Abstract: The wafer-level manufacturing method makes possible to manufacture ultrathin optical devices such as opto-electronic modules. A clear encapsulation is applied to an initial wafer including active optical components and a wafer-size substrate. Thereon, a photostructurable spectral filter layer is produced which defines apertures. Then, trenches are produced which extend through the clear encapsulation and establish sidewalls of intermediate products. Then, an opaque encapsulation is applied to the intermediate products, thus filling the trenches and producing aperture stops. Cutting through the opaque encapsulation material present in the trenches, singulated optical modules are produced, wherein side walls of the intermediate products are covered by the opaque encapsulation material. The wafer-size substrate can be attached to a rigid carrier wafer during most process steps.

Abstract: Ultraviolet irradiation of food handling instruments for purposes of sterilization, disinfection, cleaning and other treatment capabilities. A housing having receptacles receives one or more food handling instruments. Ultraviolet light emitting sources located about the receptacles can direct ultraviolet light towards the receptacles and any food handling instruments placed therein. One or more sensors located about the receptacles can detect operational conditions associated with the receptacles and any food handling instruments received therein. A control unit, operatively coupled to the ultraviolet light emitting sources and the one or more sensors, manages the irradiation of the receptacles and any food handling instruments in the receptacles as a function of the operational conditions detected by the one or more sensors.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an electromechanical systems structure includes manufacturing sub-micron structural features. In some embodiments, the structural features are less than the lithographic limit of a lithography process.

Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for monitoring a person suffering from a chronic medical condition predicts and assesses physiological changes which could affect the care of that subject. Examples of such chronic diseases include (but are not limited to) heart failure, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, asthma, and diabetes. Monitoring includes measurements of respiratory movements, which can then be analyzed for evidence of changes in respiratory rate, or for events such as hypopneas, apneas and periodic breathing. Monitoring may be augmented by the measurement of nocturnal heart rate in conjunction with respiratory monitoring. Additional physiological measurements can also be taken such as subjective symptom data, blood pressure, blood oxygen levels, and various molecular markers. Embodiments for detection of respiratory patterns and heart rate are disclosed, together with exemplar implementations of decision processes based on these measurements.

Abstract: A method of determining the composition of a polymeric body includes applying electromagnetic radiation to the polymeric body, modulating the electromagnetic radiation using a tagant disposed within a polymer composition forming the polymeric body, and receiving the modulated electromagnetic radiation from the tagant at an infrared detector. The electromagnetic radiation received from the tagant has a signature corresponding to the polymer composition forming the polymeric body. A method of making a polymeric body and system for determining composition of a polymeric body are also described.

Abstract: Improvements in thin film sensors are disclosed. These can be used for aircraft applications. Dielectric isolation washers can be provided between a pressure sensor and an exterior metal housing of a sensor assembly. In this manner, high voltage inputs from a lightning strike or other source that reach the sensor housing are not transmitted to the sensor. Dielectric washers, insulators, and potting compounds can thus isolate a metal thin film pressure sensor from adjacent metal components (e.g., using non-conducting insulating materials like Torlon, zirconia and nylon). Besides their high dielectric strength, these materials exhibit compressive strength and resistance to wear, creep and corrosion. Desirable thicknesses for these components are provided. The described thin film pressure sensor embodiments can attain a dielectric rating of 1500 VAC.

Abstract: A method of forming bump structures for interconnecting components includes applying an insulating layer over a device substrate, coating the insulating layer with a dielectric material layer, forming a pattern with photolithography on the dielectric material layer, etching the dielectric material layer to transfer the pattern to the insulating layer, etching the insulating layer to form pockets in the insulating layer following the pattern, applying photolithography to and etching the dielectric material layer to reduce overhang of the dielectric material layer relative to the insulating layer, removing material from top and side walls of the pockets in the insulating layer, and depositing electrically conductive bump material in the pattern so a respective bump is formed in each pocket.

Abstract: Optical stack assemblies and fabrication techniques thereof. The optical stack assembly includes first and second sub-assemblies, each of which include a substrate and a sub-structure fixed to the respective substrate. Each sub-structures includes a respective first edge feature and a respective second edge feature that project away from the substrate of that sub-structure, each second edge feature being disposed laterally closer to an outer periphery of the respective sub-structure than the first edge feature of the same sub-structure. The first edge feature of the first sub-structure is in direct contact with the first edge feature of the second sub¬structure, while the second edge feature of the first sub-structure and the second edge feature of the second sub-structure are attached to one another by adhesive. At least one of the first or second sub-structures includes an optical element on a same side of the sub-structure as the first and second edge features of that sub-structure.

Abstract: A slow-wave circuit comprises: a waveguide comprising a meander-shaped part that transmits an electromagnetic wave and alternately repeats a first folded part and a second folded part folded onto the opposite side to the first folded part; and a beam hole that transmits an electron beam, extends in a predetermined direction, and penetrates the meander-shaped part, wherein the beam hole penetrates the meander-shaped part so that a part of the beam hole protrudes from the first folded part.

Abstract: An approach for treating a fluid transport conduit with ultraviolet radiation is disclosed. A light guiding unit, operatively coupled to a set of ultraviolet radiation sources, encloses the fluid transport conduit. The light guiding unit directs ultraviolet radiation emitted from the ultraviolet radiation sources to ultraviolet transparent sections on an outer surface of the fluid transport conduit. The emitted ultraviolet radiation passes through the ultraviolet transparent sections, penetrates the fluid transport conduit and irradiates the internal walls. A control unit adjusts a set of operating parameters of the ultraviolet radiation sources as a function of the removal of contaminants from the internal walls of the fluid transport conduit.

Abstract: An optoelectronic module includes first and second optical channels having respective active optoelectronic components. A transparent encapsulation is over the active optoelectronic components, and opaque encapsulation is on the transparent encapsulation. The opaque encapsulation has a first opening over a first active optoelectronic component and a second opening over a second optoelectronic component. The opaque encapsulation forms a ledge in an area of the second opening, and an optical assembly is disposed on the ledge within the second opening over the second optoelectronic component.

Abstract: Radio frequency motion sensors may be configured for operation in a common vicinity so as to reduce interference. In some versions, interference may be reduced by timing and/or frequency synchronization. In some versions, a master radio frequency motion sensor may transmit a first radio frequency (RF) signal. A slave radio frequency motion sensor may determine a second radio frequency signal which minimizes interference with the first RF frequency. In some versions, interference may be reduced with additional transmission adjustments such as pulse width reduction or frequency and/or timing dithering differences. In some versions, apparatus may be configured with multiple sensors in a configuration to emit the radio frequency signals in different directions to mitigate interference between emitted pulses from the radio frequency motion sensors.

Abstract: A method of focusing an imaging device includes acquiring an image. A determination is made whether contrast difference between a pixel and one or more adjacent pixels is likely due to noise, or whether the contrast difference is due to the image being out-of-focus. Focus of the imaging device is when the contrast difference is due to the image being out-of-focus while contrast difference determined to likely be due to noise is ignored.

Abstract: An electronic circuit for detecting a change in a property of interest, the circuit comprising a voltage detector having an input and a device for providing a bias current to the input of the voltage detector, wherein the circuit is arranged such that a change in the property of interest modifies the current received at the input of the voltage detector. A change in the property of interest may modify the current by adding or subtracting a current to the bias current. The property of interest may be a signal which is combined with the bias current thereby to alter the current at the input of the voltage detector. The signal may be capacitively coupled into the bias current. The signal may be provided by a sensor, which may be a voltage generating sensor and could be an antenna, rectenna, microphone or any other suitable sensor.

Abstract: Methods and apparatus provide physiological movement detection, such as gesture, breathing, cardiac and/or gross motion, such as with sound, radio frequency and/or infrared generation, by electronic devices such as vehicular processing devices. The electronic device in a vehicle may, for example, be any of an audio entertainment system, a vehicle navigation system, and a semi-autonomous or autonomous vehicle operations control system. One or more processors of the device, may detect physiological movement by controlling producing sensing signal(s) in a cabin of a vehicle housing the electronic device. The processor(s) control sensing, with a sensor, reflected signal(s) from the cabin. The processor(s) derive a physiological movement signal with the sensing signal and reflected signal and generate an output based on an evaluation of the derived physiological movement signal.

Abstract: One or more sensors are configured for detection of characteristics of moving objects and living subjects for human identification or authentication. One or more processors, such as in a system of sensors or that control a sensor, may be configured to process signals from the one or more sensors to identify a person. The processing may include evaluating features from the signals such as breathing rate, respiration depth, degree of movement and heart rate etc. The sensors may be radio frequency non-contact sensors with automated detection control to change detection control parameters based on the identification of living beings, such as to avoid sensor interference.

Abstract: An approach for preparing a vaccine using ultraviolet radiation is described. Aspects of this approach involve multiple iterations of inactivation of the vaccine using an ultraviolet radiation source at a set of different wavelengths and dosages. A recognition test of the vaccine using the set of different wavelengths and dosages is performed after the multiple iterations of inactivation. A controller compares results from the inactivation test and the recognition test to determine an area of acceptable radiation dosages and wavelengths generated from the ultraviolet radiation source that irradiate the live organisms without affecting efficacy and safety of the vaccine. The area of acceptable ultraviolet radiation dosages and wavelengths is representative of a difference between an ultraviolet radiation dosage that is required for inactivation and an ultraviolet radiation dosage that leads to a loss of recognition.

Abstract: A semiconductor device operable to demodulate incident modulated electromagnetic radiation, the semiconductor device comprising: a pinned photodiode structure including a substrate of a first type, an implant layer of a second type disposed within the substrate, first and second auxiliary implant layers of the second type disposed within the substrate and each disposed adjacent to the implant layer of the second type, an implant layer of the first type disposed within the implant layer of the second type and extending into the first and second auxiliary implant layers of the second type, an insulator disposed on a surface of the substrate, and a photo-detection region; first and second transfer gates disposed on a surface of the insulator, the transfer gates being operable to generate a field within the substrate; and first and second floating diffusion implant layers of the second type disposed within the substrate.

Abstract: Ultraviolet radiation is directed within an area. Items located within the area and/or one or more conditions of the area are monitored over a period of time. Based on the monitoring, ultraviolet radiation sources are controlled by adjusting a direction, an intensity, a pattern, and/or a spectral power of the ultraviolet radiation generated by the ultraviolet radiation source. Adjustments to the ultraviolet radiation source(s) can correspond to one of a plurality of selectable operating configurations including a storage life preservation operating configuration, a disinfection operating configuration, and an ethylene decomposition operating configuration.

Abstract: An apparatus configured to cool an electronic assembly includes an evaporator configured to evaporate a cooling medium using heat of the electronic assembly, and a power transformer configured to transform energy stored in the evaporated cooling medium into electric power. The cooling medium has an evaporating temperature at atmospheric pressure within a temperature range of 50° C. to 80° C.