Abstract: One or more devices are provided that are configured to detachably engage within a modular system. The one or more devices are expandable to provide a surface to perform work.

Abstract: A continuous flow reactor for the efficient synthesis of nanoparticles with a high degree of crystallinity, uniform particle size, and homogenous stoichiometry throughout the crystal is described. Disclosed embodiments include a flow reactor with an energy source for rapid nucleation of the procurors following by a separate heating source for growing the nucleates. Segmented flow may be provided to facilitate mixing and uniform energy absorption of the precursors, and post production quality testing in communication with a control system allow automatic real-time adjustment of the production parameters. The nucleation energy source can be monomodal, multimodal, or multivariable frequency microwave energy and tuned to allow different precursors to nucleate at substantially the same time thereby resulting in a substantially homogenous nanoparticle. A shell application system may also be provided to allow one or more shell layers to be formed onto each nanoparticle.

Abstract: A continuous flow reactor for the efficient synthesis of nanoparticles with a high degree of crystallinity, uniform particle size, and homogenous stoichiometry throughout the crystal is described. Disclosed embodiments include a flow reactor with an energy source for rapid nucleation of the procurors following by a separate heating source for growing the nucleates. Segmented flow may be provided to facilitate mixing and uniform energy absorption of the precursors, and post production quality testing in communication with a control system allow automatic real-time adjustment of the production parameters. The nucleation energy source can be monomodal, multimodal, or multivariable frequency microwave energy and tuned to allow different precursors to nucleate at substantially the same time thereby resulting in a substantially homogenous nanoparticle. A shell application system may also be provided to allow one or more shell layers to be formed onto each nanoparticle.

Abstract: A method of operating an avalanche photodiode includes providing an avalanche photodiode having a multiplication region capable of amplifying an electric current when subject to an electric field. The multiplication region, in operation, has a first ionization rate for electrons and a second, different, ionization rate for holes. The method also includes applying the electric field to the multiplication region, receiving a current output from the multiplication region, and varying the electric field in time, whereby a portion of the current output is suppressed.

Abstract: The output of an avalanche photodiode (APD) comprises a “photocurrent” component comprising photon initiated events resulting from the interaction of photons with the APD and a “dark current” component comprising dark carrier events arising in the APD even when the APD is not exposed to light. Differences in the pulse height distributions of photon initiated events and dark carrier initiated events are used to statistically discriminate between photocurrent and dark current components of APD output.

Abstract: A continuous flow reactor for the efficient synthesis of nanoparticles with a high degree of crystallinity, uniform particle size, and homogenous stoichiometry throughout the crystal is described. Disclosed embodiments include a flow reactor with an energy source for rapid nucleation of the procurors following by a separate heating source for growing the nucleates. Segmented flow may be provided to facilitate mixing and uniform energy absorption of the precursors, and post production quality testing in communication with a control system allow automatic real-time adjustment of the production parameters. The nucleation energy source can be monomodal, multimodal, or multivariable frequency microwave energy and tuned to allow different precursors to nucleate at substantially the same time thereby resulting in a substantially homogenous nanoparticle. A shell application system may also be provided to allow one or more shell layers to be formed onto each nanoparticle.

Abstract: An optical upconverting nanomaterial includes a nanocrystal, a ligand layer directly bonded to the nanocrystal, and an optical antenna directly or indirectly bonded to the nanocrystal. The nanocrystal includes a transition metal-doped material exhibiting upconversion to optical wavelengths. The transition metal-doped material includes energy transfer facilitating transition metal dopants and (not necessarily distinct) emitter transition metal dopants, where an absorption spectrum of the energy transfer facilitating transition metal dopants overlaps with an emission spectrum of the optical antenna. The optical upconverting nanomaterial has at least one linear dimension (e.g., width or thickness) that is less than 150 nm in extent.

Abstract: An optical upconverting nanomaterial includes a nanocrystal, a ligand layer directly bonded to the nanocrystal, and an optical antenna directly or indirectly bonded to the nanocrystal. The nanocrystal includes a transition metal-doped material exhibiting upconversion to optical wavelengths. The transition metal-doped material includes energy transfer facilitating transition metal dopants and (not necessarily distinct) emitter transition metal dopants, where an absorption spectrum of the energy transfer facilitating transition metal dopants overlaps with an emission spectrum of the optical antenna. The optical upconverting nanomaterial has at least one linear dimension (e.g., width or thickness) that is less than 150 nm in extent.

Abstract: The output of an avalanche photodiode (APD) comprises a “photocurrent” component comprising photon initiated events resulting from the interaction of photons with the APD and a “dark current” component comprising dark carrier events arising in the APD even when the APD is not exposed to light. Differences in the pulse height distributions of photon initiated events and dark carrier initiated events are used to statistically discriminate between photocurrent and dark current components of APD output.

Abstract: A LIDAR system that includes a streak image sensor having multiple sensor elements for receiving optical return signals from portions of a spatial region within their respective instantaneous fields of view is operated by periodically sampling and storing electrical signals generated by the sensor elements respectively, and initiating the periodic sampling of the electrical signals of each sensor individually and independently by reference to a feature of that sensor's electrical signal that represents a boundary between materials with different optical properties.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device has nanoparticles sandwiched between a conductive substrate and a charge selective transport layer. Each of the nanoparticles has a ligand shell attached to the nanoparticle core. A first type of ligand is electron rich and attached to one hemisphere of the nanoparticle core, while a second type of ligand is electron poor and attached to an opposite hemisphere of the core. Consequently, the ligand shell induces an electric field within the nanoparticle, enhancing the photovoltaic effect. The arrangement of ligands types on different sides of the nanoparticle is obtained by a process involving ligand substitution after adhering the nanoparticles to the conductive substrate.

Abstract: This invention provides, in one aspect, a procedure to use optically transparent nanocrystalline quantum dots to absorb UV light. This absorption process leads to an energy transfer to a chemically bound and chelated lanthanide ion that may emit light in either the visible spectrum (400-700 nm) or in the near infrared (700-1600 nm). This invention also provides methods for the use of these taggant materials in inks and aerosols used to disperse the taggant.

Abstract: An assembly for storing and dispensing a plurality of integrated lancet and test strips for use in a testing meter is provided. The assembly comprises a cartridge portion for housing a plurality of integrated lancet and test strips, and a tub portion coupled to the cartridge portion and providing a surface for advancing a single integrated lancet and test strip for use in the testing meter. A system is also provided which includes the assembly and a meter for determining an analyte concentration.

Abstract: This invention provides, in one aspect, a procedure to use optically transparent nanocrystalline quantum dots to absorb UV light. This absorption process leads to an energy transfer to a chemically bound and chelated lanthanide ion that may emit light in either the visible spectrum (400-700 nm) or in the near infrared (700-1600 nm). This invention also provides methods for the use of these taggant materials in inks and aerosols used to disperse the taggant.

Abstract: A photovoltaic device has nanoparticles sandwiched between a conductive substrate and a charge selective transport layer. Each of the nanoparticles has a ligand shell attached to the nanoparticle core. A first type of ligand is electron rich and attached to one hemisphere of the nanoparticle core, while a second type of ligand is electron poor and attached to an opposite hemisphere of the core. Consequently, the ligand shell induces an electric field within the nanoparticle, enhancing the photovoltaic effect. The arrangement of ligands types on different sides of the nanoparticle is obtained by a process involving ligand substitution after adhering the nanoparticles to the conductive substrate.

Abstract: A streaming media quality analyzer system compares original streaming media from a source, or original packetized streaming media from the source, with a reconstructed packetized streaming media representing the packetized streaming media as received over a network in a connectionless manner at a remote site. At the remote site the received packetized streaming media is analyzed to determine time of arrival of the packets including identification of missing packets. The analysis results are transmitted over the network to a measurement site and used to reconstruct the received packetized streaming media from the original packetized streaming media. The reconstructed packetized streaming media is then analyzed to determine the quality of the packetized streaming media received at the remote site.

Abstract: Light emitters are formed and patterned on an electrode for an organic light-emitting device by electrochemically polymerizing a monomer across the full length of the electrode. A second electrode is deposited so to define a pixel region between mutually aligned portions of the two electrodes. Electroluminescence of the emitter occurs when a voltage is applied across the electrodes of the device.

Abstract: The present invention provides co-doped zinc oxide to flat panel, light emissive display devices and vacuum microelectronic devices to improve their efficiency and lifetime. This material has a low growth temperature and is compatible with metal oxide semiconductor (MOS) processing technology. It is tranparent, chemically stable and has a low work function, which result in many advantages when being used as the cathode for the aforementioned devices. In one embodiment of the emissive display device, an organic light diode (OLED) display has a high work function metal anode, such as platinum (Pt), gold (Au) or nickel (Ni) and a low work function co-doped zinc oxide cathode. Because of the energy level alignment provided by these two materials, the potential energy barriers to injection of electrons from the cathode and holes from the anode into the organic emissive medium are minimized so the display device operates more efficiently.

Abstract: A streaming media quality analyzer system compares original streaming media from a source, or original packetized streaming media from the source, with a reconstructed packetized streaming media representing the packetized streaming media as received over a network in a connectionless manner at a remote site. At the remote site the received packetized streaming media is analyzed to determine time of arrival of the packets including identification of missing packets. The analysis results are transmitted over the network to a measurement site and used to reconstruct the received packetized streaming media from the original packetized streaming media. The reconstructed packetized streaming media is then analyzed to determine the quality of the packetized streaming media received at the remote site.

Abstract: A continuous flow reactor for the efficient synthesis of nanoparticles with a high degree of crystallinity, uniform particle size, and homogenous stoichiometry throughout the crystal is described. Disclosed embodiments include a flow reactor with an energy source for rapid nucleation of the procurors following precursors to form nucleates followed by a separate heating source for growing the nucleates. Segmented flow may be provided to facilitate mixing and uniform energy absorption of the precursors, and post production quality testing in communication with a control system allow automatic real-time adjustment of the production parameters. The nucleation energy source can be monomodal, multimodal, or multivariable frequency microwave energy and tuned to allow different precursors to nucleate at substantially the same time thereby resulting in a substantially homogenous nanoparticle. A shell application system may also be provided to allow one or more shell layers to be formed onto each nanoparticle.