Abstract: The present invention relates to microfluidic check valves, as well as fluidic cartridges including such check valves. In particular examples, the check valve includes a pre-stressed spring formed from a planar substrate. Various characteristics of the valves, such as size, profile, opening pressure, etc., can be tuned to provide desired performance when employed within a fluidic cartridge.

Abstract: Various technologies described herein pertain to non-inverting multi-mode oscillators. An oscillator circuit can include a non-inverting sustaining amplifier and a feedback network. The non-inverting sustaining amplifier includes an amplifier input and an amplifier output. The feedback network includes a crystal, an input portion, and an output portion. The crystal of the feedback network can be connected between the amplifier input and the amplifier output of the non-inverting sustaining amplifier. The input portion of the feedback network can be connected between the amplifier input and ground, and can include an inductor realized using a tank circuit. Further, the output portion of the feedback network can be connected between the amplifier output and ground, and can include a capacitor. Moreover, the crystal can operate in series resonance mode or parallel resonance mode.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus of quantum information processing using quantum dots are provided. Electrons from a 2DEG are confined to the quantum dots and subjected to a magnetic field having a component directed parallel to the interface. Due to interfacial asymmetries, there is created an effective magnetic field that perturbs the energies of the spin states via an interfacial spin-orbit (SO) interaction. This SO interaction is utilized to controllably produce rotations of the electronic spin state, such as X-rotations of the electronic spin state in a double quantum dot (DQD) singlet-triplet (ST) qubit. The desired state rotations are controlled solely by the use of electrical pulses.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a composition for ionizing a target comprising: a substrate comprising a plurality of nanoparticles bound to a surface of the substrate, which allows one to directly extract undesired contaminants during passive sample drying without require manual interventions, such as washing and vortexing.

Abstract: A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) accelerometer that has high sensitivity to motion along the z axis is discussed. The device includes two symmetrical sets of bilateral, diametrically opposed high aspect ratio flexures that tether a movable proof mass to the frame of the device. The flexures are designed in such a way as to restrict movement of the proof mass along the x and y axes but readily allow motion along the z axis. More specifically, when the device experiences an acceleration along the x or y axes, the proof mass is restricted from moving because some of the bilateral, diametrically opposed flexures are in compression and others are in tension.

Abstract: The present invention relates to an additively manufactured (AM), monolithic, multi-axis linear flexural cantilever test artifact. The artifact is monolithic in that is it one continuous part with no assembly. The artifact can be non-destructively evaluated and includes a support frame, cantilevers, and a mount.

Abstract: Various technologies pertaining to motion compensation for radar systems using FM waveforms are described herein. A waveform generator outputs a parametrized, pulsed FM waveform to a radar antenna, whereupon the radar antenna emits pulsed electromagnetic (EM) radiation into a target area based upon the parametrized FM waveform. The parametrized FM waveform compensates for motion of a radar platform that includes the antenna. The parametrized FM waveform compensates for inter-pulse Doppler effects by introducing a time delay to a reference FM waveform, and compensates for intra-pulse Doppler effects by time dilating, or frequency-scaling, pulses of the reference waveform. The parametrized FM waveform can be generated by modifying the reference waveform based on first and second parameters, where the parameters are based upon motion of the radar platform and changes in echo return delay times from one pulse to another.

Abstract: Extension springs that can be manufactured to a small size with a precise free length are described herein. An extension spring comprises a first drawbar member and a second drawbar member that extend along a same direction. The extension spring further comprises a compression spring coil that surrounds respective portions of the draw bar members. At either end of the spring coil are positioned end caps that surround the drawbar members. The end caps provide flat surfaces on which the ends of the spring coil rest in a resting position of the extension spring. The end caps are held against bent ends of arms of the drawbar members by tension of the spring coil. When the drawbar members are drawn apart from one another, the end caps compress the spring coil. Compression of the spring coil causes forces that resist the motion of the drawbar members apart from one another.

Abstract: A device for rendering safe a detonator firing circuit by short circuiting multiple conductors in the circuit includes a base portion and cable piercing members. The base portion has a cylindrical block and apertures for retentively receiving the cable piercing members. The cable piercing member has a first end to impinge on and penetrate a cable insulation when forcibly attached to an external surface of the cable. The cable piercing member has a low electrical resistance and impedance to generate a short circuit between conductors of the cable. Also, a method for rendering safe a detonator firing circuit of by short circuiting multiple conductor cables or a pigtail connector of a detonator system.

Abstract: The various technologies presented herein relate to detecting one or more vehicle tracks in radar imagery. A CCD image can be generated from a first SAR image and a second SAR image captured for a common scene, wherein the second SAR image may include a vehicle track that is not present in the first SAR image. A Radon transform (RT) process can be applied to each pixel in the CCD image, and further, a radial derivative (RDRT) can be determined for each pixel from RT values derived for each pixel. Each pixel can be labelled as being related to a track, or not, based upon a unary cost obtained from the RDRT value of that pixel, combined with a probability of the pixel label based upon labels applied to neighboring pixels. A labelled representation of the CCD image can be generated based upon the determination of “track” or “not track”.

Abstract: The present invention provides for a method of converting a depolymerized lignin aromatic compound into a bioproduct, comprising: (a) providing a composition comprising a depolymerized lignin aromatic compound, optionally a depolymerized cellulose, and optionally a depolymerized hemicellulose, and (b) introducing a genetically modified microorganism to the composition, wherein the genetically modified microorganism is capable of converting the depolymerized lignin aromatic compound into a bioproduct; such that the depolymerized lignin aromatic compound is converted into a bioproduct.

Abstract: An apparatus and a method for detecting rotation based on the Sagnac effect is disclosed. Input light having sufficient power is injected into a circulating optical resonator to thereby excite an optomechanical oscillation of the resonator at an instantaneous mechanical angular frequency. Rotation of the circulating optical resonator causes a change in a frequency of the optomechanical oscillation of the resonator, which in turn causes the instantaneous mechanical angular frequency to change. The optomechanical oscillation produces modulation sidebands in the resonating optical field at the instantaneous mechanical angular frequency and harmonics thereof, which are demodulated from the optical frequency by detection in a photodetector. Differences in the instantaneous mechanical angular frequency induced by rotation are detected by processing the photodetector output signal.

Abstract: A muon detector system capable of determining muon direction and flight trajectory or path is disclosed. The muon detector system includes scintillators for determining muon direction, and an array of muon detectors arranged in orthogonal layers for determining flight trajectory. The system can be used for tomographic and telescopic mode imaging, and may be used for imaging concealed and/or subterranean objects.

Abstract: Apparatus, system and method for tracking an image target in a system, wherein a system receives an image comprising a plurality of pixels. The received image is processed via a plurality of different recursive motion model kernels in parallel to provide a plurality of kernel outputs, wherein each of the motion model kernels may include a respective pixel mask. Per-pixel energy is estimated of at least some of the plurality of kernel outputs. Velocity of at least one of the image pixels may also be estimated by generating a directional energy vector for each motion model kernel. The per-pixel energy and velocity estimates are fused to produce a fused estimate representing at least some of the motion model kernels for the image.

Abstract: An apparatus for intrusion detection includes processing circuitry, a switch, signal detection circuitry, and an analog-to-digital converter (“ADC”). The processing circuitry is coupled to send a challenge signal to a device when the device is coupled to the processing circuitry. The switch is coupled to be enabled and disabled by the processing circuitry. The switch is for coupling to the device to receive a response signal in response to the challenge signal sent by the processing circuitry. The signal detection circuitry is coupled to receive the response signal in via the switch, when the processing circuitry enables the switch. The ADC is coupled to take measurements of the signal detection circuitry at a first output. The processing circuitry is coupled to the ADC and configured to analyze whether an intruder is present in the device based on the measurements of the signal detection circuitry.

Abstract: Various technologies for providing an operator of a focused ion beam (FIB) system with navigational and processing data are described herein. An exemplary system includes a broadband light source and a narrowband light source that emit light to a target of the FIB. An optical detector receives reflections of the broadband light from the target and outputs data that is used to generate two-dimensional images of the target in a region near a location of incidence of the FIB at the target. An interferometer receives reflections of the narrowband light from the target and outputs data indicative of an interference pattern of the narrowband reflections. A computing device computes a thickness of one or more material layers that make up the target based upon the interference pattern. A two-dimensional image of the target and an indication of the computed thickness are then displayed to the operator of the FIB.

Abstract: The present invention relates to functionalized polymers including a poly(phenylene) structure. The structure can include any useful modifications, such as the inclusion of one or more reactive handles having an aryl group. Methods and uses of such structures and polymers are also described herein.

Abstract: A method of increasing an efficiency at which a plurality of threshold gates arranged as neuromorphic hardware is able to perform a linear algebraic calculation having a dominant size of N. The computer-implemented method includes using the plurality of threshold gates to perform the linear algebraic calculation in a manner that is simultaneously efficient and at a near constant depth. “Efficient” is defined as a calculation algorithm that uses fewer of the plurality of threshold gates than a naïve algorithm. The naïve algorithm is a straightforward algorithm for solving the linear algebraic calculation. “Constant depth” is defined as an algorithm that has an execution time that is independent of a size of an input to the linear algebraic calculation. The near constant depth comprises a computing depth equal to or between O(log(log(N)) and the constant depth.

Abstract: An authentication system, device and method that include ephemeral biometrics at login authentication is disclosed. The system, device and method may continue to authenticate the user while accessed to a user system. The system, device and method may also include position/location reporting of the device.

Abstract: The present invention relates to antifouling coatings capable of being switched by using heat or ultraviolet light. Prior to switching, the coating includes an onium cation component having antimicrobial and antibacterial properties. Upon switching, the coating is converted to a conjugated polymer state, and the cationic component is released with any adsorbed biofilm layer. Thus, the coatings herein have switchable and releasable properties. Methods of making and using such coatings are also described.