Abstract: Thermal conductivity detectors and methods of operating thermal conductivity detectors are described herein. One or more device embodiments include a single fluidic channel, wherein the single fluidic channel includes a single inlet and a single outlet, and multiple sensors configured to determine one or more properties associated with a thermal conductivity of a fluid in the single fluidic channel.

Abstract: A spectrometer system for providing information about a target with terahertz radiation. The system may receive incident radiation from the target through fore optics, a slit aperture, secondary optics and a dispersive element which images a slit on an array of terahertz sensitive detectors. The detectors may include uncooled sensors. Each sensor may be connected to its own micro antenna. The array of detectors may be situated proximate to the dispersive element so that radiation from the element may be dispersed according to wavelength to the respective detectors optimally sensitive to the various respective wavelengths. Detector signals indicating the impingement of terahertz radiation may provide information for identifying a material of the target.

Abstract: A system for reading transponders may include a printed circuit board and an electrotextile antenna. The printed circuit board may include an RFID reading circuit, and the electrotextile antenna may be electrically connected to the printed circuit board via a connection. The electrotextile antenna may be composed of a material made by blending or coating textiles with a metal, and the electrotextile antenna may be configured to transmit and receive signals between the RFID reading circuit and RFID tags.

Abstract: An antenna system may include a first metamaterial antenna having a first resonant frequency and a second metamaterial antenna having a second resonant frequency. The first resonant frequency may be different from the second resonant frequency. A first feed point may be connected to the first metamaterial antenna, and a second feed point may be connected to the second metamaterial antenna. A signal may be applied to the first and second feed points so that the first and second metamaterial antennas radiates electromagnetic energy while the signal is being applied and so that the antenna system is configured to send or receive signals over both the first and second resonant frequency bands.

Abstract: Micro discharge devices, methods, and systems are described herein. One device includes a non-conductive material, a channel through at least a portion of the non-conductive material having a first open end and a second open end, a first electrode proximate to a first circumferential position of the channel between the first open end and the second open end, a second electrode proximate to a second circumferential position of the channel between the first open end and the second open end, a discharge region defined by a portion of the channel between the first electrode and the second electrode, an optical emission collector positioned to receive an optical emission from the discharge region; and a discharge shielding component between the discharge region and the optical emission collector.

Abstract: An illustrative cavity ring down gas sensor includes an optical cavity for receiving a gas to be detected and at least two electromagnetic radiation sources. The first electromagnetic radiation source may emit a first beam of light having a wavelength corresponding to an absorption wavelength of the gas to be detected, and the second electromagnetic radiation source may emit a second beam of light having a second wavelength that is off of an absorption wavelength of the gas to be detected. The first beam of light may detect a cavity ring down time decay, which is related to the concentration of the gas to be detected. The second beam of light may be used to detect a baseline cavity ring down time decay, which may be used to help increase the accuracy of the sensor by, for example, helping to compensate the concentration of the gas detected by the first beam of light for sensor variations caused by, for example, sensor age, temperature or pressure changes, and/or other conditions.

Abstract: A spectrometer system for providing information about a target with terahertz radiation. The system may receive incident radiation from the target through fore optics, a slit aperture, secondary optics and a dispersive element which images a slit on an array of terahertz sensitive detectors. The detectors may include uncooled sensors. Each sensor may be connected to its own micro antenna. The array of detectors may be situated proximate to the dispersive element so that radiation from the element may be dispersed according to wavelength to the respective detectors optimally sensitive to the various respective wavelengths. Detector signals indicating the impingement of terahertz radiation may provide information for identifying a material of the target.

Abstract: A micro discharge device (MDD) capable of low voltage discharges in a variety of carrier gases for detection and/or ionization includes a sample introduction capillary having a first open end connected to a gas system and a second open end connected to a cylinder comprising a high dielectric constant material. A high voltage electrode can be placed in close proximity to the outer diameter of the cylinder and at a close linear distance to the second open end of the sample introduction capillary. A region can be formed inside the cylinder between the second end of the sample introduction capillary and the high voltage electrode wherein discharge can be located. An optical emission collector can be located through the flow manifold to a receiving location near the high voltage electrode within a region from inside the cylinder between the high voltage electrode and the manifold.

Abstract: A power generator includes a chemical hydride multilayer fuel cell stack. A flow path extends through the fuel cell stack to provide oxygen containing air to the fuel cell stack and to cool the fuel cell stack. A hydrogen generator is coupled to the flow path to receive water vapor from ambient air introduced into the flow path and water vapor generated by the fuel cell stack and to provide hydrogen to the fuel cell stack. A controller separately controls airflow past the fuel cell stack and water vapor provided to the hydrogen generator.

Abstract: Thermal conductivity detectors and methods of operating thermal conductivity detectors are described herein. One or more device embodiments include a single fluidic channel, wherein the single fluidic channel includes a single inlet and a single outlet, and multiple sensors configured to determine one or more properties associated with a thermal conductivity of a fluid in the single fluidic channel.

Abstract: An illustrative cavity ring down gas sensor includes an optical cavity for receiving a gas to be detected and at least two electromagnetic radiation sources. The first electromagnetic radiation source may emit a first beam of light having a wavelength corresponding to an absorption wavelength of the gas to be detected, and the second electromagnetic radiation source may emit a second beam of light having a second wavelength that is off of an absorption wavelength of the gas to be detected. The first beam of light may detect a cavity ring down time decay, which is related to the concentration of the gas to be detected. The second beam of light may be used to detect a baseline cavity ring down time decay, which may be used to help increase the accuracy of the sensor by, for example, helping to compensate the concentration of the gas detected by the first beam of light for sensor variations caused by, for example, sensor age, temperature or pressure changes, and/or other conditions.

Abstract: A chemical impedance detector having several electrodes situated on or across a dielectric layer of a substrate. The electrodes may be across or covered with a thin film polymer. Each electrode may have a set of finger-like electrodes. Each set of finger-like electrodes may be intermeshed, but not in contact, with another set of finger-like electrodes. The thin-film polymer may have a low dielectric constant and a high porous surface area. The chemical impedance detector may be incorporated in a micro fluid analyzer system.

Abstract: A micro discharge device (MDD) ionizer and a method for fabricating the MDD ionizer are disclosed. The MDD ionizer includes a dielectric barrier having a first open end connected to an electrically conductive capillary tube and a second open end connected to a sample collection capillary tube. A circular high voltage electrode can be positioned around the dielectric barrier in close linear proximity to the conductive capillary tube and sealed by a non-conductive epoxy. A plasma discharge can be formed in a flow path through the dielectric barrier when an AC potential is applied between the high voltage electrode and the electrically conductive capillary tube utilizing an electronic controller. Such a plasma discharge in the flow path of the sample achieves soft ionization of gaseous sample molecules. The high pressure region generally occurs in the plasma region (where the ionization occurs). The ions thus are drawn (i.e.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an antenna having multiple conductive portions. The apparatus also includes a transducer electrically coupling the conductive portions of the antenna. The transducer includes a first conductive path electrically coupled to one of the conductive portions and a second conductive path electrically coupled to the first conductive path and to another of the conductive portions. The first and second conductive paths at least partially overlap along at least a substantial portion of their lengths, where the overlap occurs in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the antenna portions.

Abstract: A sensor includes a transceiver configured to receive a wireless signal from an interrogator and to reflect the wireless signal back. The sensor also includes an antenna-switching modulator configured to modulate a radar cross-section of the sensor by repeatedly switching an antenna between, for example, a short-circuit position and an operational circuit position. The operational circuit position could be associated with an impedance matched receiver, and the short-circuit position could be associated with ground. Also, the sensor could be further configured to transmit the wireless signal to a second sensor and to receive a reflected wireless signal from the second sensor, and the sensor could further include a phase comparator configured to compute a phase difference between the transmitted wireless signal and the reflected wireless signal. The phase comparator could be further configured to compute a distance between the sensor and the second sensor based on the phase difference.

Abstract: A micro discharge device (MDD) capable of low voltage discharges in a variety of carrier gases for detection and/or ionization includes a sample introduction capillary having a first open end connected to a gas system and a second open end connected to a cylinder comprising a high dielectric constant material. A high voltage electrode can be placed in close proximity to the outer diameter of the cylinder and at a close linear distance to the second open end of the sample introduction capillary. A region can be formed inside the cylinder between the second end of the sample introduction capillary and the high voltage electrode wherein discharge can be located. An optical emission collector can be located through the flow manifold to a receiving location near the high voltage electrode within a region from inside the cylinder between the high voltage electrode and the manifold.

Abstract: A micro discharge device (MDD) ionizer and a method for fabricating the MDD ionizer are disclosed. The MDD ionizer includes a dielectric barrier having a first open end connected to an electrically conductive capillary tube and a second open end connected to a sample collection capillary tube. A circular high voltage electrode can be positioned around the dielectric barrier in close linear proximity to the conductive capillary tube and sealed by a non-conductive epoxy. A plasma discharge can be formed in a flow path through the dielectric barrier when an AC potential is applied between the high voltage electrode and the electrically conductive capillary tube utilizing an electronic controller. Such a plasma discharge in the flow path of the sample achieves soft ionization of gaseous sample molecules. The high pressure region generally occurs in the plasma region (where the ionization occurs). The ions thus are drawn (i.e.

Abstract: An apparatus includes an antenna having multiple conductive portions. The apparatus also includes a transducer electrically coupling the conductive portions of the antenna. The transducer includes a first conductive path electrically coupled to one of the conductive portions and a second conductive path electrically coupled to the first conductive path and to another of the conductive portions. The first and second conductive paths at least partially overlap along at least a substantial portion of their lengths, where the overlap occurs in a direction perpendicular to a plane of the antenna portions.

Abstract: A sensor includes a transceiver configured to receive a wireless signal from an interrogator and to reflect the wireless signal back. The sensor also includes an antenna-switching modulator configured to modulate a radar cross-section of the sensor by repeatedly switching an antenna between, for example, a short-circuit position and an operational circuit position. The operational circuit position could be associated with an impedance matched receiver, and the short-circuit position could be associated with ground. Also, the sensor could be further configured to transmit the wireless signal to a second sensor and to receive a reflected wireless signal from the second sensor, and the sensor could further include a phase comparator configured to compute a phase difference between the transmitted wireless signal and the reflected wireless signal. The phase comparator could be further configured to compute a distance between the sensor and the second sensor based on the phase difference.

Abstract: A chemical impedance detector having several electrodes situated on or across a dielectric layer of a substrate. The electrodes may be across or covered with a thin film polymer. Each electrode may have a set of finger-like electrodes. Each set of finger-like electrodes may be intermeshed, but not in contact, with another set of finger-like electrodes. The thin-film polymer may have a low dielectric constant and a high porous surface area. The chemical impedance detector may be incorporated in a micro fluid analyzer system.