Abstract: A combination five gallon bucket opener, includes a handle portion and a head portion, a first opener feature located in the head portion, the first opener feature having a plurality of engaging members and a bearing surface, at least one of the engaging members configured to receive a tab of a lid, at least one of the engaging members configured to engage a top surface of the lid, and a second opener feature located in the head portion, the second opener feature having at least one extended member configured to receive a cap, the at least one extended member having at least one feature defined therein to engage a corresponding feature on the cap.

Abstract: A combination five gallon bucket opener, includes a handle portion and a head portion, a first opener feature located in the head portion, the first opener feature having a plurality of engaging members and a bearing surface, at least one of the engaging members configured to receive a tab of a lid, at least one of the engaging members configured to engage a top surface of the lid, and a second opener feature located in the head portion, the second opener feature having at least one extended member configured to receive a cap, the at least one extended member having at least one feature defined therein to engage a corresponding feature on the cap.

Abstract: A method comprises providing a mold comprising a surface with at least one identification region, the at least one identification region comprising at least one identification feature that has a lateral dimension of 100 microns or less; and molding an item from a moldable material using the mold, such that the at least one identification region is transferred to a surface of the item.

Abstract: A toilet set can be removably attached to a toilet fixture using a system having an attachment body and a post with laterally mateable portions. The post has a rod portion extendable through a mounting hole of the toilet fixture and a post engagement portion. The attachment body has a pivot portion, a movable closure, and a receiving opening. The post engagement portion is defined by radially oriented features, such as disc or ring-shaped portions of different diameters. A portion of the periphery of the receiving opening has features with contours inversely shaped with respect to the features of the post engagement portion so that the attachment body engagement portion is laterally mateable with the post engagement portion. The closure is movable between a closed position preventing disengagement of the attachment body and the post and an open position enabling disengagement of the attachment body from the post.

Abstract: Devices for performing nanofabrication are provided which provide small volume reaction space and high reaction versatility. A device may include a reaction chamber adapted for nanoscale modification of a substrate and vacuum conditions; a scanning probe tip assembly enclosed within the reaction chamber; a first port coupled to the reaction chamber for delivering a gas; a second port coupled to the reaction chamber for applying a vacuum; and a substrate assembly insertedly mounted to the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber may include a body having one or more flexible walls and one or more supports to prevent the reaction chamber from collapsing under a vacuum. The device may further include an electrical conduit for coupling the tips of the scanning probe tip assembly to electrical components outside the reaction chamber. Also provided are apparatuses incorporating the devices and methods of using the devices and apparatuses.

Abstract: An assay device and method of use thereof includes a sample tray comprising a plurality of sample wells having a first volume, and a slide tray comprising a slide, and a liquid dispenser. The slide comprises a plurality of reaction sites on a bottom surface of the slide. The liquid dispenser is configured to dispense a plurality of liquid samples into the sample wells. The sample wells are configured to hold the liquid samples. Each of the liquid samples has a second volume such that the second volume exceeds the first volume and each of the liquid sample sits within and above one of the sample wells. The slide tray and the sample tray are configured such that the slide tray can be placed onto the sample tray, at least one of the reaction sites can be positioned directly above at least one of the sample wells containing a liquid sample, and the liquid sample can be drawn onto the reaction site upon the liquid sample contacting the bottom surface of the slide.

Abstract: A method for forming a pharmaceutical container portion comprises providing a pharmaceutical container portion mold comprising a surface with at least one identification region, the at least one identification region comprising at least one identification feature that has a lateral dimension of 100 microns or less; and molding a pharmaceutical container portion from a moldable material using the mold, such that the at least one identification region is transferred to a surface of the pharmaceutical container portion. Applications include anti-counterfeiting.

Abstract: An apparatus for leveling an array of microscopic pens with respect to a substrate surface is provided. The apparatus includes an array of microscopic pens; a substrate having a substrate surface; a controllable arm comprising a spherical ball on an end thereof; a force sensor configured to measure a force exerted on the array or the substrate surface at each of the plurality of positions; one or more actuators configured to drive the array and/or the substrate to vary a relative distance and a relative tilting between the array and the substrate surface; and a controller configured to determine a planar offset of the array with respect to the substrate and initiate a leveling of the array with respect to the substrate based on the planar offset. Methods are also provided.

Abstract: An apparatus for leveling an array of microscopic pens relative to a substrate surface or measuring a relative tilting therebetween includes an actuator configured to drive one of the array or the substrate to vary a distance therebetween, one or more force sensors configured to measure a force between the array and the surface, and a device configured calculate a force curve parameter of the force over the distance or time. The apparatus is configured to level the array relative to the surface by varying a relative tilting between the array and the substrate surface based on the force curve parameter or to measure the relative tilting based on the force curve parameter. Methods and software also are provided.

Abstract: Devices for leveling an object for patterning a substrate surface, including an array of scanning probe tips, are provided. A device may include a support structure adapted to mount an object, the object having a plurality of protrusions adapted to form a pattern on a surface of a substrate upon contact of the object to the surface; and at least one flexible joint assembly mounted to the support structure and adapted to allow the object to achieve a parallel orientation with respect to the surface upon contact of the object to the surface. Also provided are apparatuses and kits incorporating the devices and methods of making and using the devices and apparatuses.

Abstract: Improved environmental control system for improved nanolithography, imaging, detecting, and fabricating. An article comprising: at least one environmental chamber; at least one conditioning chamber adapted to be in gaseous communication with the environmental chamber, wherein the conditioning chamber comprises at least one gas transport device such as a fan, optionally at least one temperature probe, and at least one heating-cooling device such as a thermoelectric device which in operation provides a cold side and a hot side, at least one water vapor source, and at least one temperature sensor, at least one humidity sensor, wherein the fan, the thermoelectric device, the water vapor source, the temperature sensor, and the humidity sensor are adapted for a temperature controlled and humidity controlled gaseous flow. Two fans can be used, wherein the fans can transport air in the same direction or in opposite directions.

Abstract: Improved patterning at small scale including nanoscale. A method comprising: providing at least one cantilever comprising at least one tip thereon, and a material deposited on the tip, contacting the cantilever with a substrate so that the material is deposited from the tip onto the substrate to form a material deposit, wherein the temperature of the substrate is adapted to control a size of the material deposit. A device comprising: at least one heat sink, at least one heating or cooling stage, at least one vacuum system, wherein the device is adapted to function with a substrate to be subjected to a material deposition and to keep the substrate temperature substantially constant during deposition.

Abstract: Devices for performing nanofabrication are provided which provide small volume reaction space and high reaction versatility. A device may include a reaction chamber adapted for nanoscale modification of a substrate and vacuum conditions; a scanning probe tip assembly enclosed within the reaction chamber; a first port coupled to the reaction chamber for delivering a gas; a second port coupled to the reaction chamber for applying a vacuum; and a substrate assembly insertedly mounted to the reaction chamber. The reaction chamber may include a body having one or more flexible walls and one or more supports to prevent the reaction chamber from collapsing under a vacuum. The device may further include an electrical conduit for coupling the tips of the scanning probe tip assembly to electrical components outside the reaction chamber. Also provided are apparatuses incorporating the devices and methods of using the devices and apparatuses.

Abstract: Concepts for conveniently arranging devices for the transduction of signals to and from voltage and current domains to infrared radiation domains is described. Specifically, optoelectronic components and methods of making the same are described. In one aspect, the optoelectronic component includes a base substrate having a pair of angled (or substantially perpendicular) faces with electrical traces extending therebetween. A semiconductor chip assembly is mounted on the first face of the base substrate and a photonic device is mounted on the second face. Both the semiconductor chip assembly and the photonic device are electrically connected to traces on the base substrate. The semiconductor chip assembly is generally arranged to be electrically connected to external devices. The photonic devices are generally arranged to optically communicate with one or more optical fibers. The described structure may be used with a wide variety of photonic devices.

Abstract: The techniques of the present invention are directed towards setting a photonic device into a groove of a substrate, which is then attached to the chip sub-assembly in a way that the resulting optoelectronic package has a low profile and the interconnects between the photonic device and the semiconductor chip are short. The technique involves partially etching a groove in a substrate to allow for positioning of a photonic device within the groove. The photonic device is connected to the chip sub-assembly through interconnects that extend through the thickness of the substrate. The photonic devices are placed on their sides so that the active facets are perpendicular to the main axis of the chip sub-assembly. In this configuration, the optical fibers can be positioned parallel to the CSA top surface, ensuring a low module profile in the process.

Abstract: Concepts for conveniently arranging devices for the transduction of signals to and from voltage and current domains to infrared radiation domains is described. Specifically, optoelectronic components and methods of making the same are described. In one aspect, the optoelectronic component includes a base substrate having a pair of angled (or substantially perpendicular) faces with electrical traces extending therebetween. A semiconductor chip assembly is mounted on the first face of the base substrate and a photonic device is mounted on the second face. Both the semiconductor chip assembly and the photonic device are electrically connected to traces on the base substrate. The semiconductor chip assembly is generally arranged to be electrically connected to external devices. The photonic devices are generally arranged to optically communicate with one or more optical fibers. The described structure may be used with a wide variety of photonic devices.

Abstract: An embodiment includes a connector element that comprises a connector body and a fiber optic ferrule slidably positioned inside the connector body. The ferrule holds at least one optical fiber. The connector element carries an optical sub-assembly including a photonic device and a spacer and includes a connector sleeve for receiving the connector element. The sleeve includes a ridge that operates as a first stop for the connector body and includes an alignment projection that coarsely aligns the fiber optic ferrule. The ferrule includes a pair of openings configured to receive a pair of alignment pins to provide fine alignment of optical fibers with corresponding photonic devices. The connector element is engaged with the connector sleeve to position the ferrule with respect to the optical sub-assembly such that the optical fiber is correctly positioned relative to a corresponding photonic device.