Abstract: A system for detecting mold includes a housing defining a chamber and an opening through a surface. The system includes a movable grate for selectively covering the opening. The system includes a substrate treated to promote mold growth. The system includes a mechanism for moving the substrate to move previously unexposed portions into the chamber. The system includes a thermal control system to maintain predetermined environmental conditions in the chamber. The system includes a sensor configured to detect mold growth in the chamber. The system includes a mold suppressor to kill mold in the chamber when activated. The system includes a controller to coordinate operation of the components to detect mold growth in an environment.

Abstract: A mold sensor is configured with an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes an optical sensor that is configured to measure optical properties in the enclosed chamber. A controller operates the optical sensor and is programmed to detect a presence of mold growing in the chamber based on the optical properties measured by the optical sensor.

Abstract: A mold sensor is configured with an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes a sensing system that is configured to measure properties of pressure waves within the enclosed chamber. A controller operates the sensing system and is programmed to detect a presence of mold growing in the chamber based on the characteristics of the pressure wave response within the chamber.

Abstract: A mold sensor is configured with an enclosed chamber in which a nutrient-treated substrate is positioned. The mold sensor includes a sensing system that is configured to measure a property of the substrate that corresponds to a pH value of the substrate. A controller operates the sensing system and is programmed to detect a presence of mold growing in the chamber by estimating the pH value from the measured property.

Abstract: To efficiently execute deep convolutional neural networks (CNN) on edge devices (e.g., wearable device like an Apple Watch or FitBit) it may be necessary to split the output tasks across different entities. For edge devices with multiple sensors that are connected to multiple hubs, simple activity spotting may then be executed on a sensor while the hub resides in a sleep-like state. The hub may then be activated when an activity is detected by a sensor and further activity classification may then be performed. It is also contemplated that the edge device may include multiple hubs for simultaneous processing of multiple classification tasks.

Abstract: To efficiently execute deep convolutional neural networks (CNN) on edge devices (e.g., wearable device like an Apple Watch or FitBit) it may be necessary to reduce the bit width of the network parameters down to 1-bit. Binarization at the first layer of a CNN has typically not been performed because it may lead to an increase in the output validation error of the input data. The method and systems provided include a binary input layer (BIL) which accepts binary input data by learning bit specific binary weights. By executing the CNN using binary input data, the present method and system may result in a reduction in the chip area consumed and the energy used in contrast to CNN models executed using floating point input data.

Abstract: A method of calibrating a monitoring device to generate calibrated vital sign data using a calibration device includes positioning the monitoring device in a first position on a patient, generating vital sign data with a sensing assembly of the positioned monitoring device, and processing the vital sign data with the calibration device to determine if the vital sign data is calibrated vital sign data or uncalibrated vital sign data. The method also includes generating a calibrated data signal if the vital sign data is calibrated vital sign data, generating a reposition signal if the vital sign data is uncalibrated vital sign data, and repositioning the monitoring device on the patient until the calibrated data signal is generated.

Abstract: A method for calibrating a blood pressure monitoring system includes activating a reference monitor to perform a reference measurement of the blood pressure of a user as part of a calibration process. A wearable sensing device is activated to detect a parameter of user that is correlatable to the user's blood pressure. A processor of the user interface device processes the at least one parameter detected by the wearable blood pressure sensing device with reference to the reference measurement to determine a correlation factor that correlates the at least one parameter detected by the wearable blood pressure sensing device to the blood pressure of the user. The reference measurement includes an inflation phase, a measurement phase and a deflation phase. The processor is configured to only use the at least one parameter detected by the wearable blood pressure sensing device during the measurement phase in determining the correlation factor.

Abstract: A sensor comprises a substrate having a first surface; a cap structure connected to the substrate, the cap structure configured to define a cavity between an inner surface of the cap structure and the first surface of the substrate, the cap structure configured to block infrared radiation from entering the cavity from outside the cap structure; a plurality of absorbers, each absorber in the plurality of absorbers being connected to the first surface of the substrate and arranged at a respective position within the cavity and configured to absorb infrared radiation at the respective position within the cavity; and a plurality of readout circuits, each readout circuit in the plurality of readout circuits being connected to a respective absorber in the plurality of absorbers and configured to provide a measurement signal that indicates an amount of infrared radiation absorbed by the respective absorber.

Abstract: A blood pressure and cardiac monitoring system includes a sensing assembly, processor, memory, communication interface, and any suitable computer implemented modules communicatively coupled to each other via a bus. The sensing assembly comprises a first, second, and third sensor. The first sensor is located at a first axis of a target generating a first time-dependent motion waveform representative of one or more contractile properties of the target's heart, and the second sensor is located at a second axis of the target generating a second time dependent motion waveform representative of the target's blood flow. The processor is configured to receive the first waveform and the second waveform, and to determine a first time difference between a vital sign present in the first waveform and the second waveform.

Abstract: A semiconductor sensor system, in particular a bolometer, includes a substrate, an electrode supported by the substrate, an absorber spaced apart from the substrate, a voltage source, and a current source. The electrode can include a mirror, or the system may include a mirror separate from the electrode. Radiation absorption efficiency of the absorber is based on a minimum gap distance between the absorber and mirror. The current source applies a DC current across the absorber structure to produce a signal indicative of radiation absorbed by the absorber structure. The voltage source powers the electrode to produce a modulated electrostatic field acting on the absorber to modulate the minimum gap distance. The electrostatic field includes a DC component to adjust the absorption efficiency, and an AC component that cyclically drives the absorber to negatively interfere with noise in the signal.

Abstract: A system for detecting blood velocity within a blood vessel includes a piezoelectric transducer supported on a ceramic substrate. The ceramic substrate supports the piezoelectric transducer at a fixed angle of incidence that is greater than 0° and less than 90°. The ceramic substrate is formed of steatite ceramic and is configured to couple an ultrasonic signal emitted by the transducer to skin underlying the substrate.

Abstract: A system includes at least one piezoelectric transducer array having a plurality of piezoelectric transducer elements. The transducer array is configured to be placed on an area of skin. A phase control system is configured to generate a first electrical actuation signal for actuating the transducer elements to emit first ultrasonic signals, the first electrical actuation signal being phase shifted for each of the transducer elements. A multi-input multi-output (MIMO) control system is configured to generate a second electrical actuation signal for actuating the transducer elements to emit second ultrasonic signals, the second electrical actuation signal being different for each of the transducer elements. A switching device is configured to switchably connect the phase control system and the MIMO control system to the phased transducer array.

Abstract: A system for detecting artery location to measure blood velocity includes a first piezoelectric transducer array including a plurality of transducer elements, each of the transducer elements being supported on a first ceramic substrate, the first ceramic substrate having a planar lower surface configured to be placed on a surface of an area of skin of a user, the first ceramic substrate being configured to couple an ultrasonic signal emitted by the transducer elements to the skin. A phase control system is configured to supply each of the transducer elements with an electrical actuation signal, the electrical actuation signal being phase shifted for each of the transducer elements. The phase control system is configured to phase shift the electrical actuation signal supplied to the transducer elements such that an ultrasonic beam is formed and to steer the ultrasonic beam toward a blood vessel located beneath the area of skin.

Abstract: A system for detecting blood velocity within a blood vessel includes a transducer array including a plurality of transducers. Each of the transducers includes a carrier substrate; at least one spacer extending upwardly from substrate, a transducer element attached to spacer such that the piezoelectric transducer is spaced apart from the substrate, and setting electrodes positioned on the upper surface of the substrate under the piezoelectric transducer. A tilt control system is configured to apply a bias voltage to the setting electrodes which causes the transducer element to pivot about a pivot axis between a first tilted position and a second tilted position.

Abstract: A blood pressure and cardiac monitoring system includes a sensing assembly, a processor, a memory, a communication interface, and any suitable computer implemented modules communicatively coupled to each other via a bus. The sensing assembly comprises of a first sensor (single or multi-axes) located at a first axis of a target generating a first time-dependent motion waveform representative of one or more contractile properties of the target's heart and a second sensor (single or multi-axes) located at a second axis of the target generating a second time dependent motion waveform representative of the target's blood flow. The first and second sensor can be integrated in a multi-axes sensor which sense both the axes. The processor is configured to receive the first time dependent motion waveform and the second time dependent motion waveform, and to determine a first time difference between a vital sign present in the first time dependent motion waveform and the second time dependent motion waveform.

Abstract: The sensor comprises a reference bolometer and a plurality of sensing bolometers. Each sensing bolometer is arranged adjacent to the reference bolometer. Each bolometer comprises (i) a substrate, (ii) a cap structure connected to the substrate, the cap structure configured to define a cavity between an inner surface of the cap structure and a first surface of the substrate, (iii) an absorber connected the substrate and arranged within the cavity, the absorber configured to absorb infrared radiation within the cavity, and (iv) a readout circuit connected to the absorber and configured to provide a signal that indicates an amount of infrared radiation absorbed by the absorber. The cap structure of the reference bolometer blocks infrared radiation from entering the cavity from outside the cap structure. The cap structure of each sensing bolometers allows infrared radiation to enter the cavity from outside the cap structure.

Abstract: A sensor comprises a substrate having a first surface; a cap structure connected to the substrate, the cap structure configured to define a cavity between an inner surface of the cap structure and the first surface of the substrate, the cap structure configured to block infrared radiation from entering the cavity from outside the cap structure; a plurality of absorbers, each absorber in the plurality of absorbers being connected to the first surface of the substrate and arranged at a respective position within the cavity and configured to absorb infrared radiation at the respective position within the cavity; and a plurality of readout circuits, each readout circuit in the plurality of readout circuits being connected to a respective absorber in the plurality of absorbers and configured to provide a measurement signal that indicates an amount of infrared radiation absorbed by the respective absorber.

Abstract: The sensor comprises a reference bolometer and a plurality of sensing bolometers. Each sensing bolometer is arranged adjacent to the reference bolometer. Each bolometer comprises (i) a substrate, (ii) a cap structure connected to the substrate, the cap structure configured to define a cavity between an inner surface of the cap structure and a first surface of the substrate, (iii) an absorber connected the substrate and arranged within the cavity, the absorber configured to absorb infrared radiation within the cavity, and (iv) a readout circuit connected to the absorber and configured to provide a signal that indicates an amount of infrared radiation absorbed by the absorber. The cap structure of the reference bolometer blocks infrared radiation from entering the cavity from outside the cap structure. The cap structure of each sensing bolometers allows infrared radiation to enter the cavity from outside the cap structure.

Abstract: A semiconductor sensor system, in particular a bolometer, includes a substrate, an electrode supported by the substrate, an absorber spaced apart from the substrate, a voltage source, and a current source. The electrode can include a mirror, or the system may include a mirror separate from the electrode. Radiation absorption efficiency of the absorber is based on a minimum gap distance between the absorber and mirror. The current source applies a DC current across the absorber structure to produce a signal indicative of radiation absorbed by the absorber structure. The voltage source powers the electrode to produce a modulated electrostatic field acting on the absorber to modulate the minimum gap distance. The electrostatic field includes a DC component to adjust the absorption efficiency, and an AC component that cyclically drives the absorber to negatively interfere with noise in the signal.