Abstract: A system having a flow channel for conveying a sample and having fluid light guides for projecting light to the sample target area and collecting light from the sample target area. The system may have fluid light guides on or off the card containing the flow channel. Accurate alignment may be provided by the fluid light guides in lieu of requiring precise alignment for the light source and detectors. The flow channel may be a part of a cytometer system.

Abstract: A cavity ring-down spectrometer having a light-conveying structure, a mirror and an isolator. The structure may form a resonator cavity, and the resonator cavity may include a sample sub-cavity and a mirror sub-cavity. A preconcentrator medium may be within a sample sub-cavity, and the medium may adsorb a sample substance entering the sample sub-cavity. A heater may heat the medium to desorb the sample through which a light can propagate. The mirror may be within the mirror sub-cavity, and the mirror may direct light through the mirror sub-cavity and the sample sub-cavity. The isolator may reduce, inhibit or prevent the sample substance in the sample sub-cavity from entering the mirror sub-cavity and affecting the mirror in the mirror sub-cavity.

Abstract: An apparatus is provided for measuring a gas within a semiconductor thin film process. The apparatus includes an optical resonator disposed within an environment of the thin-film process, a tunable laser that excites the optical resonator at a characteristic frequency of the gas and a detector that detects an energy within the resonator.

Abstract: An occupancy based ventilation system for indoor air quality that uses a counter to count the number of persons in a specific indoor room or other area, wherein the number of persons determines the degree of ventilation from the room's ventilation system. The counter would keep track of both the number of persons and the length of time each is present in the room. A feedback control algorithm between the counting device and the ventilation management controls provides for automatic control of the amount of ventilation needed to insure a comfortable and efficient environment.

Abstract: A sensitive fluid sensor for detecting fluids and particularly trace fluids. The sensor may be adjustable for detecting fluids of various absorption lines. To effect such adjustment, a tunable laser may be used. The laser may non-tunable with a cavity having moveable mirror(s) for tuning. The laser may be an edge emitting diode, a VCSEL or other tunable on on-tunable source. The detection apparatus of the sensor may incorporate a sample cell through which a laser light may go through. The sample cell may include a tunable ring cavity block. There may be a photo detector or detectors proximate to the ring cavity. The lasers and detectors may be to electronics and/or a processor.

Abstract: A light detector having spaced electrodes preset by pins or a spacer within a sealed enclosure. The detector may have a MEMS structure that is separate from the sealing of the enclosure. Further, the detector may have a lens for the transmission of light onto the elements. The lens may be coated to affect the amount of light admitted into the enclosure. Light detectable by the sensor may be ultra-violet.

Abstract: Carbon nanotubes are formed on projections on a substrate. A metal, such as nickel is deposited on the substrate with optional platforms, and heated to form the projections. Carbon nanotubes are formed from the projections by heating in an ethylene, methane or CO atmosphere. A heat sensor is also formed proximate the carbon nanotubes. When exposed to IR radiation, the heat sensor detects changes in temperature representative of the IR radiation. In a gas sensor, a thermally isolated area, such as a pixel is formed on a substrate with an integrated heater. A pair of conductors each have a portion adjacent a portion of the other conductor with projections formed on the adjacent portions of the conductors. Multiple carbon nanotubes are formed between the conductors from one projection to another. IV characteristics of the nanotubes are measured between the conductors in the presence of a gas to be detected.

Abstract: A device for positioning a shaped element on a surface of another element mounted on a mechanism to permit welding the element to the surface. An insulating fixture mounts the device on the mechanism and positions an extension having a clamp locating end that positions a clamp for holding the shaped element in a precise position in contact with the surface during welding. The clamp is conductive and directs current from the welding to the insulating fixture and prevent passage of current on the shaped element beyond the clamp.

Abstract: A gas sensor is provided for detecting one or more gases in a gas sample. The gas sensor includes a substrate, a solid electrolyte layer including lanthanum oxide for sensing carbon dioxide, a heating element thermally coupled to the solid electrolyte layer, and a controller coupled to the heating element and the solid electrolyte layer. The controller heats the heating element so that the solid electrolyte layer reaches an operating. Methods of sensing carbon dioxide and humidity are also disclosed.

Abstract: A multi-substrate package assembly having a first substrate, a second substrate and a package, each with a number of bond pads. The package includes a cavity for receiving either or both of the first and second substrates, with a number of bond pads positioned along at least part of the periphery of the cavity. The first substrate and the second substrate are preferably positioned in the cavity of the package, with selected bond pads of the first substrate and second substrate electrically connected to selected bond pads of the package. In some embodiments, the bond pads of the first substrate are only connected to bond pads on one or more sides of the cavity, and the bond pads of the second substrate are only connected to bond pads on one or more of the remaining sides of the cavity. The packaging assembly of the present invention can be used in many applications, including spectrally tunable optical detectors.

Abstract: A photoelectrocatalytic sensor system for measuring oxidizable impurities in air. The sensor system may include a transistor having an electrode and a channel for the flow of current, a photocatalytic material coated onto the electrode of the transistor, a light source for producing an ultraviolet light beam onto the photocatalytic material, and a sensor for measuring the flow of current.

Abstract: A sensor having a light detector with a small gap between the cathode and anode to enable a high pressure cavity resulting in a long lifetime of the detector due to insignificant sputtering from the cathode and subsequent minimal burying of the noble gas in the cavity. The detector may be made with MEMS technology and its techniques. The sensor may contain an array of light detectors. Some of the detectors may be UV detectors.

Abstract: A spectrally tunable optical detector and methods of manufacture therefore are provided. In one illustrative embodiment, the tunable optical detector includes a tunable bandpass filter, a detector and readout electronics, each supported by a different substrate. The substrates are secured relative to one another to form the spectrally tunable optical detector.

Abstract: The present invention provides a sensor, such as a biosensor, comprising at least one self-assembled monolayer (SAM) comprising analyte-sensitive groups, such as glucose-sensitive groups, attached to the surface of the outer wall of a carbon nanotube (CNT), such as a single-walled carbon nanotube (SWNT), by terminal groups, which bind to a thin layer of a metal or metal oxide, which has been deposited on the surface of the outer wall of the nanotube.

Abstract: A sensor having a nanotube grown on and supported by thermal bimorph structures. The nanotube rests on a heat sink during sensing gas or a liquid and is moved from the heat sink when the nanotube is heated to desorb gas or liquid from it. The heatsink may function as a gate along with the bimorph structures as the other terminals of a transistor. Current-voltage and current-gate voltage characteristics may be obtained of the nanotube as a device like a transistor. These characteristics may provide information on a gas or liquid absorbed by the nanotube.

Abstract: A structure having a substrate, patterned metal layer and a catalyst island formed on the metal layer. The surface of the substrate upon which the metal layer is formed may be oxidized. As an illustrative example, the metal may be HfN and the catalyst island may be iron, nickel, or the like. The resulting structure may be placed in an environment having a carbon-containing gas, a temperature between 500 and 1200 degrees C., and an electric field. A nanotube may grow from the catalyst island. A method including the combining of hafnium and nitrogen may be used to make the nanotube growing structure.

Abstract: Detection systems and methods for capturing and analyzing particles within a particle sample are provided. The detection system may include, for example, a particle concentrator that can be used to collect and concentrate particles on a sample collection surface, an energy source for providing energy to induce fluorescence in the particles, and a detector for detecting at least some fluorescence induced in the particles by the energy source. The detection system may include a heater and/or cooler for controlling the temperature of the particle sample during testing.

Abstract: Carbon nanotubes are formed on projections on a substrate. A metal, such as nickel is deposited on the substrate with optional platforms, and heated to form the projections. Carbon nanotubes are formed from the projections by heating in an ethylene, methane or CO atmosphere. A heat sensor is also formed proximate the carbon nanotubes. When exposed to IR radiation, the heat sensor detects changes in temperature representative of the IR radiation. In a gas sensor, a thermally isolated area, such as a pixel is formed on a substrate with an integrated heater. A pair of conductors each have a portion adjacent a portion of the other conductor with projections formed on the adjacent portions of the conductors. Multiple carbon nanotubes are formed between the conductors from one projection to another. IV characteristics of the nanotubes are measured between the conductors in the presence of a gas to be detected.

Abstract: A light detector having a cathode wafer, a cavity wafer and an anode wafer. The cathode wafer may be bonded to one side of the cavity wafer and the anode wafer may be bonded to another side of the cavity wafer. The cathode wafer may have numerous cathodes, the anode wafer numerous anodes and the cavity wafer numerous cavities which may be aligned on a one-to-one basis to form a wafer structure of a plurality of detectors which may be diced into separable detector chips. When there is a voltage potential across a cathode and an anode, and a gas such as Ne or the like in the cavity, a reception of light such as ultra violet may result in an electronic discharge between the cathode and anode of the light detector.

Abstract: A thermal sensor structure having one level for an infrared detecting pixel including the sensor associated electronics. The electronics displace a small area thereby having little effect on the fill area of the pixel relative to a level having no pixel electronics. That level has thermally isolation for the substrate through the limited structural attachment to the substrate because of the access vias to the silicon. It has additional isolation because of a pit of removed silicon from the substrate below that one level. The thermal sensor may have an array with a large number of pixels having the one level for the pixels and electronics structure.