Abstract: A system comprises a tracking electromagnetic beam generator, a retro-reflecting device, a signal generator, a communication electromagnetic beam generator and a receiver. The tracking electromagnetic beam generator transmits a tracking electromagnetic beam. The retro-reflecting device reflects the tracking electromagnetic beam toward the tracking electromagnetic beam generator. The signal generator generates a communication signal. The communication electromagnetic beam generator transmits a communication electromagnetic beam, based on the communication signal, to the retro-reflecting device. The receiver receives a portion of the communication electromagnetic beam as reflected from the retro-reflecting device.

Abstract: A device includes two electrically isolated metalized posts attached in close proximity to each other on a bendable substrate. When the bendable substrate bends concavely with respect to the surface onto which the posts are mounted, the distance between the tops of the two posts decreases. At a fixed bending curvature, the two posts will meet and complete an electrical circuit. The posts comprise a flexible material so that the meeting of the posts has minimal effect on the spring constant or damping coefficient of the harmonic oscillation.

Abstract: A method and system involves vacuum sealing a semi-enclosure at room temperature without requiring mechanical actions within the vacuum chamber. The semi-enclosure has an inlet channel that extends inwardly into the vacuum chamber from an exterior opening (entryway) into the semi-enclosure. An uncured entryway vacuum sealant is provided at the entryway for the semi-enclosure. A vacuum is established in the vacuum chamber until the vacuum pressure reaches a desired vacuum pressure that causes the uncured entryway sealant to be provided to the entryway for the semi-enclosure. The uncured entryway vacuum sealant is cured under vacuum pressure in the semi-enclosure in the vacuum chamber.

Abstract: An oscillatory apparatus and methods of utilizing the same. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a force sensor having a proof mass, with one or more sensing electron tunneling electrodes disposed thereon, and a frame comprising one or more reference electron tunneling electrodes. Conductive plates disposed on the sensor base and capping wafers induce oscillations of the proof mass. The sensing and the reference electrode pairs are disposed in a face-to-face configuration, thus forming a digital switch characterized by one or more closed states. In the closed state, the switch generates triggering events, thereby enabling the sensing apparatus to generate a digital output indicative of the mass position. The time period between consecutive trigger events is used to obtain mass deflection due to external forcing. Time separation between the triggering events is based on the physical dimensions established during fabrication, thus not requiring ongoing sensor calibration.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods, devices and systems for isolating a nucleic acid from a fluid comprising cells. In various aspects, the methods, devices and systems may allow for a rapid procedure that requires a minimal amount of material and/or results in high purity nucleic acid isolated from complex fluids such as blood or environmental samples.

Abstract: A method involves applying a voltage to a first conductive surface and a second conductive surface separated by a conductive surface gap of a distance greater than the distance required to produce a tunneling current between the first and second conductive surfaces when the voltage is applied, and using angled deposition to deposit conductive material on the first and second conductive surfaces to narrow the conductive surface gap until a tunneling current appears across the first and second conductive surfaces responsive to the applied voltage.

Abstract: A system includes a circular oscillator suspended by a flexible support structure to a support frame, a drive mechanism configured to induce the circular oscillator into a two-dimensional drive oscillation, where the drive oscillation is modified responsive to a sense oscillation of the circular oscillator caused by an angular rotation of the support frame and the circular oscillator, and a plurality of digital proximity switches disposed around a perimeter of the circular oscillator. During the modified drive oscillation a plurality of the digital proximity switches are configured to switch between an open state and a closed state and generate a time and position output to allow for a determination of each of a plurality of variable oscillation parameters for each oscillation of the modified drive oscillation.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods, devices and systems for isolating a nucleic acid from a fluid comprising cells. In various aspects, the methods, devices and systems may allow for a rapid procedure that requires a minimal amount of material and/or results in high purity nucleic acid isolated from complex fluids such as blood or environmental samples.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods, devices and systems for isolating a nucleic acid from a fluid comprising cells. In various aspects, the methods, devices and systems may allow for a rapid procedure that requires a minimal amount of material and/or results in high purity nucleic acid isolated from complex fluids such as blood or environmental samples.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods, devices and systems for isolating a nucleic acid from a fluid comprising cells. In various aspects, the methods, devices and systems may allow for a rapid procedure that requires a minimal amount of material and/or results in high purity nucleic acid isolated from complex fluids such as blood or environmental samples.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods, devices and systems for isolating a nucleic acid from a fluid comprising cells. In various aspects, the methods, devices and systems may allow for a rapid procedure that requires a minimal amount of material and/or results in high purity nucleic acid isolated from complex fluids such as blood or environmental samples.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods, devices and systems for isolating a nucleic acid from a fluid comprising cells. In various aspects, the methods, devices and systems may allow for a rapid procedure that requires a minimal amount of material and/or results in high purity nucleic acid isolated from complex fluids such as blood or environmental samples.

Abstract: The present invention includes methods, devices and systems for isolating a nucleic acid from a fluid comprising cells. In various aspects, the methods, devices and systems may allow for a rapid procedure that requires a minimal amount of material and/or results in high purity nucleic acid isolated from complex fluids such as blood or environmental samples.

Abstract: An in-plane, monolithically-integrated, inertial device comprising: a support structure and first and second spring mass systems springedly coupled to the support structure. The first spring mass system comprises first and second time domain digital triggers configured to measure rotation and displacement respectively of the support structure about a first axis and along an orthogonal second axis respectively. The second spring mass system comprises third and fourth time domain digital triggers configured to measure acceleration and displacement respectively of the support structure about the second axis and along the first axis respectively.

Abstract: An oscillation apparatus comprising: a frame; a first proof mass coupled to the frame via a spring; a driving circuit operatively coupled to the first proof mass and the frame, wherein the driving circuit is configured to induce oscillatory motion of the first proof mass relative to the frame at a resonant frequency in a first direction; a first electron-tunneling position switch operatively coupled to the first proof mass such that the first position switch is configured to pass through a closed state during each oscillation of the proof mass, wherein the position switch comprises first and second single-atom-thick tunneling electrodes; and a sensing circuit coupled to the position switch, the sensing circuit configured to output a signal whenever the position switch passes through the closed state.

Abstract: A gyroscope comprising: a support structure; a drive mass springedly coupled to the support structure such that movement of the drive mass with respect to the support structure is substantially restricted to movement in a first direction; a driver configured to cause the drive mass to oscillate with respect to the support structure in the first direction; a sense mass springedly coupled to the drive mass such that movement of the sense mass with respect to the drive mass is substantially restricted to movement in a second direction, which is orthogonal to the first direction; and a digital trigger comprising a proximity switch coupled between the drive mass and the sense mass, wherein the switch is configured to switch from an open state to a closed state each time the sense mass is in a reference position with respect to the drive mass.

Abstract: An in-plane, monolithically-integrated, inertial device comprising: a support structure and first and second spring mass systems springedly coupled to the support structure. The first spring mass system comprises first and second time domain digital triggers configured to measure rotation and displacement respectively of the support structure about a first axis and along an orthogonal second axis respectively. The second spring mass system comprises third and fourth time domain digital triggers configured to measure acceleration and displacement respectively of the support structure about the second axis and along the first axis respectively.

Abstract: A method for adjusting the accuracy of a time-domain inertial sensor comprising the following steps: operatively positioning a harmonic oscillator of the time-domain inertial sensor between two capacitive plates; initiating harmonic oscillation of the oscillator in a first plane by creating with the capacitive plates a capacitively forced pulse; monitoring the harmonic oscillation of the oscillator; and electrostatically biasing both of the two capacitive plates such that a spring constant of the oscillator is effectively altered.

Abstract: A gyroscope comprising: a support structure; a drive mass springedly coupled to the support structure such that movement of the drive mass with respect to the support structure is substantially restricted to movement in a first direction; a driver configured to cause the drive mass to oscillate with respect to the support structure in the first direction; a sense mass springedly coupled to the drive mass such that movement of the sense mass with respect to the drive mass is substantially restricted to movement in a second direction, which is orthogonal to the first direction; and a digital trigger comprising a proximity switch coupled between the drive mass and the sense mass, wherein the switch is configured to switch from an open state to a closed state each time the sense mass is in a reference position with respect to the drive mass.

Abstract: An oscillation apparatus comprising: a frame; a first proof mass coupled to the frame via a spring; a driving circuit operatively coupled to the first proof mass and the frame, wherein the driving circuit is configured to induce oscillatory motion of the first proof mass relative to the frame at a resonant frequency in a first direction; a first electron-tunneling position switch operatively coupled to the first proof mass such that the first position switch is configured to pass through a closed state during each oscillation of the proof mass, wherein the position switch comprises first and second single-atom-thick tunneling electrodes; and a sensing circuit coupled to the position switch, the sensing circuit configured to output a signal whenever the position switch passes through the closed state.