizing a mass of lithium and controllably heating a lithium-soluble element, such as magnesium. The method further includes the step of disposing the lithium-soluble element in the lithium vapor, wherein the lithium vapor promotes the vaporization of the lithium-soluble element to create a combined vapor having intimately mixed constituencies from both the lithium and lithium-soluble element. Finally, the method includes the step of disposing a temperature controlled substrate in the combined vapor, whereby the combined vapor is deposited on the substrate. In accordance with another aspect of the invention, a method is provided for depositing a lithium alloy onto a substrate for producing a lithium alloy electrode, which exhibits enhanced surface diffusion of lithium.

Abstract: The present invention provides surface coated phosphors useful in field emission displays and vacuum fluorescent displays. The surface coated phosphor comprises a thin coating of rare earth oxide, e.g., yttrium oxide, disposed on an uncoated phosphor such as a sulfide phosphor. The present invention further provides a process for preparing a surface coated phosphor comprising contacting the uncoated phosphor with a rare earth hydroxide gel solution to obtain a rare earth hydroxide gel coated phosphor, drying the gel coated phosphor to remove solvent residues, and heat treating the dried rare earth hydroxide gel coated phosphor. The surface coated phosphors of the present invention have improved cathodoluminescence efficiency, coulombic aging resistance, chemical, and/or oxidative stability.

Abstract: A communications and computing based urban transit system based on digital cellular communication, GPS locating technology, and digital computers to provide real-time command and control of passengers and vehicles with the objective of minimizing the social costs of urban transportation.

Abstract: A garment for infants comprises a comfort component serving as a base, a plurality of signal transmission paths integrated within the comfort component; and at least one interface that provides a transmission path between the information infrastructure component and an external device. In addition, the garment has the means to ensure a snug fit for the baby so that the sensors stay in place to minimize the risk of false alarms while the baby is safe and comfortable. This feature also helps to extend the usable life of the garment as the baby grows.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided which analyzes an image of an object to detect and identify defects in the object utilizing multi-dimensional wavelet neural networks. “The present invention generates a signal representing part of the object, then extracts certain features of the signal. These features are then provided to a multidimensional neural network for classification, which indicates if the features correlate with a predetermined pattern. This process of analyzing the features to detect and identify predetermined patterns results in a robust fault detection and identification system which is computationally efficient and economical because of the learning element contained therein which lessens the need for human assistance.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a microbially-driven Fenton reaction for the transformation of organic contaminants. The microbially-driven Fenton reaction combines abiotic and biotic reactions in one system by utilizing the H2O2— and Fe(II)-producing microorganism Shewanella putrefaciens to generate Fenton reagents as metabolic by-products of alternating aerobic and anaerobic respiration. Accordingly, the present invention is directed to a process for oxidatively degrading organic contaminants comprising reacting Fe(III) citrate with S. putrefaciens under alternating anaerobic and aerobic conditions to generate Fenton reagents Fe(II) and H2O2, further reacting the Fenton reagents under neutral pH conditions with the organic contaminant to produce degraded transformation products of the contaminant.

Abstract: A flip chip assembly is disclosed that includes a coplanar waveguide launch with a transmission line, and a bump interconnection that includes multiple ground bumps. The transmission line may be a radial transmission line. Similarly, the ground bumps may be arranged in a pseudo-coaxial configuration so as to effect a vertical transition in the flip chip assembly. A method is also disclosed that includes the steps of: providing a coplanar waveguide transmission line launch; providing a chip for attachment to the coplanar waveguide launch; arranging one or more ground bumps on the coplanar waveguide launch; and forming a bump interconnection between the coplanar waveguide launch and the chip. The coplanar waveguide launch provided in this method may include a radial transmission line. The step of arranging the multiple ground bumps may include the step of arranging multiple ground bumps in a pseudo-coaxial configuration.

Abstract: The present invention entails a phase mask for producing a plurality of volume gratings for use as optical couplers and method for creating the phase mask. The phase mask is produced by creating a plurality of volume gratings having predetermined characteristics which allow the phase mask, when excited by a coherent light wave, to produce a plurality of volume gratings in a recording material.