Abstract: Methods and apparatus for gathering image information from nanostructures includes a composite waveguide of conductive nanoparticles in a dielectric medium. The waveguide is irradiated with preferably coherent blue light to form a slow surface wave. The evanescent wave that is the “tail” of the surface wave exists outside the waveguide contiguous to its surface. The nanostructures are located to encounter the evanescent wave. The slowing of the wave that occurs in the waveguide reduces the wave's speed and wavelength sufficiently such that nanostructures can be imaged. Upon encountering the evanescent wave, the nanostructures radiate. This radiation causes a backward scattering from the structures and a forward perturbation of the wavefront of the surface wave. From the scattering and perturbation information about the physical characteristics of the nanostructures sufficient to form an image is derived.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming three-dimensional objects includes a crucible (1) for holding a molten material; a conically-shaped orifice (1a) having a fixed outlet diameter (do) at the bottom of the crucible through which a jet (50) of the molten material flows towards the substrate; and an oscillating mechanical member (5) for breaking the flow of molten material into the molten material drops (60). The oscillating mechanical member further includes a conically-shaped head (5a) for cooperating with the orifice (1a) and for varying the effective size of the orifice. The conically-shaped head includes a slanted radial portion (5c) and a tip portion (5b) extending through the orifice. The effective diameter (deff) of the jet is defined by the relationship deff=[d02?(d0?? tan ?)2]1/2, wherein ? represents the amount of the tip portion extending through the orifice, and ? represents a slant angle corresponding to the slanted radial portion of the conically-shaped head.

Abstract: An apparatus for forming three-dimensional objects includes a crucible (1) for holding a molten material; a conically-shaped orifice (1a) having a fixed outlet diameter (d0) at the bottom of the crucible through which a jet (50) of the molten material flows towards the substrate; and an oscillating mechanical member (5) for breaking the flow of molten material into the molten material drops (60). The oscillating mechanical member further includes a conically-shaped head (5a) for cooperating with the orifice (1a) and for varying the effective size of the orifice. The conically-shaped head includes a slanted radial portion (5c) and a tip portion (5b) extending through the orifice. The effective diameter (deff) of the jet is defined by the relationship deff=[d02?(d0?? tan ?)2]1/2, wherein ? represents the amount of the tip portion extending through the orifice, and ? represents a slant angle corresponding to the slanted radial portion of the conically-shaped head.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for efficiently and rapidly mixing liquids in a swirling flow micro system is disclosed. The micro mixer disclosed is a passive mixer of planar structure for simpler configuration and fabrication. The streams injected tangentially into the mixing chamber produce circular multi-lamination for effective mixing of the injected streams. The injection velocity and position can be altered by adjusting the contour and exit area of the nozzles. The planar mixer can be fabricated by the normal photolithography process in conjunction with anodic bonding. More economically the layered structures of the mixer can also be fabricated in thin plastic sheets using stamping, embossing or other thermal deformation techniques. The different layers are thermally bonded for mass production.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for making sealed or closed microchannel structures in semiconductor wafers is disclosed. Two substrates, preferably a transparent cover substrate and an opaque base substrate, are used. The transparent cover substrate is placed over the opaque base substrate. By using the characteristics of the transparent material, electromagnetic waves are directed through the transparent cover substrate to the opaque base substrate. The laser beam heats the base substrate to its phase change temperature, melting the surface of the base substrate that is in contact with a surface of the cover substrate, coalescing the surfaces together and forming a sealed microchannel structure.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for forming a three-dimensional object by planar deposition of forming materials includes containers for holding molten forming materials, mechanical piston or screw members in the containers for pressurizing the molten forming materials in each of the containers, and an adjustable planar nozzle mechanism coupled to the containers through which the pressurized molten forming materials flow to form variable width planar jets that are deposited in layers onto a substrate movable along three axes to form the three-dimensional object. The adjustable planar nozzle mechanism includes cooperating position controllable plates for forming a variable width planar nozzle opening. The edges of the planar nozzle opening are advantageously non-parallel at the ends of the nozzle opening to ensure uniform thickness of the deposited planar jets.

Abstract: Improved assembly and methods for manufacturing a three-dimensional object are described. The assembly includes a crucible for holding molten metal, an orifice disposed in the bottom of the crucible through which a jet of molten metal can flow towards a movable substrate, and a mechanically oscillating member immersed in the molten metal for controlling the flow of molten metal through the orifice and for breaking the flow of molten metal into the sequence of molten metal drops. As the drops land on the movable substrate, a three-dimensional object is built up. Continuously variable diameter or controllable planar jets may be used as the orifices. In forming drops from the output of a planar jet, the jet is first broken up by the oscillating member into horizontal cylindrical ligaments and the ligaments are then broken up into drops by acoustic energy applied by audio loudspeakers adjacent the falling ligaments. The assembly and methods are useful in the fields of rapid prototyping and materials processing.

Abstract: An improved system for forming a three-dimensional object by filament deposition of forming materials includes a crucible for holding a reservoir of the filament forming material, an orifice disposed in the bottom of the crucible through which the forming material passes to form a flow of material filaments, and a flow control apparatus for controlling and selectively depositing the flow of material filaments on the substrate exclusively where required to form the three-dimensional object. In a preferred embodiment, the forming material is ejected from the crucible as a variable-diameter circular liquid jet, which cools to form variable-diameter filaments of semi-molten forming materials.

Abstract: Improved assembly and methods for manufacturing a three-dimensional object are described. The assembly includes a crucible for holding molten metal, an orifice disposed in the bottom of the crucible through which a jet of molten metal can flow towards a movable substrate, and a mechanically oscillating member immersed in the molten metal for controlling the flow of molten metal through the orifice and for breaking the flow of molten metal into the sequence of molten metal drops. As the drops land on the movable substrate, a three-dimensional object is built up. Continuously variable diameter or controllable planar jets may be used as the orifices. In forming drops from the output of a planar jet, the jet is first broken up by the oscillating member into horizontal cylindrical ligaments and the ligaments are then broken up into drops by acoustic energy applied by audio loudspeakers adjacent the falling ligaments. The assembly and methods are useful in the fields of rapid prototyping and materials processing.

Abstract: An improved system for forming a three-dimensional object by selective deposition of a forming material includes a crucible for holding a reservoir of the forming material, an orifice disposed in the bottom of the crucible through which the forming material flows towards the substrate, and a droplet deposition apparatus for generating a sequence of droplets from said flow of forming material and for selectively depositing the droplets on a substrate exclusively where required to form the three-dimensional object. In a preferred embodiment, the forming material is ejected from the crucible as a variable-diameter circular liquid jet or planar jet, which breaks up into a sequence of variable-diameter droplets. Drops to be discarded are electrically charged and deflected away from the substrate by an electromagnetic deflecting device.

Abstract: An improved system for forming a three-dimensional object by filament deposition of forming materials includes a crucible for holding a reservoir of the filament forming material, an orifice disposed in the bottom of the crucible through which the forming material passes to form a flow of material filaments, and a flow control apparatus for controlling and selectively depositing the flow of material filaments on the substrate exclusively where required to form the three-dimensional object. In a preferred embodiment, the forming material is ejected from the crucible as a variable-diameter circular liquid jet, which cools to form variable-diameter filaments of semi-molten forming materials.

Abstract: An improved apparatus and method for forming a three-dimensional object by planar deposition of forming materials includes containers for holding molten forming materials, mechanical piston or screw members in the containers for pressurizing the molten forming materials in each of the containers, and an adjustable planar nozzle mechanism coupled to the containers through which the pressurized molten forming materials flow to form variable width planar jets that are deposited in layers onto a substrate movable along three axes to form the three-dimensional object. The adjustable planar nozzle mechanism includes cooperating position controllable plates for forming a variable width planar nozzle opening. The edges of the planar nozzle opening are advantageously non-parallel at the ends of the nozzle opening to ensure uniform thickness of the deposited planar jets.