Abstract: This specification discloses LED arrays comprising a grid structure that physically and optically isolates adjacent LEDs or groups of LEDs in the array from each other. The grid structure comprises an arrangement of walls defining cells. Individual LEDs or groups of LEDs in the array are positioned within different ones of the cells, separated from adjacent LEDs or groups of LEDs by the grid walls. This specification also discloses fabrication processes for such LED arrays. In these fabrication processes, the grid structure is formed as a separate monolithic structure. The LEDs or pcLEDs are arranged on and attached to a substrate (for example, a printed circuit board), after which the grid structure is attached to the substrate in registry with the arrangement of LEDs or pcLEDs.

Abstract: A light-emitting apparatus includes light-emitting and primary optics arrays. The light-emitting array includes multiple light-emitting pixel elements, each emitting at one of one or more output wavelengths. The primary optics array includes multiple metastructured primary optical elements, each receiving output light from a corresponding pixel element and redirecting that light to form a portion of array output light. Different primary optical elements receive pixel output light from different corresponding pixel elements. The primary optical elements differ from one another with respect to structural arrangement of their corresponding metastructures. Those different arrangements result in differing collimation, propagation directions, or angular radiation distributions of the corresponding portions of array output light emitted by different pixel elements of the light-emitting array.

Abstract: In a gas sensing system, a light emitter can emit light through a gas sample toward a concave reflective surface. The reflective surface can redirect the emitted light to propagate through the gas sample toward a light sensor. Using, optionally, the Beer-Lambert Law, the system can determine a concentration of the gas material in the gas sample. By selecting a specified shape for the reflective surface, such as a complete or partial ellipsoid, and locating the light emitter and the light sensor in specified locations, such as at one or both foci of the ellipsoid, the gas sensing system can reduce variation in optical path length, from optical path to optical path, in the light that propagates from the light emitter, to the reflective surface, and to the light sensor. Reducing the variation in optical path length can improve an accuracy in determining the concentration of the gas material.

Abstract: A gas sensing system measures a concentration of first and second gasses in a gas sample disposed in a cavity containing a porous scattering material. The first and second gas each have an absorption peak at a different wavelength. First and second emitters emit light having a spectrum that includes one of the different wavelengths. A single sensor, or multiple sensors, detect at least some of the light emitted by the first and second emitters. A processor determines concentration of the first and second gases from signals from the sensor that indicate intensities of the light from the first and second emitters. When a single sensor is used, the first and second emitters are driven, and the sensor signal detected, at different times. When multiple sensors are used, the sensors detect signals at one of the absorption peaks.

Abstract: In a gas sensing system, an emitter emits light through a gas toward a concave reflective surface. The reflective surface reflects the light toward a sensor while light that passes through a porous scattering material is scattered. The surface of the reflective surface provides a diffusion of the light. A concentration of the gas is detected by the sensor. The scattering material may be permeable or non-permeable to the gas. The scattering and reflecting of the light increases the distance the light travels from the emitter to the sensor to increase absorption of the light by the gas.

Abstract: A gas sensing system measures a concentration of a gas sample having an absorption peak at a first wavelength. An emitter emits light having a spectrum that includes at least the first wavelength. A sensor detects at least some of the light emitted by the emitter. A porous scattering material is substantially transparent at the first wavelength and scatters at least some of the light. A surface of the porous scattering material opposing the emitter and the sensor has a depression. The emitter and the sensor are laterally and vertically separated by a separator filling the depression. The separator specularly or diffusively reflects the light emitted by the emitter.

Abstract: This specification discloses LED arrays comprising a grid structure that physically and optically isolates adjacent LEDs or groups of LEDs in the array from each other. The grid structure comprises an arrangement of walls defining cells. Individual LEDs or groups of LEDs in the array are positioned within different ones of the cells, separated from adjacent LEDs or groups of LEDs by the grid walls. This specification also discloses fabrication processes for such LED arrays. In these fabrication processes, the grid structure is formed as a separate monolithic structure. The LEDs or pcLEDs are arranged on and attached to a substrate (for example, a printed circuit board), after which the grid structure is attached to the substrate in registry with the arrangement of LEDs or pcLEDs.

Abstract: The invention generally relates to a catheter sterilization system using semiconductor light emitting devices (LEDs) to sterilize the lumen of a catheter. The sterilization system may include a sterilization head with attached semiconductor LEDs sized for insertion into the catheter. The sterilization head is connected to the linearly extending connector allowing an operator to move the sterilization head through the catheter. The sterilization system may alternatively include microLEDs attached to the inner sidewalls of the catheter to sterilize the lumen of the catheter.

Abstract: In a gas sensing system, a light emitter can emit light through a gas sample toward a concave reflective surface. The reflective surface can redirect the emitted light to propagate through the gas sample toward a light sensor. Using, optionally, the Beer-Lambert Law, the system can determine a concentration of the gas material in the gas sample. By selecting a specified shape for the reflective surface, such as a complete or partial ellipsoid, and locating the light emitter and the light sensor in specified locations, such as at one or both foci of the ellipsoid, the gas sensing system can reduce variation in optical path length, from optical path to optical path, in the light that propagates from the light emitter, to the reflective surface, and to the light sensor. Reducing the variation in optical path length can improve an accuracy in determining the concentration of the gas material.

Abstract: A gas sensing system can allow a gas sample to permeate hollow spaces within a porous scattering material. The porous scattering material can be substantially transparent at an illumination wavelength. An emitter can illuminate the porous scattering material and the gas sample with light having a spectrum that includes the illumination wavelength. A sensor can detect a level of light that has traversed the porous scattering material. Using, for example, the Beer-Lambert Law, the system can determine a concentration of the gas material in the gas sample. The scattering can greatly increase an optical path length through the porous scattering material, compared with a linear dimension of the porous scattering material. The increased optical path length can allow a gas chamber to shrink in size, thereby decreasing a size of the gas sensing system without a corresponding decrease in a sensitivity and/or an accuracy of the system.

Abstract: A shallow trench isolation (STI) structure includes a top surface formed completely of silicon nitride. The top surface of the STI structure is coplanar with a top substrate surface or extends above the top substrate surface. The STI structures include further dielectric materials beneath the silicon nitride and an oxide liner and any portions that extend above the substrate surface are formed of silicon nitride.

Abstract: A shallow trench isolation (STI) structure includes a top surface formed completely of silicon nitride. The top surface of the STI structure is coplanar with a top substrate surface or extends above the top substrate surface. The STI structures include further dielectric materials beneath the silicon nitride and an oxide liner and any portions that extend above the substrate surface are formed of silicon nitride.

Abstract: A shallow trench isolation (STI) structure and methods for forming the same provide an STI structure with a top surface formed completely of silicon nitride. The methods for forming the STI structures provide for at least one nitride deposition step followed by a further nitride deposition step to re-fill divots that occur along the upper portions of the trench sidewalls.

Abstract: A shallow trench isolation (STI) structure and methods for forming the same provide an STI structure with a top surface formed completely of silicon nitride. The methods for forming the STI structures provide for at least one nitride deposition step followed by a further nitride deposition step to re-fill divots that occur along the upper portions of the trench sidewalls.

Abstract: The present invention sorts very large volumes of data records by forming successive lists of sorted record start address by character rank from a LSD (least significant digit) of a sort field to a MSD (most significant digit) of such field with each list being formed in the order of the preceeding list. The present invention forms the lists by placing record start addresses in a collated list of virtual pockets wherein successive occurrences of like characters are linked to the next pocket memory position of such character so as to form the list in a memory requiring only the same number of addresses as there are records being sorted. The invention thus very materially reduces the size of pocket memory required for this type of data sorting.