Abstract: A composite material includes pineapple peel carbon and oxygen-deficient black zinc oxide (b-ZnOvac) nanoparticles. The composite material includes 2 to 20 weight percent (wt. %) pineapple peel carbon based on a total weight of the composite material. The pineapple peel carbon and the oxygen-deficient black ZnO nanoparticles are bonded through carbon-zinc interfaces and carbon-oxygen-zinc interfaces. The pineapple peel carbon has a sheet morphology. The oxygen-deficient black zinc oxide nanoparticles are coated with the pineapple peel carbon. The composite material has an X-ray diffraction (XRD) peak at a 2? value of 36.27° to 36.34°.

Abstract: Systems and methods for providing alternative fuel, in particular hydrogen photocatalytically generated by a system comprising photoactive nanoparticles and a nitrogenase cofactor are provided. In one aspect, the system includes a water soluble cadmium selenide nanoparticle (CdSe) surface capped with mercaptosuccinate (CdSe-MSA) and a NafY.FeMo-co complex comprising a NafY protein and an iron-molybdenum cofactor (FeMo-co), wherein the CdSe-MSA and NafY·FeMo-co complex are present in about 1:2 to 1:10 molar ratio.

Abstract: This invention relates generally to novel methods and novel devices for the continuous manufacture of nanoparticles, microparticles and nanoparticle/liquid solution(s). The nanoparticles (and/or micron-sized particles) comprise a variety of possible compositions, sizes and shapes. The particles (e.g., nanoparticles) are caused to be present (e.g., created) in a liquid (e.g., water) by, for example, preferably utilizing at least one adjustable plasma (e.g., created by at least one AC and/or DC power source), which plasma communicates with at least a portion of a surface of the liquid. At least one subsequent and/or substantially simultaneous adjustable electrochemical processing technique is also preferred. Multiple adjustable plasmas and/or adjustable electrochemical processing techniques are preferred. The continuous process causes at least one liquid to flow into, through and out of at least one trough member, such liquid being processed, conditioned and/or effected in said trough member(s).

Abstract: The present invention relates to a refrigerator designed to reduce the deterioration rate of stored items, such as food, fruits, vegetables, meat, flowers, and plants, within the storage compartment using plasma and a photocatalyst. Specifically, the invention performs filtering with a photocatalyst and plasma sterilization on the air in the storage compartment to decompose ethylene gas and other substances, thereby reducing the deterioration rate of stored items and extending their storage period. The invention utilizes a compact high-density plasma generator with discharge electrodes and ground electrodes arranged in multiple cells. Plasma is uniformly and multidimensionally generated in the air within the storage compartment, decomposing ethylene gas to slow the deterioration rate of food, fruits, vegetables, meat, flowers, and plants, and extending their storage period.

Abstract: This disclosure provides a reactor system that includes a microwave energy source that generates a microwave energy, a field-enhancing waveguide (FEWG) coupled to the microwave source. The FEWG includes a field-enhancing zone having a cross-sectional area that decreases along a length of the FEWG. The field-enhancing zone includes a supply gas inlet that receives a supply gas, a reaction zone that generates a plasma in response to excitation of the supply gas by the microwave energy, a process inlet that injects a raw material into the reaction zone, and a constricted region that retains a portion of the plasma and combines the plasma and the raw material in response to the microwave energy within the reaction zone. An expansion chamber is in fluid communication with the constricted region facilitates expansion of the plasma. An outlet outputs a plurality of carbon-inclusive particles derived from the expanded plasma and the raw material.

Abstract: The invention relates to an air treatment apparatus for a domestic appliance, with at least one air flow device being provided, by means of which an air flow into and/or out of the air treatment apparatus can be generated, the air flow passing through at least one treatment device, and the air treatment apparatus having a closure device by means of which the air treatment apparatus can be sealingly closed.

Abstract: Ozone generator (1) for generating ozone comprising at least one high voltage electrode HVE (2), two low voltage electrodes LVE (3), at least one dielectric (4) and an electric isolator (25) placed in an area between the two LVE (3?, 3?). The generator (1) further comprises a first gap (7) and a second gap (8) and at least one of the gaps (7, 8) is a corona chamber. The at least one dielectric (4) comprising a first surface (9) is turning towards a HVE-surface (22) and an opposite second surface (10) is turning towards a first surface (17) of one of the LVE (3). The second surface (10) of the dielectric (4) is directly or indirectly supported in its full extension by the first LVE-surface (17), and at least one of the gaps (7, 8) is placed between the first surface (9) of the dielectric (4) and a first HVE-surface (22), said gap is a corona-chamber adapted to develop ozone.

Abstract: Methods for enriching, separating, or enriching and separating isotopes and isotopologues, as well as other chemical species, contained in a supersonic beam are provided. In the methods, a supersonic beam having different isotopes, isotopologues, or other chemical species entrained therein and a beam comprising a matrix material converge on a surface. As the matrix material forms a solid matrix on the surface, heavier isotopes, isotopologues, and/or other chemical species become preferentially embedded in the matrix, while lighter isotopes, isotopologues, and/or other chemical species are preferentially scattered from the surface.

Abstract: A scale is configured to measure a displacement or velocity of a rotating object. The scale includes a first region that includes a first mark row including a plurality of marks arranged in a first period, and a second region that includes a second mark row including a plurality of marks arranged in a second period having a phase continuity with the first mark row formed in the first region. A periodic mark row including the first mark row and the second mark row is formed over an entire circumference of the rotating object including the first region and the second region.

Abstract: Certain embodiments described herein are directed to optical detector and optical systems. In some examples, the optical detector can include a plurality of dynodes, in which one or more of the dynodes are coupled to an electrometer. In other configurations, each dynode can be coupled to a respective electrometer. Methods using the optical detectors are also described.

Abstract: A linear encoder includes a scale disposed within a housing and a scanning unit that is displaceable in a measuring direction relative to the scale. The scanning unit includes a scanning head disposed inside of the housing opposite to the scale such that the scale is scannable by the scanning head, as well as a mount to which the scanning head is fastened, and a driving component, via which the mount is coupled to a mounting base disposed outside of the housing. A vibration damper suppresses vibrations transversely to the measuring direction. The vibration damper is disposed on the mount or on the scanning head, and includes a damping mass and an elastic element. The damping mass is fastened by the elastic element to an attachment surface of the mount or of the scanning head.

Abstract: A method and system for optoelectronic receivers utilizing waveguide heterojunction phototransistors (HPTs) integrated in a wafer are disclosed and may include receiving optical signals via optical fibers operably coupled to a top surface of the chip. Electrical signals may be generated utilizing HPTs that detect the optical signals. The electrical signals may be amplified via voltage amplifiers, or transimpedance amplifiers, the outputs of which may be utilized to bias the HPTs by a feedback network. The optical signals may be coupled into opposite ends of the HPTs. A collector of the HPTs may comprise a silicon layer and a germanium layer, a base may comprise a silicon germanium alloy with germanium composition ranging from 70% to 100%, and an emitter including crystalline or poly Si or SiGe. The optical signals may be demodulated by communicating a mixer signal to a base terminal of the HPTs.

Abstract: The imaging device includes a pixel array and first to seventh circuits. The first and second circuits select a pixel in the pixel array. The third circuit performs difference calculation between imaging data of the first frame and the second frame in the selected pixels. The fourth and the fifth circuits output addresses of the row and column of the pixels which has been subjected to the difference calculation. A row address and a column address for determining a specific region of the pixel array are stored in the sixth circuit. The seventh circuit compares coordinates included in the specific region with coordinates of pixels where a difference is detected. If the coordinates of the pixels where a difference is detected are included in the specific region which has been stored in the sixth circuit, imaging data is obtained again and is output to the external devices.

Abstract: A sensor assembly comprises a housing having a major face and a side edge. The side edge is formed of a material that is capable of conducting light. A photosensitive element is positioned within the housing and facing the major face of the housing. A reflector is positioned within the housing. The reflector is shaped to direct light entering through the side edge onto the photosensitive element.

Abstract: As a result of the size of the detector elements thereof, optoelectronic detectors such as photoelectron multipliers comprising a light-entry region sealed by a protective disc can only be used with much outlay for recording an image of a diffraction-limited focus volume in a two-dimensional spatially resolved manner, even if the image is significantly magnified in relation to the focus volume. The novel detector is intended to enable the spatially resolved detection of point spread functions with little outlay and high accuracy. 2.2 For this purpose, a body made of glass or glass ceramics comprising an opening, in which one end of an optical fiber is arranged, is cemented to the cover disc in such a way that the end of the optical fiber faces the cover disc and the optical axis thereof intersects the light-entry region. Thus, the relative position of optical fiber and entry region can be provided permanently with high accuracy.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides improved optical systems for particle processing (e.g., cytometry including microfluidic based sorters, drop sorters, and/or cell purification) systems and methods. More particularly, the present disclosure provides advantageous micro-lens array optical detection assemblies for particle (e.g., cells, microscopic particles, etc.) processing systems and methods (e.g., for analyzing, sorting, processing, purifying, measuring, isolating, detecting, monitoring and/or enriching particles.

Abstract: An avalanche photodiode (APD) bias control method may include acquiring a photocurrent intensity voltage and generating a control signal by superposing the acquired photocurrent intensity voltage and a bias setting signal, wherein the control signal controls a voltage drop between an adjustable power supply output voltage and a voltage of the APD. The APB bias control method may further include adjusting the adjustable power supply output voltage and the bias setting signal simultaneously so that the voltage drop is within a target voltage drop range and the APD bias voltage approaches a bias voltage that corresponds to an APD optical input power. An avalanche photodiode (APD) bias controller and an avalanche photodiode (APD) photoelectric receiver are also provided.

Abstract: A camera module and an array camera module based on an integral packing process are disclosed. The camera module or each of the camera module units of the array camera module includes a circuit board, an integral base, a photosensitive element operatively connected to the circuit board, a lens, a light filter holder installed at the integral base and a light filter installed at the light filter holder. The light filter is not required to be directly installed to the integral base, so that the light filter is protected and the requiring area of the light filter is reduced.

Abstract: An image sensor may include an array of image pixels coupled to analog-to-digital conversion circuitry formed from pinned photodiode charge transfer circuits. Majority charge carriers for the pinned photodiodes in the charge transfer circuits may be electrons for photodiode wells formed from n-type doped regions and may be holes for photodiode formed from p-type doped regions. Pinned photodiodes may be used for charge integration onto a capacitive circuit node. Pinned photodiodes may also be used for charge subtraction from a capacitive circuit node. Comparator circuitry may be used to determine digital values for the pixel output levels in accordance with single-slope conversion, successive-approximation-register conversion, cyclic conversion, and first or second order delta-sigma conversion techniques. The array of image pixels used for imaging may have a conversion mode wherein at least a portion of the pixel circuitry in the array are operated similar to the charge transfer circuits.

Abstract: A scale is provided with a reference mark and an incremental pattern. A detection head is relatively movable in a measurement direction with respect to the scale, and detects a light intensity distribution of diffracted beams if beams radiated onto the scale are diffracted by the reference mark, and outputs the detection result. A signal processing unit detects a reference position based on a position in the light intensity distribution where light intensity is lower than a predetermined value. The reference position has a plurality of pattern areas having a plurality of patterns arranged with a predetermined pitch in the measurement direction. At least one pattern area of the plurality of pattern areas is disposed with an offset from a neighboring pattern area in the measurement direction.