Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a smart pseudo-palate for use in a Smart Electropalatograph (EPG) for Linguistic and Medical Applications (SELMA) system. In one aspect, the pseudo-palate is constructed from a thin, flexible polymer membrane and having an embedded electrode array. The pseudo-palate is configured to detect tongue contacts during speech while causing minimal disturbance or interference with speech motion. The disclosed pseudo-palate in the SELMA system is integrated with a microcontroller, wireless electronic module, and external readout app. The disclosure, in another aspect, relates to integration of the pseudo-palate with a smart sports/health mouth guard containing a series of sensors for monitoring head impacts, body temperature, and heart rate.

Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a wireless sensing system of a seat position and a control method of the sensing system, the system including a slave control unit provided for each seat to detect a seat belt fastening status and a seat occupancy status by a passenger, and a master control unit provided in a vehicle to receive data based on a radio signal of the slave control unit through radio communication with each slave control unit, calculate a position of each slave control unit based on the data received through the radio communication, and discontinue a position checking of a slave control unit when it is determined that the position of the slave control unit calculated for each slave control unit is outside the vehicle.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to electrochemical phosphate/pH (P/pH) sensors, systems and related methods. In one example, a P/pH sensor includes a substrate and collocated phosphate (P) electrode and pH electrode formed on a surface of the substrate. The P electrode includes a cobalt (Co) sensing window disposed on a first copper (Cu) sensor pad; and the pH electrode includes an antimony (Sb) sensing window disposed on a second Cu sensor pad. The P/pH sensor can include a reference electrode, and may also include other sensor electrodes such as, e.g., a nitrate electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes dual-band antenna arrays and related methods for manufacturing and implementing dual-band antenna arrays. One exemplary dual-band antenna array comprises a top layer of fused silica substrate; a bottom layer of fused silica substrate; a ground plane positioned between the top and bottom layers of fused silica substrate, wherein the ground plane comprises layers of three different metals; antenna patch elements arranged on top of the top layer of fused silica substrate; an input feedline arrange on the bottom layer of the fused silica substrate; and a meanderline complimentary split ring resonator structure etched on a top surface of the ground plane, wherein the input feedline is directly coupled to the meanderline complimentary split ring resonator structure and is configured to excite a plurality of resonance frequencies of the antenna patch elements.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and related methods for a coaxial through-substrate-via (cx-TSV) based on a Cu/Co metaconductor. One such apparatus comprises a substrate; and a coaxial structure having an outer conductor and a metaconductor for its inner conductor, wherein the coaxial structure extends through the substrate.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for implementing an array antenna having a combination of ferromagnetic and nonferromagnetic conductors in alternating multilayers. One such antenna device comprises an array of patch antennas on a substrate, wherein the patch antennas are formed of a combination of ferromagnetic and nonferromagnetic conductors in alternating multilayers; and a microstrip feeding line coupled to the array of patch antennas. Other systems, apparatuses, and methods are also presented.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various systems and apparatuses for a compact frequency reconfigurable array antenna and methods related thereto. An exemplary array antenna system comprises a substrate; an array of patch antennas positioned on the substrate; a plurality of PIN diodes placed on a top surface of the substrate, wherein individual PIN diodes are located in individual gaps between respective ones of the patch antennas; and a plurality of meander-line (ML) complementary split-ring resonator (CSRR) decouplers placed on a bottom surface of the substrate, wherein individual ML-CSRR decouplers are placed under individual patch antennas in a diagonal direction.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides wireless power transfer systems and methods. One such system includes a transmitter comprising a transmitter coil coupled to a power source and a transmitter metasurface slab positioned on a front side of the transmitter coil that is configured to amplify and focus a magnetic field generated by the transmitter coil towards a receiver in a non-contact manner. In such a system, the receiver comprises a receiver coil coupled to a load and a receiver metasurface slab positioned on a front side of the receiver coil configured to amplify and focus a magnetic field generated by the transmitter coil towards the receiver coil in a non-contact manner. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: Disclosed herein is a multifunctional probe that may be inserted into tissue (e.g. brain tissue) that includes an optical waveguide, a microfluidic channel and a plurality of carbon nanofiber electrodes. In another embodiment, the probe includes a shank onto which carbon nanofiber electrodes are disposed. Also disclosed are methods of making disclosed probes.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for meander line (ML) slots, which can be used for mutual coupling reduction. In one example, an antenna array includes first and second patch antenna elements disposed on a first side of a substrate, the first and second patch antenna elements separated by a gap. The antenna array can include a meander line (ML) slot formed in a ground plane disposed on a second side of the substrate. A plurality of ML slots can be aligned with the gap between the first and second patch antenna elements. In another example, a method includes forming first and second antenna elements on a first side of a substrate and forming a ML slot in a ground plane disposed on a second side of the substrate aligned with a gap between the first and second antenna elements.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to mutual coupling reduction between elements in antenna arrays. In one example, an antenna array includes patch antenna elements disposed on a first side of a substrate; and meander line (ML) slots formed in a ground plane disposed on a second side of the substrate. The ML slots can be disposed opposite a corresponding patch antenna element with the ML slot extending at an angle between first and second sides defining a corner that is adjacent to another patch antenna element. In another example, an antenna array includes first and second patch antenna elements disposed on a first side of a substrate and separated by a gap; and at least one meander line (ML) slots formed in a ground plane disposed on a second side of the substrate and aligned with the gap between the first and second patch antenna elements.

Abstract: Various examples are provided related to electrochemical phosphate/pH (P/pH) sensors, systems and related methods. In one example, a P/pH sensor includes a substrate and collocated phosphate (P) electrode and pH electrode formed on a surface of the substrate. The P electrode includes a cobalt (Co) sensing window disposed on a first copper (Cu) sensor pad; and the pH electrode includes an antimony (Sb) sensing window disposed on a second Cu sensor pad. The P/pH sensor can include a reference electrode, and may also include other sensor electrodes such as, e.g., a nitrate electrode.

Abstract: The present disclosure provides wireless power transfer systems and methods. One such system includes a transmitter comprising a transmitter coil coupled to a power source and a transmitter metasurface slab positioned on a front side of the transmitter coil that is configured to amplify and focus a magnetic field generated by the transmitter coil towards a receiver in a non-contact manner. In such a system, the receiver comprises a receiver coil coupled to a load and a receiver metasurface slab positioned on a front side of the receiver coil configured to amplify and focus a magnetic field generated by the transmitter coil towards the receiver coil in a non-contact manner. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods of fabricating a metamaterial-inspired dual-function loop antenna. One such antenna device comprises a loop antenna and a metamaterial slab integrated on top of the loop antenna. Accordingly, the metamaterial slab metamaterial has a negative refractive index value at a first frequency and a near zero refractive index at a second frequency, wherein the first frequency is less than the second frequency, each unit cell of the metamaterial slab is coupled to a capacitor in parallel, the first frequency is attributed to a capacitance value of the capacitor, and the second frequency is attributed to a dimension of the unit cell. As such, the antenna device is configured to receive wireless power transfer signals over the first frequency and wireless communication signals over the second frequency. Other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also presented.

Abstract: Various examples of methods and systems related to nanofibrous microstructures including carbon nanofibrous microelectrode arrays are provided. In one example, a method includes electrospinning photosensitive nanofibers on a patterned substrate; immersing the photosensitive nanofibers in a refractive index matching medium; and exposing the immersed photosensitive nanofibers to ultraviolet (UV) light through the patterned substrate or through a front side photomask. In another example, a microelectrode array includes a carbon thin film (CTF) trace pattern including a plurality of CTF electrode pads; and a plurality of carbon nanofiber (CNF) pillars disposed on the plurality of CTF electrode pads.

Abstract: Various examples are provided for meander line (ML) slots, which can be used for mutual coupling reduction. In one example, an antenna array includes first and second patch antenna elements disposed on a first side of a substrate, the first and second patch antenna elements separated by a gap. The antenna array can include a meander line (ML) slot formed in a ground plane disposed on a second side of the substrate. A plurality of ML slots can be aligned with the gap between the first and second patch antenna elements. In another example, a method includes forming first and second antenna elements on a first side of a substrate and forming a ML slot in a ground plane disposed on a second side of the substrate aligned with a gap between the first and second antenna elements.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes wireless power transfer systems and methods. One such system comprises a transmitter coil coupled to a power source; a receiver coil coupled to a load; and a metamaterial screen disposed between the transmitter coil and the receiver coil and configured to amplify and focus a magnetic field generated by the transmitter coil towards the receiver coil in a non-contact manner. Other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Abstract: In one aspect, the disclosure relates to a smart pseudo-palate for use in a Smart Electropalatograph (EPG) for Linguistic and Medical Applications (SELMA) system. In one aspect, the pseudo-palate is constructed from a thin, flexible polymer membrane and having an embedded electrode array. The pseudo-palate is configured to detect tongue contacts during speech while causing minimal disturbance or interference with speech motion. The disclosed pseudo-palate in the SELMA system is integrated with a microcontroller, wireless electronic module, and external readout app. The disclosure, in another aspect, relates to integration of the pseudo-palate with a smart sports/health mouth guard containing a series of sensors for monitoring head impacts, body temperature, and heart rate.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods for implementing an array antenna having a combination of ferromagnetic and nonferromagnetic conductors in alternating multilayers. One such antenna device comprises an array of patch antennas on a substrate, wherein the patch antennas are formed of a combination of ferromagnetic and nonferromagnetic conductors in alternating multilayers; and a microstrip feeding line coupled to the array of patch antennas. Other systems, apparatuses, and methods are also presented.

Abstract: The present disclosure describes various embodiments of systems, apparatuses, and methods of fabricating a metamaterial-inspired dual-function loop antenna. One such antenna device comprises a loop antenna and a metamaterial slab integrated on top of the loop antenna. Accordingly, the metamaterial slab metamaterial has a negative refractive index value at a first frequency and a near zero refractive index at a second frequency, wherein the first frequency is less than the second frequency, each unit cell of the metamaterial slab is coupled to a capacitor in parallel, the first frequency is attributed to a capacitance value of the capacitor, and the second frequency is attributed to a dimension of the unit cell. As such, the antenna device is configured to receive wireless power transfer signals over the first frequency and wireless communication signals over the second frequency. Other apparatuses, systems, and methods are also presented.