Abstract: Durable seamless replication tools are disclosed for replication of seamless relief patterns in desired media, for example in optical recording or data storage media. Methods of making such durable replication tools are disclosed, including preparing a recording substrate on the inner surface of a support cylinder, recording and developing a relief pattern in the substrate, creating a durable negative relief replica of the pattern, extracting the resulting durable tool sleeve from a processing cell, and mounting the tool sleeve on a mounting fixture. Apparatus are disclosed for fabricating such seamless replication tools, including systems for recording a desired relief pattern on a photosensitive layer on an inner surface of a support cylinder. Also disclosed are electrodeposition cells for forming a durable tool sleeve having a desired relief pattern. The replication tool relief features may have critical dimensions down to the micron and nanometer regime.

Abstract: A portable analytical test meter is designed for use with an associated analytical test strip. A test-strip-receiving module receives the analytical test strip and is electrically connected to a dummy load calibration circuit block. That block is configured to provide a dummy magnitude correction and a dummy phase correction; and a memory block is configured to store the dummy magnitude correction and the dummy phase correction. A method for calibrating a portable analytical test meter for use with an analytical test strip includes determining a dummy magnitude correction and a dummy phase correction of the portable analytical test meter using a dummy load calibration circuit block of the portable analytical test meter. The dummy magnitude correction and the dummy phase correction are stored in a memory block of the portable analytical test meter. Using the stored dummy magnitude correction and stored dummy phase correction, an analyte is determined.

Abstract: A thin film/MEMS electrochemical gas sensor includes a body having first and second joined subassemblies to form an interior portion of the body, and is composed of a semiconductor material. The body includes at least one opening configured to allow air to pass into the interior portion of the body. A membrane stack is located in the interior of the body, producing an electrical signal that represents a concentration of target gas in the air at the membrane stack. Conductive contacts are configured to provide electrical connection to the membrane stack to access the electrical signal produced by the membrane stack.

Abstract: A method for forming, on a conductive or semiconductor substrate, nanowires based on CuSCN, including the steps of: preparing an aqueous electrolytic solution from a Cu(II) salt having a concentration lower than 120 mM, a Cu(II) complexing agent from the aminocarboxylic acid family, and a thiocyanate salt, the solution having a pH ranging between 0.1 and 3; electrochemically depositing the aqueous electrolytic solution on the substrate.

Abstract: The present invention provides a device having at least one constriction that is sized to permit translocation of only a single copy of the molecule. The device has a pair of spaced apart sensing electrodes that border the constriction, which may be a nanopore. The first electrode is connected to a first affinity element and the second electrode is connected to a second affinity element. The first and second affinity elements are configured to temporarily form hydrogen bonds with first and second portions of the target molecule as the latter passes through the constriction.

Abstract: A solar cell module includes a solar cell panel including at least one solar cell; and a frame positioned at a periphery of the solar cell panel. The frame includes an align mark for alignment. An apparatus for generating photovoltaic power includes a solar cell module including a solar cell panel including at least one solar cell and a frame positioned at a periphery of the solar cell panel; and a supporter where the solar cell module is fixed by a fixer. The frame includes an align mark to align the solar cell module with at least one of the supporter and the fixer.

Abstract: An electrolytic cathode assembly includes a hollow hanger bar, and a deposition plate including an upper edge attached to the hanger bar. The hanger bar can be formed substantially of copper. At least one supporting element can be configured to support the hanger bar. The supporting element(s) can be internally disposed within the hanger bar, and can extend partially between bar ends of the hanger bar. The supporting element(s) can include first and second supporting elements, with each disposed adjacent to a respective one of the bar ends. The hanger bar can include an overhanging portion, and the supporting element(s) can be at least partially disposed within the overhanging portion. The supporting element(s) can include an inward end that is offset inwardly relative to the plate edges of the deposition plate.

Abstract: A sensor device according to an embodiment includes a semiconductor substrate including a plurality of channels, the channels connecting a cavity and a measurement electrode, and a counter electrode arranged to be in contact with the cavity, wherein the cavity, the measurement electrode and the counter electrode are arranged to accommodate a drop of a liquid and to allow a voltage to be applied to the drop of liquid.

Abstract: This invention is a device that provides a multi use cathodic protection system for steel and reinforced concrete and method of use that will permit a user to more easily and accurately place an impressed current cathodic protection system, a sacrificial or galvanic anode cathodic protection system, or combination thereof around a reinforced structure to be protected and thereafter fill with concrete by use of a uniquely engineered fiberglass reinforced plastic form. This invention once put in place around the structure being protected can more easily be filled with concrete without having the attached titanium mesh or zinc anode mesh bend or move outside of the effective proximity from the protected structure. The fiberglass reinforced plastic form has a corrugated or roughed surface that provides an increased surface area to bind or grip the fiberglass reinforced plastic form to the poured concrete once cured.

Abstract: A blood glucose monitor includes a can, a replaceable sensor cartridge that includes a frame, an upper spring disposed between the frame and the can, a case for housing the can and sealing the frame, a lower spring disposed between the can and the case, and a meter housing for sealing an upper portion of the frame. The can is capable of accepting the replaceable sensor cartridge. The frame of the removable cartridge has at least at least two walls defining a chamber for accepting a plurality of biosensors, and a bottom portion defining an opening and at least one sealing flange. The frame can further include a desiccant material capable of reducing humidity within the frame. The frame may be dimensioned such that an interference fit constrains the plurality of biosensors prior to inserting the frame within a blood glucose monitor.

Abstract: A disposable cartridge had body, bottom layer with first hydrophobic surface, top layer with a second hydrophobic surface, and gap between. The bottom layer is a flexible film sealingly attached at its circumference to the top layer. No spacer is between the layers. The top layer has loading sites for transferring processing liquids into the gap. In use, the bottom layer is a working film for manipulating samples in liquid droplets and is placed on an electrode array of a digital microfluidics system having base unit with cartridge accommodation site and electrode array at the site. The electrode array is supported by a bottom substrate that extends in a first plane and has individual electrodes. The system also includes a central control unit for controlling selection of the electrodes and for providing these electrodes with individual voltage pulses for manipulating liquid droplets within the gap by electrowetting.

Abstract: In a method for making hydraulic tubing a low carbon steel tube suitable for use as hydraulic tubing is coated on its inside surface with zinc phosphate and the outside surface is electroplated. The resulting hydraulic tubing will resist rust on the inside and on the outside during storage.

Abstract: Electroplating methods provide substantially uniform deposits of copper on the edges and walls of through-holes of printed circuit boards. The electroplating methods provide copper deposits which have high throwing power.

Abstract: Semi-circuit systems, methods and apparatus for the protection of metallic elements immersed in an electrolytic fluid against electrochemical corrosion. The apparatus preferably comprises four components: a housing component, an anode component, an electrically conductive cord component, and electrical connector component. In preferred handheld examples, the housing component is positively buoyant, featuring impact and water resistant materials, partially encapsulating the anode, thereby protecting nearby structures from impact damage, while shielding the anode component from sunlight, thereby reducing the rate of marine growth thereon.

Abstract: An active corrosion protection circuit for a brake disc-pad unit of a motor vehicle includes one of a metal disc and a pad adapted to selectively block the disc. A direct electric voltage source and an electric conductor connectable to the electric voltage source and one of the disc and the pad forms an electric circuit causing a monopolar current flux between the disc and the pad when the pad blocks the disc so that the action of the current is localized in a contact zone between the disc and the pad.

Abstract: Electric potential, current density, agitation, and deposition rate are controlled to deposit metal alloys, such as tin based solder alloys or magnetic alloys, with minimal variations in the weight ratios of alloying metals at different locations within the deposited metal alloy feature. Alternative embodiments include processes that form metal alloy features wherein the variation in weight ratio of alloying metals within the feature is not necessarily minimized, but is controlled to provide a desired variation. In addition to metal alloys, alternative embodiments include processes for improving the deposition of single metal features.

Abstract: An electrolytic electrode includes an electrode surface layer formed by a high-temperature heat treatment under a low oxygen partial pressure of 100 Pa or less and includes a valve metal oxide film, the electrode surface layer having, just beneath, a layer which includes a valve metal and a noble metal excluding silver and the noble metal is precipitated and dispersed in a crystal grain boundary of the valve metal, wherein a crystal of the valve metal in a range of down to 30 ?m in a vertical depth direction from the electrode surface is a crystal grain being elongated in a vertical cross-section from the electrode surface and a content of the noble metal in a range of down to 10 ?m in the vertical depth direction from the electrode surface is 5 at % or less.

Abstract: A porous structure including a pair of electrodes disposed in a flow direction of exhaust gas and a solid electrolyte interposed between the electrodes is arranged in an exhaust passage of an internal combustion engine, and the amount of a particulate matter in exhaust gas is specified based on a potential difference generated between the electrodes.

Abstract: A gas sensor control apparatus includes a heater regulating section to control the supply of electricity to a heater included in a gas sensor, an impedance sensing section to sense an impedance of the gas sensor cell, an impedance condition examining section to examine whether the impedance is greater than or equal to an abnormality threshold, a voltage condition examining section to examine whether a maximum effective voltage is applied to the heater, when the impedance is above the abnormality threshold, a duration measuring section to examine whether an application time duration of the maximum effective voltage becomes equal to or longer than a heater overheat preventing time, and a voltage decreasing section to decrease the heater voltage to such a lower effective voltage as to hold the temperature of the cell higher than or equal to 500° C. when the application time duration reaches the heater overheat preventing time.

Abstract: Improved resolution and detection of nanoparticles are achieved when a nanopore connecting liquid compartments in a device running on the Coulter principle is provided with fluid lipid walls. The fluid lipid walls are made of a lipid bilayer, and preferably include lipid anchored mobile ligands as part of the lipid bilayer. By varying the nature and concentration of the mobile ligand in the lipid bilayer, multifunctional coatings of lipids are provided.