Abstract: The present invention relates to an optical scanning apparatus and an optical scanning system The optical system includes an optical engine connected to an optical scanning probe The optical scanning probe images a sample at different lateral positions of the sample The optical scanning probe includes a housing having a longitudinal axis extending in a direction towards a sample to be scanned, a first base having a first moveable mirror supported thereon by a first cantilever connecting the first moveable mirror to the first base, a second base having a second moveable mirror supported thereon by a second cantilever connecting the second moveable mirror to the second base, and a support attaching the first and second bases so that the first moveable mirror and the second moveable mirror are disposed along the longitudinal axis apart from each other.

Abstract: A process for removing sulphur oxides from a fluid stream, such as flue gas, comprising: providing a non-aqueous absorption liquid containing at least one hydrophobic amine, the liquid being incompletely miscible with water; treating the fluid stream in an absorption zone with the non-aqueous absorption liquid to transfer at least part of the sulphur oxides into the non-aqueous absorption liquid and to form a sulphur oxide-hydrophobic amine-complex; causing the non-aqueous absorption liquid to be in liquid-liquid contact with an aqueous liquid whereby at least part of the sulphur oxide-hydrophobic amine-complex is hydrolyzed to release the hydrophobic amine and sulphurous hydrolysis products, and at least part of the sulphurous hydrolysis products is transferred into the aqueous liquid; separating the aqueous liquid from the non-aqueous absorption liquid. The process mitigates absorbent degradation problems caused by sulphur dioxide and oxygen in flue gas.

Abstract: A method is provided for forming a piezoelectric ultrasonic transducer apparatus having a first electrode deposited on a dielectric layer disposed on a primary substrate. A piezoelectric material is deposited between the first electrode and a second electrode, to form a transducer device. At least the piezoelectric material is patterned such that a portion of the first electrode extends laterally outward therefrom. The primary substrate and the dielectric layer are etched to form a first via extending to the laterally outward portion of the first electrode, and a first conductive material is deposited to substantially fill the first via and form an electrically-conductive engagement with the laterally outward portion of the first electrode. The primary substrate is etched to define a second via extending therethrough, wherein the second via is laterally spaced apart from the first via. An associated method and apparatus are also provided.

Abstract: This invention describes compounds of Structures 1, 2, and 3 and their use as allosteric modulators of the GABA receptor chloride ionophore complex to alleviate stress, anxiety, mood disorders, seizures, depression, treatment of drug and alcohol abuse, memory, premenstrual disorders, and neural system damage.

Abstract: An optical sensing device and associated apparatus are configured for multiplexed detection of specific analytes in fluid samples. The device has a wavelength-tunable grating-coupler configuration in which a grating is disposed on a surface of a waveguide. Different regions of the grating may be functionalized with different receptors, and may form binding-specific sensors and reference sensors. The receptors are exposed to a fluid sample utilizing a fluidic structure mounted to the device. The device utilizes evanescent waves to sense analytes bound to the waveguide surface. The evanescent wave is sensitive to changes in refractive index at (or near) the waveguide surface. Changes in refractive index occur proportionally to the mass of the bound analyte. The apparatus utilizes a tunable light source to implement swept wavelength interrogation while the input beam is held at a fixed coupling angle relative to the waveguide and grating.

Abstract: Low temperature bond balls connect two structures having disparate coefficients of linear thermal expansion. An integrated circuit is made to heat the device such that the low temperature bond balls melt. After melting, the bond balls solidify, and the device is operated with the bond balls solidified. In one example, one of the two structures is a semiconductor substrate, and the other structure is a printed circuit board. The integrated circuit is a die mounted to the semiconductor substrate. The bond balls include at least five percent indium, and the integrated circuit is an FPGA loaded with a bit stream. The bit stream configures the FPGA such that the FPGA has increased power dissipation, which melts the balls. After the melting, a second bit stream is loaded into the FPGA and the FPGA is operated in a normal user-mode using the second bit stream.

Abstract: A filtration device including a filtration medium having a plurality of nanofibers of diameters less than 1 micron formed into a fiber mat in the presence of an abruptly varying electric field. The filtration device includes a support attached to the filtration medium and having openings for fluid flow therethrough. A device for making a filter material. The device includes an electrospinning element configured to electrospin a plurality of fibers from a tip of the electrospinning element, a collector opposed to the electrospinning element configured to collect electrospun fibers on a surface of the collector, and an electric field modulation device configured to abruptly vary an electric field at the collector at least once during electrospinning of the fibers. A method for making a filter material.

Abstract: An energy management system includes an energy storage reservoir and a fluid pump. The reservoir includes a fluid reservoir configured to contain varying quantities of a fluid and to isolate the fluid from the ambient. The fluid reservoir has a top surface, bottom surface, flexible member, and at least one opening for filling or emptying the reservoir. A pressing mass of solid material is positioned above the fluid reservoir with a weight sufficient to press the reservoir and empty the reservoir of fluid when the reservoir opening is open. The pressing mass is supported by the fluid reservoir when the reservoir contains fluid and is closed. The flexible member is disposed around the fluid reservoir to seal the fluid and to facilitate vertical motion of the pressing mass as the reservoir is filled and emptied. The pump supplies fluid to the fluid reservoir via the opening.

Abstract: Apparatus and method for producing fibrous materials in which the apparatus includes an extrusion element configured to electrospin a substance from which the fibers are to be composed by an electric field extraction of the substance from a tip of the extrusion element, a collector disposed from the extrusion element and configured to collect the fibers, a chamber enclosing the collector and the extrusion element, and a control mechanism configured to control a gaseous environment in which the fibers are to be electrospun. The apparatus and method provide a way to produce a fiber collection having a plurality of nanofibers disposed in relation to each other. The nanofibers in the fiber collection are preferentially oriented along a longitudinal axis of the fiber collection.

Abstract: A method and associated apparatus directed to a piezoelectric micromachined ultrasonic transducer (pMUT) defining an air-backed cavity are provided. A first via defined by a device substrate and associated dielectric layer, and extending to the first electrode, is substantially filled with a first conductive material. A support member engaged with the device substrate defines a second via extending to the first conductive material. The second via has a second conductive material disposed thereon, forms an electrically-conductive engagement with the first conductive material, and extends outwardly of the second via to be accessible externally to the support member.

Abstract: A coated medical implant, such as a coated dental component, is provided, the coated medical implant including a substrate surface formed of a material comprising available hydroxyl groups and a silicon oxide coating layer chemisorbed on the substrate surface. A method for the preparation of such coated implants is also provided, the method involving application of the silicon oxide coating layer to the substrate surface by chemical vapor deposition. A dental structure is also provided, which includes a first dental component having a substrate surface formed of a material comprising available hydroxyl groups; a silicon oxide coating layer chemisorbed on the substrate surface; a silane coupling agent overlying and covalently attached to the silicon oxide layer; a dental cement overlying and coupled to the silane coupling agent; and a second dental component having a surface bonded to the dental cement.

Abstract: The invention relates to a system for the removal of acid gases from gas streams. The system comprises an integrated membrane-based and liquid solvent-based system for the capture of acid gases. The invention also relates to methods of acid gas capture from gas streams.

Abstract: A device for stimulable light emission that includes a fiber mat of nanofibers having an average fiber diameter in a range between 100 and 2000 nm, and includes plural stimulable particles disposed in association with the nanofibers. The stimulable particles produce secondary light emission upon receiving primary light at a wavelength ?. The average fiber diameter is comparable in size to the wavelength ? in order to provide scattering sites within the fiber mat for the primary light. Various methods for making suitable luminescent nanofiber mats include: electrospinning a polymer solution including or not including the stimulable particles and forming from the electrospun solution nanofibers having an average fiber diameter between 100 and 2000 nm. Methods, which electrospin without the stimulable particles, introduce the stimulable particles during electrospinning or after electrospinning to the fibers and therefore to the resultant fiber mat.

Abstract: This invention describes compounds of Structures 1, 2, and 3 and their use as allosteric modulators of the GABA receptor chloride ionophore complex to alleviate stress, anxiety, mood disorders, seizures, depression, treatment of drug and alcohol abuse, memory, premenstrual disorders, and neural system damage.

Abstract: A process for removing sulphur oxides from a fluid stream, such as flue gas, that comprises a) providing a non-aqueous absorption liquid containing at least one hydrophobic amine, the non-aqueous absorption liquid being incompletely miscible with water: b) treating the fluid stream in an absorption zone with the non-aqueous absorption liquid to transfer at least part of the sulphur oxides into the non-aqueous absorption liquid and to form a sulphur oxide-hydrophobic amine-complex: c) causing the non-aqueous absorption liquid to be in liquid-liquid contact with an aqueous liquid whereby at least part of the sulphur oxide-hydrophobic amine-complex is hydrolyzed to release the hydrophobic amine and sulphurous hydrolysis products, and at least part of the sulphurous hydrolysis products is transferred into the aqueous liquid; d) separating the aqueous liquid from the non-aqueous absorption liquid. The process mitigates absorbent degradation problems caused by sulphur dioxide and oxygen in flue gas.

Abstract: A TSV structure suitable for high speed signal transmission includes a metal strip portion that extends through a long and small diameter hole in a substrate. In one example, the metal strip portion is formed by laser ablating away portions of a metal sheath that lines a cylindrical sidewall of the hole, thereby leaving a longitudinal section of metal that is the metal strip portion. A second metal strip portion, that extends in a direction perpendicular to the hole axis, is contiguous with the metal strip portion that extends through the hole such that the two metal strip portions together form a single metal strip. Throughout its length, the single metal strip has a uniform width and thickness and therefore can have a controlled and uniform impedance. In some embodiments, multiple metal strips pass through the same TSV hole. In some embodiments, the structure is a coaxial TSV.

Abstract: A lighting device (100) includes a housing (104), a light converter (136), one or more light sources (132), and one or more optical waveguides (160). The housing includes a light exit (124) for outputting a combination of primary light (140) and secondary light (156,158). The light source emits a primary light beam of a primary wavelength. The optical waveguide includes an input end (162) optically coupled to the light source, and an output end (164) facing a housing interior (108) and positioned at an angle to an axial direction through the housing interior. The optical waveguide directs the primary light beam from the light source, through the housing interior and toward a luminescent material of the light converter. The luminescent material emits secondary light of one or more wavelengths different from the primary wavelength in response to excitation by the primary light beam. The light source may be mounted outside the housing interior so as not to obstruct light propagation.

Abstract: A lighting device (100) includes a housing (104) enclosing a housing interior (108), a light source (132), a light converter (136), and a color tuning device. The light source is configured for emitting a primary light beam of a primary wavelength (140) through the housing interior. The light converter includes a luminescent material (144) facing the housing interior and configured for emitting secondary light (156, 158) of one or more wavelengths different from the primary wavelength, in response to excitation by the primary light beam. The housing includes a light exit (124) for outputting a combination of primary light and secondary light. The color tuning device is configured for adjusting a position of the primary light beam relative to the luminescent material.

Abstract: A photoluminescent nanofiber composite includes a nanofiber substrate, first luminescent particles, and second luminescent particles. The first luminescent particles are supported by the nanofibers and span at least a portion of a substrate surface, as a layer on the substrate surface, or with some particles located in a bulk of the substrate, or both. The second luminescent particles are disposed on the substrate. The second luminescent particles may be disposed directly on the substrate surface or on the first luminescent particles. The second luminescent particles may be deposited in a pattern of deposition units. The first and second luminescent particles are configured for emitting light of different respective wavelengths in response to excitation by a light beam. One or more surface treatment coatings may be provided at different locations.

Abstract: A lighting device may include a housing interior, a light exit, a light source, and a light converter. Output light is outputted from the light exit by emitting primary light from the light source. In response, the light converter emits secondary light of one or more wavelengths different than the primary wavelength, and the output light includes a combination of the primary light and the secondary light. The color of the output light may be tuned by adjusting a color parameter of the output light. The adjustment includes adding a color tuning material at a location in the housing interior where primary light is incident on the color tuning material. The color tuning material is configured for emitting auxiliary light in response to the incident primary light. Subsequently, the lighting device produces color-tuned output light that includes a combination of the primary light, the secondary light and the auxiliary light.