Abstract: The present invention provides an optical head with a single or multiple sub-wavelength light beams, which can be used in arenas such as photolithography, optical storage, optical microscopy, to name a few. The present invention includes a transparent substrate, a thin film, and a surface structure with sub-wavelength surface profile. The incident light transmits through the transparent substrate, forms a surface plasma wave along the sub-wavelength aperture located within the thin film, and finally re-emits through spatial coupling with the sub-wavelength profile of the surface structure. As the coupled re-emitting light beam or light beams can maintain the waist less than that of the diffraction limit for a few micrometers out of the surface with sub-wavelength profile in many cases, this invention can have applications ranging from micro or nano manufacturing, metrology, and manipulation by using light beams with waist smaller than the diffraction limit.

Abstract: The present invention provides an optical head with a single or multiple sub-wavelength light beams, which can be used in arenas such as photolithography, optical storage, optical microscopy, to name a few. The present invention includes a transparent substrate, a thin film, and a surface structure with sub-wavelength surface profile. The incident light transmits through the transparent substrate, forms a surface plasma wave along the sub-wavelength aperture located within the thin film, and finally re-emits through spatial coupling with the sub-wavelength profile of the surface structure. As the coupled re-emitting light beam or light beams can maintain the waist less than that of the diffraction limit for a few micrometers out of the surface with sub-wavelength profile in many cases, this invention can have applications ranging from micro or nano manufacturing, metrology, and manipulation by using light beams with waist smaller than the diffraction limit.

Abstract: One embodiment of the present invention is a sensor for analyzing an analyte that includes: (a) an sensing element that is adapted to interface with the analyte; (b) an organic luminescent element that is adapted to excite surface plasmon resonance on the sensing element; and (c) a detector that is adapted to detect signals from the sensing element.

Abstract: A biomolecular sensor system utilizing a transverse propagation wave of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is described. The system comprises: a substrate; a dielectric layer, having a groove therein and standing on top of the substrate; a sensing film layer, sitting at the groove; a pair of prism devices, each resting on one side of the groove and both separating a tunable distance. Besides, the sensor system further comprises a light source, a light detector (a frontend of which connecting to a spectrometer and a backend connecting to a differential amplifier) and a channel with a cover forming inside the groove for the acquisition of the reflected light from the prism devices. Since the sensor system is constructed by exploiting the SPR technique on the transverse propagation, a whole contact surface is under detection (parallel detection) which differentiates it from the traditional method of single-area SPR detection.

Abstract: In the present invention, a dual-output piezoelectric transformer for driving at least two loads is provided. The dual-output piezoelectric transformer comprises a piezoelectric piece, a set of input electrodes mounted centrally on a first and a second sides of the piece with a first polarization direction along a thickness direction of the piece, and a first and a second output electrodes polarized reversely in a second polarization direction and respectively mounted around surfaces of two ends of the piece with the second polarization direction being a longitudinal direction of the piece.

Abstract: The present invention is in related to a miniature surface plasmon resonance waveguide device with sinusoidal curvature compensation and at least comprises: a substract, a waveguide structure, a sensing film layer and a cover layer, wherein the waveguide structure is configured with the function of sinusoidal curvature compensation and installed above the substract, further that, the waveguide structure includes a light input port and a light output port; the sensing film layer is on a special region of the waveguide structure, the special region is a sensing region; the cover layer is upper than the substract and has an opening. By means of the optimal curve figure of the sinusoidal curvature compensation, attenuation of light energy can be minimized while in propagation, and allows the input and output of the light on the same side of the device.

Abstract: A microarray biochip workstation allowing positioning of chips, immobilization of molecules, mixing of sample solution, molecular interactions and washing and processing qualitative and quantitative analyses consists of a positioning device for holding a biochip, a mixing device for acting on the sample solution applied on the biochip, a pumping device for removing the sample solution from the biochip surface that does not react, and a reading device for detecting reaction results of the biochip. The workstation thus constructed provides an integrated and effective work interface.

Abstract: A micromixer used for microfluidic system is provided. The micromixer incorporates a pairs of reciprocating pumps and a pairs of fluidic element for mixing at least two fluids. With such a microfluid mixer, the at least two fluids are mixed when the reciprocating pumps are in their forward strokes by means of the impingement of two pulsation flows. The two fluids are also mixed when the reciprocating pumps are in their backward strokes by means of the generation of the vortexes, and the two fluids are also mixed by means of mass diffusion via a purposeful like-lamella-structure.

Abstract: A biomolecular sensor system utilizing a transverse propagation wave of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) is described. The system comprises: a substrate; a dielectric layer, having a groove therein and standing on top of the substrate; a sensing film layer, sitting at the groove; a pair of prism devices, each resting on one side of the groove and both separating a tunable distance. Besides, the sensor system further comprises a light source, a light detector (a frontend of which connecting to a spectrometer and a backend connecting to a differential amplifier) and a channel with a cover forming inside the groove for the acquisition of the reflected light from the prism devices. Since the sensor system is constructed by exploiting the SPR technique on the transverse propagation, a whole contact surface is under detection (parallel detection) which differentiates it from the traditional method of single-area SPR detection.

Abstract: A motion sensing system utilizing piezoelectric laminates with predetermined surface electrode patterns disposed thereon utilizes a frequency selector to pass motion waves of predetermined frequencies and an electrical circuit for processing the electrical signals for transmission to an activating device for appropriate activation. In particular, the frequency selector is a low frequency bandpass filter for free-fall acceleration wave frequencies. By directing appropriate action, the present invention increases the applicability of the device upon which it is mounted (e.g., for military or other hostile environment use), decreases the possibility of damage, and lengthens its useful life.

Abstract: A solution for fabricating a light diffusing sheet-like device capable of emitting light with superior brightness, that is a high brightness diffuser. The high brightness diffuser mainly includes at least two light diffusing pieces with ridge-shape structure arranged thereon, which can be either convex or concave. The convex ridge-shape structure having a plurality of large convex ridges and a plurality of small convex ridges, which are associated with a ridgeline existing in between two adjacent ridges where the large ridge and small are interlace-arranged, and the ridges along with the associated ridgelines can be longitudinally extended to the same direction. The concave ridge-shape structure is constituted the same way as the convex ridge-shape structure is, but having concave ridges. The high brightness diffuser is fabricated by stacking up the two light diffusing pieces and enabling an included angle to be formed between the two ridge-extending directions of the two light diffusing pieces.

Abstract: A motion sensing system utilizing piezoelectric laminates with predetermined surface electrode patterns disposed thereon utilizes a frequency selector to pass motion waves of predetermined frequencies and an electrical circuit for processing the electrical signals for transmission to an activating device for appropriate activation. In particular, the frequency selector is a low frequency bandpass filter for free-fall acceleration wave frequencies. By directing appropriate action, the present invention increases the applicability of the device upon which it is mounted (e.g., for military or other hostile environment use), decreases the possibility of damage, and lengthens its useful life.

Abstract: An apparatus for quantitatively determining an analyte in a sample fluid includes a holder for holding an electrochemical cell that includes a catalyst, a waveform generator for generating a potential profile having a voltage bias and an alternating part, a detector for detecting a current signal for a period of measuring time through the electrochemical cell, a memory for storing the current signal, and a processor for correlating the current signals with the concentration of the analyte.

Abstract: A strain gauge apparatus having a point-distributed sensor for measuring the strain of a mechanical structure. The strain gauge comprises a thin elongated piezoresistive lamina with a shape contour that is symmetric with respect to the longitudinal axis thereof, and the width of the lamina at the center along the longitudinal axis is minimum for the entire lamina length. The point-distributed strain gauge apparatus measures both static and dynamic deformation in the measured structure at a precise location aligned to the targeted center of the sensor lamina.

Abstract: A motion sensing system utilizing piezoelectric laminates with predetermined surface electrode patterns disposed thereon utilizes a frequency selector to pass motion waves of predetermined frequencies and an electrical circuit for processing the electrical signals for transmission to an activating device for appropriate activation. In particular, the frequency selector is a low frequency bandpass filter for free-fall acceleration wave frequencies. By directing appropriate action, the present invention increases the applicability of the device upon which it is mounted (e.g., for military or other hostile environment use), decreases the possibility of damage, and lengthens its useful life.

Abstract: A diffraction laser encoder apparatus for positional and movement information measurement of a target made with a diffraction grating. The diffraction laser encoder has a laser light source for generating a source beam. A polarization beam splitter assembly comprises a polarization beam splitter for receiving the source beam for splitting a P-polarization component and an S-polarization component of the source beam into parallel and offset beams. A focusing lens focuses the P-polarization component and the S-polarization component beams onto the target diffraction grating and returning diffracted P-polarization and diffracted S-polarization beams back into the polarization beam splitter for generating a detector beam coaxially containing the diffracted P-polarization and the diffracted S-polarization beams. A detector assembly receives the detector beam for electrical processing and analysis for resolving the positional and movement information.

Abstract: The invention advantageously provides an alert system and method for geographic or natural disasters that utilize a telecommunications network for monitoring geographic data in disaster-prone areas and accordingly issuing warnings against potential disasters to people inside the monitored area. An alert system according to a preferred embodiment of the invention comprises a telecommunications service network, one or more wireless sensor modules and a control center. The telecommunications network according to this particular embodiment includes service coverage over the monitored areas. The wireless sensor modules are installed to selected locations inside monitored areas. Each of the sensor modules further comprises at least one sensor for collecting geographic or geodetic data and a wireless communications unit for sending collected geographic data to the control center via the telecommunications network.

Abstract: A symmetric or asymmetric multilayer structure based on the technique of surface plasmon resonance (SPR) has been applied for modulation of resonant angle and wavelength. The fabrication of this invention can have nanoscale thin film layers up to several hundreds, while each layer has its own material of a high or low refractive index value, and the total layers in a thickness of tens to hundreds nanometers are grown in this single structure. This invention is intended for optimizing the scanning of mechanism by modulating SPR resonant angle and wavelength, and for developing the prospect of portable instruments.

Abstract: The present invention is to provide a solution for fabricating a light diffusing sheet-like device capable of emitting light with superior brightness, that is a high brightness diffuser. The high brightness diffuser mainly comprises at least two light diffusing pieces with ridge-shape structure arranged thereon, which can be either convex or concave. The convex ridge-shape structure is consisted of a plurality of large convex ridges and a plurality of small convex ridges, which are associated with a ridgeline existing in between two adjacent ridges where the large ridge and small ridge are interlace-arranged, and the ridges along with the associated ridgelines can be longitudinally extended to the same direction. Likewise, The concave ridge-shape structure is constituted the same way as the convex ridge-shape structure is, but is consisted of concave ridges.

Abstract: A multi-function opto-electronic detection apparatus for detecting molecular characteristics of a test sample. The appratuses comprises functional mode subsystems including a detecting light source subsystem for generating sampling beams for illuminating the test sample; a manipulation optics subsystem for aligning the sampling beam onto the test sample; a target signal processing subsystem for analyzing target beams emerging from the test sample resulting from the illuminating of the sampling beam; and a sample fixation subsystem for holding the test sample. The detecting light source subsystem, manipulation optics subsystem and target signal processing subsystem are assembled into one of several possible optical sampling setups for the detection characteristics of the test sample. The functional mode setups include at least ellispometer, confocal image scanner, photon tunneling scanning microscope and interferometer.