Abstract: The present invention relates to systems for generating an arc fault in an electrical circuit, as well as methods thereof. In particular, the system provides a platform that can produce an arc discharge in a controlled manner, while measuring various parameters to characterize that discharge. Such parameters include voltage measurements, current measurements, optical spectroscopy measurements, electron temperatures, and/or plasma temperatures.

Abstract: Described herein are various technologies pertaining to confirming an integrity of a FPGA. A verifier circuit is placed into an FPGA bitstream to enable external verification of the FPGA configuration in real time without requiring readout of the FPGA configuration itself. Number generators are utilized to generate a key which is shared between the FPGA and an external verification component (VC). The key is utilized to configure an initial state of sequence registers respectively located on both the FPGA and the VC. When the FPGA is operating with an approved configuration, output from the sequence registers at the FPGA and the VC are the same.

Abstract: The present application relates to a biosensor that employs an acoustic cavity to store mechanical energy. In particular examples, the biosensor includes an electrode region and one or more reflector regions to form the acoustic cavity, as well as a functionalized active area disposed in proximity to the cavity. Methods of making and using such biosensors are also described herein.

Abstract: Described herein are various technologies pertaining to authentication of integrated circuits by using external factors to affect or modify an output of a physically unclonable function (PUF) circuit. In an example, the output of the PUF circuit in response to a challenge signal can be sensitive to changes in environmental factors. In another example, the output of the PUF circuit can be sensitive to user-selectable configuration parameters of the PUF circuit. In yet another example, the output of the PUF circuit can be modified by additional circuitry external to the PUF circuit based upon one or more selectable or configurable inputs. A PUF-based device authentication system that uses external factors as authentication inputs to affect a challenge response of the device authentication system can enhance authentication capabilities by permitting multi-factor authentication.

Abstract: The various embodiments presented herein relate to utilizing light in conjunction with an optical Fourier transform to examine and quantify roughness of a surface. The surface includes a plurality of flaked particles. The surface is illuminated with a light beam, wherein light reflected from the surface passes through an f-theta lens and is collected at a light sensitive array (LSA). The LSA comprises light sensitive pixels. For an arrangement where the flakes are conformal with the surface, a low degree of light scattering occurs at the surface. For a surface comprising tipped and/or tilted flakes, a correlating degree of scattering of the incident light beam occurs. The surface roughness is quantified based upon the distribution of angular reflections of the scattered light represented in an image formed through use of the LSA.

Abstract: The various technologies presented herein relate to identifying whether an individual has taken, and/or is under the influence of, a restricted drug. A density separation technique is utilized, wherein a sample (e.g., blood, saliva, urine, etc.,) which may include an analyte is exposed to a first plurality of beads having an analyte attached thereto, a second plurality of beads having a metabolite-specific antibody attached thereto, and a plurality of fluorophore-labelled analyte-specific antibodies. After incubation, any analyte in the sample (e.g., delta-9-THC) is bound to the fluorophore-labelled analyte-specific antibodies, any free fluorophore-labelled analyte-specific antibodies are attached to the analyte of the first beads, and any metabolite in the sample is bound to the second antibody. By applying centrifugal separation, the first beads move to a region which undergoes irradiation.

Abstract: The various technologies presented herein relate to detecting small moving entities or targets in radar imagery. Two SAR images can be captured for a common scene, wherein the scene is imaged twice from the same flight path. The first image is captured at a first instance and the second image is captured at a second instance, and differences between the two images are determined using a complex SAR change measure, excess coherency factor or DeltaC, based in part upon quantification of incoherent (or magnitude) change between the two images. A plurality of operations are performed to enable extraction of coherent change measures relating to the small moving entities from measures relating to large objects, stationary reflective structures, radar focusing artifacts, etc.

Abstract: Described herein are various technologies pertaining to identifying counterfeit integrated circuits (ICs) by way of allowing the origin of fabrication to be verified. An IC comprises a main circuit and a test circuit that is independent of the main circuit. The test circuit comprises at least one ring oscillator (RO) signal that, when energized, is configured to output a signal that is indicative of a semiconductor fabrication facility where the IC was manufactured.

Abstract: A thermal microring optical sensor is configured such that a portion of the optical resonator and its associated waveguide are encased within a cladding structure to minimize scattering losses along the waveguide and also provide improved evanescent coupling efficiency between the waveguide and the resonator. Functioning as a thermal sensor, incoming radiation modifies the temperature of the resonator, which changes its resonant frequency and, as a result, the percentage of light that it evanescently couples from the waveguide. The cladding structure also functions as a mechanical support for the resonator disk, eliminating the need for a pedestal to suspend the disk above the support substrate. Thermally-induced buckling of the optical waveguide is also reduced by encasing the susceptible portion of the waveguiding within the cladding structure.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, compositions and systems for analyzing and detecting enzyme activity. For examples, methods, compositions and systems for parallel detection and analysis of enzymatic activities of enzymes in complex biological mixtures are provided.

Abstract: A method is provided for making a molded photovoltaic module. The module includes a flexible polymeric flex-circuit substrate having an electrically conductive printed wiring pattern and solder pads defined on it. Small photovoltaic cells are affixed to the flex-circuit substrate by back-surface contacts in electrical contact with the solder pads. At least one thermoformable polymeric film is joined to the flex-circuit substrate. Each said solder pad comprises a solder composition that, after an initial melt, has a melting point that lies above at least a portion of the temperature range for thermoforming the polymeric film.

Abstract: Ultralow density ionic material foams, with density approaching 0.1% of the bulk density, and synthesis methods using interconnected metallic nanowires are provided. Nanowires of various sizes and metals are dispersed into a freezable liquid through a suitable fluid exchange. Surface treatments ensure that nanowires remain sufficiently metallic and physically separated. Wire-liquid solutions can be dropped directly into liquid nitrogen in the form of droplets or placed into molds of various shapes. A freeze drying technique is employed to turn the resulting ice-wire mixture into a freestanding, low-density foam composed of interlocked nanowires. Sintering or oxidation and reduction treatment of the foam material at elevated temperatures is used to connect the nanowires into an interconnected metallic foam. Metals of the metal foams are then processed into ionic materials including oxides, nitrides, chlorides, hydrides, fluorides, iodides and carbides.

Abstract: The present invention provides novel and improved processes for treating a lignocellulosic biomass or technical lignin using ionic liquids to obtain lignin breakdown products.

Abstract: The present invention relates to optical coupling systems that employ a multicore optical fiber. The system can be employed with two multicore optical fibers or with a single multicore optical fiber for use with an optical device. In particular, the system includes connectors having a lens assembly configured to relay optical signals and a ferrule to position the lens assembly. Additional details for making and using such systems are described herein.

Abstract: A communication device for receiving an interrogation signal at a first carrier frequency and for transmitting a response signal at a second carrier frequency is disclosed. The interrogation signal comprises the first carrier frequency modulated at the second carrier frequency. The communication device includes a sensor coupled to a demodulator. The sensor receives a low frequency input used to further modulate the interrogation signal. The demodulator demodulates the low frequency input from the first carrier frequency to thereby generate the response signal comprising the second carrier frequency and the low frequency input. The demodulator preferably includes a pyroelectric demodulator, a piezoelectric demodulator, or a detector diode. The demodulator preferably has a frequency response less than the first carrier frequency but greater than the second carrier frequency.

Abstract: An emulator is described herein, wherein the emulator is configured to emulate a rotary energy generator. The rotary energy generator can be one of a wind turbine, a diesel engine, or a hydrokinetic generator. The emulator includes an electromechanical motor that is mechanically linked to a generator. A motor drive is electrically coupled to the electromechanical motor, and controls torque at a rotor of the electromechanical motor. Electromagnetic torque produced by the generator is estimated, and the motor drive is controlled based upon the estimated generator torque.

Abstract: A modification to the standard layout of vias used for vertically-stacked wafer bonding is proposed which has been found to improve the interconnect overlay while avoiding the dishing problems associated with the planarization processes used in the creation of conductive posts within the vias. In particular, the pitch, i.e. the spacing between adjacent posts, is intentionally chosen to be different for each wafer. By using different pitches, there is an increase in the probability of overlap of posts on each wafer, even when one wafer is slightly offset with respect to the other (which is possible when aligning one wafer with another in a standard bonding tool). Advantageously, the use of different pitches allows for the use of relatively small diameter (one micron or less) posts while still creating sufficient overlap for the necessary connections.

Abstract: The present invention relates to additive manufacturing methods, in which crystalline materials can be formed by using a liquid precursor. In particular embodiments, the crystalline material is a perovskite. The methods include the use of a thermal voxel, which can be translated to form any arbitrary pattern of initial crystalline seed structure(s). Then, the seed structure can be incubated to promote crystal growth and/or crystal dissolution, thereby providing a patterned crystalline material.

Abstract: The present disclosure is directed to methods using durable functional materials for processes that include an oxidation step. The durable functional materials are redox active oxygen carrier materials that include a zirconia or yttria-stabilized-zirconia (YSZ) matrix containing a redox-active metal ion(s), such as, but not limited to Fe, Mn, Cu, Co and Cr. In an embodiment, these materials are used in chemical looping processes.

Abstract: Various embodiments presented herein relate to determining mutual coupling between a pair of antennas in an array antenna. Various operations presented herein enable comparison between a magnitude and phase of a signal transmitted from a first feed network (via a first antenna) and a magnitude and phase of a portion of the signal received at a second feed network (via a second antenna). Electrical effects engendered by any of the first feed network, a first switch, a first local circuit, the second feed network, a second switch, and a second local circuit can also be determined and their effects mathematically removed. Based upon the foregoing, a mutual coupling between the pair of antenna is determined.