Abstract: The present disclosure describes systems and methods for providing culturing of a number of various tissue types in an air-liquid configuration in a high-throughput format and allowing co-culture of cells as well as application of physiologically relevant flow. A microfluidic cell culturing device is provided that includes a first channel having a first inlet port and a second inlet port, the first channel defined in a first layer. The microfluidic cell culturing device includes a membrane layer having a first surface coupled to the first layer defining the first channel, the membrane layer comprising semipermeable membrane that forms at least a portion of a surface of the first channel. The microfluidic cell culturing device includes a chamber defined in a second layer that exposes a portion the membrane layer to an external environment, wherein the chamber overlaps a portion of the first channel across the membrane layer.

Abstract: A distributed navigation system architecture includes a plurality of navigation platforms, each having a universal navigation processor configured to communicate with other universal navigation processors, one or more relative navigation systems configured to provide source information to the navigation platforms, an anchor navigation node disposed on one or more of the plurality of navigation platforms in order to form one or more anchor navigation platforms, the anchor navigation node, including an inertial navigation system, a clock, and one or more absolute navigation systems, configured to determine navigation information based on the inertial navigation system, the clock, the one or more absolute navigation systems and optionally the source information, the one or more anchor navigation platforms providing the navigation information to the other navigation platforms, and a navigation processor system in communication with each of the universal navigation processors in order to provide operating informat

Abstract: A system and method of processing instructions may comprise an application processing domain (APD) and a metadata processing domain (MTD). The APD may comprise an application processor executing instructions and providing related information to the MTD. The MTD may comprise a tag processing unit (TPU) having a cache of policy-based rules enforced by the MTD. The TPU may determine, based on policies being enforced and metadata tags and operands associated with the instructions, that the instructions are allowed to execute (i.e., are valid). The TPU may write, if the instructions are valid, the metadata tags to a queue. The queue may (i) receive operation output information from the application processing domain, (ii) receive, from the TPU, the metadata tags, (iii) output, responsive to receiving the metadata tags, resulting information indicative of the operation output information and the metadata tags; and (iv) permit the resulting information to be written to memory.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a monocentric lens and one or more curved image sensor arrays disposed parallel and spaced apart from the lens to capture respective portions, not all, of the field of view of the lens.

Abstract: A navigation system includes a monocentric lens and one or more curved image sensor arrays disposed parallel and spaced apart from the lens to capture respective portions, not all, of the field of view of the lens.

Abstract: Acousto-optical modulators, such as a SAW modulators, with telescope arrays and superimposed volume gratings for light field generation are disclosed. These devices can employ pixelated demagnification and have layers of output optics, such as reflective gratings and/or arrays of transmissive refractive or diffractive lenses that manipulate the light emitted by the SAW modulator. In other cases, superimposed volume gratings are used, in which pixilation occurs in angle space.

Abstract: Described herein are biofilm bioreactors for synthesis at the interface between two liquids, and methods of using such bioreactors for the biotransformation of feedstocks into chemical products. Also contemplated is the extraction of such products.

Abstract: A system and method for metrology and profilometry using a light field generator are disclosed. For this purpose, a system such as an optical analysis system scans a sample using light, and detects light reflected off a sample in various ways. The system operates different operational modes including a backscatter intensity, a triangulation, and an interferometric mode. For this purpose, the optical analysis system includes one or more optical angle modulation systems, such as surface acoustic wave (SAW) modulators, that emit light, a sample holder, and a scanning system that scans the one or more SAW modulators relative to the sample holder. The system performs tomographic reconstructions of information generated by the scans to create 3D maps/volume datasets of the sample.

Abstract: A multi-layered electronic device including two or more stacked metal conducting layers, a dielectric layer disposed between metal conducting layers, and at least one electrical connection extending between contact pads of metal conducting layers and through a through hole of the dielectric layer is provided. A system including at least one multi-layered electronic device, a satellite coupled to at least one multi-layered electronic device, and a controller hub electrically connected to the multi-layered electronic device via the satellite is also provided. A method of manufacturing the multi-layered electronic device including forming first and second first metal conducting layers, depositing a dielectric layer adjacent to the metal conducting layers, and connecting the metal conducting layers is also provided.

Abstract: The methods and systems described herein provide a cell culture platform with an array of tissue modeling environments and dynamic control of fluid flow. The cell culture platform includes an array of wells that are fluidically coupled by microchannel structures. The dynamically controlled flow of fluid interacts with cells grown within the microchannels.

Abstract: Aspects of the invention are directed to chemical and biological molecule sensing devices, methods of fabricating the chemical sensor devices, and methods of using those devices to detect chemical and biological molecules. The chemical sensor device may comprise a chemically-sensitive vertical slit field effect transistor (VeSFET) with a chemical recognition element attached to a gate structure and/or a channel of the VeSFET. The recognition element may be capable of binding to a chemical of interest such that the binding of the chemical to the recognition element results in a modification of current flow of the VeSFET, resulting in a detectable signal. The chemical sensor device may further comprise an amplifier configured to receive the detectable signal and produce an amplified signal, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) configured to receive the amplified signal and to produce a digital signal that represents the amplified signal.

Abstract: A system and method for improving spatial light modulator (SLM) devices such as Surface Acoustic Wave (SAW) modulators are disclosed. The SAW modulators can improved angular bandwidth and suppress unwanted diffractive orders. In one example, a coating layer(s) is applied to a proximal face of the SAW modulator to improve coupling of guided modes into leaky modes. Additionally, applying coating layers(s) such as a hybrid anti-reflective/highly reflective coating to an exit face of the SAW modulator can suppress transmission of undesired diffractive order(s).

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is described for detecting, identifying and locating an object feature in a ferromagnetic object. At least one hardware processor executes program instructions to: define a planned scan trajectory for scanning the ferromagnetic object with a sensor array comprising a plurality of magnetometer sensors, measure magnetic fields of the ferromagnetic object with the sensor array along an actual scan trajectory at locations adjacent to the ferromagnetic material to produce object scanning data representing magnetic characteristics of the ferromagnetic object along the actual scan trajectory. The actual scan trajectory includes deviation motion of the scanning array from the planned scan trajectory. The deviation motion is then compensated for to identify and locate the object feature in the ferromagnetic object. The compensation includes adjusting the object scanning data for the deviation motion and/or using a feature model that reflects the deviation motion.

Abstract: An optical system includes a laser source that provides a beam of light, a photonic integrated circuit (PIC) with an input aperture, and an alignment fixture that has at least one actuator. The alignment fixture may be mounted on the PIC. The optical system is aligned such that the beam of light travels from the laser source to the alignment fixture and from the alignment fixture to the input aperture of the PIC. The alignment fixture can move in at least one direction upon actuation of the at least one actuator to adjust coupling between the laser source and the PIC. The at least one actuator may be a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS) structure actuated by an electrical signal.

Abstract: A fiber management assembly for a multi-axis fiber optic gyroscope (FOG) includes a mounting block. The mounting block includes an integrated optical circuit (IOC) mounting feature configured to permit mounting thereon an IOC. The mounting block further includes coil mounting features configured to permit mounting at least two optical fiber coils at the mounting block with the at least two fiber coils aligned in substantially different directions in three-dimensional space. The mounting block further includes an exterior surface having at least one substantially exterior, curved zone onto which connecting segments of respective optical fibers between the IOC and respective coils of the at least two optical fiber coils are routed and affixed.

Abstract: A navigation system for determining quality and integrity of source information includes one or more data sources that provide the source information, a situation module that provides situation data, an information module that determines an estimate of the quality and an estimate of the integrity of the source information based on the source information and the situation data, an integrity monitor module that determines the integrity and the quality of the source information based on the estimate of the quality and the estimate of the integrity of the source information from the information module, and that validates the source information based on the integrity of the source information and/or the quality of the source information, and a navigation state estimator that determines the navigation information of the one or more objects based on the validated source information and corresponding quality of the source information received from the integrity monitor module.

Abstract: A thin-film system comprising a microplasma region where sputtered particles are formed, a power supply that supplies power to the microplasma region, gas flow hardware to regulate flow of gas to the microplasma region, a deposition nozzle that forms a thin film on a substrate and a supply line for supplying sputtered particles to the deposition nozzle, wherein the microplasma region is decoupled from the deposition nozzle.

Abstract: This disclosure describes microfluidic tissue biopsy and immune response drug evaluation devices and systems. A microfluidic device can include an inlet channel having a first end configured to receive a fluid sample optionally containing a tissue sample. The microfluidic device can also include a tissue trapping region at the second end of the inlet channel downstream from the first end. The tissue trapping region can include one or more tissue traps configured to catch a tissue sample flowing through the inlet channel such that the fluid sample contacts the tissue trap. The microfluidic device can also include one or more channels providing an outlet.

Abstract: Microfluidic devices and associated methods are disclosed. A microfluidic device includes a target entrainment channel and an effluent channel on opposing sides of a semipermeable membrane. A restrictor channel that is narrower than the effluent channel is interposed between the semipermeable membrane and the effluent channel. Fluid that flows from the target entrainment channel, through the semipermeable membrane and the restrictor channel to the effluent channel, pins target cells along the center of the target entrainment channel for electroporation using an electrode in the channel.

Abstract: A light field generation system includes a two dimensional emitter array for projecting light and a directionally-sensitive optical element in front of the emitter array but before a directional diffuser. Certain classes of emitters are intended to project information principally along one axis (e.g. amplitude modulated in the horizontal plane, i.e. so that each eye sees a potentially different image) and are the basis of horizontal-parallax-only (HPO) displays. Examples include surface acoustic wave (SAW) modulators, such as edge-emitting or surface-emitting modulators. They often project undesired or stray light along directions along a different axis (e.g. vertically) and the diffuser will also spread the visibility of the stray light field components. Thus, the directionally-sensitive optical element will improve contrast in this scenario.