Abstract: A woven structure includes thermoelectric ribbons interwoven with thread. Each thermoelectric ribbon includes a matrix of thermoelectric elements, the matrix having an insulating substrate that supports plural rows of thermoelectric elements, a plurality of conductive elements, and two terminals. The conductive elements form a series connection of the thermoelectric elements between the two terminals. A set of first conductive elements have a first temperature and a set of second conductive contacts have a second temperature lower than the first temperature when a first current flows in a first direction between the first matrix terminal and the second matrix terminal. The matrix is configured to form spaced-apart alternating stacks of the first conductive contacts and second conductive contacts. Each length of the yard or thread is interwoven such that it passes alternately under stacks of first conductive contacts and over stacks of second conductive contacts.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting photothermal effect in a sample are described herein. In these systems and methods, a pump source is configured to generate a pump pulse train, a probe source is configured to generate a probe pulse train and is synchronized with the pump pulse train, and a camera collects the resulting data. The camera is configured to collect a first signal corresponding to a hot frame, wherein the hot frame includes visible probe beam as modified by a pump beam and a second signal corresponding to a cold frame, wherein the cold frame includes visible probe beam that has not been modified by a pump beam. A processor can subtract the second signal from the first signal to detect the photothermal effect.

Abstract: A woven structure includes thermoelectric ribbons interwoven with thread. Each thermoelectric ribbon includes a folded matrix of thermoelectric elements, the matrix having an insulating substrate that supports plural rows of thermoelectric elements, a plurality of conductive elements, and two terminals. The conductive elements form a series connection of the thermoelectric elements between the two terminals. A set of first conductive elements have a first temperature and a set of second conductive contacts have a second temperature lower than the first temperature when a first current flows in a first direction between the first matrix terminal and the second matrix terminal. The folded matrix is configured to form spaced-apart alternating stacks of the first conductive contacts and second conductive contacts. Each length of the yard or thread is interwoven such that it passes alternately under stacks of first conductive contacts and over stacks of second conductive contacts.

Abstract: A sensor is disclosed which includes a piezoelectric layer, a piezoresistive layer, one or more electrode layers coupled to the piezoelectric layer and to the piezoresistive layer, the piezoelectric layer configured to provide an electrical signal in response to application of a dynamic disturbance, and the piezoresistive layer configured to provide a change in resistivity in response to application of a static disturbance.

Abstract: Systems and methods for detecting photothermal effect in a sample are described herein. In these systems and methods, a pump source is configured to generate a pump pulse train, a probe source is configured to generate a probe pulse train and is synchronized with the pump pulse train, and a camera collects the resulting data. The camera is configured to collect a first signal corresponding to a hot frame, wherein the hot frame includes visible probe beam as modified by a pump beam and a second signal corresponding to a cold frame, wherein the cold frame includes visible probe beam that has not been modified by a pump beam. A processor can subtract the second signal from the first signal to detect the photothermal effect.

Abstract: A woven structure includes thermoelectric ribbons interwoven with thread. Each thermoelectric ribbon includes a folded matrix of thermoelectric elements, the matrix having an insulating substrate that supports plural rows of thermoelectric elements, a plurality of conductive elements, and two terminals. The conductive elements form a series connection of the thermoelectric elements between the two terminals. A set of first conductive elements have a first temperature and a set of second conductive contacts have a second temperature lower than the first temperature when a first current flows in a first direction between the first matrix terminal and the second matrix terminal. The folded matrix is configured to form spaced-apart alternating stacks of the first conductive contacts and second conductive contacts. Each length of the yard or thread is interwoven such that it passes alternately under stacks of first conductive contacts and over stacks of second conductive contacts.

Abstract: Methods for fabricating printed devices and monitoring one or more performance characteristics of the printed devices during their fabrication in a high-speed process. Such a method includes developing a physics-based model of at least a first component of the printed devices, fabricating the printed devices with the high-speed process using fabrication steps that comprise depositing the first components, acquiring a physical characteristic of a plurality of the first components of a plurality of the printed devices following the depositing of the first components, predicting a performance characteristic of the printed devices based on the physics-based model of the first component and the physical characteristic acquired of the plurality of the first components; and then modifying at least one of the fabrication steps performed during the fabricating of a subsequently-fabricated group of the printed devices to adjust the performance characteristic of the subsequently-fabricated group of the printed devices.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) digital lens (IR Objective) for an optical microscope is disclosed which includes a body, configured to be mounted to an objective interface of an optical microscope, an IR camera disposed in the body, the IR camera configured to receive light in the range of IR and capture images from a specimen disposed under the body without the need to move the specimen from the optical microscope.

Abstract: A method for providing a high spatial resolution thermal imaging of an active electronic device. The method includes placing an electronic device on a testing stage of an imaging system. The method, calibrating the imaging system by determining thermoreflectance coefficient for a plurality of pixels forming thermal images, each pixel having a coordinate (x,y) captured from the electronic device at each of a plurality of wavelengths of illumination (CTRi(x,y,?i), activating the electronic device, and determining changes in reflection for each of the plurality of pixels at each of the plurality of wavelengths (?R/R), determining ?R/R vs. CTRi(x,y,?i) for each of the plurality of pixels for each of the plurality of wavelengths, fitting ?R/R vs. CTRi(x,y,?i) to a predetermined mathematical function and use the parameters to calculate the temperature at each pixel.

Abstract: A method for determining change in temperature of an electromagnetically radiating device between un-energized and energized states without contacting the device is disclosed. The method includes establishing a reference image form the device by illuminating the device with an optical signal having a first optical characteristic and capturing the reference image from the device in an un-energized state, establishing an on image form the device by illuminating the device in an energized state, and establishing a modified on image form the device by illuminating the device in the energized state with a modified optical signal having a third illuminating optical characteristic, and comparing the reference image, the on image, and the modified on image to establish changes in reflection as a result of changes in temperature of the device during energization.

Abstract: An infrared (IR) digital lens (IR Objective) for an optical microscope is disclosed which includes a body, configured to be mounted to an objective interface of an optical microscope, an IR camera disposed in the body, the IR camera configured to receive light in the range of IR and capture images from a specimen disposed under the body without the need to move the specimen from the optical microscope.

Abstract: A sensor is disclosed which includes a piezoelectric layer, a piezoresistive layer, one or more electrode layers coupled to the piezoelectric layer and to the piezoresistive layer, the piezoelectric layer configured to provide an electrical signal in response to application of a dynamic disturbance, and the piezoresistive layer configured to provide a change in resistivity in response to application of a static disturbance.

Abstract: An electric generator including a thermoelectric material over a first metallization surface. The thermoelectric material includes at least one of poly(3,4-ethylenedioxythiophene):poly(styrenesulfonate) (PEDOT:PSS), tellurium-PEDOT:PSS (Te-PEDOT:PSS), Polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS), carbon nanostructured particles embedded in a base polymer, Bismuth telluride (Bi2Te3), or a polyimide film. Additionally, the electric generator includes a second metallization surface over the thermoelectric material.

Abstract: A method for determining change in temperature of different parts of an electronic or optoelectronic device between un-energized and energized states without contacting the device. The method includes establishing a reference image form an unexcited device by illuminating the device with an optical signal and capturing the reference image from the device in an un-energized state, illuminating the device with an optical signal during an energization pulse having a predetermined pulse width and pulse magnitude and capturing a plurality of on images from the device at different time delays, determining a transient temperature profile, calibrating the temperature profile for one or more regions of the device with unknown thermoreflectance coefficient based on the determined transient temperature profile for the one or more regions of the device with known thermoreflectance coefficient.

Abstract: A low heat flux flexible thermoelectric generator woven with semiconducting strings. The thermoelectric strings have a repeated structure of (metal)-(p-type semiconductor)-(metal)-(n-type semiconductor) materials and are formulated with a continuous structure forming a module. In this woven structure, the thermoelectric strings are the warp threads and the insulator strings are the weft yarns. The p-type and n-type stripes are aligned to the same dimensions. A metal terminal at the end of the strings provides the electrical connections in a series with a serpentine pattern. Two electrically insulating films laminated on the top and bottom of this woven structure conduct the surface heat to the metal junctions on both the hot and cold sides. The small fill factor (low fractional area coverage of the thermoelectric leg) creates a high internal thermal resistance that is better matched to low heat flux sources such as human body for harvesting the maximum power output.

Abstract: A method for determining change in temperature of different parts of an electronic or optoelectronic device between un-energized and energized states without contacting the device. The method includes establishing a reference image form an unexcited device by illuminating the device with an optical signal and capturing the reference image from the device in an un-energized state, illuminating the device with an optical signal during an energization pulse having a predetermined pulse width and pulse magnitude and capturing a plurality of on images from the device at different time delays, determining a transient temperature profile, calibrating the temperature profile for one or more regions of the device with unknown thermoreflectance coefficient based on the determined transient temperature profile for the one or more regions of the device with known thermoreflectance coefficient.

Abstract: A method for determining change in temperature of an electromagnetically radiating device between un-energized and energized states without contacting the device is disclosed. The method includes establishing a reference image form the device by illuminating the device with an optical signal having a first optical characteristic and capturing the reference image from the device in an un-energized state, establishing an on image form the device by illuminating the device in an energized state, and establishing a modified on image form the device by illuminating the device in the energized state with a modified optical signal having a third illuminating optical characteristic, and comparing the reference image, the on image, and the modified on image to establish changes in reflection as a result of changes in temperature of the device during energization.

Abstract: A method for providing a high spatial resolution thermal imaging of an active electronic device. The method includes placing an electronic device on a testing stage of an imaging system. The method, calibrating the imaging system by determining thermoreflectance coefficient for a plurality of pixels forming thermal images, each pixel having a coordinate (x,y) captured from the electronic device at each of a plurality of wavelengths of illumination (CTRi(x,y,?i), activating the electronic device, and determining changes in reflection for each of the plurality of pixels at each of the plurality of wavelengths (?R/R), determining ?R/R vs. CTRi(x,y,?i) for each of the plurality of pixels for each of the plurality of wavelengths, fitting ?R/R vs. CTRi(x,y,?i) to a predetermined mathematical function and use the parameters to calculate the temperature at each pixel.

Abstract: One-dimensional nanostructures having uniform diameters of less than approximately 200 nm. These inventive nanostructures, which we refer to as “nanowires”, include single-crystalline homostructures as well as heterostructures of at least two single-crystalline materials having different chemical compositions. Because single-crystalline materials are used to form the heterostructure, the resultant heterostructure will be single-crystalline as well. The nanowire heterostructures are generally based on a semiconducting wire wherein the doping and composition are controlled in either the longitudinal or radial directions, or in both directions, to yield a wire that comprises different materials. Examples of resulting nanowire heterostructures include a longitudinal heterostructure nanowire (LOHN) and a coaxial heterostructure nanowire (COHN).

Abstract: Solar energy collection and storage systems and processes of using such systems. Non-direct solar energy collection and storage systems can generate electricity from solar radiation using a solar thermoelectric generator and at the same time capture solar thermal energy in a working fluid. The working fluid can then transfer the heat to a thermal storage medium where the heat can be retrieved on demand to generate electricity and heat a fluid. Direct solar energy collection and storage systems can store solar thermal energy in a thermal storage medium directly from solar radiation and the heat from the thermal storage medium can be used on demand to generate electricity and heat a fluid.