Abstract: Methods of manufacturing multi-material fibers having one or more electrically-connectable devices disposed therein are described. In certain instances, the methods include the steps of: positioning the electrically-connectable device(s) within a corresponding pocket provided in a preform material; positioning a first electrical conductor longitudinally within a first conduit provided in the preform material; and drawing the multi-material fiber by causing the preform material to flow, such that the first electrical conductor extends within the multi-material fiber along a longitudinal axis thereof and makes an electrical contact with a first electrode located on each electrically-connectable device. A metallurgical bond may be formed between the first electrical conductor and the first electrode while drawing the multi-material fiber and/or, after drawing the multi-material fiber, the first electrical conductor may be located substantially along a neutral axis of the multi-material fiber.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing multi-material fibers having one or more electrically-connectable devices disposed therein are described. In certain instances, the methods include the steps of: positioning the electrically-connectable device(s) within a corresponding pocket provided in a preform material; positioning a first electrical conductor longitudinally within a first conduit provided in the preform material; and drawing the multi-material fiber by causing the preform material to flow, such that the first electrical conductor extends within the multi-material fiber along a longitudinal axis thereof and makes an electrical contact with a first electrode located on each electrically-connectable device. A metallurgical bond may be formed between the first electrical conductor and the first electrode while drawing the multi-material fiber and/or, after drawing the multi-material fiber, the first electrical conductor may be located substantially along a neutral axis of the multi-material fiber.

Abstract: A laboratory system, comprising: at least one rack comprising retainers, wherein the rack is adapted to carry laboratory sample containers inserted in the retainers, a handling device, wherein the handling device is adapted to insert sample containers in the retainers or remove containers from the retainers being placed at a processing position depending on location information indicating the location of the rack being placed at the processing position relative to the handling device, a plurality of teaching devices, wherein a respective teaching device is insertable into a retainer of the rack, and wherein at least two teaching devices are inserted into a corresponding retainer of the rack being placed at the processing position, and a location information calculating device, wherein the calculating device is adapted to calculate the location information of the rack being placed at the processing position depending on the location of the at least two teaching devices.

Abstract: A laboratory sample container carrier handling apparatus is provided comprising a revolving device, a guiding surface, and a force-applying device, wherein the force-applying device is adapted to apply a force to a laboratory sample container carrier supplied to the revolving device to such an extent that the laboratory sample container carrier is forced against the guiding surface to such an extent that the laboratory sample container carrier rolls off at the guiding surface pushed by the revolving device. A laboratory automation system is also provided comprising such a laboratory sample container carrier handling apparatus and to a use of such a laboratory sample container carrier handling apparatus for handling a laboratory sample container carrier in, in particular such, a laboratory automation system.

Abstract: In some implementations, a self-cleaning seat includes a cover layer with a photocatalyst; a light-emitting fiber layer including one or more light sources; a light-diffusing spacer configured to diffuse light emitted from the light-emitting fiber layer and positioned between the cover layer and the light-emitting fiber layer; and a triggering mechanism that activates a cleaning cycle by activating the one or more light sources.

Abstract: A gripping device for handling sample containers is presented. The sample containers are closed by caps of a given cap type or are not closed by caps. The gripping device comprises a number of fingers configured to collectively cause gripping of a sample container, a tactile sensor device arranged at at least one of the fingers and configured to sample a longitudinal profile of the sample container and of the cap, if any, being gripped, and a control device coupled to the tactile sensor device. The control device determines if the sample container is closed by a cap or not closed by a cap based on the sampled longitudinal profile.

Abstract: Provided is a fabric including a plurality of fibers disposed in a fabric configuration. At least one of the fibers comprises a device fiber having a device fiber body including a device fiber body material, having a longitudinal axis along a device fiber body length. A plurality of discrete devices are disposed as a linear sequence within the device fiber body along at least a portion of the device fiber body length. Each discrete device includes at least one electrical contact pad. The device fiber body includes device fiber body material regions disposed between adjacent discrete devices in the linear sequence, separating adjacent discrete devices. At least one electrical conductor is disposed within the device fiber body along at least a portion of the device fiber body length. The electrical conductor is disposed in electrical connection with an electrical contact pad of discrete devices within the device fiber body.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing multi-material fibers having one or more electrically-connectable devices disposed therein are described. In certain instances, the methods include the steps of: positioning the electrically-connectable device(s) within a corresponding pocket provided in a preform material; positioning a first electrical conductor longitudinally within a first conduit provided in the preform material; and drawing the multi-material fiber by causing the preform material to flow, such that the first electrical conductor extends within the multi-material fiber along a longitudinal axis thereof and makes an electrical contact with a first electrode located on each electrically-connectable device. A metallurgical bond may be formed between the first electrical conductor and the first electrode while drawing the multi-material fiber and/or, after drawing the multi-material fiber, the first electrical conductor may be located substantially along a neutral axis of the multi-material fiber.

Abstract: Methods of manufacturing multi-material fibers having one or more electrically-connectable devices disposed therein are described. In certain instances, the methods include the steps of: positioning the electrically-connectable device(s) within a corresponding pocket provided in a preform material; positioning a first electrical conductor longitudinally within a first conduit provided in the preform material; and drawing the multi-material fiber by causing the preform material to flow, such that the first electrical conductor extends within the multi-material fiber along a longitudinal axis thereof and makes an electrical contact with a first electrode located on each electrically-connectable device. A metallurgical bond may be formed between the first electrical conductor and the first electrode while drawing the multi-material fiber and/or, after drawing the multi-material fiber, the first electrical conductor may be located substantially along a neutral axis of the multi-material fiber.

Abstract: A method for determining properties of a laboratory sample contained in a laboratory sample container is presented. The method comprises measuring projections of the laboratory sample container comprising the laboratory sample by irradiating light to the laboratory sample container at different projection angle and determining the properties by tomographic reconstruction based on the projections.

Abstract: A method for determining a vertical position of a horizontally extending interface between first and second components is presented. The first and second components are contained in a laboratory sample container in layers vertically separated from each other. The method comprises generating first data, generating second data in the form of picture data of the laboratory sample container containing the first and second components, determining a first probability distribution function in response to the first data, determining a second probability distribution function in response to the second data, and determining the vertical position of the horizontally extending interface depending on the first and second probability distribution functions. The first data depend on the vertical position of the horizontally extending interface. The first and second probability distribution functions assign a probability of the presence of the horizontally extending interface to a vertical position.

Abstract: An apparatus for determining properties of a laboratory sample container is presented. The apparatus comprises a light source for emitting light to illuminate the laboratory sample container and a number of curved reflecting and/or scattering units. A respective curved reflecting and/or scattering unit comprises a curved shape and is adapted to reflect and/or scatter light of the light source to an outer surface of the laboratory sample container for illuminating the laboratory sample container. The apparatus also comprises a camera adapted to take an image of the laboratory sample container. The image comprises image data related to the laboratory sample container. The apparatus also comprises a control unit adapted to determine the properties of the laboratory sample container based on the image data related to the laboratory sample container.

Abstract: A method for determining properties of a laboratory sample contained in a laboratory sample container is presented. The method comprises measuring projections of the laboratory sample container comprising the laboratory sample by irradiating light to the laboratory sample container at different projection angle and determining the properties by tomographic reconstruction based on the projections.

Abstract: A color-changing flexible fiber that can be incorporated into fabrics and other woven materials. The color changing flexible fibers are hollow and include at least two wire electrodes integrated into the wall of the hollow fiber that provide an electrical potential across an electro-optic medium disposed inside the hollow fiber. The electro-optic medium includes a non-polar solvent and at least one set of charged particles.

Abstract: A gripping device for handling sample containers is presented. The sample containers are closed by caps of a given cap type or are not closed by caps. The gripping device comprises a number of fingers configured to collectively cause gripping of a sample container, a tactile sensor device arranged at at least one of the fingers and configured to sample a longitudinal profile of the sample container and of the cap, if any, being gripped, and a control device coupled to the tactile sensor device. The control device determines if the sample container is closed by a cap or not closed by a cap based on the sampled longitudinal profile.

Abstract: Provided is a fabric including a plurality of fibers disposed in a fabric configuration. At least one of the fibers comprises a device fiber having a device fiber body including a device fiber body material, having a longitudinal axis along a device fiber body length. A plurality of discrete devices are disposed as a linear sequence within the device fiber body along at least a portion of the device fiber body length. Each discrete device includes at least one electrical contact pad. The device fiber body includes device fiber body material regions disposed between adjacent discrete devices in the linear sequence, separating adjacent discrete devices. At least one electrical conductor is disposed within the device fiber body along at least a portion of the device fiber body length. The electrical conductor is disposed in electrical connection with an electrical contact pad of discrete devices within the device fiber body.

Abstract: There is provided herein a fiber including a fiber body with a fiber body material having a longitudinal axis along a fiber body length. A plurality of devices is disposed as a linear sequence of devices within the fiber body. Each device includes at least one electrical contact pad. At least one electrical conductor is disposed within the fiber body. The electrical conductor is electrically connected to an electrical contact pad of devices in the plurality of devices. A weavable device includes at least one device material arranged in a planar device configuration and connected to an electrical contact pad. An electrically insulating, mechanically flexible fiber body material encapsulates the planar device configuration and contact pad and has a fiber body length greater than 10 m. An electrical conductor is electrically connected to a device contact pad and extends the fiber body length.

Abstract: A color-changing fiber that can be incorporated into fabrics and other woven materials. The color changing fibers are hollow and include at least two wire electrodes that provide an electrical potential across an electro-optic medium including a non-polar solvent and at least one set of charged particles.

Abstract: A method for determining properties of a laboratory sample contained in a laboratory sample container is presented. The method comprises measuring projections of the laboratory sample container comprising the laboratory sample by irradiating light to the laboratory sample container at different projection angle and determining the properties by tomographic reconstruction based on the projections.

Abstract: There is provided herein a fiber including a fiber body with a fiber body material having a longitudinal axis along a fiber body length. A plurality of devices is disposed as a linear sequence of devices within the fiber body. Each device includes at least one electrical contact pad. At least one electrical conductor is disposed within the fiber body. The electrical conductor is electrically connected to an electrical contact pad of devices in the plurality of devices. A weavable device includes at least one device material arranged in a planar device configuration and connected to an electrical contact pad. An electrically insulating, mechanically flexible fiber body material encapsulates the planar device configuration and contact pad and has a fiber body length greater than 10 m. An electrical conductor is electrically connected to a device contact pad and extends the fiber body length.