Abstract: Strategic placement and patterning of electrodes, vias, and metal runners can significantly reduce strain in a power semiconductor die. By modifying the path defining electrodes, vias, and metal runners, as well as patterning the material layers thereof, strain can be better managed to increase reliability of a power semiconductor die.

Abstract: A method for assaying analytes in a blood sample by loading a blood sample onto a microfluidic device; combining the blood sample with a buffer reagent comprising a surfactant to provide a diluted blood sample and conduct an assay. The surfactant is selected to permit the use of electrowetting to conduct droplet operations using the blood sample and to permit the use of a fluorescence-based droplet operation. The assay may be an unbound bilirubin assay.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods associated with dielectric coatings for printed circuit boards are disclosed herein. In embodiments, a printed circuit board (PCB) includes a substrate, microstrip conductors located on a surface of the substrate, a solder mask covering the surface of the substrate and the microstrip conductors, and a dielectric coating located on the solder mask, the dielectric coating on an opposite side of the solder mask from the microstrip conductors, wherein a thickness of the dielectric coating is selected to cause a ratio of capacitive coupling to self capacitance to be approximately equal to a ratio of inductive coupling to self inductance for each microstrip conductor of the microstrip conductors, where the thickness may be determined based on a specific methodology including simulations. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.

Abstract: Apparatuses, systems and methods associated with dielectric coatings for printed circuit boards are disclosed herein. In embodiments, a printed circuit board (PCB) includes a substrate, microstrip conductors located on a surface of the substrate, a solder mask covering the surface of the substrate and the microstrip conductors, and a dielectric coating located on the solder mask, the dielectric coating on an opposite side of the solder mask from the microstrip conductors, wherein a thickness of the dielectric coating is selected to cause a ratio of capacitive coupling to self capacitance to be approximately equal to a ratio of inductive coupling to self inductance for each microstrip conductor of the microstrip conductors, where the thickness may be determined based on a specific methodology including simulations. Other embodiments may be described and/or claimed.