Abstract: A humidity sensor having a sensing component and a reference component. Each component may indicate humidity by using a transistor that has an upper gate dielectric layer with a dielectric constant which varies according to exposure to a change of moisture. The sensing component may have its upper gate dielectric layer exposed to an ambient environment. The reference component may have its upper gate dielectric layer with an absence of exposure to any environment. Sensing and reference transistor outputs may be processed with differential electronics to provide an output to indicate humidity in the ambient environment. Differential processing may reflect an output having a high common mode rejection ratio. An example of an upper gate dielectric layer deposited over a thin gate dielectric layer may be a hydrophobic polymer material. Other materials may instead be used. The components and processing electronics may be transistor circuits fabricated with integrated circuit technology.

Abstract: A solar cell may include a light sensitive molecule such as a hyperpolarizable molecule. In one example, a solar cell may include a layer of hyperpolarizable molecules disposed between a p-type electrode and an n-type electrode. In some cases, at least some of the hyperpolarizable molecules may include an electron donating group that is bonded or otherwise linked to the n-type electrode as well as an electron accepting group that is bonded or otherwise linked to the p-type electrode. In some instances, at least some of the hyperpolarizable molecules may include an electron donating group that is bonded or otherwise linked to the p-type electrode as well as an electron accepting group that is bonded or otherwise linked to the n-type electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to wireless detection systems. In one illustrative embodiment, a wireless detection system includes a plurality of surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors, and an electronic reader for interrogating the plurality of SAW sensors. In some instances, each of the surface acoustic wave based sensors includes an integrated sensor coil. The electronic reader may include a plurality of reader coils and a controller. The controller may be configured to interrogate the plurality of surface acoustic wave based sensors using a time division interrogation. In some cases, each of the plurality of reader coils is inductively coupled to only one of the integrated coils of the SAW sensors at any given time.

Abstract: A solar cell is disclosed that includes an electron conductor layer and a quantum dot layer. The quantum dot layer may include a plurality of quantum dots. A bridge layer may be coupled to the electron conductor layer and to the quantum dot layer. The bridge layer may include an antibiotic, a sulfur-containing amino acid, a vitamin, and/or a vitamin analogue. In some cases, a hole conductor layer may be coupled to the quantum dot layer.

Abstract: A solar cell including a quantum dot and an electron conductor, with a bifunctional ligand disposed between the quantum dot and the electron conductor. The bifunctional ligand molecule may include an electron conductor anchor that bonds to the electron conductor and a first quantum dot anchor that bonds to the quantum dot. A hole conductor such as a conductive polymer may include a second quantum dot anchor. In some instances, the first quantum dot may include selenium.

Abstract: Example solar cells and methods for making and using the same are disclosed. An example solar cell may include an electron conductor layer, a quantum dot layer, a bifunctional ligand layer coupling the electron conductor layer and the quantum dot layer, and a hole conductor layer coupled to the quantum dot layer. The bifunctional ligand layer may include an antibiotic, and in some cases, a cephalosporin-based antibiotic.

Abstract: A SAW based sensor apparatus utilizing semi-synchronous SAW resonator having a single resonance at Bragg frequency with very high quality factor is disclosed. The semi-synchronous SAW resonator includes at least one inter-digital transducer, which generates and receives surface acoustic wave and a number of grating reflectors, which reflect the surface acoustic wave and generate a standing wave between the reflectors, The interdigital transducer and the grating reflectors can be fabricated on a substrate (e.g., quartz) by photolithographic process. The resonance condition is independent of transducer directivity and reflection coefficient per finger. Such a SAW based sensor apparatus having three semi-synchronous SAW resonators can be utilized for measuring pressure and temperature for a wireless tire-pressure monitoring system.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates generally to wireless detection systems. In one illustrative embodiment, a wireless detection system includes a plurality of surface acoustic wave (SAW) sensors, and an electronic reader for interrogating the plurality of SAW sensors. In some instances, each of the surface acoustic wave based sensors includes an integrated sensor coil. The electronic reader may include a plurality of reader coils and a controller. The controller may be configured to interrogate the plurality of surface acoustic wave based sensors using a time division interrogation. In some cases, each of the plurality of reader coils is inductively coupled to only one of the integrated coils of the SAW sensors at any given time.

Abstract: A solar cell may include a light sensitive molecule such as a hyperpolarizable molecule. In one example, a solar cell may include a layer of hyperpolarizable molecules disposed between a p-type electrode and an n-type electrode. In some cases, at least some of the hyperpolarizable molecules may include an electron donating group that is bonded or otherwise linked to the n-type electrode as well as an electron accepting group that is bonded or otherwise linked to the p-type electrode. In some instances, at least some of the hyperpolarizable molecules may include an electron donating group that is bonded or otherwise linked to the p-type electrode as well as an electron accepting group that is bonded or otherwise linked to the n-type electrode.