Abstract: Apparatus comprising a surface site comprising a substantially inorganic surface having a chemical composition selected from the group consisting of metals, semiconductors, insulators, and mixtures thereof, the surface positioned within a polypeptide bonding region and having a selective bonding affinity for a polypeptide; a plurality of interlayers between which the surface site is interposed; a distal site end on the surface site and distanced from the interlayers, the surface being provided on the distal site end; the surface site and the interlayers being interposed between first and second supports; first and second conductors provided on the first and second supports and having respective first and second distal conductor ends positioned within the polypeptide bonding region; the conductors being capable of applying an external voltage potential across the polypeptide bonding region.

Abstract: Device comprising: a first substrate; a plurality of first raised elements on the first substrate, the first raised elements mutually spaced apart by first channel regions on the first substrate, each of the first raised elements having a first distal end, the first distal ends forming a first array; hydrophobic molecules on the first raised elements; and primary reactive molecules on the first raised elements for generating hydrophilic reaction products. Techniques for utilizing the device.

Abstract: An apparatus includes a first solid electrode on a substrate, a polyelectrolyte layer over a part of the first solid electrode, a second solid electrode on a portion of the polyelectrolyte layer, and an anchoring layer on the part of the first solid electrode. The polyelectrolyte layer is either chemically bonded to the anchoring layer or has a thickness of less than about 20 nanometers.

Abstract: A method includes the steps of forming a contiguous semiconducting region and heating the region. The semiconducting region includes polyaromatic molecules. The heating raises the semiconducting region to a temperature above room temperature. The heating is performed in the presence of a dopant gas and the absence of light to form a doped organic semiconducting region.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an apparatus, comprising forming a light-emitting crystalline structure. Forming the light-emitting crystalline structure includes forming a first barrier region on a substrate, the first barrier region having one or more inclined surfaces relative to a planar surface of the substrate. Forming the light-emitting crystalline structure also includes forming a second barrier region over the first barrier region, to form a junction at the inclined surfaces, wherein the first barrier region comprises one of an n-type or p-type semiconductor crystal, and the second barrier region comprises the other of the n-type or p-type semiconductor crystal.

Abstract: The present invention provides a composition comprising a first polymer and a second polymer cross-linked by the association of functional groups attached as side chains to the polymers.

Abstract: A battery having an electrode with at least one nanostructured surface is disclosed wherein the nanostructured surface is divided into cells and is disposed in a way such that an electrolyte fluid of the battery is prevented from contacting the portion of electrode associated with each cell. When a voltage is passed over the nanostructured surface associated with a particular cell, the electrolyte fluid is caused to penetrate the nanostructured surface of that cell and to contact the electrode, thus activating the portion of the battery associated with that cell. The current/voltage generated by the battery is controlled by selectively activating only a portion of the cells. Multiple cells can be active simultaneously to produce the desired voltage. The more cells that are active, the higher the current/voltage and the lower the overall life of the battery. The life of the battery can be extended by activating fewer cells simultaneously.

Abstract: A battery having a nanostructured battery electrode is disclosed wherein it is possible to reverse the contact of the electrolyte with the battery electrode and, thus, to return a battery to a reserve state after it has been used to generate current. In order to achieve this reversibility, the nanostructures on the battery electrode comprise a plurality of closed cells and the pressure within the enclosed cells is varied. In a first embodiment, the pressure is varied by varying the temperature of a fluid within the cells by, for example, applying a voltage to electrodes disposed within said cells. In a second illustrative embodiment, once the battery has been fully discharged, the battery is recharged and then the electrolyte fluid is expelled from the cells in a way such that it is no longer in contact with the battery electrode.

Abstract: A representative embodiment of the invention provides a MEMS-based safety and arming (S&A) device having a shuttle movably connected to a frame by one or more bowed springs. The device has an electrical path adapted to electrically connect the frame and a contact pad. In the initial state, the electrical path has an electrical break. If the inertial force acting upon the shuttle (e.g., during launch) reaches or exceeds a first threshold value, then displacement of the shuttle with respect to the frame causes the electrical break to close. If the inertial force reaches or exceeds a second threshold value greater than the first threshold value, then a latching mechanism employed in the S&A device latches to keep the electrical break irreversibly closed thereafter.

Abstract: The present invention provides a bi-directional microelectromechanical element, a microelectromechanical switch including the bi-directional element, and a method to reduce mechanical creep in the bi-directional element. In one embodiment, the bi-directional microelectromechanical element includes a cold beam having a free end and a first end connected to a cold beam anchor. The cold beam anchor is attached to a substrate. A first beam pair is coupled to the cold beam by a free end tether and is configured to elongate when heated thereby to a greater temperature than a temperature of the cold beam. A second beam pair is located on an opposing side of the cold beam from the first beam pair and is coupled to the first beam pair and the cold beam by the free end tether. The second beam pair is configured to elongate when heated thereby to the greater temperature.

Abstract: A method is provided for identifying a contaminant in a gaseous space. The method includes: generating a broadband optical waveform; shaping the optical waveform to match an expected waveform for a known contaminant; and transmitting the shaped optical waveform towards an unknown contaminant. Upon receiving a reflected optical waveform from the unknown contaminant, determining whether the unknown contaminant correlates to the known contaminant based on the reflected waveform.

Abstract: A Healthy Weight Reminder (HWR) service that can be offered to a wireless phone subscriber via a wireless handset and network. With this service, a wireless handset upgraded with HWR software will be able to send a weight check reminder to the subscriber periodically and regularly. The subscriber can set up the reminders by specifying the frequency, such as every two weeks, every month, etc. In addition, the HWR service can also compare the subscriber's current weight with the recommended healthy weight and the weight of the last check.

Abstract: A method comprising reducing an acenequinone to form an acenepolyhydrodiol by exposing the acenequinone to a reducing environment comprising an alkoxyaluminate.

Abstract: A composition comprising a plurality of molecules. Each of the molecules has a core comprising at least one aromatic ring and at least three pendant arms chemically bonded to the core. The pendant arms comprise a phenylene-terminated thiophene oligomer.

Abstract: System including image projector and video camera. System further includes signal processor configured to be in communication with image projector and video camera, and with a video monitor. Image projector is configured for receiving and projecting first image onto surface of an object. Video camera is configured for capturing second image including first image as projected onto object. System is configured for transmitting second image for display by video monitor. Method that includes providing image projector and video camera. Method further includes providing signal processor configured to be in communication with image projector, video camera, and a video monitor. Method also includes causing image projector to receive and to project first image onto surface of an object, causing video camera to capture second image including first image as projected onto object, and causing system to transmit second image for display by video monitor.

Abstract: An apparatus, comprising a plurality of closed cells disposed on a surface of a substrate. Each of the closed cells has at least one dimension that is less than about 1 millimeter and are configured to hold a medium therein. The apparatus also comprises a foam that contacts the closed cells. The foam has fluid walls that include a surfactant, and bubbles of the foam layer are filled with the medium.

Abstract: A two-pump optical parametric device (OPD) having a nonlinear birefringent fiber, in which various four-wave mixing (FWM) processes can occur. The OPD applies, to the nonlinear birefringent fiber, two pump waves, each polarized at about 45 degrees with respect to a birefringence axis of the fiber, and a polarized input signal. A relevant FWM process couples the pump waves and the signal to cause the fiber to generate a desired output signal. In one configuration, the relevant FWM process is inverse modulational interaction, which causes the desired output signal to be generated through amplification or attenuation of the input signal. In another configuration, the relevant FWM process is phase conjugation, which causes the desired output signal to be generated through amplification of the input signal. In yet another configuration, the relevant FWM process is Bragg scattering, which causes the desired output signal to be generated as a corresponding idler signal.

Abstract: A remotely controllable power switch of an appliance and a method of employing a remotely controllable power switch of an appliance to control the overall load that an electric power distribution network bears. The method may include a method of employing a remotely controllable power switch of an appliance to compute the rate that a particular customer pays for electric power. In one embodiment, the remotely controllable power switch of an appliance includes: (1) a switching device coupled between an input and an output of the remotely controllable power switch of an appliance and (2) communication circuitry coupled to the switching device, addressable only by class and configured to receive a turn-off signal and turn off the switching device in response thereto.

Abstract: Semiconductor apparatus comprising: a substrate having a substrate surface; a layer of a first material overlying a first region of the substrate surface; a layer of a semiconductor overlying the layer of first material and overlying a second region of the substrate surface; a first region of the layer of semiconductor, overlying the layer of first material and having a first conductivity; a second region of the layer of semiconductor, overlying the second region of the substrate surface and having a second conductivity; and the first conductivity being substantially different from the second conductivity. Such semiconductor apparatus further comprising a layer of a second material overlying the second region of the substrate surface, the second region of the layer of semiconductor overlying the layer of the second material.

Abstract: A method that allows subscribed content to be available to all users of an account on all devices that are capable of carrying the content. An administrator may tap into the features of the centralized data store to assign personalized usage guidelines and restrictions for all IPTV services available. This includes all devices and users within an administrator's account (including spouse, children, employees. etc.) Thus, an administrator may configure all devices under their control from a convenient centralized location without the need to locally configure each device or user profile. The administrator may enable access controls on the devices in their profiles (or subordinate profiles) from a Web-based system (that is also access controlled). The Web-based system allows the administrator to set content access controls that pertain to any or all devices (such as content blocking˜no “adult” material on any device at any time).