Abstract: Air-matrix digital microfluidics (DMF) apparatuses and methods of using them. These methods and apparatuses may include the use of a liquid wax coating material and/or pinning the encapsulated reaction droplet within the air gap using pinning features. Any of these methods may also include separating the liquid wax from an encapsulated aqueous droplet, e.g., using an oil absorbent wick to selectively separate the liquid oil or wax from the aqueous droplet by adsorbing and/or absorbing the liquid wax into the absorbent wick while leaving the aqueous droplet behind.

Abstract: A method for determining a roll angle (?) of an optoelectronic sensor of a motor vehicle, wherein the optoelectronic sensor comprises at least one transmitter device, at least one receiver unit and at least one evaluation unit is disclosed. The method involves emitting light beams into surroundings of the vehicle by the transmitter device, receiving light beams reflected at an object by the receiver unit, wherein the received light beams are represented by the evaluation unit as scan points in a sensor image of the surroundings of the motor vehicle, wherein the roll angle (?) is determined by the evaluation unit between at least one scan axis and at least one reference axis, wherein the scan axis is formed by at least one scan point of a ground structure and a reference point of the reference axis of the optoelectronic sensor.

Abstract: A method for determining at least one alignment of an optoelectronic sensor of a motor vehicle relative to the vehicle involves emitting light beams into surroundings of the vehicle by a transmitter device, and receiving light beams reflected at an object by a receiver unit of the sensor. The received light beams are represented as scan points in a sensor image of the surroundings of the vehicle generated by the optoelectronic sensor, and each scan point is assigned to a receiver element. A sensor coordinate system is determined in the generated image using at least two received scan points of the first receiver element, and a reference coordinate system is determined in the generated image using at least one scan point of the first and second receiver elements. An angular deviation is determined by a comparison of the coordinate systems for determining the at least one alignment of the sensor.

Abstract: Air-matrix digital microfluidics (DMF) apparatuses and methods of using them. These methods and apparatuses may include the use of a liquid wax coating material and/or pinning the encapsulated reaction droplet within the air gap using pinning features. Any of these methods may also include separating the liquid wax from an encapsulated aqueous droplet, e.g., using an oil absorbent wick to selectively separate the liquid oil or wax from the aqueous droplet by adsorbing and/or absorbing the liquid wax into the absorbent wick while leaving the aqueous droplet behind.

Abstract: A method for verifying the functionality of a laser scanner includes a housing with a light-permeable window, a transmission unit inside the housing, a deflection unit, and a detector unit inside the housing. At least one test signal is transmitted by the transmission unit during a test phase. The deflection unit is oriented so that the at least one test signal is not directed to the window. Components of the at least one test signal are detected by the detector unit, and based on this detection, at least two detector signals are generated. A pulse width is ascertained for each of the detector signals by a computing unit, and a ratio of the pulse width of a first detector signal to the pulse width of a second detector signal is ascertained. The operability of the transmitter unit and/or the detector unit is verified on the basis of said ratio.

Abstract: According to a method for verifying the functionality of a laser scanner (2b) comprising a housing (4) with a light-permeable window (5), a transmission unit (6) inside the housing (4), a deflection unit (10), and a detector unit (7) inside the housing (4), at least one test signal (15) is transmitted by the transmission unit (6) during a test phase. The deflection unit (10) is oriented in such a way that the at least one test signal (15) is not directed to the window (5). Components of the at least one test signal are detected by the detector unit, and based on said detection, at least two detector signals are generated. A computing unit ascertains a pulse width for each of the detector signals and calculates a sum of the pulse widths. The operability of the transmission unit and/or the detector unit is verified on the basis of said sum.

Abstract: According to a method for determining a pitch angle position of an active optical sensor system (2), which is mounted on a motor vehicle (1), a scatter plot (6) is generated by means of the sensor system (2). The scatter plot (6) includes a first and a second subset (7a, 7b) of scan points of the roadway (13). A first pair (A, B) of scan points is identified by means of a computing unit, wherein a point (A) is part of the first subset (7a), a further point (B) is part of the second subset (7b), and a projection (14?) of a first connection vector (14) of the first pair (A, B) is in a transmission plane parallel to a longitudinal axis of the sensor system (2). A first angle (?) which encloses the first connection vector (14) with the longitudinal axis (15) of the sensor system (2) is determined by means of the computing unit (4).

Abstract: Digital microfluidic (DMF) methods and apparatuses (including devices, systems, cartridges, DMF readers, etc.), and in particular DMF apparatuses and methods adapted for large volume. For example, described herein are methods and apparatuses for DMF using an air gap having a width of the gap that may be between 0.3 mm and 3 mm. Also described herein are DMF readers for use with a DMF cartridges, including those adapted for use with large air gap/large volume, although smaller volumes may be used as well.

Abstract: Digital microfluidic (DMF) methods and apparatuses (including devices, systems, cartridges, DMF readers, etc.), and in particular DMF apparatuses and methods adapted for large volume. For example, described herein are methods and apparatuses for DMF using an air gap having a width of the gap that may be between 0.3 mm and 3 mm. Also described herein are DMF readers for use with a DMF cartridges, including those adapted for use with large air gap/large volume, although smaller volumes may be used as well.

Abstract: A method for determining at least one angular position of an optoelectronic sensor of a motor vehicle is disclosed. The method involves emitting light beams into surroundings of the motor vehicle by a transmitter device, receiving light beams reflected at an object by a receiver unit, wherein the light beams are represented as scan points in a sensor image of the surroundings of the motor vehicle generated by the optoelectronic sensor and each scan point is assigned to a receiver element. Two line-shaped measurement structures arranged parallel to and at a distance from one another are recognized in the sensor image for determining the at least one angular position, where at least one angular deviation of the optoelectronic sensor from a target angular position is obtained for determining the at least one angular position of the optoelectronic sensor on the basis of the scan points. Further, a test stand is also disclosed.

Abstract: A method for determining a roll angle (?) of an optoelectronic sensor of a motor vehicle, wherein the optoelectronic sensor comprises at least one transmitter device, at least one receiver unit and at least one evaluation unit is disclosed. The method involves emitting light beams into surroundings of the vehicle by the transmitter device, receiving light beams reflected at an object by the receiver unit, wherein the received light beams are represented by the evaluation unit as scan points in a sensor image of the surroundings of the motor vehicle, wherein the roll angle (?) is determined by the evaluation unit between at least one scan axis and at least one reference axis, wherein the scan axis is formed by at least one scan point of a ground structure and a reference point of the reference axis of the optoelectronic sensor.

Abstract: A method for determining at least one alignment of an optoelectronic sensor of a motor vehicle relative to the vehicle involves emitting light beams into surroundings of the vehicle by a transmitter device, and receiving light beams reflected at an object by a receiver unit of the sensor. The received light beams are represented as scan points in a sensor image of the surroundings of the vehicle generated by the optoelectronic sensor, and each scan point is assigned to a receiver element. A sensor coordinate system is determined in the generated image using at least two received scan points of the first receiver element, and a reference coordinate system is determined in the generated image using at least one scan point of the first and second receiver elements. An angular deviation is determined by a comparison of the coordinate systems for determining the at least one alignment of the sensor.

Abstract: Air-matrix digital microfluidics (DMF) apparatuses and methods of using them. These methods and apparatuses may include the use of a liquid wax coating material and/or pinning the encapsulated reaction droplet within the air gap using pinning features. Any of these methods may also include separating the liquid wax from an encapsulated aqueous droplet, e.g., using an oil absorbent wick to selectively separate the liquid oil or wax from the aqueous droplet by adsorbing and/or absorbing the liquid wax into the absorbent wick while leaving the aqueous droplet behind.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for classifying a traffic sign (7) in an environment region (4) of a motor vehicle (1) as a traffic sign sticker (9) located on an industrial or commercial vehicle (10) or as a stationary traffic sign (8), wherein in the method at least one first image (11, 12) of the environment region (4), captured by a camera (3) of the motor vehicle (1), is received and the traffic sign (7) is recognized in the at least one first image (11, 12), wherein a geometric dimension (D1?, D2?) of the traffic sign (7) in the first image (11, 12) is determined on the basis of said first image (11, 12), a first reference dimension (Dmin, Dmax), which is characteristic of a stationary traffic sign (8), is prescribed for the captured traffic sign (7), a first position (Pmin, Pmax) of the traffic sign (7) in the environment region (4) is estimated based on the geometric dimension (D1?, D2?) of the traffic sign (7) in the first image (11, 12) and on the basis of the first reference dimension (Dmin, Dmax

Abstract: A method for identifying an object in a surrounding region of a motor vehicle as a stationary object is disclosed. The surrounding region is captured in images using a vehicle-side capture device and the object is detected in the captured images using an image processing device. A first position of the object in the surrounding region relative to the motor vehicle is estimated on the basis of a first captured image, a movement sequence of the object in image coordinates is determined on the basis of the first image and a second captured image, a first movement sequence that characterizes a first, stationary object in the image coordinates is determined proceeding from the first estimated position in the surrounding region, and the captured object is identified as a stationary object on the basis of a comparison of the movement sequence of the captured object to the first characterizing movement sequence.

Abstract: The invention relates to a method for classifying a traffic sign (7) in an environment region (4) of a motor vehicle (1) as a traffic sign sticker (9) located on an industrial or commercial vehicle (10) or as a stationary traffic sign (8), wherein in the method at least one first image (11, 12) of the environment region (4), captured by a camera (3) of the motor vehicle (1), is received and the traffic sign (7) is recognized in the at least one first image (11, 12), wherein a geometric dimension (D1?, D2?) of the traffic sign (7) in the first image (11, 12) is determined on the basis of said first image (11, 12), a first reference dimension (Dmin, Dmax), which is characteristic of a stationary traffic sign (8), is prescribed for the captured traffic sign (7), a first position (Pmin, Pmax) of the traffic sign (7) in the environment region (4) is estimated based on the geometric dimension (D1?, D2?) of the traffic sign (7) in the first image (11, 12) and on the basis of the first reference dimension (Dmin, Dmax

Abstract: The invention provides methods and compositions for detecting a mutation in a target gene in a sample of blood or a fraction thereof, including in certain examples, a fraction that includes circulating tumor DNA. The methods can include a tiling PCR reaction, for example a one-sided multiplex tiling reaction. Virtually any type of mutation can be detected with the methods and compositions. In certain embodiments, gene fusions are detected. Improved PCR methods, especially for performing nested multiplex PCR reactions are provided.

Abstract: Digital microfluidic (DMF) methods and apparatuses (including devices, systems, cartridges, DMF readers, etc.), and in particular DMF apparatuses and methods adapted for large volume. For example, described herein are methods and apparatuses for DMF using an air gap having a width of the gap that may be between 0.3 mm and 3 mm. Also described herein are DMF readers for use with a DMF cartridges, including those adapted for use with large air gap/large volume, although smaller volumes may be used as well.

Abstract: A method for identifying an object in a surrounding region of a motor vehicle as a stationary object is disclosed. The surrounding region is captured in images using a vehicle-side capture device and the object is detected in the captured images using an image processing device. A first position of the object in the surrounding region relative to the motor vehicle is estimated on the basis of a first captured image, a movement sequence of the object in image coordinates is determined on the basis of the first image and a second captured image, a first movement sequence that characterizes a first, stationary object in the image coordinates is determined proceeding from the first estimated position in the surrounding region, and the captured object is identified as a stationary object on the basis of a comparison of the movement sequence of the captured object to the first characterizing movement sequence.

Abstract: Devices and methods for detecting microbial contaminants, such as bacteria and fungi, in fluids such as drinking water, pharmaceutical solutions and tissue culture media are provided. More particularly, provided are filtration devices for capture and processing of microorganisms from fluids, and improved methods for recovery, lysis and detection of microorganisms based on a combination of physical disruption with small beads and lysis solutions.