Abstract: Monitoring systems, sensor nodes, and methods of operating a system for monitoring one or more operating conditions of a structure, are provided. An exemplary monitoring system includes one or more sensor nodes each including a power supply, a sensor configured to sense whether or not the power level of the power supply, and a communications interlace for communicating sensed operating conditions. The system also includes a controller in communication with the sensor nodes through a communication network to monitor the sensor nodes.

Abstract: A distributed monitoring system for monitoring one or more operating conditions of a structure includes: one or more sensor nodes coupled to the structure, each sensor node including: a power supply adapted to scavenge energy directed at the power supply; a sensor operably coupled to the power supply for sensing one or more operating conditions of the structure in the environment; and a communications interface operably coupled to the power supply and the sensor for communicating the sensed operating conditions of the structure; a communication network operably coupled to the sensor nodes; one or more controllers operably coupled to the communication network for monitoring the sensor nodes; and an energy radiator positioned proximate the structure adapted to radiate energy at the power supplies of the sensor nodes.

Abstract: A monitoring system for an aircraft.

Abstract: A distributed monitoring system for a structure.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a source of ultraviolet energy, wherein the source is a UV-emitting LED. In an embodiment of the invention, the UV-LED is characterized by a base layer material including a substrate, a p-doped semiconductor material, a multiple quantum well, a n-doped semiconductor material, upon which base material a p-type metal resides and wherein the LED's are provided with a rounded mesa configuration. In a specific embodiment, the p-type metal is positioned upon a rounded mesa, such as a parabolic mesa, formed out of the base structure materials.

Abstract: A system to monitor the health of a structure, health monitoring sensor nodes, program product, and associated methods, are provided. The system includes an array of health monitoring sensor nodes connected to or embedded within a structure to monitor the health of the structure. Each health monitoring sensor node includes sensor elements positioned to sense parameters of the structure and to provide data related to the parameters to a health monitoring sensor node interrogator. Each health monitoring sensor node includes a processor or other means to reduce raw sensor data to thereby reduce communication bandwidth requirements and data collisions, and can include memory or other storage for storing the reduced data and an antenna arrangement for providing the reduced data to the health monitoring sensor node interrogator.

Abstract: A system to monitor the health of a structure, sensor nodes, program product, and associated methods are provided. The system includes an array of health monitoring sensor nodes connected to or embedded within a structure to monitor the health of the structure. The health monitoring sensor nodes include sensor elements positioned to sense parameters of the structure and to provide data related to the parameters to a health monitoring sensor node data collector. The sensor nodes can each include an energy harvester to harvest energy to power the sensor node. The system also includes an energy distributing node positioned to provide energy to the sensor nodes, through the structure being monitored, to be harvested by energy harvester of the sensor nodes.

Abstract: A system to monitor the health of a structure, health monitoring sensor nodes, program product, and associated methods are provided. The system includes an array of health monitoring sensor nodes connected to or embedded within a structure to monitor the health of the structure. Each health monitoring sensor node includes sensor elements positioned to sense parameters of the structure and to provide data related to the parameters to a health monitoring sensor node interrogator. Each health monitoring sensor node includes a processor or other means reducing raw sensor data to thereby reduce communication bandwidth requirements, and can include memory or other storage for storing the reduced data and an antenna arrangement for providing the reduced data to the health monitoring sensor node interrogator.

Abstract: A system to monitor the health of a structure, sensor nodes, program product, and associated methods are provided. The system includes an array of health monitoring sensor nodes connected to or embedded within a structure to monitor the health of the structure. The health monitoring sensor nodes include sensor elements positioned to sense parameters of the structure and to provide data related to the parameters to a health monitoring sensor node data collector. The sensor nodes can each include an energy harvester to harvest energy to power the sensor node. The system also includes an energy distributing node positioned to provide energy to the sensor nodes, through the structure being monitored, to be harvested by energy harvester of the sensor nodes.

Abstract: A semiconductor chip packaging structure comprising a dielectric film having one or more through holes aligned with the one or more contact pads of at least one power semiconductor chip. A patterned electrically conductive layer adjacent to the dielectric film has one or more electrically conductive posts which extend through the one or more though holes aligned with the contact pads to electrically couple the conductive layer to the contact pads. In certain embodiments, one or more air gaps may be formed between the dielectric film and the active surface of the at least one power semiconductor chip. Methods for fabricating the semiconductor chip packaging structure are also disclosed.

Abstract: A pressure sensor is provided. The pressure sensor includes a multi-layer laminate comprising a substrate and a semiconductor layer, wherein the substrate comprises single crystal or quasi-single crystal aluminum oxide, and a portion of the substrate that is spaced from a peripheral edge is wet etched to form an inwardly facing sidewall that defines a volume; and a substrate to which the multi-layer laminate is secured. The volume is an enclosed volume further defined by a substrate surface.

Abstract: An etchant including a halogenated salt, such as Cryolite (Na3AlF6) or potassium tetrafluoro borate (KBF4), is provided. The salt may be present in the etchant in an amount sufficient to etch a substrate and may have a melt temperature of greater than about 200 degrees Celsius. A method of wet etching may include contacting an etchant to at least one surface of a support layer of a multi-layer laminate, wherein the support layer may include aluminum oxide; or contacting an etchant to at least one surface of a support layer of a multi-layer laminate, wherein the etchant may include Cryolite (Na3AlF6), potassium tetrafluoro borate (KBF4), or both; and etching at least a portion of the support layer. The method may provide a laminate produced by growing a crystal onto an aluminum oxide support layer, and chemically removing at least a portion of the support layer by wet etch. An electronic device, optical device or combined device including the laminate is provided.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to photovoltaic devices comprising nanostructured materials, wherein such photovoltaic devices are comprised exclusively of inorganic components. Depending on the embodiment, such nanostructured materials are either 1-dimensional nanostructures or branched nanostructures, wherein such nanostructures are used to enhance the efficiency of the photovoltaic device, particularly for solar cell applications. Additionally, the present invention is also directed at methods of making and using such devices.

Abstract: A device includes first and second electrically conductive substrates that are positioned opposite from one another. The device also includes a sealing layer disposed between the first and second electrically conductive substrates and a plurality of hollow structures having a conductive material, wherein the plurality of hollow structures is contained by the sealing layer between the first and second electrically conductive substrates.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a source of ultraviolet energy, wherein the source is a UV-emitting LED's. In an embodiment of the invention, the UV-LED's are characterized by a base layer material including a substrate, a p-doped semiconductor material, a multiple quantum well, a n-doped semiconductor material, upon which base material a p-type metal resides and wherein the base structure has a mesa configuration, which mesa configuration may be rounded on a boundary surface, or which may be non-rounded, such as a mesa having an upper boundary surface that is flat. In other words, the p-type metal resides upon a mesa formed out of the base structure materials. In a more specific embodiment, the UV-LED structure includes n-type metallization layer, passivation layers, and bond pads positioned at appropriate locations of the device. In a more specific embodiment, the p-type metal layer is encapsulated in the encapsulating layer.

Abstract: The present invention provides an X-ray detector assembly and a fabrication method, where the X-ray detector assembly comprises a scintillator material disposed on a detector matrix array disposed on a detector substrate; an encapsulating coating disposed on the scintillator material; a moisture resistant cover disposed over the detector substrate and the encapsulating coating, and an adhesive material disposed between the detector substrate and the moisture resistant cover so as to form a moisture vapor barrier. The adhesive material is disposed so that it is not in contact with the encapsulating coating. The fabrication method of the X-ray detector assembly includes the steps of disposing the encapsulating coating on the scintillator material and a portion of the detector substrate and removing the encapsulating coating from the portion of the detector substrate.

Abstract: The present invention is directed towards a source of ultraviolet energy, wherein the source is a UV-emitting LED. In an embodiment of the invention, the UV-LED is characterized by a base layer material including a substrate, a p-doped semiconductor material, a multiple quantum well, a n-doped semiconductor material, upon which base material a p-type metal resides and wherein the LED's are provided with a rounded mesa configuration. In a specific embodiment, the p-type metal is positioned upon a rounded mesa, such as a parabolic mesa, formed out of the base structure materials.

Abstract: The present invention provides a multiple layer thermoplastic structure of a (1) skin layer selected from the group consisting of polypropylene, ethylene homopolymers having a density of from about 0.930 g/cc to about 0.960 g/cc, and ethylene homopolymers having a density of from about 0.930 g/cc to about 0.960 g/cc blended with an ethylene and a-olefin copolymers having a density less than about 0.930 g/cc, the skin layer having a thickness of greater than about 3.0 mils; (2) a radio frequency susceptible layer adhered to the skin layer, the radio frequency susceptible layer having a dielectric loss greater than 0.05 at 1-60 MHz and at temperatures of ambient to 250° C.

Abstract: A steam sterilizable monolayer medical tubing comprising a blend of a melt strength enhancing agent of a homopolymer or copolymer of polypropylene having free-end long chain branches of propylene units, a melt flow index of greater than 10 and in an amount of 1-10% by weight and a second component selected from the group of (i) a selectively hydrogenated block copolymer of a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and a conjugated diene and (ii) a selectively hydrogenated block copolymer of a vinyl aromatic hydrocarbon and a conjugated diene to which has been grafted, an alpha, beta-olenfically unsaturated monocarboxylic or dicarboxylic acid reagent.

Abstract: A substantially closed vapor control system is provided for recovering volatilized vapors released during the filling of storage and other types of tanks with hydrocarbons or other volatile chemicals. An inert gas is supplied to thetank and mixes with the volatilized vapors during loading of the hydrocarbon or chemical to produce an inflammable vapor mixture. The vapor mixture is then subjected to a two-stage compression and separation process to condense and separate the volatilized vapors from the inert gas. The condensed volatilized vapor is then returned to the storage tank while the inert gas is liquefied and stored for subsequent delivery to the storage tank when the hydrocarbon or chemical is unloaded from the tank.