Abstract: Methods of sensor readout and calibration and circuits for performing the methods are disclosed. In some embodiments, the methods include driving an active sensor at a voltage. In some embodiments, the methods include use of a calibration sensor, and the circuits include the calibration sensor. In some embodiments, the methods include use of a calibration current source and circuits include the calibration current source. In some embodiments, a sensor circuit includes a Sigma-Delta ADC. In some embodiments, a column of sensors is readout using first and second readout circuits during a same row time.

Abstract: Techniques are provided to implement the display of synchronized sensor data and captured video signal. A mobile computing device receives a set of data points from a multi-sensor device. The set of data points may be assigned a timestamp value, obtained from an internal clock within the mobile computing device. Sets of data points and their assigned timestamp values are aggregated into an aggregated sensor dataset that represents the sets of data points over a particular period of time. Concurrently to receiving the sensor data, video frames are received. The video frames with an assigned timestamp value are stored in a video frame dataset that represents video frames over a particular period of time. The aggregated sensor dataset and the video frame dataset are synchronized and combined into a single combined video dataset based upon the assigned timestamp values of the sets of data points and the video frames.

Abstract: A measurement system, its assembly and use are disclose. The system may include an instrument for making sensor measurements. The instrument has a substantially cylindrical housing. The shape and size allow the instrument to easily fit in an average hand enabling handheld operation. The housing houses a board stack of electronic boards. These electronics drive an electrical signal in at least one drive channel and measure responses from at least two sensing channels. These responses are provided to a processor for analysis. The instrument has a sensor connector that enables simultaneous electrical and mechanical attachment of an end effector.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a device for measuring a person's ventilation. The device includes a conduit with an exhaled-air receiving portion and an inhaled-air receiving portion. The device includes pressure and oxygen sensor sampling ports. The sampling ports are in fluid communication with the conduit. The device includes a deflector disposed within the conduit. The deflector is configured to deflect air exhaled into the exhaled-air receiving portion of the conduit away from the sensor ports.

Abstract: Eddy current sensing is governed by the diffusion equation of magnetoquasistatic fields. As such the eddy current sensor's proximity to the object to be inspected (i.e., “liftoff”) significantly affects the sensor's response signal. Methods and apparatus are disclosed for improving performance for an eddy current sensor, though they may also be used for other sensor types. These solutions are beneficial for both single channel eddy current sensors and arrays, and are particularly beneficial for measuring parts with complex surfaces. In some aspects improved performance is achieved by varying the stiffness of the mechanical support for the sensor. Some mechanical supports may exhibit anisotropic stiffness. After performing a scan with an eddy current array, a multi-channel shape filtering module is applied to improve defect detection. The module reduces the variability of defect response measured due to the unpredictability of the defect location transverse to the scan direction.

Abstract: Obscured feature detectors and methods of detecting obscured features are disclosed. An obscured feature detector can include a plurality of sensor plates and a common plate. The sensor plates may be arranged linearly to form a sensor array. The common plate may extend along the sensor array and have a length that is shortened. A controller is coupled to the sensing circuit to analyze the capacitances measured by the sensing circuit. One or a plurality of indicators are coupled to the controller, and can be selectively set to identify a location of an obscured feature behind a surface.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing MEMS housings includes: providing glass spacers; providing a window plate; attaching the window plate to the glass spacers; aligning the glass spacers with a device glass plate having MEMS devices thereon; bonding the glass spacers to the device glass plate; and singulating the glass spacers, window plate, and device glass plate to produce the MEMS housings.

Abstract: Assemblies and techniques are described herein for use with a data glove. The data glove includes sensors configured to translate movement and forces associated with a human hand to the digital domain.

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 engine exhaust flow meter and method of measuring engine exhaust flow rate includes a flow tube and a differential pressure meter that is adapted to measure differential pressure in exhaust flow through the flow tube. A computer samples the differential pressure meter at a rate that is greater than the pulsation of exhaust flow to obtain a differential pressure signal. The computer is responsive to the differential pressure signal to compute a mean differential pressure value. The computer is responsive to the differential pressure signal to compute a mean magnitude of pressure pulses. The computer determines a compensation factor as a function of the mean magnitude of pressure pulses and adjusts the mean differential pressure value as a function of the compensation factor to obtain an engine exhaust flow value that is flow pulsation compensated.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to methods and devices for amplifying a plurality of targets in a single PCR run while distinguishing between clinically relevant amplification and amplification from other sources such as from background contamination. The methods and devices further enable discrimination between gram-positive, gram-negative and fungal infections as wells as identify antimicrobial resistance genes. When applying the methods and devices of the invention, the species or genus of an infection(s), and genus of a fungal co-infection(s) or category of bacterial (gram-positive or negative) co-infection(s) are identified. Species identification of co-infections can also be achieved. Further, when applying the methods and devices of the invention, organisms which are likely to be contaminating organisms from a blood draw are identified.

Abstract: A highly configurable controller is described that includes a number of different types of control mechanisms that emulate a wide variety of conventional control mechanisms using pressure and location sensitive sensors that generate high-density control information which may be mapped to the controls of a wide variety of devices and software.

Abstract: There is disclosed a transdermal analyte sensor device. The device includes a sensor cartridge having a membrane permeable to a target analyte transdermally received from a subject, a reservoir containing a fluid to receive the target analyte through the membrane and an enzyme to react with the target analyte to form a byproduct, a working electrode to generate an electrical current based on a concentration of a byproduct, and a cartridge electrical contact to transmit the electrical current. The device also includes a device body having a device electrical contact to receive the electrical current from the cartridge electrical contact, a transmitter to transmit a signal based on the electrical current to a monitoring device, and a cartridge receptacle to receive the sensor cartridge and position the membrane to contact skin of the subject.

Abstract: A tank and liquid level indicator has first housing that holds a liquid and a second elongated housing in fluid communication with the first elongated housing so that a liquid level in the second housing is approximately equal to the level in the first housing. A float in the second housing cooperates with the circuitry to operate one or more light switches. A light-transmissive cover is disposed over the light source.

Abstract: This disclosure provides devices and methods for 3-D device packaging with backside interconnections. One or more device elements can be hermetically sealed from an ambient environment, such as by vacuum lamination and bonding. One or more via connections provide electrical interconnection from a device element to a back side of a device substrate, and provide electrical interconnection from the device substrate to external circuitry on the back side of the device. The external circuitry can include a printed circuit board or flex circuit. In some implementations, an electrically conductive pad is provided on the back side, which is electrically connected to at least one of the via connections. In some implementations, the one or more via connections are electrically connected to one or more electrical components or interconnections, such as a TFT or a routing line.

Abstract: An optical fiber-mounted field sensor for measuring an electric or magnetic field includes an optical fiber configured to receive light from a laser source, a polarizer, a polarization manipulator, electro-optical material or magneto-optical material adjacent to the polarization manipulator, and a high reflection coating. The polarizer is adjacent to an output of the fiber, while the polarization manipulator is adjacent to the polarizer and opposite of the optical fiber. The electro-optical material or magneto-optical material is adjacent to the polarization manipulator, and the high reflection coating is adjacent to the electro-optical material or magneto-optical material. An optical mainframe for sending and receiving optical beams to and from the optical fiber-mounted field sensor is also described.

Abstract: A film, and a light-emitting device (e.g., an OLED) incorporating the film as an emission layer, have luminescent emitters that are maintained in a desired orientation by incorporating them into a crystalline framework material, such as a metal-organic framework (MOF), covalent organic framework (COF), or porous coordination polymer. The crystal structure in the film has at least one crystallographic axis that is aligned substantially parallel to the planar surface of the film and/or the planar surface of a device substrate on which the film is deposited or grown. The luminescent emitters are held and oriented in the unit cells of the crystalline framework material such that their transition dipoles are substantially parallel to the crystallographic axis, which is in turn substantially parallel to the surface of the film or emission layer of the device through which light is emitted, resulting in improved outcoupling of light.

Abstract: Highly expressive and flexibly programmable foot-operated controllers are described. Specific implementations are intended for musical applications and allow musicians an unprecedented degree of control of a wide variety of musical components and subsystems for recording and/or performance.

Abstract: A low-power image sensor includes a plurality of light-sensitive pixel cells, a plurality of analog-to-digital converters (ADCs) and image processing circuitry. The image sensor can be disposed in multiple semiconductor layers such that the pixel cells are disposed in a first layer and various other components are disposed in the second layer or between the first layer and the second layer. The image sensor is configured such that the analog output of a pixel cell is sampled by a first ADC and a second ADC within respective first and second dynamic ranges, the second dynamic range being greater than the first dynamic range. The first ADC and the second ADC sample the analog output with different sampling resolutions. The digital outputs of the first ADC and the second ADC are subsequently used by an image processor to generate a pixel value for an image frame.

Abstract: Detection of corrosion and other defects in piping is needed to prevent catastrophic pipeline failure. Sensors, systems and methods are provided to enable detection of such defects. These apparatus and methods are configured to characterize pipe protected by insulation and conductive weather protection. The sensors may utilize inductive and/or solid state sensing element arrays operated in a magnetic field generated in part by a drive winding of the sensor. Multiple excitation frequencies are used to generate the magnetic field and record corresponding sensing element responses. Relatively high excitation frequencies may be used to estimate the properties of the weather protection and sensor lift-off while lower frequencies may be used to detect internal and external pipe damage. Linear arrays may be moved to generate damage images of the pipe providing size and location information for defects. Two dimensional sensor arrays may be used to provide imaging without moving the sensor.