Abstract: Example embodiments relate to germanium nanowire fabrication. One embodiment includes a method of forming a semiconductor device that includes at least one Ge nanowire. The method includes providing a semiconductor structure that includes at least one, the at least one fin including a stack of at least one Ge layer alternative with SiGe layers. The method also includes at least partially oxidizing the SiGe layer into SiGeOx. Further, the method includes capping the fin with a dielectric material. In addition, the method includes annealing. Still further, the method includes selectively removing the dielectric material and the SiGeOx.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to low-temperature voltage references using Coulomb blockade mechanisms. One embodiment includes a method of generating a reference voltage. The method includes providing a first single-electron transistor (SET) and a second SET connected in series. The method also includes biasing the first SET and the second SET using a same biasing current (Ib). Further, the method includes operating the first SET at a slope of a first Coulomb peak and the second SET at a slope of a second Coulomb peak. The slope of the first Coulomb peak and the second Coulomb peak are of the same slope type selected from a rising slope, a peak maximum, and a falling slope. The second Coulomb peak is different from the first Coulomb peak. Additionally, the method includes generating the reference voltage (Vref) based on a difference between gate-to-source voltages of the first SET (Vgs1) and the second SET (Vgs2).

Abstract: According to one aspect of the inventive concept there is provided a system for monitoring incontinence comprising: a urine sensitive circuit arranged to present a changed electrical characteristic when exposed to urine; a measurement circuit arranged to perform a measurement on a urine bladder of a wearer to determine at least one parameter which varies with a fill level of the urine bladder; a sensor arranged to determine an orientation and/or a movement of the sensor; and a processing circuit arranged to: determine whether the urine sensitive circuit has been exposed to urine; estimate an amount of urine released on to the urine sensitive circuit; and in response to determining that the urine sensitive circuit has been exposed to urine, record data representing said at least one parameter determined by the measurement circuit, an estimated movement and/or posture of the wearer based on an orientation and/or a movement determined by the sensor, and an estimate of the amount of urine released on to the urine

Abstract: According to one aspect of the inventive concept there is provided a method of monitoring incontinence for a user, comprising: determining, using a urine sensitive circuit provided at an absorbent article and arranged to present a changed electrical characteristic when exposed to urine, whether the user has urinated on the absorbent article, performing, using a measurement circuit, a measurement on the urine bladder to determine a parameter which varies with a fill level of the urine bladder, and in response to determining that the user has urinated on the absorbent article, recording, by a processing circuit, data representing said parameter.

Abstract: A non-aqueous composition for forming doped TiO2 nanoparticles, comprising: i. a polar solvent comprising an organic compound having one or more oxygen atoms in its chemical structure, ii. a titanium(IV) halide, and iii. a dopant precursor selected from transition metal halides and lanthanide halides.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a method for characterizing and identifying a bioparticle. The method comprises introducing the sample to a substrate having a surface comprising a plurality of binding sites whereon bioparticles can be bound, determining, for at least one temperature, data representative for the interface thermal resistance of the surface of the substrate sufficiently long to include the detachment process of the bioparticles, and deriving, for the at least one temperature, a bioparticle retention time and/or detachment rate from the data representative for the interface thermal resistance data. The present disclosure also relates to a bio-sensing device suitable for the detection and/or characterization of target bioparticles.

Abstract: A digital power amplification circuit includes a decoding block configured to receive a first stream of digital codes and to derive from the first stream a second stream of digital codes, the decoding block including a decoder configured to decode the digital codes of the first stream and the second stream at a first clock rate, a main digital power amplifier configured to receive the decoded digital codes of the first stream, an upsampler configured to upsample the decoded digital codes of the second stream to a second clock rate that is greater than the first clock rate, an auxiliary digital power amplifier configured to receive the decoded digital codes of the second stream upsampled to the second clock rate, and a summer configured to sum (i) a main output signal of the main digital power amplifier and (ii) an auxiliary output signal of the auxiliary digital power amplifier.

Abstract: A method is provided for patterning a target layer, the method comprising: (i) forming above the target layer a line mask and a mandrel mask, wherein forming the line mask comprises forming parallel material lines extending in a longitudinal direction, wherein forming the mandrel mask comprises forming a mandrel mask having sidewalls including at least a first sidewall extending transverse to a plurality of the material lines; (ii) forming on the sidewalls of the mandrel mask a sidewall spacer including a first sidewall spacer portion extending along the first sidewall; (iii) partially removing the sidewall spacer such that a remainder of the sidewall spacer comprises at least a part of the first sidewall spacer portion; and (iv) subsequent to removing the mandrel mask, transferring into the target layer a pattern defined by the line mask and the remainder of the sidewall spacer.

Abstract: According to an aspect of the present inventive concept there is provided a reconfigurable sensor circuit comprising: an input stage including a first input terminal and a second input terminal, and an amplification stage including: a first amplifier having a non-inverting input, an inverting input and an output connected to the inverting input of the first amplifier via a first resistor, a second amplifier having a non-inverting input, an inverting input and an output connected to the inverting input of the second amplifier via a second resistor, and first switching circuitry adapted to be arranged in a first state, wherein the amplification stage is in a differential amplifier configuration, and in a second state, wherein the amplification stage is in a transimpedance amplifier configuration, wherein, in the differential amplifier configuration, the first amplifier and the second amplifier are together configured as a differential amplifier connected to the first and the second input terminals, and wh

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to devices and methods configured to perform drug screening on cells. At least one embodiment relates to a lens-free device for performing drug screening on cells. The lens-free device includes a substrate having a surface. The lens-free device also includes a light source positioned to illuminate the cells, when present, on the substrate surface with a light wave. The lens-free device further includes a sensor positioned to detect an optical signal caused by illuminating the cells. The substrate surface includes a microelectrode array for sensing an electrophysiological signal from the cells.

Abstract: A driver for driving laser or a modulator comprises a switch block for switching a current to the laser or modulator and a voltage converter comprising a voltage supply node, an input port for connecting a laser or modulator supply voltage and an output port connected to the switch block. The voltage converter comprises a voltage replica block adapted for generating a pre-defined voltage and is adapted for equalizing DC voltages in the driver by using the pre-defined voltage. The pre-defined voltage approximates the threshold voltage drop of a laser when the driver is connected with a laser or approximates the bias voltage over a modulator when connected with a modulator. The driver comprises a balancer comprising a dummy load connected to the switch block adapted for equalizing voltages in the switch block.

Abstract: A III-V semiconductor waveguide nanoridge structure having a narrow supporting base with a freestanding wider body portion on top, is disclosed. In one aspect, the III-V waveguide includes a PIN diode. The waveguide comprises a III-V semiconductor waveguide core formed in the freestanding wider body portion; at least one heterojunction incorporated in the III-V semiconductor waveguide core; a bottom doped region of a first polarity positioned at a bottom of the narrow supporting base, forming a lower contact; and an upper doped region of a second polarity, forming an upper contact. The upper contact is positioned in at least one side wall of the freestanding wider body portion.

Abstract: Described herein is a method and system for mitigating the effects of speckle in a laser Doppler system, and, in particular in a laser Doppler vibrometry/velocimetry system. A scan unit is provided in at least one of: a transmit path for scanning at least one beam from a transmitting antenna over a moving target surface and a receive path for scanning at least one reflected beam received from the moving target surface onto a receiving antenna. An averaging unit is provided prior to post-processing or demodulation to average electrical signals corresponding to the reflected beams. By averaging before demodulation, speckle in the output signal is mitigated.

Abstract: The disclosure relates to a memory access unit. One example embodiment is a memory access unit, for providing read-access to read an item from an arbitrary location in a physical memory, independently of addressable locations of the physical memory. The item includes a first number of bits and each addressable location of the physical memory includes a second number of bits. The second number of bits is different from the first number of bits. The memory access unit includes an address input, an address interpreter, an address output, a memory output, a data formatter, and a data output.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to selective deposition of metal-organic frameworks. One embodiment includes a method of forming a low-k dielectric film selectively on exposed dielectric locations in a substrate. The method includes selectively depositing a metal-containing film, using an area-selective deposition process, on the exposed dielectric locations using one or more deposition cycles. The method also includes providing, at least once, a vapor of at least one organic ligand to the deposited metal-containing film resulting in a gas-phase chemical reaction thereby obtaining a metal-organic framework which is the low-k dielectric film. The low-k dielectric film has gaps on locations where no metal-containing film was deposited.

Abstract: An enhancement-mode transistor and method for forming a gate of an enhancement-mode transistor are provided. The method includes: (a) providing a p-doped AlxGayInzN gate layer, consisting of a first part and a second part on top of the first part, above a p-doped Alx?Gay?Inz?N channel layer of an enhancement-mode transistor under construction; and (b) providing a metal gate layer on the top surface of the second part, the metal gate layer being formed of a material such as to form a Schottky barrier with the second part, wherein providing the p-doped AlxGayInzN gate layer comprises the steps of: (a1) growing the first part above the p-doped Alx?Gay?Inz?N channel layer of the enhancement-mode transistor under construction, the first part having an average Mg concentration of at most 3×1019 atoms/cm3, and (a2) growing the second part on the first part, the second part having an average Mg concentration higher than 3×1019 atoms/cm3 and having a top surface having a Mg concentration higher than 6×1019 atoms/cm3.

Abstract: A latched comparator comprises a pre-amplifier stage with a positive input (Vin,p), a negative input (Vin,n); and a differential output (?Vout) comprising a first output (Vout,1) and a second output (Vout,2), the pre-amplifier stage comprising a first cascode pair, comprising a first amplifying transistor (MN2) and a first cascode transistor (MN4) connected at a first cascode node, the first amplifying transistor (MN2) being controlled by the positive input (Vin,p) and the first cascode transistor (MN4) being connected, opposite to the first cascode node, to the first output (Vout,1); a second cascode pair, comprising a second amplifying transistor (MN3) and a second cascode transistor (MN5) connected at a second cascode node, the second amplifying transistor (MN3) being controlled by the negative input (Vin,n) and the second cascode transistor (MN5) being connected, opposite to the second cascode node, to the second output (Vout,2); a first gain-boosting transistor (MN6) connected between the first output (V

Abstract: An apparatus for in-line holographic imaging is disclosed. In one aspect, the apparatus includes at least a first light source and a second light source arranged for illuminating an object arranged in the apparatus with a light beam. The apparatus also includes an image sensor arranged to detect at least a first and a second interference pattern, wherein the first interference pattern is formed when the object is illuminated by the first light source and the second interference pattern is formed when the object is illuminated by the second light source. The first and second interference patterns are formed by diffracted light, being scattered by the object, and undiffracted light of the light beam. The at least first and second light sources are arranged at different angles in relation to the object, and possibly illuminate the object using different wavelengths.

Abstract: The invention pertains to a method for determining transmission parameters in a wireless local area network operating under a restricted access window scheme, said wireless local area network comprising an access point and a plurality of stations, the method comprising at said access point: estimating (230) respective transmission intervals and next transmission times of said plurality of stations; and assigning (260) a subset of said plurality of stations to a restricted access window group on the basis of said estimated next transmission times. The invention also pertains to a computer program product comprising code means configured to cause a processor to carry out the method and an access point configured to carry out the method.