Abstract: Improved mechanisms for storing and introducing liquid volumes in a liquid handling device and, in particular, improved mechanisms for rupturing a liquid storage package to introduce liquid into the device, improvements to the stability of a liquid receiving chamber inside the device and improvements to liquid handling in the receiving chamber are achieved.

Abstract: A compressive load is exerted with a test apparatus across a rock sample that has a specified length-to-diameter ratio. A strain on the rock sample is measured during the compressive loading with a strain gauge. A mechanical property of the rock sample is determined based at least in part on the compressive load. An elastic property of the rock sample is determined based at least in part on the measured strain and the compressive load.

Abstract: The field of the invention generally relates to probes, related devices and methods for measuring material properties. In an embodiment, the present invention provides a test probe for use in a reference point indentation device. The test probe has an end proximal to a tip and an end distal to the tip. The distal end of the test probe has a self-centering mate comprising a countersink of about 90 degrees to about 100 degrees to a depth of between 0.010 in. and 0.035 in.

Abstract: An apparatus, a closed-loop system and method for measuring the resistance of inhalation systems and/or devices are disclosed.

Abstract: A yield stress measurement device and corresponding methods may use a two-capillary tube setup that measures the amount of a fluid drawn into each capillary and correlates that to the yield stress of the fluid. The devices and corresponding methods may be particularly useful for in-the-field measurements at well sites during drilling operations or other wellbore operations. An exemplary yield stress measurement apparatus may include a first capillary tube and a second capillary tube substantially perpendicular to each other, each capillary tube having two open ends and a length extending therebetween; a first and second length scale coupled to the lengths of the first and second capillary tubes, respectively; and a first fluid area and a second fluid area at one of the open ends of each of the first and second capillary tubes, respectively.

Abstract: The disclosure provides a label-free viscosity-based analyte detection system using paramagnetic beads as an asynchronous magnetic bead rotation (AMBR) microviscometer. It is disclosed herein that the bead rotation period is linearly proportional to the viscosity of a solution comprising analytes surrounding the paramagnetic bead. Optical measurement of asynchronous microbead motion determines solution viscosity precisely in microscale volumes, thus allowing an estimate of analyte concentration. The results demonstrate the feasibility of viscosity-based analyte detection using AMBR in microscale aqueous volumes.

Abstract: A low-profile shear-sensing unit includes a floating plate surrounded by a frame and a displacement sensor that measures in-plane movement of the floating plate. Covered with a surface sample, the floating plate is displaced by the friction drag (i.e., shear) on the surface caused by the flow of fluid and the in-plane displacement is measured by the displacement sensor. The shear force on the sample surface is then obtained by multiplying the measured displacement and the spring constant of the flexure beams, which suspend the floating plate. The floating plate and the flexure beams are formed out of one plate or substrate to achieve monolithic construction with a beam geometry that leads to a high-resolution measurement.

Abstract: Apparatus and associated methods relate to determining a size and/or density of Super-cooled Large Droplets (SLDs) in a cloud atmosphere by comparing detected optical signals reflected from small and large sampling volumes of a cloud atmosphere. In some embodiments, an optical pulse is generated and divergently projected from a first optical fiber. A collimating lens is aligned within the divergently projected optical pulse collimating a portion thereof. The collimated and uncollimated portions of the optical pulse are projected into the small and large sampling volumes of the cloud atmosphere, respectively. The ratio of the collimated to the uncollimated portions can be optically controlled. Signals corresponding to optical pulses having different collimated/uncollimated ratios are backscattered by the cloud atmosphere, detected and compared to one another.

Abstract: Provided is a particle counter including: a light source; a light superimposition unit configured to superimpose light beams; an irradiation optical system configured to irradiate a fluid in a flow passage with one of a plurality of light beams from the light source; a detection optical system configured to make a part of scattered light beams by a particle in the fluid enter the light superimposition unit; a reference optical system configured to split another one of the plurality of light beams into a plurality of reference light beams and makes the reference light beams enter the light superimposition unit; and a counting unit configured to count the particles on the basis of detection signals corresponding to an interference light beam received by a light receiver. The interference light beam is generated by interference between the scattered light beam and one of the reference light beams at the light superimposition unit, and is received by the light receiver corresponding to the reference light beam.

Abstract: Methods and systems for estimating the loading of an air filter are disclosed herein. The method includes receiving upstream mass air flow data indicative of a mass air flow on an upstream side of an air filter (i.e., the “dirty side of the filter”), receiving downstream air pressure data indicative of an air pressure on a downstream side of the air filter (i.e., the “clean side of the filter”), and receiving downstream temperature data indicative of a temperature on the downstream side of the air filter. The method also includes determining a differential pressure (?P) across the air filter indicative of a loading of the air filter based on the upstream mass air flow data, the downstream air pressure data, and the downstream temperature data.

Abstract: A particle detection system with a detection mechanism that includes detectors positioned to detect two different ranges of fluorescence produced by particles in the fluid in a flow chamber. Each of the detectors is arranged to generating a trigger signal whenever fluorescence is detected. The system and related method enhance the accuracy and sensitivity of blue-green algae monitoring by utilizing imaging flow cytometry combined with particle analysis and the measurement of the ratio of each particle's phycocyanin to chlorophyll b detected by using the two detectors configured for detection of two different fluorescence ranges, one associated with the phycocyanin and the other associated with the chlorophyll b. Captured images are be used in comparison to known images of a library of images using a support vector machine classifier.

Abstract: Testing a peel force of an adhesive medium includes an elevator assembly slidably connected to a column, the elevator assembly includes a connection to a gripper plate, and the gripper plate includes a first slot sized to accommodate a free portion of an adhesive medium and a jammer sized to secure the free portion of the adhesive medium in the first slot.

Abstract: Devices and systems for image-based analysis of test media are disclosed herein. An example device includes four side panels connected together so as to form a tubular rectangle, a floor panel that covers an opening of the tubular rectangle, the floor panel having a raised test bed that receives a test medium, a top panel that having an optical lens that aligns with the raised test bed when the top panel covers another opening of the tubular rectangle. The optical lens is aligned with an aperture that extends through the top panel. The four side panels, the floor panel, and the top panel forming an optic chamber when joined together. The device also includes a light source that illuminates inside the device.

Abstract: A wafer holding apparatus for fixing a wafer having a central portion and a circumference portion includes a holding platform, a lift stage, and a fixing device. The holding platform has a hole structure and a support rib protruding inwardly from an inner wall of the hole structure. The lift stage includes a support platform and a driving arm connected to the support platform for driving the support platform to ascend or descend. When the support platform ascends to a support position to support the wafer, the central portion is flat on the support platform to make the circumference portion flat on a top surface of the support rib in a surface contact manner. The fixing device is for fixing the circumference portion to the top surface of the support rib. After the circumference portion is fixed to the support rib, the lift stage descends to a retracted position.

Abstract: A detachable diffuse reflectance spectroscopy sample spinner (2) for use with a spectrometer (1) in diffuse reflectance spectroscopy. The sample spinner (2) comprises a sample receiving turntable (23) mounted for rotation and a motor unit (5) comprising a motor for rotatingly driving the turntable (23). The spinner (2) can comprise wireless electrical power receiver means (54) for receiving electrical power wirelessly for powering the motor (5).

Abstract: An imaging section that detects the amount of light separated by a wavelength tunable interference filter to acquire a spectroscopic image (imaging device and light amount acquisition section) detects the amount of light successively separated for three wavelengths to acquire spectroscopic images for producing a combined image. A display controller causes a display section to display a combined image based on the spectroscopic images for producing the combined image. A specified position detection section identifies based on user's operation a specified position where a colorimetry result is to be outputted. The imaging section detects the amount of light successively separated for a plurality of wavelengths by the wavelength tunable interference filter to acquire spectroscopic images for colorimetry corresponding to the plurality of wavelengths. A colorimetry section measures the color in the specified position by using the amount of light obtained from each of the spectroscopic images for colorimetry.

Abstract: A device and method for tracking a spectral response. The device and method including inputting light to a waveguide medium having a plurality of perturbation sensors disposed in a spaced relationship in the waveguide medium; receiving a plurality of signals reflected from the plurality of perturbation sensors; retrieving from the received signals, data representing a plurality of signal values, each signal value comprising at least a magnitude value and a wavelength value; identifying within the plurality of signal values, at least a first signal value and a second signal value, being in an overlap state; estimating, for at least some of the plurality of perturbation sensors, an expected signal value; associating each expected signal value with a respective signal value from the plurality of signal values; updating each expected signal value with the associated signal value.

Abstract: Technology is provided for an aqueous solution constituent analyzer. The analyzer includes an ultraviolet light emitting diode (LED) with a current source providing variable current thereto. A spectrometer is positioned for receiving light from the LED transmitted through an aqueous solution. A controller receives radiant flux data for a plurality of wavelengths and determines, based on the radiant flux data, a usable number of the plurality of wavelengths that satisfies a relative uncertainty threshold. The controller can increase the current to the LED if the usable number of wavelengths is less than a minimum threshold and calculate a concentration of a constituent of interest in the solution. The controller can also determine a peak wavelength of the plurality of wavelengths having the greatest intensity value, and decrease the current level to the LED if the peak wavelength has an intensity value greater than a saturation value for the spectrometer.

Abstract: The invention relates to analytical chemistry, in particular, to the spectral absorption analysis with a differential method of measuring concentrations of mercury and benzene vapors. The invention is aimed at creation of an absorption analyzer, which allows to determine the content of mercury and benzene in the carrier gas, with improved analytical performance for benzene.

Abstract: Disclosed herein are embodiments of sensor devices comprising a sensing component able to determine the presence of, detect, and/or quantify detectable species in a variety of environments and applications. The sensing components disclosed herein can comprise MOF materials, plasmonic nanomaterials, or combinations thereof. In an exemplary embodiment, light guides can be coupled with the sensing components described herein to provide sensor devices capable of increased NIR detection sensitivity in determining the presence of detectable species, such as gases and volatile organic compounds. In another exemplary embodiment, optical properties of the plasmonic nanomaterials combined with MOF materials can be monitored directly to detect analyte species through their impact on external conditions surrounding the particle or as a result of charge transfer to and from the plasmonic material as a result of interactions with the plasmonic material and/or the MOF material.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a system for detecting terahertz radiation, a camera device, and a method for detecting terahertz radiation.

Abstract: A system and method are disclosed for gas sensing over a wide tunable wavelength range provided by one or more quantum cascade lasers. A laser beam is generated within the wide tunable wavelength range, which is given by the sum of the wavelength ranges from the individual lasers. Gas sensing or detection is achieved by obtaining an infrared absorption spectrum for a sample contained in one or more cells having different path lengths for the laser beam.

Abstract: According to embodiments of the present invention, an optical detection device is provided. The optical detection device includes an optics arrangement configured to generate an annular illumination pattern to illuminate a portion of a sample and further configured to receive a return light from the portion of the sample illuminated by the annular illumination pattern; and a detector arrangement configured to detect the return light. According to further embodiments of the present invention, an optical detection method is also provided.

Abstract: A first output light beam (L2) that originates from a total internal reflection at a detection surface (111) of a total internal reflection TIR chamber (110) and a second output light beam (L2?) that comes from the interior of an inspectable chamber (120, 220, 320, 420, 520, 620) are both received within an observation region (OR). Preferably, these output light beams are detected with the same light detector, e.g. an image sensor (12). A total internal reflection at the TIR chamber and reflected light from inside the inspectable chamber are both directed to the same observation region (OR). This is for example enabled by different inclinations of the windows encountered by the first and the second output light beams, by different optical elements (407) in the paths of the output light beams, and/or by light scattering surface structures (122, 223, 322, 422, 522, 622) in the inspectable chamber.

Abstract: Disclosed are methods, systems, and apparatuses for rapidly detecting a cellular interaction, such as ligand:receptor interactions. For example, the disclosed methods and systems can be used to detect a cellular interaction within 15 minutes to 75 minutes. This allows cells to be used as biosensors to detect cell activating agents in a sample.

Abstract: The invention described herein relates to a method of detecting malaria comprising the steps of: (i) delivering an evanescent IR beam through said ATR substrate in contact with a patient blood sample; (ii) detecting IR radiation transmitted from the ATR substrate to produce a signal characteristic for one or more lipids in the sample, and (iii) processing said signal and a set of reference library spectra of lipids associated with malaria parasites in order to detect matches and quantify said one or more lipids in the sample. In contrast to the prior art, the present invention relies on detecting lipids instead of hemozoin.

Abstract: In one embodiment, a chip scale atomic sensor is provided. The chip scale atomic sensor includes a body that defines at least one sensing chamber. The body includes a thermal isolation die mounted to the body. The thermal isolation die is disposed in a location that communicates with the at least one sensing chamber. The thermal isolation die includes a substrate defining a frame portion and an isolated portion and a plurality of tethers mechanically coupling the isolated portion of the substrate to the frame portion. The thermal isolation die also includes an atomic source mounted on the isolated portion of the substrate, and a heating element mounted on the isolated portion and configured to heat the atomic source.

Abstract: Apparatus and methods for fluorescence imaging using radiofrequency multiplexed excitation. One apparatus splits an excitation laser beam into two arms of a Mach-Zehnder interferometer. The light in the first beam is frequency shifted by an acousto-optic deflector, which is driven by a phase-engineered radiofrequency comb designed to minimize peak-to-average power ratio. This RF comb generates multiple deflected optical beams possessing a range of output angles and frequency shifts. The second beam is shifted in frequency using an acousto-optic frequency shifter. After combining at a second beam splitter, the two beams are focused to a line on the sample using a conventional laser scanning microscope lens system. The acousto-optic deflectors frequency-encode the simultaneous excitation of an entire row of pixels, which enables detection and de-multiplexing of fluorescence images using a single photomultiplier tube and digital phase-coherent signal recovery techniques.

Abstract: A method of forming a semiconductor structure includes forming a first optical waveguide and a second optical waveguide on a sapphire substrate. The first optical waveguide and the second optical waveguide each include a core portion of gallium nitride (GaN), and a cladding layer laterally surrounding the core portion. The cladding layer includes a material having a refractive index less than a refractive index of the sapphire substrate. The method further includes etching a portion of the cladding layer to form a microfluidic channel therein and forming a capping layer on a top surface of the first optical waveguide, the second optical waveguide and the microfluidic channel.

Abstract: In accordance with preferred embodiments of the present invention, a method for imaging tissue, for example, includes the steps of mounting the tissue on a computer controlled stage of a microscope, determining volumetric imaging parameters, directing at least two photons into a region of interest, scanning the region of interest across a portion of the tissue, imaging a plurality of layers of the tissue in a plurality of volumes of the tissue in the region of interest, sectioning the portion of the tissue, capturing the sectioned tissue, and imaging a second plurality of layers of the tissue in a second plurality of volumes of the tissue in the region of interest, and capturing each sectioned tissue, detecting a fluorescence image of the tissue due to said excitation light; and processing three-dimensional data that is collected to create a three-dimensional image of the region of interest.

Abstract: An active-source-pixel, integrated device capable of performing biomolecule detection and/or analysis, such as single-molecule nucleic acid sequencing, is described. An active pixel of the integrated device includes a sample well into which a sample to be analyzed may diffuse, an excitation source for providing excitation energy to the sample well, and a sensor configured to detect emission from the sample. The sensor may comprise two or more segments that produce a set of signals that are analyzed to differentiate between and identify tags that are attached to, or associated with, the sample. Tag differentiation may be spectral and/or temporal based. Identification of the tags may be used to detect, analyze, and/or sequence the biomolecule.

Abstract: The invention provides a method for obtaining sample specific signatures. The method comprises of irradiating the sample at a predefined location with an electromagnetic radiation of specific wavelength; selectively capturing a certain component of the scattered electromagnetic radiation to obtain a plurality of profiles; and filtering the profiles to obtain a sample specific signature. The invention provides an apparatus for obtaining sample specific signatures.

Abstract: Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a safety protection device for Raman spectroscopy detection and a Raman spectroscopy detection system including the safety protection device. The safety protection device includes: a detection cavity including a cavity body, the cavity body having an opening end through which a sample to be detected is allowed to be placed into the detection cavity; and a cover configured to cover and engage the opening end so as to form, together with the detection cavity, an explosion proof container defining a space for receiving the sample to be detected, the detection cavity further includes a detection opening formed in the cavity body such that a Raman detection probe is allowed to be inserted into the space through the detection opening so as to detect the sample.

Abstract: A method for determining whether a sample includes a nitrate-based explosive comprises receiving the sample and selecting an area of interest on the sample. Then, at least a portion of the area of interest is interrogated with an optical source to produce a spectrum with an amplitude. The amplitude of a first portion of the spectrum is compared to a first predetermined threshold to determine if the sample includes a nitrate. After determining that the sample includes a nitrate in the area of interest, the amplitude of a second portion of the spectrum is compared to a second predetermined threshold to determine if the sample includes a secondary indicator. Then, an indicator is activated based on the determinations.

Abstract: Embodiments described are generally directed to a test sample apparatus. The test sample apparatus generally comprises a holder base arranged that accommodates a tablet or cell phone. The apparatus has a hood that is placed over a portion of the tablets illuminating touchscreen such that the illuminating touchscreen provides light that can be collected by the hood. There is a chamber integrated with the hood adapted to accommodate a chemically activated test strip. The chemically activated test strip is illuminated when the hood collects light from the illuminating touchscreen. A lens in the hood interposed between the camera and the test strip enables the camera to focus on a portion of the chemically activated test strip when the hood is placed over the portion of the illuminating touchscreen.

Abstract: A method for detecting at least one analyte in at least one sample of a body fluid is disclosed. Therein, at least one test element (124) is used, the at least one test element (124) having at least one test field (162) with at least one test chemistry (154) is used, wherein the test chemistry (154) is adapted to perform at least one optically detectable detection reaction in the presence of the analyte. The method comprises acquiring an image sequence of images of the test field (162) by using at least one image detector (178). Each image comprises a plurality of pixels. The method further comprises detecting at least one characteristic feature of the test field (162) in the images of the image sequence. The method further comprises correcting a relative position change between the image detector (178) and the test field (162) in the image sequence by using the characteristic feature, thereby obtaining a sequence of corrected images.

Abstract: A gas sensor configured to be discolored in response to a pH change upon reaction with a target gas, a refrigerator including the gas sensor, and a method of controlling the refrigerator includes a hydrogel support discolored through reaction with the target gas, and the hydrogel support includes dye provided to be discolored in response to a pH change upon reaction with the target gas.

Abstract: A reaping based yield monitor system includes one or more reaping yield instruments configured for coupling with a harvester head. The one or more reaping yield instruments measure at least one crop characteristic of a harvested crop in sections of the harvester head. A yield monitor determines a variable yield of the harvested crop. An apportionment module apportions the variable yield of the harvested crop to the sections of the harvester head based on the at least one crop characteristic measured in each of the sections of the harvester head. In another example, a stand counting module counts a harvested standing crop with the one or more reaping yield instruments and a stand count output module output a harvested standing crop value based on one or more of the counted harvested standing crop or filtered measured values of a stand characteristic measured with the one or more reaping yield instruments.

Abstract: A cooling apparatus includes a container configured to contain a coolant within a space. The apparatus further includes a cooling block positioned substantially within the space and having a high heat capacity such that the space not occupied by the cooling block is filled with a coolant to a level at or below the top of the cooling block, and a placement structure having high thermal conductivity positioned on top of the cooling block and outside of the space. A method for cooling an object is also provided, which includes inserting a coolant into a container configured to contain the coolant within a space, and placing the object on a placement structure outside the space. For this method, the placement structure has a high thermal conductivity and is coupled to a cooling block, the cooling block having a high heat capacity and positioned substantially within the space.

Abstract: Provided are a plasma light source capable of solving a problem occurring when an arc discharge lamp is used and an inspection apparatus capable of providing uniform and high-brightness plasma light. The plasma light source includes a pulse laser generator configured to generate a pulse laser beam, a continuous wave (CW) laser generator configured to generate an infrared ray (IR) CW laser beam, a first dichroic mirror configured to transmit or reflect the pulse laser beam and reflect or transmit the IR CW laser beam, a chamber configured to receive the pulse laser beam to ignite plasma and the IR CW laser beam to maintain the plasma in an ignited state, and discharge plasma light generated by the plasma, and a second dichroic mirror configured to transmit the pulse laser beam and the IR CW laser beam and reflect the plasma light.

Abstract: A test probe card detection system includes a linear scanning lens module, a CCD microscope module, a CCD image adjustment module, and a computer. The CCD microscope module adjusts and confirms a scanning optical focal length of a test probe card to be tested. The linear scanning lens module scans all areas data of the test probe card and stores the scanned all areas data in a database. The all areas data is compared with a coordinate file in order to detect defected pins of the test probe card. The CCD microscope module confirms and obtains data of the detected defected pins of the test probe card. The data of the detected defected pins is sent to the CCD image adjustment module and are shown on the computer. The defected pins include pins having surface oxidation, wear, damage, and breaking; lacking of pins; and deflected pins.

Abstract: Aspects of the disclosure relate to systems and techniques for inspecting seals for high altitude balloons. In one example, a system may include a reflective surface, a translucent material on the reflective surface, and a movable light source configured to move along the reflective surface and provide light to the reflective surface. The light is provided such that it is reflected from the reflective surface and through the translucent material in order to backlight a balloon envelope seal for inspection. A method for inspecting a balloon envelope seal may include placing balloon envelope material on a table, forming a seal between portions of the material, moving a light over the seal, shining light onto a reflective portion of the table below the seal to backlight the seal, and inspecting the seal using the backlighting of the seal.

Abstract: A system and method for prognostic health monitoring of thermal barrier coatings is provided. The system may comprise monitoring a thermal barrier coated gas turbine engine component, and measuring the infrared radiation emitting from the component. The measured thermal radiation data may be analyzed and compared to known material thermal radiation data in order to determine the health of the thermal barrier coating. The compiled comparison results may be compared against a historical statistical study to then determine the overall health of the thermal barrier coating. The system may comprise generating a health monitoring alert in response to the health of the thermal barrier coating indicating an imminent failure.

Abstract: A method for production line monitoring during semiconductor device fabrication includes acquiring a plurality of inspection results from a plurality of reference samples with an inspection sub-system. The method includes storing the acquired inspection results and geometric pattern codes for each of the reference samples in a database. The method includes acquiring an additional inspection result from an additional sample, where the additional inspection result includes an additional set of geometric pattern codes for identifying each defect identified within the additional inspection result from the additional sample. The method also includes correlating the set of geometric pattern codes of the additional sample with the geometric pattern codes from the reference set of samples to identify at least one of one or more new patterns or one or more patterns displaying a frequency of occurrence above a selected threshold.

Abstract: A testing device for testing an inner surface of a rotationally symmetrical cavity in a workpiece has a measuring head which defines an axial direction, and on which an optical system is situated. The optical system is in image transmission connection with an image recorder and a downstream evaluation apparatus. The testing device also has an illumination arrangement for illuminating an imaging area of the inner surface which is detected by the optical system. The illumination arrangement is designed and configured for illuminating the inner surface which is detected by the optical system. The illumination arrangement can illuminate the inner surface to be tested from different illumination directions in order to generate shadow images of the topography of the inner surface. The evaluation apparatus is designed and configured for determining the topography based on the shadow images recorded by the image recorder.

Abstract: A fluid sensor (10) comprises a core (27) defining a fluid flow path (21) and a cavity member (30) located externally of the core. The cavity member (30) comprises an electrically-conductive composite material including a matrix and one or more reinforcing elements embedded within the matrix. The cavity member (30) is configured so as to provide confinement for an electromagnetic field and the core (27) is configured so as to permit transmission therethrough of electromagnetic radiation at a frequency of the electromagnetic field. The electromagnetic field may be a radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic field. The fluid sensor (10) may be used in the measurement of the composition and/or flow characteristics of fluid in the fluid flow path (21).

Abstract: Ultralow-dose, x-ray or gamma-ray imaging is based on fast, electronic control of the output of a laser-Compton x-ray or gamma-ray source (LCXS or LCGS). X-ray or gamma-ray shadowgraphs are constructed one (or a few) pixel(s) at a time by monitoring the LCXS or LCGS beam energy required at each pixel of the object to achieve a threshold level of detectability at the detector. An example provides that once the threshold for detection is reached, an electronic or optical signal is sent to the LCXS/LCGS that enables a fast optical switch that diverts, either in space or time the laser pulses used to create Compton photons. In this way, one prevents the object from being exposed to any further Compton x-rays or gamma-rays until either the laser-Compton beam or the object are moved so that a new pixel location may be illumination.

Abstract: A system and method of characterizing a work piece, comprising: scanning an ion beam across an exposed surface of a work piece, the ion beam causing the emission of secondary electrons at multiple imaging points of the scan, the number of secondary electrons emitted varying at different ones of the multiple imaging points; detecting the emitted secondary electrons at each of the multiple imaging point to form an image, the brightness of each point in the image being determined by the number of secondary electrons detected at a corresponding imaging point on the work piece; determining grain boundaries in the work piece using the differences in brightness at different points in the image, the grain boundaries defining multiple grains; directing a charged particle beam toward one or more analysis points within one or more of the grains, the number of the one or more analysis points within each grain being less than the number of imaging points within the same grain; and detecting emissions from the work piec

Abstract: A method for real time on-stream analysis of oil sands composition is disclosed comprising the steps of detecting a moisture content of an oil sands stream using a microwave transmission analyzer, detecting an elemental composition of the oil sands stream using a prompt gamma neutron activation analyzer and calculating a content of hydrocarbons, clays and sands in the oil sands stream. The total clay amount in the oil sands stream is based on the detected gamma spectra of several elemental components of the oil sands stream, such as sodium, magnesium, potassium, calcium and iron.

Abstract: The present disclosure is related to a method for detection of defects in a printed pattern of geometrical features on a semiconductor die, the pattern comprising an array of features having a nominal pitch, the method comprising determining deviations from the nominal pitch in the printed pattern, and comparing the printed pattern with another version of the pattern, the other version having the same or similar pitch deviations as the printed pattern. According to various embodiments, the other version of the pattern may a printed pattern on a second die, or it may be a reference pattern, obtained by shifting features of the array in a version having no or minimal pitch deviations, so that the pitch deviations in the reference pattern are the same or similar to the pitch deviations in the printed pattern under inspection.