Abstract: An input signal comprising electronic carriers is injected into an impact ionization device with a high electric field whereupon the electronic carriers are accelerated toward an electron collector or hole sink and subsequently ionize additional electrons and holes that accelerated toward the electron collector and hole sink respectively. When properly biased an avalanche effect may occur that is proportional to the current injected into the impact ionization device via the input electrode. As a result, the input signal is amplified to provide an amplified signal. The described amplifier may be integrated with an input device such as a photodiode, and a transimpedance output amplifier onto a common substrate resulting in high performance high density sensor arrays and the like.

Abstract: The resolution and contrast of impedance measurements and scans are improved by using a non-contact impedance probe comprising an inner conductor configured to bear a measurement signal and an outer conductor configured to bear a shielding signal. The measurement signal and shielding signal are selected to increase the directionality of the flux emitted from the impedance probe. In one embodiment, the measurement signal and the shielding signal are phase locked signals. A sample may be placed in a basin having a conductive surface that receives the flux emitted from the impedance probe. By filling the basin with a conductive solution, direct contact between the probe and the sample may be avoided along with the associated variability in contact resistance. The small highly-directional flux emitting area achievable with the present invention enables high resolution high contrast non-contact scanning of biological and non-biological materials.

Abstract: An optical waveguide is constructed so as to comprise a non-solid core layer surrounded by a solid-state material, wherein light can be transmitted with low loss through the non-solid core layer, and an electrical component is in fluid communication with the non-solid core layer. The electrical component controls movement of sample material through the non-solid core. The optical wave guide provides light confinement with structured dielectric materials. A presently preferred implementation of the invention employs anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguides (ARROWs or ARROW). Liquid-core waveguides may also be implemented using other dielectric confinement methods where the layers are periodic, such as Bragg mirrors, holey photonic crystal fiber, and omniguides.

Abstract: A system and method for performing rapid, automated and high peak capacity separations of complex protein mixtures through the combination of fluidic and electrical elements on an integrated circuit, utilizing planar thin-film micromachining for both fluidic and electrical components.

Abstract: An optical waveguide is constructed so as to comprise a non-solid core layer surrounded by a solid-state material and a nanopore or micropore in fluid communication with the core. The non-solid core layer has an index of refraction which is lower than the index of refraction of the surrounding solid-state material, and light can be transmitted with low loss through the non-solid core layer. In an exemplary application, the non-solid core layer comprises a sample material whose light transmission, absorption, and/or interference characteristics are to be measured. In addition, a perpendicular waveguide portion may be included for use in injecting light into the core for measuring fluorescence characteristics associated with the sample material.

Abstract: An optical waveguide is constructed so as to comprise a non-solid core layer surrounded by a solid-state material. The non-solid core layer has an index of refraction which is lower than the index of refraction of the surrounding solid-state material, and light can be transmitted with low loss through the non-solid core layer. In an exemplary application, the non-solid core layer comprises a sample material whose light transmission, absorption, and/or interference characteristics are to be measured. In addition, a perpendicular waveguide portion may be included for use in injecting light into the core for measuring fluorescence characteristics associated with the sample material. Most preferably, the optical waveguide is generally structured as an anti-resonant reflecting optical waveguide (ARROW), which comprises a Fabry-Perot reflector adjacent to the core layer, whereby light is substantially prevented from leaking out of said core in a transverse direction.

Abstract: A system and method is provided for electronically managing a cleaning organization and services rendered to clients. According to the present invention, an electronic comment relating to a cleaning area serviced by a cleaning person within the cleaning organization is captured from a client. The electronic comment is stored in a cleaning management database as part of a historical cleaning record. The comment is also sent to a manager of the cleaning organization, and the comment is classified as part of a data group file with similar comments. The comment is communicated to a supervisor responsible for the cleaning area, and then the supervisor provides a notification obtained from the cleaning management database to the cleaning person.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for aligning an optical fiber with an optical device having bond pads attached thereto. The apparatus includes a fiber mount assembly having a body portion with an opening provided therein to receive the optical fiber, and two leg portions integrally connecting to and extending from the body portion. Bond pads are also attached to the two leg portions. The apparatus further includes an optical device mount assembly having bond pads attached thereto, and a plurality of eutectic solder bumps provided on the bond pads. The eutectic solder bumps connect the bond pads of the optical device and the two leg portions of the fiber mount assembly to the bond pads of the optical device mount assembly.