Abstract: An opto-electronic sensor includes a deformable body that has a gripping surface, securable to and movable by a gripper to a position at which the gripper surface contacts an object, and includes optical waveguides positioned within the deformable body, each optical waveguide including a gap. The deformable body is configured to exhibit a lateral deflection responsive to receiving via the gripping surface a lateral force from the object. The deformable body and the one or more optical waveguides are mutually configured to produce a corresponding change in the gap of the one or more optical waveguides responsive to the lateral deflection. The change in the gap is detectable as a change in a light intensity, by a light source and a light detector. The lateral force is computed using the detected change.

Abstract: Provided is a device for measuring at least one dimension of an object. The device includes at least one body configured to be arranged along, or around, the object. The, or each, body carries an elongate stretchable waveguide and is configured to allow stretching the waveguide along its length when arranged along, or around, the object. The, or each, waveguide is associated with a sensor. The, or each, sensor includes a light emitter arranged and operable to emit at least one light pulse through the associated waveguide, and a light detector arranged to receive the at least one light pulse conveyed through the waveguide. The device also includes a communication module communicatively coupled with the, or each, sensor, and configured to communicate measurement data from the, or each, sensor to a processor to allow determining the at least one dimension. Systems and methods for measuring at least one dimension of an object are also disclosed.

Abstract: Systems and methods for additive manufacturing. In some examples, a system includes a frame defining an interior volume and an overhead robotic arm suspended from a gantry on a ceiling of the frame. The system includes manufacturing subsystems located within the interior volume of the frame. The system includes a control system configured for controlling the overhead robotic arm for parts movement among additive manufacturing processes using the manufacturing subsystems. The manufacturing subsystems can include one or more of: a microassembly station, an aerosol jetting print station, an intense pulsed light (IPL) photonic sintering station, a fiber weaving station, and a 3D printing station.

Abstract: A flexible wire comprises a conductive core surrounded by one or more radial p-n diodes and alternating conductive and non-conductive bands along an outermost surface. Methods for producing the wire are also disclosed, as are textiles and other flexible materials comprising or consisting of such flexible wires.

Abstract: A flexible wire comprises a conductive core surrounded by one or more radial p-n diodes and alternating conductive and non-conductive bands along an outermost surface. Methods for producing the wire are also disclosed, as are textiles and other flexible materials comprising or consisting of such flexible wires.

Abstract: Embodiments include circuitry and circuit elements such as contact arrays for harvesting power and soft connectors and patches for connecting flexible and stretchable soft circuits.

Abstract: Optical fibers, optical waveguides, optical sensors, and combinations thereof are disclosed. Strains in excess of 100% are permitted while subcentimeter changes in fiber length are detectable. Light intensity changes with changes in fiber or waveguide strain, and the changes are correlatable with other variables. Production of such devices according to some embodiments entails coating of a core with cladding. Core material may be polyurethane whilst cladding material may be silicone, for example.

Abstract: A flexible wire comprises a conductive core surrounded by one or more radial p-n diodes and alternating conductive and non-conductive bands along an outermost surface. Methods for producing the wire are also disclosed, as are textiles and other flexible materials comprising or consisting of such flexible wires.

Abstract: An embroidery machine with on-board electronics executing layout and alignment software provides for automated thread installation to establish textile-to-pad contact through the use of anisotropic conductive threads characterized by electrically conductive segments alternating with electrically insulating segments. Present embodiments provide for garments or other fabrics and textiles having flexible circuits integrated on a flexible substrate that bends and moves with the garment in a way not seen with stiff printed circuit boards, which may include multiple textile circuits attached to fabric to impart desired electronic features including connectivity to a printed circuit board external to a garment formed according to the present embodiments, as well as imparting electrical conductivity across seams of a garment sewn together from fabric, while maintaining electrical integrity of neighboring circuits on the same garment.

Abstract: An embroidery machine with on-board electronics executing layout and alignment software provides for automated thread installation to establish textile-to-pad contact through the use of anisotropic conductive threads characterized by electrically conductive segments alternating with electrically insulating segments. Present embodiments provide for garments or other fabrics and textiles having flexible circuits integrated on a flexible substrate that bends and moves with the garment in a way not seen with stiff printed circuit boards, which may include multiple textile circuits attached to fabric to impart desired electronic features including connectivity to a printed circuit board external to a garment formed according to the present embodiments, as well as imparting electrical conductivity across seams of a garment sewn together from fabric, while maintaining electrical integrity of neighboring circuits on the same garment.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods and devices for applying two or more mobilization fields in a microchannel using a multifunctional structure and manipulating particles and fluids based on more than one characteristic. Specifically, a fluidic channel comprising at least one metal structure having a coat comprising a conductive material, an insulative material, a semi-conductive material, or a combination thereof, is disclosed. Also disclosed are methods for manipulating or assaying a particle in a sample which comprises subjecting the sample to a fluidic channel comprising at least one metal structure having a coat comprising a conductive material, an insulative material, a semi-conductive material, or a combination thereof and inducing at least one mobilization field such as a magnetic field, an electroosmotic field, an insulative dielectrophoresis (iDEP) field, which iDEP field may be an iDEP trapping field or an iDEP streaming field, or a combination thereof.

Abstract: An apparatus that couples automated injection with flow feedback to provide nanoliter accuracy in controlling microliter volumes. The apparatus comprises generally a source of hydraulic fluid pressure, a fluid isolator joined to the outlet of the hydraulic pressure source and a flow sensor to provide pressure-driven analyte metering. For operation generally and particularly in microfluidic systems the hydraulic pressure source is typically an electrokinetic (EK) pump that incorporates gasless electrodes. The apparatus is capable of metering sub-microliter volumes at flowrates of 1-100 ?L/min into microsystem load pressures of up to 1000-50 psi, respectively. Flowrates can be specified within 0.5 ?L/min and volumes as small as 80 nL can be metered.

Abstract: A device for measuring fluid flow rates over a wide range of flow rates (<1 nL/min to >10 ?L/min) and at pressures at least as great as 2,000 psi. The invention is particularly adapted for use in microfluidic systems. The device operates by producing compositional variations in the fluid, or pulses, that are subsequently detected downstream from the point of creation to derive a flow rate. Each pulse, comprising a small fluid volume, whose composition is different from the mean composition of the fluid, can be created by electrochemical means, such as by electrolysis of a solvent, electrolysis of a dissolved species, or electrodialysis of a dissolved ionic species. Measurements of the conductivity of the fluid can be used to detect the arrival time of the pulses, from which the fluid flow rate can be determined. A pair of spaced apart electrodes can be used to produce the electrochemical pulse.