Massachusetts Institute of Technology

Shaun R Berry

Mark Alexander Hollis

James Douglas Harper

Todd H Rider

Trina Rae Vian

Joseph John Lacirignola

Eric D Schwoebel

Martha Susan Petrovick

Richard Hart Mathews

Bernadette Johnson

Frances E Nargi

Kristine E Hogan

Mark Hennessy

Raymond S Uttaro

Rose M Joseph

Carl O Bozler

Robert K Reich

Mordechai Rothschild

Harry R Clark

Jeremy Bert Muldavin

Robert W Haupt

Vladimir Liberman

Charles G Doll, Jr

Philip J Bos

Douglas Bryant

Craig L Keast

Ronald H Hoffeld

Jonathan Pitts

Valerie A Finnemeyer

Amanda Goyette

Trina R Vian

Joseph Lacirignola

Richard H Mathews

A seismic wave damping structure can include a structural arrangement including at least one pair of elements, each angled with respect to a vertical and extending into the earth and toward a protection zone. The elements thus form a tapered aperture, the structural arrangement defining the protection zone at an upper portion of the aperture. Each element defines an inner volume and contains a medium resistant to passage of an anticipated seismic wave in earth having a wavelength at least one order of magnitude greater than a cross-sectional dimension of the inner volume of each of the elements. The medium is at least one of air, gas, water, and viscous fluid. The structural arrangement is configured to attenuate power from the anticipated seismic wave within the protection zone relative to power from the anticipated seismic wave external to the protection zone.

Wave damping structures

Liquid crystal photonic devices and microcavities filled with liquid crystal materials are becoming increasingly popular. These devices often present a challenge when it comes to creating a robust alignment layer in pre-assembled cells. Previous research on photo-definable alignment layers has shown that they have limited stability, particularly against subsequent light exposure. A method of infusing a dye into a microcavity to produce an effective photo-definable alignment layer is described, along with a method of utilizing a pre-polymer infused into the microcavity mixed with the liquid crystal to provide photostability. In this method, the polymer layer, formed under optical irradiation of liquid crystal cells, is effectively localized to a thin region near the substrate surface and thus provides a significant improvement in the photostability of the liquid crystal alignment. This versatile alignment layer method, which can be used in microcavities to displays, offers significant promise for new photonics applications.

Methods and apparatus for liquid crystal photoalignment

A seismic, water, or acoustic wave damping structure can include a structural arrangement of at least two elements, each with an inner volume and containing a medium resistant to passage of an anticipated wave. Example elements can be earth boreholes or water pylons. The structural arrangement can taper from an upper aperture to a lower aperture, the structural arrangement defining a protection zone at the upper aperture. The structural arrangement can be configured to attenuate power from the anticipated wave within the protection zone relative to power from the anticipated wave external to the protection zone. A grouping may include elements that form acute or obtuse angles with a direction of a wave to attenuate wave power. High-value buildings or other structure in a protection zone on land or in water can be substantially shielded from seismic or water waves.

The high-pixel-count uncooled thermal imaging arrays disclosed herein have liquid crystal (LC) microcavity transducers separate from the read-out integrated circuit (ROIC). The transducer converts incident infrared (IR) radiation in birefringence changes that can be measured with visible light. In other words, the system uses the temperature sensitivity of the LC birefringence to convert the IR scene to a visible image. Measurements on sample arrays indicate that the LC material quality is similar to that of bulk samples and has good noise performance. Additionally, high-fill-factor arrays on fused-silica substrates may be processed to enable optimization of conditions for greatly improved temperature sensitivity. An additional IR absorber layer may be integrated into the process to tune the structure for the infrared.

Systems, methods, and apparatus for sensitive thermal imaging

The invention described herein provides methods for the detection of soluble antigens. In particular, the methods provide for the detection of soluble proteins and chemicals. In addition, the invention provides methods of detecting a nucleic acid sequence in a sample. Also described is an emittor cell comprising an Fc receptor and an emittor molecule for the detection of a target particle in a sample wherein the target particle to be detected is bound by one or more antibodies. Also provided is an optoelectronic sensor device for detecting a target particle in a plurality of samples.

Optoelectronic detection system

This invention provides devices and apparatuses comprising the same, for windowless optical detection of particle-laden samples, for example aerosols or fluid suspensions. The devices make use of passive sheath flow as a mechanism for containing aerosol/fluid suspension flow. The operation of the device reduces particle loss inherent to conventional windowless optical detection schemes. Methods of optical detection and/or analysis of or the particles in a sample using devices of this invention are described.

Flow cell and methods of use thereof

A capacitive RF switch and DC RF switch include a fixed electrode having a thin layer of metal and at least one pull-down electrode. A moving plate has a plurality of corrugations and a selective finger design. The capacitive switch includes a selective finger that comes into contact with the fixed electrode so as to minimize the stiction between the moving plate and the fixed electrode when the switch is closed. The DC switch comprises a plurality of dimples that are formed on the selective portion of the moving plate and are positioned to come into contact with the fixed electrode when the switch is closed so as to increase the contact force and lower the resistance between the moving plate and fixed electrode.

Micro-electro mechanical switch designs

Growing community of inventors

Chelmsford, MA, United States of America

Shaun R Berry