Abstract: A method for polarizing a piezoelectric film is described. In this method, a piezoelectric film is formed by using an injection deposition method. The piezoelectric film is flat adhered to a surface of a conductive substrate. A polarization process is performed on the piezoelectric film while the piezoelectric film is flat adhered to the surface of the conductive substrate by generating static electricity on the adhesion surface of the piezoelectric film, and generating the static electricity on the adhesion surface of the piezoelectric film comprises using a pressurized gas to blow the adhesion surface, and the adhesion surface of the piezoelectric film is adhered to the even surface of the conductive substrate by an electrostatic adsorption method.

Abstract: Mechanisms can be designed to manage non-contact forces to reduce energy consumption and/or to control interactions between the parts. Management of non-contact forces is especially useful in micro-scale and nano-scale mechanisms, where van der Waals attraction between parts of the mechanism may be significant to the operation of the mechanism.

Abstract: Logic mechanisms operate to define the position of at least one mechanical output based on the position of two or more mechanical inputs, and employ at least one control element that functions to determine (at least in part) whether an output is moved, and which provides the same function in more than one position. Some mechanisms are configured to determine, based on the input positions, whether a path to transmit motion to an output exists or does not exist. Some mechanisms are configured to determine, based on the input positions, whether or not motion of a driven element can be accommodated without moving an output.

Abstract: A disposable cartridge for use in a diagnostic assay system including a cartridge body defining a barrel port. A rotor is rotationally mounted to the cartridge body and comprises a plurality of assay chambers and a plurality of rotor ports each fluidly coupled to at least one of the plurality of assay chambers. A syringe is coupled to the cartridge body and operative to inject and withdraw assay fluids through the barrel port. The syringe includes a barrel defining an internal environment, a plunger positioned in the barrel and structured to move within a working area, and a disposable shaft structured to detachably mate at a first end with the plunger. The disposable shaft is isolated from the internal environment of the barrel.

Abstract: Logic mechanisms operate to define the position of at least one mechanical output based on the position of at least one mechanical input. Some mechanisms are configured to determine, based on the input position(s), whether a path to transmit motion to an output exists or does not exist. Some mechanisms are configured to determine, based on the input position(s), whether or not motion of a driven element can be accommodated without moving an output. Some mechanisms are configured to determine, based on the input position(s), whether or not one or more elements are constrained to transmit motion to an output.

Abstract: Systems and methods for mechanosynthesis are disclosed, including those that avoid the need for a bootstrap process, avoid the need to build tips via mechanosynthesis, avoid the need for charging tips with feedstock during a build sequence, avoid the need to dispose of reaction byproducts, which reduce the design complexity of new tips, and/or which reduce or avoid the need for multiple positional means and/or tip switching.

Abstract: A method for monitoring polarization quality of a piezoelectric film is described. In this method, a detection step is performed on a piezoelectric film by using a detection device with a non-contact method during a polarization process of the piezoelectric film, to obtain a static electricity information or a transmittance information. A determination step is performed by using the static electricity information or the transmittance information to determine a polarization degree of the piezoelectric film.

Abstract: Methods, systems, and devices are disclosed for performing mechanosynthesis, including those that involve bulk chemical preparation of tips, multiple tips for supplying feedstock, and use of sequential tips such as in a thermodynamic cascade; such features may simplify starting requirements, increase versatility, and/or reduce complexity in the mechanosynthesis equipment and/or process.

Abstract: A disposable cartridge for mitigating cross-contamination of fluid sample reagents. The disposable cartridge includes a cartridge body defining a syringe barrel having an barrel port operative to inject and withdraw assay fluids in response to the displacement of a syringe plunger. Furthermore, the disposable cartridge includes a rotor defining a plurality of assay chambers in fluid communication with the barrel port through one of a plurality of rotor ports disposed about the periphery of the rotor. Finally, the disposable cartridge includes a flow control system between the barrel and rotor ports which prevents cross-contamination of fluid sample reagents from one assay chamber to another assay chamber.

Abstract: Devices, including robotic devices, operating in viscous fluid flow can use passive sensor data collected to represent fluid parameters at an instant in time to derive information about the flow, the motion and position of the device, and parameters of the physical system constraining the flow. Using quasi-static analysis techniques, and appropriate feature selection for machine learning, very accurate determinations can be made, generally in real time, with very modest computational requirements. These determinations can then be used to map systems, navigate devices through a system, or otherwise control the actions of, e.g., robotic devices for clean-up, leak detection, or other functions.

Abstract: A method for preparing a sample by utilizing a shearing force in the presence of a size stabilizer to break apart the sample to obtain nucleic acid molecules in a usable size range. Once nucleic acid molecules are obtained, magnetic nanoparticles are used to concentrate and clean the nucleic acid molecules for further testing.

Abstract: A buffered cam assembly, which is particularly well-suited for use to provide a clock input for a mechanical computing system, interposes a buffer element between a cam surface and a follower. The buffer element engages the cam surface and acts to significantly reduce the effect of any irregularities in the cam surface on the resulting motion of the follower, allowing the output waveform of movement of the follower to more closely approximate an intended ideal output waveform.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for operating devices in diffusion-limited regimes, where diffusion rates are sufficiently low that device operation can be optimized by taking the rate of diffusion into account when directing devices what actions to take.

Abstract: A disposable cartridge comprises a cartridge body defining at least one syringe barrel having an barrel port configured to inject and aspirate assay fluids by displacement of a barrel plunger and at least one reaction chamber configured to receive and perform diagnostic testing on the assay fluids. The disposable cartridge also includes at least two rotors mounted for rotation to the cartridge body, each of the rotors defining a plurality of ports in fluid communication with at least one of the assay chambers of a respective one of the rotors. The rotors are selectively rotated such that a port of one rotor aligns with a port of the other rotor. At least one of the rotors is disposed in fluid communication with the syringe port of the syringe barrel such that assay fluids may flows from at least one of the assay chambers through the ports of the rotors by displacement of the barrel plunger.

Abstract: A polarization apparatus includes a conductive carrier, a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma source, an electric net, a DBD power supply, and a DC power supply. The conductive carrier has a carrying surface which is configured to carry a work piece. The work piece includes a piezoelectric material film, and the conductive carrier is grounded. The DBD plasma source is disposed over the carrying surface and is configured to apply plasma toward the piezoelectric material film. The electric net is disposed between the carrying surface and the DBD plasma source. The DBD power supply includes a first electrode and a second electrode, in which the first electrode is electrically connected to the DBD plasma source, and the second electrode is grounded. The DC power supply includes a third electrode and a fourth electrode. The third electrode is electrically connected to the electric net, and the fourth electrode is grounded.

Abstract: Devices powered by fuel cells can be operated for extended durations when the fuel cells are adapted to extract the necessary reactants for generating power from the surrounding environment and when the concentration of reactants in that environment is maintained at a sufficient level by interaction between the environment and a reactant-enriched atmosphere.

Abstract: A method for inserting and retaining a reagent within a disposable cartridge of a diagnostic assay system. The method includes the steps of: (i) drying a reagent in combination with a carrier, and (ii) inserting the carrier, with the dried reagent, into an open end of one of the assay chambers, wherein the carrier facilitates insertion of the pellet into a chamber without contact by an operator.

Abstract: A system and method for preparing a diagnostic fluid sample for use with a fluid assay system. The method comprises the steps of: amplifying the fluid sample to increase the number of cells subject to being tested; drawing a first volume of the fluid sample into a first syringe of a dual-barrel syringe and dispensing the first volume of the fluid sample through a media filter. The method further comprises the steps of placing the bacteria-laced filter into a lysis module; dispensing a first portion of a lysis buffer into the lysis module from the second syringe of the dual-barrel syringe; and dispensing a second portion of the lysis buffer through the media filter into a disposable cartridge of a fluid assay system.

Abstract: Systems and methods for mechanosynthesis are disclosed, including those that avoid the need for a bootstrap process, avoid the need to build tips via mechanosynthesis, avoid the need for charging tips with feedstock during a build sequence, avoid the need to dispose of reaction byproducts, which reduce the design complexity of new tips, and/or which reduce or avoid the need for multiple positional means and/or tip switching.

Abstract: Systems, methods, and tools for the synthesis of atomically-precise products via mechanosynthesis are disclosed, including a set of atomically-precise tips and associated reactions, methods for determining build sequences for workpieces, exemplary build sequences, and methods for creating new reactions, build sequences, and tips.